Project
Despite occupying only 2% of the land area, cities are responsible for the 67% of energy consumption (World Energy Outlook 2008) and 70% of waste generation [1], contributing to generate 75% of global greenhouse gases emissions (GHGs), according to UNEP. Furthermore, cities have a strong external dependence and need to import resources such as water, materials for infrastructures, energy or food.
About 75% of the EU population lives in cities and it is estimated that this value will reach the 80% in 2020 [2]. At the same time, buildings consume the 40% of energy in Europe (Directive 2010/31 / EU) and have been identified as a priority area for reducing energy consumption in the EU zone, being heating and cooling systems the main responsible of household energy consumption (47%, According IDEA).
Agrifood production zones are not usually located near the vicinity of towns. Consequently, food distribution results in a life cycle stage with a high environmental impact associated from food consumption in cities.
Following the distribution of food turns out to be a stage with high potential to reduce the environmental impact of food consumption in cities.
In response to the current situation, in recent years, has been an increase of projects to promote the introduction of agricultural production in cities [3]. Currently, urban agriculture has become a way of land use in cities like Chicago [4] as an alternative for urban plots unbuilt [5]. Urban agriculture is currently growing in cities with different shapes and occupying different areas: community gardens, urban gardens, commercial farms and institutional farms, as in the case of New York [6]. Moreover, urban agriculture is also being integrated into buildings through integrated farming [7], the Vertical Farming Concept [8] and Rooftop Greenhouses.
