Urban Horticulture and Urban Gardening as Activities to Increase Local Food Production and Provide Other Ecosystem Services

Urban horticulture and urban gardening are emerging as pivotal strategies to address the dual challenges of global food security and environmental sustainability. As urban populations continue to grow, the need to transform agricultural systems to be more efficient and sustainable becomes increasingly urgent. Urban horticulture, which explores the relationship between plants and urban environments, offers a promising solution by reducing cities' ecological footprints and optimizing the use of space and resources. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of urban gardening to protect biodiversity and provide consumers with a more varied diet, including edible wild species. Additionally, these practices can foster alternative agri-food networks and enhance short food supply chains within urban areas.

Despite these benefits, there remains a need for further research to explore innovative cultivation methods, such as soilless cultures and vertical farming systems, and to understand their integration with traditional agricultural practices. Moreover, the role of urban green spaces in improving citizens' psycho-physical well-being and serving educational purposes for future generations warrants deeper investigation.

This Research Topic aims to explore the multifaceted benefits of urban horticulture and urban gardening in increasing local food production and providing ecosystem services. Specifically, it seeks to answer questions related to the effectiveness of various growing systems, the quality of produce, and the broader social, educational, and environmental impacts of urban agriculture. By testing hypotheses around these themes, the research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how urban horticulture can contribute to sustainable urban development.

To gather further insights into the boundaries and potential of urban horticulture and gardening, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Urban horticulture through traditional and innovative growing systems
- Urban gardening practices and their implementation
- Quality of vegetables produced in urban cropping systems
- Positive effects of urban agriculture on food security, social cohesion, education, and city self-sufficiency

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: urban horticulture, urban gardening, ecosystem services, vertical farm, green spaces, ornamentals, environmental sustainability, food security

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.