By 2050, 70 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas, and 80 per cent of food globally is expected to be consumed in cities. Thus, one of the biggest challenges we face as a society is: How do we feed the world’s growing cities, while at the same time attending to the various social, economic, and environmental needs and aspirations of cities.

In recent years, urban agriculture has been identified as a solution to advance multiple sustainability goals, such as food security, climate and ecosystem resilience, health and well-being, job creation and social equity. However, the effectiveness of urban agriculture, as well as the policy action needed to tap into its potential, are not well understood.

Since 2007, the International Resource Panel has provided more than 40 impactful scientific assessments on the status, dynamics and implications of natural resource use in cities and in food systems. In this Think Piece, we evaluate to what extent, and in which conditions, urban agriculture can enhance the sustainability of urban-rural food systems and promote a circular economy in cities. The Think Piece provides an overview of different urban agriculture typologies, ranging from household backyard gardens to community allotment gardens, from rooftop greenhouses to high-tech vertical farming. With a systems lens, it analyses the natural resource use implications of urban agriculture in its various forms and assesses its benefits and trade-offs across multiple sustainability goals, acknowledging distinct regional specificities.

We note that urban agriculture is not a panacea. In realizing its multiple benefits, the objective of urban agriculture needs to be clearly defined in the policy process, with due consideration of local context. The Think Piece is accompanied by a policy guidance document that presents a road map for designing “fit-for-purpose” urban agriculture policies, taking into account the interaction between urban and rural systems. We call for action from both the agriculture sector and the urban planning sector to realize the untapped potential of urban agriculture in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030.