93460 - URBAN AGRICULTURE

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to respond to the global demand for urban green innovation (environmental technologies, eco-friendly products and services, sustainable design and healthy food) by equipping actual and future entrepreneurs with the set of useful skills and competences needed to start business oriented initiatives in urban agriculture. The course has been defined and designed according to the results of the training needs assessment during the ERASMUS + project ""Urban Green Train"". It will be delivered as blended course: a part as eLearning (at distance learning delivered through Moodle) and the rest as face to face modality. The course is structured into 5 Modules: Module 1: Introduction into urban agriculture concept and types (main concepts and challenges related to urban agriculture and worldwide evolution); Module 2: Resource use from a challenge perspective (relationship between urban agriculture and urban ecology); Module 3: Urban agriculture types/production systems and short food chains (various urban agriculture types found in cities around the world); Module 4: Networking and governance (importance of policy schemes and regulations, communication with private and public stakeholders, and the building of social networks for successful urban agriculture initiatives); Module 5: World of business and urban demands (entrepreneurial and economic dimensions of urban agriculture).

Course contents

Module 1: Introduction into urban agriculture concept and types

• Urban Agriculture: main concepts and challenges;
• Worldwide evolution of urban agriculture;
• Over the role of urban agriculture targeting Sustainable Development Goals;
  

Module 2: Resource use from a challenge perspective

• Relationship between urban agriculture and urban ecology;
• Resource use efficiency in urban agriculture systems;
• Ecosystem service provision from urban agriculture;
• Sustainability assessment of urban agriculture projects;
  

Module 3: Urban agriculture types/production systems and short food chains

• Typologies of urban agriculture systems in different world regions;
• Innovation technologies for urban agriculture
  

Module 4: Networking and governance

• Importance of policy schemes and regulations;
• Communication with private and public stakeholders;
• Social networks for successful urban agriculture initiatives;

Module 5: World of business and urban demands

• Emerging business models in urban agriculture;
  
• The economic dimensions of urban agriculture.

Readings/Bibliography

Suggested readings:

Orsini, F., Dubbeling, M., de Zeeuw, H., Gianquinto, G., Eds. (2017). Rooftop Urban Agriculture. Springer, The Netherlands. ISBN 978-3-319-57720-3.

Kozai, T., Niu, G., Takagaki, M. (2015). Plant Factory: an indoor vertical farming system for efficient quality food production Cambridge Academic Press.

Lohrberg, F., Lička, L., Scazzosi, L., & Timpe, A. (Eds.). (2016). Urban agriculture europe. Jovis.

Bell, S., Fox-Kämper, R., Keshavarz, N., Benson, M., Caputo, S., Noori, S., & Voigt, A. (Eds.). (2016). Urban allotment gardens in Europe. Routledge.

Kozai, T. (2016). LED lighting for urban agriculture. Springer, Singapore.

Teaching methods

E-learning, powerpoint presentations, online tests, forum, assignments;

Participation to the international student challenge UrbanFarm2021.

Assessment methods

Preparation of an interdisciplinary urban agriculture project for a specific location identified during the course.

Additional points are also available for student taking part in groupwork or assignments.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations, exercise, theoretical and practical workshops and groupwork activities.

Links to further information

https://site.unibo.it/urban-farm/en

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Orsini

See the website of Giorgio Prosdocimi Gianquinto