The urban agriculture business is growing rapidly. In addition to businesses and agricultural entrepreneurs, individuals, neighborhood groups, and local collaborators are also beginning to participate in sustainable agriculture in cities. Local governments, community initiatives, academic researchers, and investors can encourage the start of vertical farms, rooftop greenhouses, or aquaponics farms. What started as a movement has developed into an interesting business case around the world.
According to a report published by Fior Markets, the global urban agriculture market is expected to grow from USD 2.77 billion in 2019 to USD 16.14 billion by 2027. In North America, increasing supply of fresh vegetables from retailers is expected to drive the market. this area. Is urban farming profitable? If you look at the expansion rate, it should be so.
Increasing urban populations are contributing to urban farming activities such as renovating abandoned buildings and derailed warehouses, increasing local food production. The possibilities are immense. Of the world's 8 billion people, 75% live in cities.
Who cultivates the city?
Realizing the business case for urban agriculture involves a wide range of participants. They could be existing farmers looking to expand into urban areas, or ambitious entrepreneurs looking to take advantage of the growth in the local food market. In urban farming, you can also meet people with backgrounds in agriculture, engineering, business, and other fields.
Public and private organizations are also participating, including universities, nonprofits, charities, and community initiatives. These organizations help spread awareness of urban agriculture, provide research and development support, and promote entrepreneurship in the sector.
Local governments often play an important role in promoting urban agriculture. City councils can introduce incentives such as subsidies and tax breaks for sustainable agriculture, while providing the infrastructure to ensure the success of urban agriculture projects.
Finally, investors are also a major part of the urban agriculture movement. By providing funding to aspiring farmers and entrepreneurs, these investors can create jobs and foster economic growth in urban areas. They actually drive the business case for urban agriculture.
A short overview with examples of each category:
grassroots organization
Urban Agriculture Institute (UFI) was founded in 2009 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting urban agriculture and sustainable food production. Through education programs, research and advocacy, UFI strives to empower communities and create new opportunities for people living in urban areas. Their activities focus on his five core areas: education, research, policy and advocacy, training, and development.
A nonprofit organization based in New York City, glow new york city We work to build healthier, more sustainable cities by providing education programs, green space, and urban agriculture initiatives to local communities. They also support local farmers through green market projects and help increase access to fresh, locally grown produce.
urban farming guys, a South African-based social enterprise working to create healthier cities through urban agriculture initiatives. They are committed to training, educating, and empowering individuals living in urban areas to become successful entrepreneurs in the urban agriculture sector.
urban farmer
Based in the UK, farm urban is an urban agriculture business that specializes in building rooftop farms and vertical gardens for both commercial and residential customers. Their mission is to make urban agriculture more accessible by providing innovative products and services that allow city dwellers to grow their own food.
bright farm system designs, builds and operates rooftop greenhouses in cities around the world. By building these efficient greenhouses, Bright Farms can provide fresh produce to urban communities while also reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional farming methods. Through an innovative approach to urban agriculture, Bright Farm Systems increases access to healthy food in cities and encourages sustainable practices that benefit the environment.
BrightFarm Systems has been a leader in the urban agriculture movement since its founding in 2011. By utilizing advanced technologies such as hydroponics and aquaponics, we have developed efficient greenhouses that can grow crops year-round. Their goal is to reduce the environmental impact of traditional farming methods while providing communities with access to high-quality, locally grown produce. We are also working to create jobs in urban agriculture and foster economic growth in cities around the world.
gotham greens is an urban agriculture company that operates rooftop greenhouses in several cities in the United States and Europe. They have raised over $30 million from investors including Localize, Goldman Sachs, and Blue Horizon Ventures.
Gotham Greens designed and built its flagship greenhouse in Brooklyn's Greenpoint neighborhood in 2011. State-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse facilities represent a changing concept of urban agriculture. This means moving from a seasonal, local horticultural resource to a year-round viable commercial-scale farming operation. The greenhouse remains one of the most attention-grabbing modern urban agriculture projects around the world. The company currently operates a 10-acre state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse near the University of California, Davis campus and has facilities at more than 10 of his locations across the United States.
Gloi is a vertical farming company that has developed a platform for creating and managing vertical farming systems.the label chef's farm provides chefs with the most sustainable, fresh and delicious side dishes grown locally in the city of Amsterdam.It's Gloi This is the first large-scale commercial vertical farm in the Netherlands that uses water and energy efficiently and is completely pesticide-free. It has branches in Kuwait and Singapore.
ECF farm operates ECF FARM Berlin, one of the most modern urban aquaponics facilities in the world. On the grounds of our beautiful MALT FACTORY, we combine fish farming and vegetable cultivation to produce local “capital perch” and fresh “capital basil.” ECF is one of the pioneers of aquaponics and also builds and supports aquaponics farms in Switzerland and Belgium.
SoCal Restaurant SoCal Restaurant works with urban farmers to protect the planet, one meal at a time. The LA Times created a great video about the program.
Urban agriculture as an investment opportunity
The high-tech side of urban farming is becoming a fast-growing business. Cutting-edge technology requires significant investment. Engage specialist suppliers of equipment, materials, IT and services. They all require research, development, and high performance quality. They aren't cheap. This is where critical investment needs and their providers come into play.
By funding aspiring farmers and entrepreneurs, investors can fuel the growth of this movement and create jobs while creating a healthier, more sustainable future. With its promise of fresh, locally grown produce, urban agriculture is becoming an increasingly attractive option for cities around the world looking to create healthier environments. As this movement grows and gains momentum, it will be important for investors to play a role by providing capital to help ambitious farmers and entrepreneurs build a better future.
Examples of investors in urban agriculture
agfunder is a venture capital firm specializing in investing in technology, agritech and new approaches to food production. AgFunder is an active participant in the urban agriculture movement, and he has invested more than $100 million in companies developing new technologies for growing crops indoors and on rooftops. They are behind several companies that are making great strides in the urban agriculture space, including BrightFarms and AeroFarms.
localization is a venture fund that invests in companies developing solutions that create more equitable access to healthy food. They have invested in several companies working on urban farming technology, including BrightFarms and Bowery Farming.
blue horizon is a Swiss impact investor that goes beyond alternative proteins and takes an end-to-end approach to sustainable food systems, starting with improving the way crops are grown, to sustainable packaging and smarter distribution. We are investing in As these sustainable options continue to outperform traditional options, mass adoption will occur within a decade.
Sustainably feeding 10 billion people by 2050 will require major changes. Blue Horizon's focus is on achieving systemic change to the food system. As they say, we're not looking for the next best thing. We're looking for something that changes everything. Examples of their investments include Gotham Greens and Mosa Meats.
Urban farming is rapidly gaining popularity. The number of urban agriculture projects has steadily increased in recent years. According to a study conducted by Michigan State University, there are over 4,000 active urban farms in the United States alone. Within the urban farming business, vertical farming is a fast-growing technology that is rapidly developing.
Urban agriculture is a trend that is sure to continue to grow as cities continue to look for ways to become more sustainable. Continued funding from investors will give aspiring farmers and entrepreneurs the resources they need to shape a sustainable agricultural future in urban areas, where food is actually needed most. I can. The charm of urban agriculture!
Read previous iNSnet articles about urban agriculture.
10 ways urban agriculture can make cities more resilient and sustainable
11 success stories in urban agriculture