URBAN AGRICULTURE AND VERTICAL FARMING: HYBRID MODELS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH

Abstract

 This paper explores the hybrid approaches to urban agriculture that combine vertical farming and rooftop gardening to enhance food production, efficiency of resources, and health of communities living in urban areas.  An experimental design was applied with mixed-method approaches to which both the quantitative and qualitative methods were applied.  Experimental pilot hybrid systems were installed in certain metropolitan regions and compared to normal rooftop gardens under a control-treatment model.  It was shown that using hybrid systems significantly improved yield per unit area, water-use efficiency (WUE), and energy-use efficiency (EUE), which were supported by ANOVA and regression modelling.  Biomass production was shown to be more stable and resilient to hybrid systems, and possibly scaled in densely populated metropolitan settings.  The results of the qualitative assessments by means of questionnaires and structured interviews highlighted positive community-level outcomes, including a greater dietary diversity, a better comprehension of the sustainable food habits, and a rise in wellness and health perception.  Through triangulation to integrate quantitative performance indicators with qualitative data, we managed to obtain a complete picture of the role of hybrid urban agriculture.  Findings indicate that these models are not only technologically effective, but also socially revolutionizing, providing a sustainable platform to address the issues of food hunger in cities, issues of the environment and community health.  This study indicates that hybrid urban agriculture has substantial replication and policy incorporation capabilities in the creation of resilient urban cities in the future.