Urban vegetable production and green roofs
Leigh J. Whittinghill, Assistant Scientist, Department of Forestry and Horticulture, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Date: Friday November 12
Time: 12:15 pm -1:15 pm
Room: Floriculture Room 101, UCONN Floriculture Greenhouse, 1395 Storrs Road, Storrs, CT 06268
Abstract:
Urban agriculture is a diverse field shaped by motivational factors including economics, food security, and local conditions and barriers including land availability and economic barriers. Land availability in urban centers is one of the greatest challenges to urban agriculture, with few large areas available for in ground production. There are many innovative ways to create or take advantage of otherwise unused spaces, such as rooftops. The use of green roof technology is one method being employed by urban growers, but it has its own set of benefits and barriers. While food production even on shallow roofs is possible, the transition from an ornamental space to an agricultural space creates changes in the rooftops ability to retain stormwater and affects the stormwater quality. Green roof technology also does no mitigate the economic barrier of high startup costs often seen in urban agriculture. Other economic barriers include access to markets and the costs of inputs including fertilizers. Research on production methods that reduce input costs while maintaining yields, on alternative production systems with lower startup costs, and on high value crops that can help offset costs, could help urban areas meet their production potential and combat food security issues.
For more information, contact: Huanzhong Wang at huanzhong.wang@uconn.edu