A global evaluation of urban agriculture potential for pollinator‐dependent crops in major cities

Abstract

AbstractRecent research is increasingly focusing on the significance of urban gardens, urban agriculture, and rooftop agriculture as viable solutions to address food security issues. The crops cultivated in these urban settings play a crucial role in promoting urban sustainability. However, a considerable number of these crops rely on pollinators, making them key contributors to global food security, especially concerning micronutrient content. Therefore, a pivotal step in the urban planning process for local food production involves estimating the potential and available area for urban agriculture. In this study, we employed species distribution models (SDMs) to globally assess major cities' suitability for urban agriculture. Through the creation of habitat suitability maps for 61 pollinator‐dependent crops using SDMs, we evaluated the potential of 1143 major cities worldwide to cultivate each of these crops. Our findings reveal that nearly half of the examined cities (570) can support 0–10 crops, with approximately 30% (353 cities) able to sustain 11–20 crops. Around 14.5% of the cities are deemed suitable for supporting 21–30 crops. However, only about 4.5% of cities can accommodate between 31 and 40 crops. Across all 1143 cities studied, it was determined that each city, on average, has the potential to support 12.5 crops. This represents approximately 20% of the total percentage of pollinator‐dependent crops (61 crops) considered in this comprehensive analysis. While our research offers valuable insights into the potential of urban agriculture, researchers and urban planners must approach these findings with caution, particularly when extrapolating to regions with limited crop occurrence data. Additionally, we underscore the significance of understanding the distribution patterns of pollinators, especially bees, in urban environments. Relying solely on climatic variables to assess crop suitability in urban areas may be restrictive, considering the vital role of pollinators in crop production.