Topic 1
Philosophy of food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.
Cities are called concrete jungles for obvious reasons: cluttered skyscrapers overlook congested streets and highways amidst a constant bombardment of neon lights and billboards.
Rooftop food growing has a growing interest among citizens. Rooftop farms or gardens, sit within the intensive green roof category. However, it is possible to grow herbs and some species of vegetables on extensive green roofs. On the top of that, urban farming adds and preserves green space in cities, providing places for neighbors to come together, strengthen bonds, and build community cohesion.
A vegetable garden on the roof offers many environmental benefits.
Supply routes and emissions are minimized, as the garden is close to the consumers. Short supply routes also mean that the goods are fresher when delivered and, therefore, tastier.
Among all the benefits, plants also filter pollutants from the air, thereby contributing to an improved climate in towns and cities.
There many good practices of installing green roofs across the world. There will be presented two of them.
A good practice example No. 1: Grow a Green Roof (and Eat It Too)
By recognizing the many benefits of green roofs, a small group of individuals, in partnership with the University of United Nations (UNU) library, have come together to build their own green roof. The video illustrates the fall season of the green roof and what insights the team has on planting herbs and root vegetables for the winter months.
A good practice example No. 2: Whole Foods Market in Lynnfield. United States of America
Located at Market Street Lynnfield, Whole Foods Market is the anchor tenant at the largest open air shopping center in the North Shore of Massachusetts. This is the first Whole Foods Market in the United States with a rooftop farm. Situated two flights of stairs above the produce section, the food roof was designed and constructed by using locally sourced materials.
“The produce we get is more nutrient dense and fresher than anything else available, because the distance between where it’s grown and where it’s being consumed is really as minimal as it can be.” – says Jessie Benhazl, CEO of Green City Growers, US.