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Beyond Urban Agriculture
Challenges for the incorporation of food production into functional urban greening systems
Infrastructure scale botanical systems explicitly designed for the remediation of high levels of urban air pollution are transitioning from research level to widespread use. Whilst proof-of-concept for the performance of these systems for air pollutant reduction is widely known, there is a growing interest in making such systems dual purpose for food production. Such usage presents challenges related to the fate of air pollutants within the phytosystems, and whether this will affect the quality of food so produced. Significant further research will be required before these new systems can be used with confidence for the dual purposes of air quality management and food production.
Dr. Fraser R Torpy
Director, Plants and Environmental Quality Research Group
University of Technology, Sydney
Dr Torpy has been the Director of the Plants and Environmental Quality Group, University of Technology Sydney since 2011, producing leading research on the bioremediation of gaseous and particulate air pollutants through both plant and microbially mediated processes, and the carbon dioxide balance of plant–microbial systems as it applies to atmospheric environments. The team is dedicated to the development of practical and sustainable technologies for improving the environmental quality of urban environments worldwide, with an emphasis on the development of large scale plant-based technologies for air pollution mitigation.
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