Urban PRODUCTION

Introduction to urban farming: general concepts and typologies

Introduction to Urban Agriculture :
In the first part of this teaching, urban agriculture and horticulture will be defined. Then, actual activities in urban and suburban horticultural productions will be listed and characterized for temperate regions. In a second time, needs and benefits in urban agriculture development will be discussed (food supplying, ecological, economic and social functions) and examples will be showed trough some international practical cases. Finally, the typologies of urban agriculture will be described.

Horticultural urban production

Horticultural productions adapted for the cities
We can classify the urban gardens according to three big categories of use: the outer-urban intensive vegetable production which is generally bound to an activity of social integration in the form of an association, the semi-intensive production in the family gardens, and finally the light production rather of leisure in the community gardens. On base of an analysis of the annual average consumption of the main vegetables, the course will have for objective to estimate to what extent an urban garden can satisfy this consumption. In particular, the choice of the species and the technical route must be reflected according to the support of culture (full ground, soilless on substratum in tub or in bag) and of the type of available shelters (greenhouse, tunnel, frames and coffers, flat cover)
and finally of the exposure of the plots of culture. The surfaces of the plots of the urban gardens are very variable. They became established formerly in more than 100 m ² and oscillate at present between 20 and 80 m ². To optimize at best its surfaces, the course will approach the notions of trade guilds and permaculture. Finally, the course will also approach the physiological specificities of vegetables (cycle of development, needs in cold and heat, photoperiod and thermoperiode) as well as their feeding needs.
With regard to the ornamental aspect, the course will cover the different possibilities to exploit ornamental plants for different space typologies.
The “production” aspects will be covered, as well as some “utilisation” aspects.
We will overview different production options such as outdoor cultures, greenhouse or tunnels cultures (different levels of equipment), indoor cultures, full ground or soilless culture (different subtracts.

Mechanisms for urban production

Systems adapted for urban production
The systems for urban agriculture will be exposed taking into account sustainable and harmonious integration with the urban environment. These are substrates aboveground crops, hydroponic and aquaponics crops.
Various technological devices are developed to ensure a more regular agricultural production than what the traditional devices subjected to strong environmental hazards such as climate, soil quality, light are capable to achieve. At different scales, the important parameters for the growth of plants can be controlled. Among these, the main ones being - The supply of water and nutrients that can be provided by aeroponic or hydroponic devices - The supply of light that can be provided or supplemented by a wide variety of sources of artificial lighting, - The air quality, including temperature, relative humidity, CO2 levels, are the main parameters that can be controlled through a variety of special techniques The control of the whole of these parameters aims to approach optimal growth conditions throughout the year, thereby to approach an optimal productivity and quality that can satisfy consumers the most demanding. Control of culture parameters, however, results in high investment costs and substantial energy costs that are discussed.

Introduction to urban farming: general concepts and typologies

The objectives are: Introduction to Urban Agriculture :

• To provide an overview of the possibilities offered by urban agriculture in terms of profits and typologies,
• To Perceive the diversity of activities including urban agriculture and the complexity of its implementation taking into account social, economic, ecological, technical, legislative constraints...

Horticultural urban production

At the term of the training, the learner will be able to:
Horticultural productions adapted for the cities


At the term of the training, the learner will be able to:

- exploit the technico-economic index cards of the main vegetables of full field and under protection to realize a planning of culture.
- To associate vegetables and aromatic plants by taking into account their compatibilities in terms of climate and soil requirements, their vegetative developments and possible allelopathies relations.
- Draw up a plan of crop rotation system to maintain a vegetable cover the longest possible.
- To exploit the subtleties of protection to widen the period of culture.
- Choosing ranges of ornamental plants according to :
- Urban space typology and its functions
- Requirements for the cultivation of plants and the physiology of the flowering.
- Cultivation systems and equipment levels.
- Establishing a culture planning for the selected range and culture system.

Mechanisms for urban production

The objectives are: Systems adapted for urban production
- To know production techniques used in soilless horticulture (hydroponics, aquaponics, culture with substrate) - To choose the correct technique depending to the socio- economic context
- Know the different techniques to water supply and nutrients and distinguish their advantages and disadvantages as well as the diversity of modalities of implementation - Know the sources of horticultural lighting and master technical specifications of each to guide the selection of appropriate lighting - Know the special techniques of air control implemented in urban agriculture to ensure optimal quality to meet the needs of plants and be able to choose suited technology as a function of the context

Introduction to urban farming: general concepts and typologies

Higher education diploma

Horticultural urban production

Higher education diploma

Mechanisms for urban production

Higher education diploma

Introduction to urban farming: general concepts and typologies

Introduction à l'agriculture urbaine :
Lectures : 4 hours

Horticultural urban production

Les productions horticoles en ville
Lectures : 8 hours

Mechanisms for urban production

Les dispositifs de production urbaine
Lectures : 6 hours

Introduction to urban farming: general concepts and typologies

face-to-face

Horticultural urban production

face-to-face

Mechanisms for urban production

face-to-face

Introduction to urban farming: general concepts and typologies

The vertical farm : feeding the world in the 21th century, (2011) Dr Dickson Despommier, ed Picador

Horticultural urban production

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Mechanisms for urban production

The vertical farm : feeding the world in the 21th century, (2011) Dr Dickson Despommier, ed Picador
http://www.challengesinverticalfarming.org/

Introduction to urban farming: general concepts and typologies

Oral exam : Development of a production system suitable for a typology devised by a student taking into account all aspects seen during the whole of the module. The conclusions of the work are presented orally in the form of Power Point.

Horticultural urban production

Oral exam : Development of a production system suitable for a typology devised by a student taking into account all aspects seen during the whole of the module. The conclusions of the work are presented orally in the form of Power Point.

Mechanisms for urban production

Oral exam : Development of a production system suitable for a typology devised by a student taking into account all aspects seen during the whole of the module. The conclusions of the work are presented orally in the form of Power Point.

Introduction to urban farming: general concepts and typologies

Prof. JIJAKLI Haissam ULg, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Bât. 47, avenue Maréchal Juin 5030 Gembloux +32 81 622431 mh.jijakli@ulg.ac.be

Horticultural urban production

Prof. JIJAKLI Haissam ULg, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Bât. 47, avenue Maréchal Juin 5030 Gembloux +32 81 622431 mh.jijakli@ulg.ac.be

Mechanisms for urban production

Prof. JIJAKLI Haissam ULg, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Bât. 47, avenue Maréchal Juin 5030 Gembloux +32 81 622431 mh.jijakli@ulg.ac.be