Smart integrated multitrophic city food production systems: a water and energy saving approach for global urbanisation (CityFood)

Abstract

Feeding rapidly growing urban populations is a global challenge, which strains the Food-Water-Energy Nexus through increasing water and energy demands and environmental pollution. CITYFOOD provides innovative solutions to this daunting environmental challenge by integrating aqua-agriculture (IAAC) systems into cities on a broader scale. IAAC multitrophic food production systems optimize flows of food, water, energy, and waste while minimizing resource needs, thus contributing to sustainable urban infrastructure. CITYFOOD's multidisciplinary experts from food science, ecology, modelling, and urban planning will expand the knowledge and applicability of this innovative solution. Computer models will help to optimize the environmental, economic, and social benefits of the IMC technology. Real-world experiments in Living Labs will synthesize all three FWE sectors and illustrate the integrated system for multiple stakeholders. Urban planning approaches and sample case studies will help to develop comprehensive implementation strategies in a variety of urban contexts. Finally, existing knowledge and project results from modelling, Living Labs, and conceptual planning will be disseminated by different project activities and made publicly accessible through an integrated Knowledge Base. CITYFOOD connects diverse countries and contexts, each with their own challenges, within the framework set by the Belmont Forum and European Union 2020 strategies for sustainable and resilient cities. (AU)