Flat roofs, unused industrial lots, back courtyards – cities also have spaces that could be used to produce food, with the advantage of them being close-by. The Engagement Migros development fund supports UrbanFarmers AG in its creation of «UF farm scout», an app that helps every city dweller check the farming potential of unused roof spaces and receive options on using roofs sustainably.
UF farm scout uses geotagging to simply and quickly locate urban rooftops and evaluate them on their potential for use in farming. Is the location suitable for simple vegetable gardens or even commercial rooftop agriculture using aquaponics (fish breeding and plant cultivation)? Are there restaurants or neighbourhood shops nearby that may be interested in purchasing these products? Or is the space suitable for keeping chickens or bees? Once someone finds the right location and the best use for a rooftop farm, they can connect with others interested in urban agriculture and contact potential partners to implement such a project.
«One third of personal environmental pollution results from food. Committed pioneering projects such as that of UrbanFarmers demonstrate new ways we can produce good food with less impact on the environment», says Thomas Vellacott, CEO of WWF Switzerland. Engagement Migros is supporting the development of UF farm scout to drive the sustainable use of roof space in urban areas. At the same time, it hopes the project will encourage discussion and offer everyone possible opportunities for action.