January 09, 2012 journal, solving the world food crisis by growing gardens on vacant land, efforts to feed the people by their own initiatives virtually free of charge in every country. Even Cuba now is growing half of their food demand right in the cities where people live. By Jenny Beth Dyess "Currently over half of the world's 7 billion live in urban areas and according to the United Nations (UN), that number is expected to reach 65 percent by 2050. Dramatic population growth strains food resources and raises the challenge of feeding urban dwellers, particularly the poor. According to the UN, poverty is now growing faster in urban areas than in rural areas-there are currently 1 billion people living in urban slums. Urban agriculture is cropping up in major cities worldwide. (Photo credit: Bernard Pollack) Today, Nourishing the Planet highlights 5 cities and the organ-izations that are helping these cities become food-sufficient. (what a great project this is) 1. Dar es Salaam: Over 45 percent of Tanzania's 2.3 million unemployed people live in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. Studies by the Tanzanian Department of Rural Development and Regional Planning have found that there is significant reduction in poverty among residents who practice urban gardening in Dar es Salaam. In 2011, 68 percent of residents are growing food and raising livestock in the city. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, 90 percent of vegetables and 60 percent of the milk supply are produced locally. Dar es Salaam in action: The Mikocheni Post Primary Vocational School is training students how to make a sustainable living and grow food in the city. The vocational school has become a learning center for waste separation, composting, and urban farming. The composting chambers are built by the masonry students, the cooking and carpentry students contribute organic waste to the compost, and all students take turns attending the gardens. The school also offers free training seminars on composting to the local community. 2. Detroit: The population of Detroit has shrunk by over 50 percent since 1950 and the current population is just over 900,000. It is a city that has largely been abandoned by grocery stores and over 550,000 residents live in food deserts, areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. But the city of Detroit, led by creative entrepreneurs, has the potential to re-discover its roots in urban farming. Detroit in action: Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN) is a non-profit working for food security and food justice. D-Town farm, DBCFSN's seven-acre organic farm, is also a Regional Outreach Training Center for Growing Power, Inc. 3. Cape Town: Over 30 percent of the 3.5 million inhabitants of Cape Town, South Africa live below the poverty line. Philippi Horticulture Area in Cape Town is a large agricultural area that easily produces half of Cape Town's fresh produce. Much of the 3,300-hectare area of farmland is left vacant by the owners and as a result hundreds of families have illegally settled the land. Cape Town in action: Nazeer Ahmed Sonday has a small farm in the Philippi Horticulture Area. He is concerned both for the marginalized poor who are living there as well as the environment. Nazeer founded the Schaapkraal Developing Farmers Association, which in partnership with the Program in Urban Food Security at Cape Town University is helping struggling farmers. Nazeer hopes to protect the biodiversity of the area from developers, help farmers get access to markets, and help youth see agriculture as a respectable and desirable way to make a living. 4. St. Petersburg: Time is of the essence in St. Petersburg, Russia where the growing season is only four months. Despite the harsh climate, more than 2.5 million of the city's inhabitants are cultivating 560,000 hectares, an area roughly the size of Prince Edward Island, every year. Hardworking urban farmers produce an impressive amount of food annually, including 15,800 tons of potatoes; 47,400 tons of apples, pears, and plums; 38,500 tons of vegetables; 7,900 tons of strawberries; and 23 million cut flowers. St. Petersburg in action: In 1993 the St. Petersburg Downtown Gardening Club established their first rooftop garden. In 1999, they began collecting kitchen scraps each week from the residents of the building for a vermiculture project (composting with worms). Every month they recycle over 500 kilograms of waste and every year they save 30,000 rubles (almost US$1,000). The Club has also started gardens at the city prison, therapy gardening at a prosthesis institute, and participated in school gardening projects across the city. 5. Havana: With the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in 1989 and the U.S. embargo on fuel exports to Cuba, the country had a serious food shortage. But in Havana, residents became creative. The government formed the Urban Agriculture Department to secure land use rights for urban gardeners as people began planting organic gardens in backyards, empty city lots, and balconies. Today, Havana is a world leader in urban agriculture, growing over half of its produce within city limits. Havana in action: The National Urban Agriculture Group (GNAU) has been important to the success of urban agriculture in Havana. Because of successful research and sustainable techniques, yield on urban farms jumped from 1.5 kilograms per square meter in 1994 to 25.8 kilograms per square meter in 2001. Especially productive units may receive various honors ("with excellence" is the highest honor and there are only 82 of these gardens in the country) giving farmers social as well as monetary incentive to be productive. These farmers also serve as facilitators when new technologies are developed, helping educate other people in the community. By giving prestige to urban farmers, effectively disseminating organic technology and information, the government of Cuba has done a great deal to help Havana feed itself. With the world population increasingly urban, what are other ways we need to green our cities besides growing our own food? What are you doing to make your home more sustainable? Jenny Beth Dyess is a research intern with Nourishing the Planet. To purchase State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet please click HERE. And to watch the one-minute book trailer, click HERE." Similar posts: Feeding Our Growing Cities FAO's Food for the Cities Hopes to Curb Urban Hunger What Works: Feeding Cities. What works: Making the Most of Small Spaces Farming the cities, feeding an urban future Innovation of the Week: From the Township Garden to the City Table. Agriculture as a Concrete Solution: Cape Town's Food Garden Urban Agriculture to Feed Cities. Categories: Africa Agriculture Cuba Culture Diet Economy Food Food Security Gardening Infrastructure Land Local South Africa Sustainable Tanzania Urban Farming. Tags: composting Detroit Five Series Food Havana Poverty Russia South Africa Tanzania urban agriculture. 'Students' Ideas on Food-System Sustainability: Submit Your Ideas Today!Healthier Kids: School Programs Improve Eating Patterns-Danielle Nierenberg-NourishPlanet Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life, contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship."°Elsa. Schiaparelli... DanCitizen Key article on how banking/finance systems need to improve to rebuild local #food system buff.ly/Q5xeag via @civileats @nourishplanet. 0NourishPlanet @UNEP Now Accepting Submissions for The Children's Painting Competition on the #Environment. ow.ly/dGlym. Deadline: 2/29/13. NourishPlanet 15 Innovations Making School Lunches Healthier and More Sustainable ow.ly/dFySf GlobalAgDev Our series on #drought - Read Commentary by Danielle Nierenberg @NourishPlanet "Creating #Resilience to Drouht" bit.ly/Q2RNUR #water