Intensive animal production at the crossroads : the potential of the urban fringe / by Ken Newcombe and Kaye Bowman.

Abstract

The present environmental and health impact of intensive animal production is examined in brief in the context of likely and desirable future developments for this mode of food production. It is suggested that, in future, intensive animal production can be part of well integrated agro-ecosystems, resilient to resource strategies, compatible with national policies to improve human nutrition, and sensitive to culturally determined requirements for human well-being. The potential for creating an urban-agro-ecosystem utilizing waste energy and organic materials is examined with reference to specific examples of ecologically viable agricultural systems. It is proposed that one of the advantages of an urban agro-ecosystem is proximity of food production to food demand. Using Hong Kong as an example, transport energy savings of increased urban food production amount to 3% of total urban energy use. Show more