Urban Food and Nutrition Security Resilience through Urban Agriculture: A Circular Economy Approach

Research Brief
13 November 2025

Laura Barasa, Evelyne Kihiu, João Manuel Lameiras Vaz, Chrysantus Tanga

Key Messages

1. Urban agriculture boosts food security and household resilience.
Families with climate-smart gardens were up to 35% less likely to face hunger, produced five to six times more food, and spent up to 35% less on food purchases, strengthening dietary diversity and income stability.

2. Women benefit most from climate-smart gardening.
Women-headed households saw the largest improvements in food and nutrition security, highlighting urban farming’s potential to empower women and promote more inclusive, resilient communities.

3. Circular urban agriculture advances multiple sustainable development goals.
By using recycled fertilizer (frass), these initiatives reduce organic waste and sanitation challenges while contributing to Zero Hunger (SDG 2) through improved food access, Gender Equality (SDG 5) by empowering women, Sustainable Cities (SDG 11) by fostering resilient urban communities, and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) through recycling and waste reduction.

EfD Authors

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Publication reference
EfD Research Brief MS-1154
Publication | 13 November 2025