3FOOD

Third Industrial Revolution Consulting Group
Community Gardens
The 130,000 hectares of grass and crop land to nourish 650,000 inhabitants amounts to just
0.20 ha per resident, which is one-fifth of the 0.90 ha available per world citizen: Importing
alimentary goods (of all kind: cheap conventional and organic) will remain necessary in the
future and initiatives like Urban Gardening, Permaculture and Aquaponic systems are highly
welcome if not an absolute necessity.
The increasing concern over the impact of climate change on Luxembourg’s agricultural lands
requires urgent attention by the public authorities. Measures should be undertaken, allowing
the agricultural sector to adapt to climate change. Improving food security includes:
strengthening mainstream farming, encouraging alternatives such as organic agriculture,
permaculture, urban farming and collective gardens, short-circuit distribution, alternative
crops, etc.
Urban and suburban community gardens, occurring in both public spaces and on the grounds of
private institutions and companies, are a well-established phenomenon worldwide. An
estimated 15% to 20% of total global food production is currently grown in cities and
communities. Luxembourg might take on the task of Internet mapping the nation’s available
community lands for expanding gardens, and making this open source platform available to
citizens wanting to engage in gardening.
Given that there is wide variation in the productivity of urban farm and garden growing
techniques, as well the range of practices, including or excluding the use of pesticides, the
Internet platform can provide apps that effectively engage and educate citizens on how to
significantly increase produce yields entirely through organic production methods.
Building on the past Century’s accumulated experience worldwide with low-input, high-yield
micro-farming methods, urban agriculturalists have the potential to grow, for example,
complete vegetarian diets sufficient for 100 people on one hectare of land. This represents a
several-fold greater yield of produce than what is grown with large-scale commercial methods.
Biointensive mini-farming techniques make it possible to grow food using three-quarters less
water, 50% to 100% less fertilizer, and 99% less energy than commercial agriculture. 161
Empirical results and accumulated evidence from practitioners in more than 100 countries
indicate high-yield micro- and mini-farming methods are capable of producing two to six times
161 Jeavons, John (2010) How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits (and Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops)
Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine, http://www.johnjeavons.info/video.html
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