Urban horticulture: comsume local and proximity products. Theimportance of km 0.

The constant pace of our society and the rapid urbanization of cities have distanced citizens

from nature. This shift is reflected in their habits, especially in the consumption of fresh

natural products. The lack of time to buy outside of multinational and the delovepment of

large supermarket chains has gradually led to the disappearance of local businesses that used

to provide families with quality, sustainable products. This trend is also closely linked to the

new way our societies approach cooking. Healthy, quality cooking has been replaced by fast

food, becoming the new dietary model for a society increasingly facing obesity-related

problems. Young people, in particular, consume a lot of fast food and very few local products.

These factors have fostered the rise of initiatives to promote urban horticulture and provide

different population groups with natural, healthy, and locally sourced products, a movement

that has been largely promoted by young people, especially rural youth, who are conscious

about the environmental problems. Urban horticulture is a form of agriculture carried out in

urban areas, focusing on the cultivation of fruits and vegetables within cities. Urban

horticulture is a form of agriculture carried out in urban areas, focusing on the cultivation of

fruits and vegetables within cities. This phenomenon has seen a revival, echoing its past

implementation in 19th-century European cities during industrialization and again in the 20th

century, in cities devastated by the world wars. In both instances, urban gardens emerged:

first, to provide low-income people with affordable or even free quality food, and later, to

supply cities and societies in the process of rebuilding.

We could say that these urban gardens serve multiple functions in our societies beyond just

raising awareness and offering access to high-quality, locally sourced products. They have

proven to be a great source of environmental education for young participants in these

initiatives, helping them develop a sustainable consumption mindset by using available

resources efficiently and managing them independently.

Moreover, urban gardens help foster connections between people in an increasingly

individualistic world and can even serve as a basis for social reintegration in certain cases. They

also create jobs, as some people are responsible for teaching participants or maintaining the

garden spaces. Additionally, they bring environmental benefits to the city by absorbing CO2

and releasing O2.

In general, this historically rooted approach helps communities become more mindful of the

quality of their food and products, bringing citizens closer to nature and contributing to the

development of more environmentally conscious societies.

Maybe, In the future, urban horticulture could play an even greater role not only in the

rapprochement between citizens and healthy eating, as well in reshaping urban landscapes.

With growing concerns about climate change, food security, and public health, expanding

these initiatives could not only improve access to fresh, local produce but also strengthen

community ties, enhance biodiversity, and promote environmental resilience. Encouraging

more cities to adopt urban horticulture practices might lead to a greener, healthier, and more

self-sustaining urban environment, aligning modern cities with the global shift towards

sustainability and well-being.