A university in British Columbia is opening a "biological pest control laboratory" to develop strategies for small and urban farms to control pests through microbe- and insect-based systems.
With increasing demand for food and decreasing amounts of arable land on which to grow it, some suggest urban farming may be the best way to feed the world's urban population. The methods being developed have that type of agricultural setting in mind, accounting for dense urban environments that could have a garden next door to -- or on top of -- a skyscraper.
"Cities all over the world and here in B.C. are integrating farming into the urban environment, from small-acreage market gardens to green-roof food production and community gardens in parks and sustainable housing developments.
But for people and commercial food production to coexist in a densely populated urban environment, alternatives must be found to replace chemical pest control, said Deborah Henderson, director of Kwantlen's Institute for Sustainable Horticulture."
FULL STORY: B.C. on the cutting edge of urban agriculture
Minnesota Grants May Bolster Urban Farming's Legitimacy
For the first time, the state of Minnesota is offering money specifically for urban agriculture, in a win for urban farmers who want to challenge the notion that agriculture is necessarily a rural enterprise.
Agrihoods Still Proving Popular
Agrihoods emerged in the 1990s as a master-planned alternative to the golf-centered communities of the past. Many of these developments are going strong, and gaining in popularity.
As Medical Cannabis Grows, So Does the Space Needed for It
Despite its medicinal benefits, cannabis will negatively impact the environment if we don’t plan accordingly.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
