Urban Agriculture In Mumbai: Worth Its Weight In Produce?

Abstract

This study uses Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Benefit Analysis to evaluate the environmental, social and economic benefits of implementing urban agriculture into a major city in a developing country, in this case Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Environmental impacts are assessed by a comparative Life Cycle Assessment of urban agricultural practices to commercial large scale agriculture. The assessment of social and economic benefits through cost benefit analysis takes into consideration the unique social and economic situations of agricultural practices in the Mumbai and Maharashtra. Results indicate that urban agriculture has lower greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and water consumption but higher eutrophication potential compared to commercial large scale agriculture.