“When you’re close to the problem, you’re necessarily close to the solutions.”
– All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, Johnson & Wilkinson
Sustainable Development Goals as defined by the United Nations, specifically regarding agriculture.
Montreal currently has the largest rooftop garden in the world, at 15000 square meters. As a pioneer of the industry, it’s quite feasible to hope for Montreal to be the first city to seriously utilize rooftop agriculture. Part of what makes Montreal unique is its ability to produce food from these systems year round, despite the extreme cold of winter and heat of summer. It’s endurance is promising, and alludes to a future where the 4 cornerstones of just sustainability can exist. [planetary donut]
Even now, different greenspaces are still being built in Montreal. There’s currently 57 urban farm companies in Montreal alone, with more being built every year (including rooftop vineyards).
In 2020, the Quebec government earmarked $100 million to double the size of the province’s greenhouse operations by 2025. Their goal? To reach 80% self-sufficiency eventually. Part of what makes the system work is the full endorsement by the citizens. People living in Montreal appreciate the access to year-round fresh food, and the opportunity to become carbon neutral.
Sustainability is defined by cyclicity. Investing in more urban agriculture leads to more local fresh food and jobs for consumers. The more that consumers are reaping the benefits of these systems, the more they “buy-in” to the process. Soon enough, restaurants and businesses are using the products of these urban agricultural systems, promoting them to further audiences. It’s a
beautiful cycle where commitment to sustainability from the government and corporations allow for consumers to endorse sustainability as well. As much as I would like to separate capitalism from sustainability, we’re not quite there yet. As Chris Grallert said in our interview, “the economy and commerce is what drives change. The more we educate consumers and the more people like you get involved in getting this information out, the more that innovation and investment is going to happen in this.”
The most important reason that we must combine agriculture and economic domain knowledge is because food is the backbone of society. According to Jennie Stephens in her 2020 book Diversifying Power: Why We Need Antiracist, Feminist Leadership on Climate and Energy, “Not only do food choices have an impact on the climate, but climate changes also impact food production and availability. Inequities in the distribution and access to different kinds of food, particularly the limited access to fresh and healthy foods in low-income communities, is exacerbating racial disparities in health and well-being” (Stephens 86). In every important conversation regarding race and socioeconomic disparities, food and food sources are relevant. In every plan for bettering the future, food systems must be considered. It’s no wonder why we must look for ways of implementing agriculture into non-traditional spaces, and providing fresh food in places that are typically considered food deserts.
Montreal is a perfect example of the change possible when communities advocate and invest in themselves. Once cities like Montreal begin to show the world how possible and beneficial urban agriculture is, in all of its forms, then perhaps there will be a future where rooftop agriculture is the new “business as usual.”