Rosario, Argentina Uses Urban Farming to Tackle Economic and Climate Crises

This case study describes the Urban Agriculture Program (PAU) in Rosario, Argentina, which was established in 2002 to address food insecurity and economic collapse. The program provides low-income residents with access to underutilized land for agroecological farming, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving urban climate resilience.

• The Urban Agriculture Program (PAU), launched in 2002, provides low-income residents with access to abandoned or underutilized public and private land to grow food using agroecological methods. The program covers 75 hectares within the city, including seven 'Parques Huerta' (Vegetable Garden Parks), and supports nearly 300 urban farmers, approximately 65% of whom are women.
• Localizing food production in Rosario has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. A study by the National University of Rosario and RUAF Urban Agriculture and Food Systems found that produce grown locally generates 95% fewer GHG emissions compared to imported produce. The city now produces nearly 2,500 tons of fruits and vegetables agroecologically each year.
• The city has expanded its agricultural efforts into peri-urban areas through the 2015 'Green Belt Project,' a land use ordinance that permanently designated 800 hectares for agroecological production. This initiative helps mitigate climate risks, such as flooding, by improving soil absorbency through agroecological techniques.
• The program has evolved from a food security measure into a strategic tool for climate action and urban planning. It is integrated into the Urban Plan of Rosario (2007), the Strategic Plans of 2008 and 2018, and the Environmental Plan of 2015. Due to its success in tackling urban inequality and climate change, the project 'Sustainable Food Production for a Resilient Rosario' won the 2020-2021 Prize for Cities on June 29, 2021.

APA

World Resources Institute (2021). Rosario, Argentina Uses Urban Farming to Tackle Economic and Climate Crises. https://www.wri.org/insights/rosario-urban-farming-tackles-climate-change

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Rosario, Argentina Uses Urban Farming to Tackle Economic and Climate Crises. 2021. https://www.wri.org/insights/rosario-urban-farming-tackles-climate-change.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Rosario, Argentina Uses Urban Farming to Tackle Economic and Climate Crises |date=21 June 2021 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/rosario-urban-farming-tackles-climate-change |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2021rosario, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Rosario, Argentina Uses Urban Farming to Tackle Economic and Climate Crises}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/rosario-urban-farming-tackles-climate-change}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }