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

The Municipality of Rosario, Argentina, established the Urban Agriculture Program (PAU) in 2002 to combat food scarcity and unemployment following the 2001 economic crisis. The program provides low-income residents access to underutilized land for agroecological production, creating livelihoods for nearly 300 urban farmers, 65% of whom are women. Beyond social benefits, the program reduces greenhouse gas emissions by localizing food production and improves urban resilience to flooding by enhancing soil absorbency. The initiative has been institutionalized through the 2015 Green Belt Project, which designated 800 hectares of peri-urban land for agriculture, and is integrated into the city's strategic and environmental plans.

• The Urban Agriculture Program (PAU), launched in 2002, provides low-income residents with tools, seeds, and training in agroecological production on underutilized public and private land. The program covers 75 hectares within the city, including seven 'Parques Huerta' (Vegetable Garden Parks), and supports nearly 300 urban farmers, with women comprising approximately 65% of this group.
• Localizing food production in Rosario significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to importing produce. A study by the National University of Rosario and RUAF Urban Agriculture and Food Systems found that local production creates 95% fewer GHG emissions than imported produce, with the city now producing nearly 2,500 tons of fruits and vegetables agroecologically each year.
• The program enhances urban climate resilience by improving soil quality and managing water. Agroecological techniques make the soil 'spongier and more absorbent,' which helps water penetrate the ground rather than sliding and causing floods.
• The municipality has institutionalized urban farming through land-use legislation and strategic planning. In 2015, the 'Green Belt Project' ordinance permanently designated 800 hectares of peri-urban land for agroecological production. The program is also integrated into the 2007 Urban Plan, the 2008 and 2018 10-year Strategic Plans, and the 2015 Environmental Plan.

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} }