The FEW-meter – an integrative model to measure and improve urban agriculture towards circular urban metabolism

The main goal of this project was to develop a methodology to measure the FEW nexus in Urban Agriculture, using urban metabolism (material flow analysis) and aco-creation process that involves a wide range of stakeholders. The project aimed to develop a comprehensive system (i.e., the FEW-meter) to measure existing urban agriculture practices that could enable urban farmers to understand and improve the efficiency of their practices in terms of FWE nexus. This involves measuring production efficiency, expanding knowledge about possible health risks due to soil contamination and opportunities for enhanced resource use(e.g. more efficient use of organic waste),and using this system to ascertain and identify approaches to advance the performance of diverse types of UA. We achieved this aim through an extensive case study analysis developed in a transdisciplinary perspective, encompassing key factors of the urban food production and supply chain. A second aim was to utilise data gathered through case study analysis to model flows of energy, water and other resources, complemented with surveys to measure changes in behaviours (e.g. shopping and eating habits) within the selected case studies. This, and the analysis of the city-wide context, will lead to the identification of urban conditions favouring or impeding the optimisation of the FWE nexus as well as the improvement of the resource efficiency and reuse of waste and urban by products of UA practice. One key characteristic of this project was the co-creation of the FEW-meter with urban farmers to ensure that it reflects their expertise and meets their needs.