The SGUA was originally convened by the UNDP in 1992 to advise a major study of urban agriculture and food security in Asia, Africa and Latin America, published in 1996. The new Global Initiative responds to an escalating demand worldwide for information, expertise, and technical assistance for sustainable urban food production. It recognizes the need to coordinate information, training, technical support, and policy development at the global level to achieve a positive impact at the city level. The urbanization of formerly rural countries and regions is causing both food insecurity and environmental degradation. Farming in urban areas contributes to clean, green, healthy, low-maintenance towns and cities.
Female farmers have poor access to production inputs, credit, and training.
The best use of urban solid waste and waste water is for food production, monitored by strict public quality control. Urban agriculture is compatible with other land uses, such as residences, institutions, transportation, utilities, and commerce. Urban agriculture is an activity that contributes to a solid community economic base through micro-enterprise. Harare doubled between 1990 and 1994. In Moscow, the share of families raising food more than tripled between 1972 and 1992, from 20 percent to 65.