Assessment of the Potential for Urban Agriculture in West Oakland, CA

Throughout the world, all forms of urban agriculture are growing in popularity with the desire to grow and eat locally sourced food. Barriers such as access to vacant land and contaminated soil make it difficult to implement urban agriculture projects on the ground (i.e. at grade). Rooftop farming is a feasible solution to such barriers of forms of urban agriculture at grade. The small Business Mix Zone in West Oakland, California has over one million square feet of untapped rooftop space available for urban rooftop farming. Revenue of up to $4 million can be earned from the sale of produce grown on this space at local farmers markets, at produce stands, and to grocery stores, businesses, and restaurants. The produce grown on these rooftops will assist the City of Oakland meet its 30% locally sourced food goal and will provide the food desert of West Oakland with fresh fruits and vegetables currently unavailable to this area.

I am an environmental scientist and consultant. I completed my Master's of Science Degree in Environmental Management at the University of San Francisco in May, 2014. Food sustainability is an interest of mine and I thoroughly enjoyed researching alternatives to traditional food production.