A team of researchers estimated how much of the food demand of Chicago could be met by maximizing urban agriculture, and how much adjacent land would be required to produce the rest.
Models suggest that, under current urban agricultural production conditions, meeting the nutritional needs of Chicago inhabitants remains unfeasible within a radius under 400 miles.
However, Vitamin D and vitamin B12 fortifications could significantly reduce extra crop land needed, and thereby augment urban agriculture’s contribution to local food security.