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Global warming

Sustainable Food Production and Transportation Framework Reduces GHG Emissions by 98%

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A new research study developed an integrated framework to reduce GHG emissions from food miles and enhance urban food security. The framework combines the 15-minute city concept, urban agriculture, and a renewable-energy-powered green transportation (GT) system to create a scalable, holistic approach to sustainable food production and distribution within neighborhoods. The study demonstrated that using 15% of roof, facade, and lot spaces can yield an achieved annual food self-sufficiency of 100% and reduce CO2 emissions by 98% from the base case.

Key Takeaways:

  • The integrated framework combines three strategies: the 15-minute city concept, urban agriculture, and a renewable-energy-powered green transportation (GT) system.
  • Financial support for this research came from Volt-Age, Seed funds.
  • The study proposed a Food Production and Transportation Framework, modeling vegetable cultivation across rooftops, facades, and lot spaces, with optimized allocations based on a tailored Food Production Schedule.
  • Results demonstrated that using 15% of roof, facade, and lot spaces yields an achieved annual food self-sufficiency of 100%.
  • The transportation system operates with a single GT unit powered by 98 m2 of sidewalk-integrated photovoltaics (PVs), reducing CO2 emissions by 98% from the base case.
  • Economic analysis indicates a payback period of 2.8 years, with the cost of PV-generated electricity estimated at C$0.92/kWh.
  • This framework advances multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
  • The study was conducted by researchers at Concordia University, led by Md Faisal Kabir, Gina Cody Sch Engn & Comp Sci, Dept. of Building Civil and Environmental Engineering.
  • Additional researchers involved in the study include Mahnoor Fatima Sohail and Caroline Hachem-Vermette.

Statistics:

  • 15% of roof, facade, and lot spaces yields an achieved annual food self-sufficiency of 100%.
  • 98 m2 of sidewalk-integrated photovoltaics (PVs) power a single GT unit, reducing CO2 emissions by 98% from the base case.
  • A payback period of 2.8 years, with the cost of PV-generated electricity estimated at C$0.92/kWh.
  • CO2 emissions reduced by 98% from the base case.

Sources:

  • Adapting the 15-minute City To North America: a Framework for Neighborhood Clusters With Urban Agriculture and Green Mobility. Sustainability, 2025;17(18):8196.
  • Md Faisal Kabir, Gina Cody Sch Engn & Comp Sci, Dept. of Building Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Pq H3G 1M8, Canada.
  • Mdpi, St Alban-Anlage 66, Ch-4052 Basel, Switzerland.

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