When you think about where your food comes from, you probably imagine fields in the countryside with animals and tractors. But more and more of our food is actually being produced in towns and cities. According to a report released earlier this year, urban farming is a rapidly growing global business that is already worth over $5 billion. The report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations found that this growth has been made possible by high-tech farming systems, such as indoor vertical farms with LED lights and remote-controlled robots. In some ways, urban farms can be better for the environment. Because of their controlled environments, farms inside greenhouses or buildings use less water and land, and require fewer or even zero pesticides. Because city buildings and roads absorb and hold heat, cities often experience a heat island effect with much higher temperatures than surrounding areas. But urban farms can help reduce this effect. For example, when food is grown on rooftops, the plants can help keep the buildings cool, which also helps cut energy costs by reducing the need for air conditioning. Another big benefit is that food grown in the city can be eaten right there, it doesn't need to be sent long distances, and this reduces its carbon footprint. One problem of farms inside greenhouses or buildings is that they require a lot of energy to run. So it's better for the planet, and probably more affordable for urban farmers, if they use renewable energy like solar or wind power. A study done in 2018 found that urban farms were already producing between 5% and 10% of the world's vegetables. And an Australian study published in August found that urban farming can improve global food security. When we consider how to feed the world's growing population, it seems that urban farming has an important role to play.