Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Urban food system resilience has become a critical concern in the face of climatic crises, supply chain disruptions, global conflicts, and rapid urbanisation. Cities must therefore explore innovative ways to leverage urban spaces to enhance local food production capacity. This study quantifies the potential of various above-ground urban spatial resources in Stockholm to boost local food production capacity. By using digital surface model (DSM), building footprints, and land use datasets, the study mapped approximately 1,102 hectares of suitable urban spaces, including rooftops (642 ha), open-air parking lots (53 ha, assuming 10% conversion), community gardens (279 ha), and arable land (127 ha). To explore the food production potential of this spatial resource, a diversified 10-vegetable crop production model was developed, allocating greenhouse space (rooftops and parking lots) to high-value crops (e.g., tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, bell peppers, basil, and kale) and open field production to other root vegetables (e.g., potatoes, carrots, beets, and leek). The production model revealed that Stockholm’s urban spaces could produce approximately 229,407 tonnes of vegetables annually, based on the 10-vegetable crop model employed. This estimated production is substantially higher than the city’s current annual vegetable demand of 85,892 tonnes. The level of self-sufficiency per vegetable varied broadly from 15% for potatoes to 1,171% for lettuce. These findings provide an evidence base for integrating urban agriculture into municipal planning and food system policy by strategically mobilising spatial resources across Stockholm’s eleven districts. More broadly, this study offers a replicable analytical framework that can support urban policymakers and planners in other cities seeking to enhance resilience by identifying, quantifying, and realising the latent food production potential embedded within of their urban landscapes.</p>