Cities now house more than half of the world’s population and account for around 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making urban design a central challenge in addressing the climate crisis. In Brazil, urban planners are experimenting with a new model of development known as the “agrihood,” which aims to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of towns and cities while restoring ecosystems and strengthening communities.
Traditional urban expansion has often occurred with little planning, leading to problems such as flooding, heat islands, water scarcity and a growing separation between urban populations and nature. As cities expand into surrounding farmland and forests, this disconnect has contributed to deforestation, higher emissions and reduced awareness of where food comes from.
Urban planner Marcia Mikai and her team at Pentagrama Projetos em Sustentabilidade e Regeneração believe agrihoods offer an alternative to unsustainable sprawl. Their approach integrates agroforestry systems with mixed-use residential spaces, environmental education areas and shared green zones, allowing urban growth to actively support ecosystem restoration rather than undermine it.
The model is already being implemented in several Brazilian cities, including São Paulo, where rapid metropolitan expansion has blurred the line between urban and rural areas. By regenerating degraded land previously used for unsustainable practices, agrihoods combine sustainable food production with housing and community spaces, creating neighbourhoods that are both environmentally and economically viable.
Agrihoods are designed to work alongside natural systems by reintroducing native and edible plant species that cool urban areas, reduce flood risks and help replenish groundwater. These biodiverse environments provide habitats for wildlife, absorb carbon from the atmosphere and reconnect residents with locally produced food and shared community life.
Supporters argue that agrihoods deliver multiple social and environmental benefits, including improved food security, water conservation, biodiversity protection and inclusive living spaces that bring together people of different ages and income levels. The concept reflects a broader shift toward embedding nature directly into everyday urban life.
The approach aligns with findings from the UN Environment Programme, which highlight the economic and environmental returns of investing in nature-positive solutions. While far more money currently flows into activities that harm ecosystems, advocates say agrihoods demonstrate how rethinking urban development can help cities adapt to climate change while offering a more hopeful and resilient vision for the future.
