City administrations and start-ups all over the world are working on developing better technologies for city farming. In the last 2 years in New York, the number of city farms and roof gardens rose from 700 to 900. High-tech vertical farms are functioning in Paris, Tokyo, Zurich, Vienna, and Singapore. Thousands of green sprouts are growing in former bomb shelters in London. Rotterdam created a floating farm with 40 cows grazing on football fields grass and which, on a daily basis, provides 1000 liters of milk. Moscow is creating pathways for city farming. Vertical farming market volume in 2017 reached $2,3B and by 2023, the 20% annual growth is expected to make it $7,5B. Such an explosion of interest in local food production has several drivers. Urban dwellers pay more attention to eating healthy. Moreover, people prefer buying sustainable food with low carbon footprints. Growing greens and vegetables on vertical farms to get food “From farm to fork” creates more resilient supply chains. Another immaterial yet important reason for such popularity is that such spaces shape a common ground for people to interact and communicate. Considering the growing share of loneliness and estrangement in big cities, these farms and gardens have a positive impact on citizens' mental health.

• What initiatives on local and seasonal produce are developing in the world?
• Does the trend for local and seasonal food need to be promoted? How to make this food more accessible and the process of production transparent and engaging citizens?
• Which regulative mechanisms should be applied in Russia? How can we stimulate city farming? What marketplaces are available for such edibles?