Optimizing agricultural land use options for complying with food demand: evidences from linear programming in a metropolitan area

Assessing the sustainability of urban agro-food systems is strictly linked with food provision capacities. Especially in metropolitan regions, where agriculture is continuously under pressure, deepening economic and policy implications of structural changes is particularly important. In this perspective, the paper proposes the use of an optimization model to indicate how reconciling agricultural activities and compliance with food demand at regional level. The approach relies on a scenario analysis carried out through a linear programming model. With regard to the Milan metropolitana area, five scenarios are performed, related to either different productive capacities or dietary habits, and the optimal allocation of agricultural resources in response of such modifications is returned.