A new study suggests that, in the case of global catastrophe, urban agriculture alone could sustain only about one fifth of the population of a temperate, median-sized city, but the whole city could be fed by also farming land within a short distance of the urban area.

Matt Boyd of Adapt Research Ltd, New Zealand, and Nick Wilson of the University of Otago, New Zealand, present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One.

Abrupt global catastrophes — such as nuclear wars, extreme pandemics, or solar storms — could severely hamper global trade. Shortages of resources like liquid fuels could disrupt food production and transport, possibly leading to famine. Prior research has suggested that this impact could be mitigated by urban agriculture, which includes such approaches as home, community, and rooftop gardens.

However, there is limited broad-scope research on this topic. To deepen understanding, Boyd and Wilson calculated estimates of the potential for urban and near-urban farming to meet the post-apocalyptic needs of Palmerston North, New Zealand, a median-sized city in a temperate climate that is fairly representative of many cities worldwide.

Using Google Earth image analysis, the researchers estimate that urban agriculture alone could only feed about one fifth of Palmerston North’s population. However, farming at least 1,140 hectares of additional near-urban land could ensure food security for the entire city. Dedicating another 110 hectares to biofuel production could also cover the city’s fuel needs for agricultural machinery.

The analysis suggests that, under a normal climate, peas are the best urban agriculture crop for maximizing protein and calories while minimizing land requirements. In scenarios of nuclear winter — global cooling caused by large-scale nuclear war — sugar beets and spinach are the frontrunners. Optimal near-urban crops are potatoes in a normal climate, and wheat and carrots in nuclear winter.

This study’s methods could be applied by other cities to assess their own food security and inform preparations to boost resilience in case of global crisis.

Lead author Dr. Matt Boyd, of Adapt Research, adds: “During a global catastrophe that disrupts trade, fuel imports could cease, severely impacting the industrial food production and transportation systems that keep our supermarket shelves filled. To survive, populations will need to dramatically localize food production in and around our cities. This research explores how we might do that.”

“Success depends on integrating food production into urban areas, protecting and making ready near-urban land, building local food processing infrastructure, ensuring seed availability and integrating food into our national security policy framework.”

As Texas Agriculture Commissioner and a lifelong rancher, I’ve seen firsthand how technology has transformed our farms and revamped the way we do business. Modern producers now utilize precision agriculture tools to monitor soil conditions, track livestock, optimize irrigation, and manage resources with unprecedented efficiency. To power virtually all of these essential innovations, we require access to Wi-Fi connectivity that relies on unlicensed spectrum.

In 2020, President Donald Trump and his Federal Communications Commission made a forward-thinking decision that has proven invaluable for Texas agriculture. By unanimously opening the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use, the FCC vastly expanded the airwaves available for Wi-Fi and similar technologies. This additional capacity couldn’t have arrived at a better time for Texas producers.

The economic impact has exceeded all expectations. In just 2023 and 2024, the economic value of Wi-Fi grew to $870 billion nationwide. By 2027, this figure is projected to reach $1.2 trillion in GDP contribution. This isn’t abstract economic theory; it’s real-world growth supporting over 7 million American jobs in 2023 alone.

In Texas, we’ve seen this lead directly to agricultural innovation. Our producers are deploying wireless sensor networks across thousands of acres to monitor soil moisture, nutrient levels, and crop health in real-time. Ranchers are using Wi-Fi-enabled tracking systems to oversee herd health and location. Processing facilities are implementing quality control systems that rely on dependable wireless connectivity. All these applications require substantial wireless capacity, which is precisely what the 6 GHz expansion provided.

These success stories share a common foundation: they rely on wireless capacity that has grown tremendously due to the 6 GHz decision. The additional spectrum has enabled rural broadband providers to deliver faster, more reliable service to remote operations. It has allowed farms and ranches to deploy more devices across larger areas and has supported the data-intensive applications that define modern agriculture.

The next generation of agricultural technology will require even greater wireless capacity. Autonomous equipment, artificial intelligence applications, and comprehensive digital farm management systems represent the future of competitive agriculture. These technologies will depend on Wi-Fi 7, which has been shown to double or potentially triple the throughput of the current generation of Wi-Fi.

However, Wi-Fi 7 needs additional spectrum in the 7 GHz band to reach its full potential. Without this spectrum, American agricultural producers risk losing their technological edge at a time when global competition is intensifying, and environmental challenges are mounting.

Policymakers should follow President Trump’s lead from 2020 and build on this success by protecting the existing 6 GHz allocation while expanding into portions of the 7 GHz band. Research shows this approach would generate an additional $79.6 billion in economic value between 2025 and 2027 alone and create 1.5 million additional American jobs by 2032.

The economic rationale for Texas agriculture is clear. Our producers compete in global markets where efficiency and productivity determine success. The technological tools enabled by sufficient unlicensed spectrum directly support our competitive position. When Texas farmers and ranchers can deploy cutting-edge systems across their operations, they maintain their status as the most productive agricultural producers in the world.

I’ve spent my career fighting for policies that empower rather than restrict Texas agriculture. The successful approach to spectrum policy that expanded the 6 GHz band is exactly the kind of government decision that creates opportunity without overregulation. By continuing this approach through the protection of existing allocations and thoughtful expansion into the 7 GHz band, we can ensure American agricultural producers remain the most innovative and productive on earth.

As we consider our nation’s spectrum strategy, let’s remember what’s at stake for American agriculture. The right decisions will support continued innovation, enhanced productivity, and sustainable resource management. The wrong decisions could hamstring our producers at a critical moment. For the sake of Texas agriculture and America’s food security, let’s choose the path of innovation and growth.

»Related: High-speed internet linked to more farms offering agritourism

An eighth-generation Texas farmer and rancher, Sid Miller is the 12th Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture. 

Earlier today, President Donald Trump and U.S. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new trade agreement. The deal promises to expand American access to UK markets, particularly for agriculture, energy, and aerospace, while establishing a framework for deeper economic cooperation between the longtime allies.

“This is now turning out to be, really, a great deal for both countries,” Trump said during a joint announcement. “Billions of dollars in new market access — especially for our farmers and ranchers. American beef, ethanol, and many other products will now reach British consumers more easily.”

The agreement creates a $5 billion export opportunity for U.S. producers, including more than $700 million in ethanol and $250 million in beef and other agricultural goods. A new 13,000 metric ton tariff-free quota for U.S. beef, elimination of ethanol tariffs, and reduced non-tariff barriers were among the key concessions from the UK.

Starmer said the agreement would “not only protect jobs, but create jobs,” calling it a strong foundation for future economic cooperation. “Eighty years ago, our nations stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight for freedom. Today, we stand united again — this time for prosperity.”

Today is Victory in Europe Day (or VE Day), and Starmer was referencing that event in 1945.

The agreement may set the tone for upcoming negotiations with other trading partners. “Switzerland and several others are already in touch,” Trump noted.

In 2024, total U.S.-UK goods trade amounted to $148 billion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports showed the UK imported $2.18 billion in U.S. agricultural products last year, making it the 13th largest destination for American ag exports. The UK is the world’s fifth-largest agricultural importer by value.

Michigan Farm Bureau President Ben LaCross welcomed the announcement amid ongoing concerns over the projected $49 billion U.S. ag trade deficit for 2025. “Hopefully this establishes a framework for reciprocal trade agreements that will benefit American agriculture.”

Trump’s administration framed the Economic Prosperity Deal as a turning point in the global trade landscape  — one that both commemorates past alliances and reinvigorates economic ties for a new era.