Sustainable agriculture in urban areas has become an increasingly important topic in recent years, reflecting growing concerns about food security, environmental sustainability, and urban development. This theme has appeared in various forms in IELTS Writing Task 2 questions, and its relevance is likely to increase in future exams. Let’s explore this topic through sample essays and in-depth analysis to help you prepare for your IELTS Writing Task 2.
Analyzing the Topic and Its Relevance
The importance of sustainable agriculture in urban areas intersects with several key global issues, including urbanization, climate change, and food security. This makes it a prime candidate for IELTS Writing Task 2 questions, which often focus on contemporary global challenges. Based on recent trends, we can expect to see questions related to this topic appearing with increasing frequency in future IELTS exams.
Let’s consider a potential IELTS Writing Task 2 question on this subject:
Some people believe that urban agriculture is crucial for sustainable cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Question Analysis
This question asks for your opinion on the importance of urban agriculture in creating sustainable cities. Key points to consider:
- The meaning of “urban agriculture”
- The concept of “sustainable cities”
- The potential benefits and challenges of urban agriculture
- Your personal stance on the issue
Remember to provide a clear position, support it with relevant examples, and consider potential counterarguments.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Urban agriculture has gained significant attention in recent years as a potential solution to various challenges faced by modern cities. While some argue that it is essential for urban sustainability, I largely agree with this viewpoint, believing that urban farming practices can contribute substantially to creating more resilient and environmentally friendly urban environments.
Firstly, urban agriculture can play a crucial role in enhancing food security within cities. As urban populations continue to grow rapidly, ensuring a stable and accessible food supply becomes increasingly challenging. By utilizing vacant lots, rooftops, and even vertical spaces for food production, cities can reduce their dependence on distant food sources and minimize the environmental impact of long-distance transportation. For instance, Singapore has successfully implemented rooftop farming initiatives, which not only provide fresh produce but also help to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Moreover, urban agriculture can significantly contribute to environmental sustainability. Green spaces created by urban farms can help absorb carbon dioxide, reduce air pollution, and improve biodiversity within cities. Additionally, these spaces can aid in stormwater management by increasing permeable surfaces and reducing runoff. A prime example is the Brooklyn Grange in New York City, which operates large rooftop farms that not only produce food but also help manage millions of gallons of stormwater annually.
Furthermore, urban agriculture can foster community engagement and education. Community gardens and urban farms can serve as educational hubs, teaching residents about sustainable food production, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. This can lead to increased awareness of environmental issues and promote more sustainable lifestyles among urban dwellers. The Prinzessinnengarten in Berlin, for instance, has become a thriving community space that combines food production with educational programs and cultural events.
However, it is important to acknowledge that urban agriculture alone cannot solve all sustainability challenges faced by cities. Issues such as energy consumption, waste management, and transportation still require comprehensive strategies and technological innovations. Additionally, the implementation of urban agriculture on a large scale may face obstacles such as limited space, soil contamination, and regulatory hurdles.
In conclusion, while urban agriculture should not be seen as a panacea for all urban sustainability issues, I firmly believe that it is a crucial component in creating more sustainable cities. Its potential to enhance food security, improve environmental conditions, and foster community engagement makes it an invaluable tool in urban planning and development. As cities continue to grow and evolve, integrating urban agriculture into their fabric will be essential for building resilient, sustainable urban environments for future generations.
(Word count: 407)
Essay Analysis (Band 8-9)
This essay demonstrates excellent qualities that justify a high band score:
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Task Response: The essay clearly addresses all parts of the task, presenting a well-developed argument with relevant examples.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The ideas are logically organized with clear progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of urban agriculture, and appropriate linking words are used throughout.
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Lexical Resource: The essay uses a wide range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately. Complex phrases like “urban heat island effect” and “stormwater management” demonstrate a high level of language proficiency.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay showcases a wide range of grammatical structures used accurately. Complex sentences are well-formed, and there are no noticeable errors.
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Examples: The essay provides specific, relevant examples (Singapore’s rooftop farming, Brooklyn Grange, Prinzessinnengarten) that strongly support the arguments.
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Balanced View: While largely agreeing with the statement, the essay acknowledges potential limitations of urban agriculture, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the topic.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
In recent years, many people have started talking about urban agriculture as a way to make cities more sustainable. I agree that urban agriculture is important for sustainable cities, but I think it’s not the only solution.
One reason why urban agriculture is important is that it can help provide food for people in cities. As more people move to cities, it becomes harder to feed everyone. By growing food in cities, we can produce some of our own food and reduce the need to transport food from far away. For example, in some cities, people are growing vegetables on rooftops or in community gardens.
Another benefit of urban agriculture is that it can make cities greener and healthier. Plants can help clean the air and reduce pollution. Also, when people grow their own food, they often become more interested in eating healthy and taking care of the environment. This can lead to a more sustainable lifestyle overall.
Urban agriculture can also bring communities together. When people work together in community gardens, they get to know their neighbors and feel more connected to their community. This can make cities more pleasant places to live and can even help reduce crime.
However, urban agriculture alone cannot solve all the problems of sustainable cities. There are other important issues like transportation, energy use, and waste management that also need to be addressed. Also, not everyone has the space or time to grow their own food, so we still need to rely on traditional farming methods.
In conclusion, I believe that urban agriculture is an important part of making cities more sustainable, but it’s not the only solution. We need to combine urban agriculture with other sustainable practices to create truly sustainable cities for the future.
(Word count: 295)
Essay Analysis (Band 6-7)
This essay demonstrates good qualities that align with a Band 6-7 score:
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Task Response: The essay addresses the main parts of the task and presents a clear position. However, the ideas could be further developed and supported with more specific examples.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized with clear paragraphing. Basic cohesive devices are used, but there could be more sophisticated linking of ideas.
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Lexical Resource: The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with some attempt at using less common lexical items. However, the range could be wider, and some expressions are repetitive.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. There are no major grammatical errors, but the range could be broader.
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Examples: While the essay provides some examples, they are general rather than specific. More detailed, concrete examples would strengthen the argument.
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Balanced View: The essay acknowledges both the benefits of urban agriculture and its limitations, showing a balanced perspective on the topic.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
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Urban agriculture (noun) – /ˈɜːrbən ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃər/ – The practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas.
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Sustainable (adjective) – /səˈsteɪnəbl/ – Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level without depleting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage.
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Food security (noun phrase) – /fuːd sɪˈkjʊərəti/ – The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
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Biodiversity (noun) – /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/ – The variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat.
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Resilient (adjective) – /rɪˈzɪliənt/ – Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
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Stormwater management (noun phrase) – /ˈstɔːmwɔːtər ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ – The effort to reduce runoff of rainwater or melted snow into streets, lawns and other sites.
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Urban heat island effect (noun phrase) – /ˈɜːrbən hiːt ˈaɪlənd ɪˈfekt/ – A phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural surroundings.
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Community engagement (noun phrase) – /kəˈmjuːnəti ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ – The process of working collaboratively with community groups to address issues that impact the well-being of the community.
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Environmental stewardship (noun phrase) – /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl ˈstjuːərdʃɪp/ – The responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices.
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Vertical farming (noun phrase) – /ˈvɜːtɪkl ˈfɑːmɪŋ/ – The practice of producing food in vertically stacked layers, often incorporating controlled-environment agriculture technology.
Conclusion
The topic of sustainable agriculture in urban areas is likely to remain relevant in IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. As you prepare for your exam, consider practicing with similar questions, such as:
- “How can urban agriculture contribute to solving food security issues in large cities?”
- “Do you think vertical farming is a viable solution for sustainable food production in urban areas?”
- “Some people argue that urban agriculture is not efficient enough to make a significant impact on food production. Do you agree or disagree?”
Remember to structure your essays clearly, use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and support your arguments with relevant examples. Feel free to practice writing an essay on one of these topics and share it in the comments section for feedback and discussion. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!