Let us examine a set of common perceptions of the risks and problems associated with urban agriculture. These are presented below using a table based on categories of problem or risk, similar but not exactly the same as those we used in Module 5 for benefits. As is the case with benefits, there may be a multiplicity of risks and problems; these may vary depending on the different situations in which urban agriculture is practised and the type of urban agriculture employed.  Different stakeholders may have different views of risks and problems – reflecting among others their own interests and beliefs, as well as the knowledge available to them.

By the start of this century, scientific enquiry and evidence was beginning to accumulate on the risks and benefits of urban agriculture in order to develop a more coherent body of knowledge. It is therefore possible to present in this module a somewhat clear idea of what are the actual risks and problems of urban agriculture. Nevertheless, it is important to recognise the range of perceptions of different stakeholders involved in any planning or development process involving urban agriculture, and to facilitate and engage in debate about what is known and the limits of that knowledge.