Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
4469 results(1 / 179)
The role of venture-financed startups in innovation for US agriculture
2026Graff G. D., de Grazia C. A. W., Rada N. E. · American Journal of Agricultural Economics (early view) · United States
Compiles a unique dataset of 6,024 new agricultural entrants founded 1987-2019 detailing their financing lifecycle, empirically examining the role venture-financed startups and venture capital play in driving innovation across US agriculture and agtech.
EconomicsHow do cross-sector partnerships enable the participation of small retailers in urban food recovery and redistribution? Evidence from Italian cities
2026Bartezzaghi G., Quaglia S., Garrone P. · Agriculture and Human Values · Italy
Examines how cross-sector partnerships among public authorities, retailers, and nonprofits enable small neighborhood food retailers to participate in urban surplus food recovery and redistribution across major Italian cities.
CommunityEconomicsPolicy川崎市農業振興計画（案）〔概要版〕
2026川崎市 · 川崎市 農業振興計画 · Japan
Draft outline of Kawasaki's agricultural promotion plan showing over 120,000 sqm of citizen farms, Farmers Club experiences and local-food promotion via "Kawasaki Sodachi" through municipality-JA collaboration.
PolicyCommunityFood educationEconomicsUrban–rural linkage: an ecosystem governance perspective
2026IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management · IUCN · Global
Rethinks ecosystem governance across urban and rural landscapes, offering practical local and regional solutions and linking them to the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
BiodiversityPolicyUrban Microfarms: Hot or Cold Spots for Plants and Soil Biodiversity?
2026Joimel S., Grard B., Chenu C., Auclerc A., Bernard M., Mondy S., Dewulf L., Lelièvre M., El Mekdad F., Vieublé Gonod L. · European Journal of Soil Science · France (Paris)
Study of 12 urban microfarm plots in the Paris region found high intra- and inter-site variability in soil biological properties, with microfarm soils hosting lower bacterial diversity than forests or cultivated soils. Both ground-level and rooftop microfarms were surveyed.
BiodiversityOrganic cycleUrban gardening in Dhaka: Practices, constraints, and impacts
2026Akber M.A., Kumar S.S., Schreinemachers P. · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
Survey of 1,320 Dhaka households finds rooftop gardeners consume 19% more vegetables and 7% more fruit than non-gardeners, while women manage 83% of urban gardens; key constraints are knowledge gaps and pests.
HealthEconomicsCommunityDeveloping a Success Index for Urban Agriculture Implementation to Strengthen Food Security in Egypt
2026Ashraf M., Hussain H.R. · Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs · Egypt
Develops a success index for urban agriculture in Egypt, identifying distinct success factors for commercial farms (location, capital, licensing) versus household gardens (knowledge, community support). Concludes urban farming complements conventional agriculture by activating underused urban spaces, reducing food miles, and creating micro-enterprise opportunities.
Food educationCommunityEconomicsPolicyEducational sources and resource accessibility are drivers of pollinator management in urban farming systems
2026Jennifer Roedel, Karma Thomas, Zsofia Szendrei · Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems · United States
This study surveyed 74 urban growers to evaluate how grower and farm characteristics influence the implementation of eight common pollinator management strategies and overall farm crop richness. It found that demographic variables had no impact; instead, growers' decisions were shaped most by their sources of educational information and by resource use and accessibility, with online materials appearing more effective than hard-copy formats. The authors conclude that more accessible educational resources are needed for these historically underserved urban growers.
PollinatorsFood educationBiodiversityA landscape of opportunity? Vacant land, community gardens, and neoliberal green fixes in San Diego
2026Pascale Joassart-Marcelli · Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space · United States (San Diego)
Drawing on city planning documents, spatial data, and original fieldwork (site audits, surveys, interviews), this paper critically examines the political ecology of land access for urban agriculture in San Diego. It argues the city's "opportunity narrative" around vacant land obscures structural inequities, functioning as a neoliberal "green fix" that shifts responsibility for food access onto marginalized communities while treating land as a speculative commodity, and calls for a land justice framework centered on equity, secure tenure, and community self-determination.
PolicyCommunityEmploying a Community-Involved Process to Incorporate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education into Community-Supported Agriculture Sites
2026Bree Bode, Sarah Mott, Jacob M. Cutler, Marci Scott · Health Promotion Practice · United States (Michigan)
In Michigan, this project used a community-involved process—listening sessions, brainstorming, and shopper surveys—to build SNAP-Ed nutrition education for community-supported agriculture (CSA) sites that accept SNAP benefits. Key lessons were that educators need autonomy to tailor activities to their local context and that strong relationships between nutrition educators and CSA staff are essential. These lessons informed a resource called the CSA Food Navigator Playbook.
WelfareFood educationCommunityAbstract MPTU17: A Culturally Tailored, Fully Cost-Offset Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program To Improve Food Security And Diet In New York City
2026Madison LeCroy, Olivia Alleyne, Rhyden Dowd, Gareth Stacke, Gizan Denoon, Faven Araya, Yomaha Gordon, Kimberly Charles, Perla Chebli, Chau Trinh-Shevrin, Stella Yi · Circulation · United States (New York City)
This pilot evaluated the East Flatbush Produce Program, a 100% cost-offset, culturally tailored community-supported agriculture (CSA) program co-developed with community partners and a local rooftop farm in Brooklyn, New York, serving Afro-Caribbean and Latine residents with high food insecurity. Participants received weekly culturally tailored vegetables plus bilingual nutrition education; weekly pickup attendance was 62% and 71% at the two sites and mid-point satisfaction was high (96% would recommend). The authors conclude the program demonstrated the feasibility and community acceptability of a cost-offset CSA.
WelfareHealthCommunityAssessment of the Contribution of Agricultural Production Within Highly Urbanized Municipalities to Food Security in Guangdong, China
2026· Food and Energy Security · China (Guangdong)
Evaluates the contribution of local agricultural production to food security in highly urbanized municipalities of Guangdong, China, finding near-zero grain self-sufficiency and only limited vegetable surplus.
PolicyEconomicsFeasibility of Solar Energy for Lighting Vertical Farms in China: Techno-Economic and Environmental Views
2026· Modern Agriculture · China
An assessment of the feasibility of using solar energy to power lighting in vertical farms in China, examined from techno-economic and environmental perspectives.
EconomicsCitizen science provides insights on pollination services in urban community gardens
2026· BMC Ecology and Evolution · Germany (Berlin, Munich)
In collaboration with 73 gardeners across 22 gardens in Berlin and Munich, measured fruit set of 150 crops to examine how bee diversity and urbanization affect pollination services, using a citizen science approach.
PollinatorsCommunityDevelopment and Testing of a Low-Cost Soil Moisture Sensor for Real-Time Irrigation Scheduling
2026· Irrigation and Drainage · Global
Designs and tests a locally made low-cost Arduino-based soil moisture sensor for real-time irrigation scheduling, comparing and calibrating it against a commercial sensor and a conventional method in lab and field.
DIYEconomicsThe Effect of Gardening Activities Applied to Older People in a Nursing Home on Psychological Wellness and Depression: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Study
2026Kabakci, Uğur, Şengür · Public Health Nursing · Ordu, Türkiye
A single-blind randomized controlled trial with 46 older people in a nursing home in Türkiye tested the effect of gardening activities on psychological wellness and depression.
ElderlyHealthUrban Care Farming to Enhance Quality of Life Among Older Adults
2026Chen, C., Lam, J., Shi, Z., Akksilp, K., Aw, S., Chong, M.F.F. · JMIR Research Protocols · Asia
Randomized trial (n=137) of 24-week urban care farming program for older adults in Singapore. Measures quality of life, cognitive function, psychosocial well-being, and inflammatory biomarkers.
ElderlyWelfareHealthCommunityUnderstanding Pollination in Urban Food Production: The Importance of Data Validation and Participant Feedback for Citizen Science Project Design
2026Nicholls · Plants, People, Planet · Global
Addresses knowledge gaps in pollination needs for urban farming by developing citizen science methodology for monitoring plant-pollinator interactions. Found similarities between grower-collected and professional researcher data on most/least attractive crops to pollinators, but identified significant discrepancies highlighting limitations of grower-only data collection.
PollinatorsFood educationCommunityUrban community gardening for food security and climate resilience: Perspectives from gardeners in Johannesburg, South Africa
2026Johannesburg urban agriculture research collective · AIMS Press Urban Ecology & Sustainability Series · South Africa
Empirical study of household and shared community gardens in Johannesburg's underserved urban neighborhoods; demonstrates food security, nutrition, income, and climate resilience benefits of citizen-led urban farming.
CommunityWelfareDose-response efficacy of horticultural therapy for geriatric depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
2026· Frontiers in Public Health · Global (systematic review)
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examining the dose-response efficacy of horticultural therapy for geriatric depression.
ElderlyHealthRemediation of Contaminated Soils Using Organic Waste and Waste Products in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Technologies, Adoption and Challenges
2026· Soil Systems · Sub-Saharan Africa
Reviews remediation of contaminated soils in Sub-Saharan Africa using organic waste and waste-derived products as sustainable, cost-effective amendments amid soil contamination driven partly by urban expansion.
CompostOrganic cycleFood safety, power, and produce gleaning in California: insights from community food recovery networks
2026Chiarella C., Lamoureaux Y., Pires A., Surls R., Bennaton R., Van Soelen-Kim J., Grady S., De Melo Ramos T., Koundinya V., DiCaprio E. · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · California, USA
Examines produce gleaning within California's community food recovery networks, focusing on food safety and power dynamics in redistributing would-be-wasted produce.
Food lossCommunityWelfareComparing controlled-environment-urban agriculture to conventional agriculture across Canada
2026· Agronomy for Sustainable Development · Canada
A life-cycle assessment of controlled-environment urban lettuce found climate-change impacts ranging from 0.8 to 25 times those of conventional lettuce because of high energy demand; in carbon-intensive grids such as Alberta, per-kilogram emissions exceeded conventional agriculture.
PolicyEconomicsPrediction of Energy Consumption and Energy Savings in an Urban Vertical Farm Benchmark
2026Xie S., Martinez-Vazquez P., Baniotopoulos C. · Energy Science & Engineering · United Kingdom
An energy analysis of an urban vertical-farm benchmark integrating cultivation, storage, transport and office functions quantifies the substantial energy demand of urban vertical farming, underscoring its high operational energy burden absent savings measures.
EconomicsPolicyVertical farming economics: crop performance targets for cost-competitive vertical farming
2026· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Global
The paper states the economic competitiveness of vertical farming is strongly contested and hinges on cutting energy and capital costs, deriving demanding crop-performance targets that must be met for cost-competitiveness, implying current systems are not competitive.
Economics