Understanding urban agriculture in context: environmental, social, and psychological benefits of agriculture in Singapore

Urban Farm DB summary

A study of a single urban agricultural initiative (UAI) in Singapore conducted in-depth interviews with 13 employees and volunteers, followed by a Q-sort of 36 statements drawn from those interviews with the same participants. Results identified environmental, social and psychological benefits including a genuine connection with nature and spillover into pro-environmental behavior, friendships and communication across diverse people, and increased self-awareness and gratitude. However, the UAI's economic impact in terms of employment and food production was impeded by its financial difficulties, and while both volunteers and employees perceived the psychosocial benefits, it was the employees who emphasized the financial difficulties.