Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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HEAVY METALS IN FOOD CROPS: IDEAL SOURCES AND ROLES OF URBAN AGRICULTURE IN FACILITATING THEIR CONSUMPTION- A REVIEW
2021Nazir Muhammad Abdullahi, Ernest Chukwusoro IGWE, Munir Abba Dandago, Naima Umar · FUDMA Journal of Sciences · Global
This review discusses heavy metal contamination in food crops, identifying wastewater irrigation, agrochemical abuse, contaminated fields, atmospheric deposition, and unethical mining as primary sources. Agricultural soil in urban and peri-urban areas is heavily contaminated due to anthropogenic activities, with wastewater irrigation intensifying this contamination. Heavy metals are transferred to food crops during production and subsequently to humans upon consumption, posing a detrimental risk.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageHeavy metals and metalloids concentrations across UK urban horticultural soils and the factors influencing their bioavailability to food crops
2021Marta Crispo, Miriam C. Dobson, Roscoe S. Blevins, William Meredith, Janice A. Lake, Jill L. Edmondson · Environmental Pollution · United Kingdom
Heavy metal (HM) and metalloid concentrations were assessed in 200 urban horticultural soils across ten UK cities. HM were found to be widespread, with most concentrations below UK soil screening values (C4SLs). However, 83% of lead (Pb) concentrations exceeded C4SLs, which is a significant concern. Bioavailable HM concentrations represented a small fraction (0.01–1.8%) of total concentrations, and black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC) were suggested to contribute to HM immobilization.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityBiodiversityUrban wastewater for agriculture : farmers’ perspectives from peri-urban Bengaluru
2021Seema Purushothaman, Sheetal Patil, Raghvendra S. Vanjari, A. R. Shwetha · · India (Bengaluru)
A participatory assessment in Byramangala, Bengaluru, explored farmers' perspectives on using wastewater (domestic sewage with industrial effluents) for irrigation. The study found that farmers were adapting to a heavily polluted environment, which resulted in restricted crop choices, lower produce prices, health impacts, and socio-cultural consequences. Despite concerns about water quality, farmers prioritized health-imparting agriculture and were keen to continue farming, but their preference for treated wastewater was overshadowed by its potential diversion for urban use.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureHealthClimate changeEconomicsCultivando relações no Arranjo Local da Penha: A mobilização de mulheres a partir das práticas de agricultura urbana na favela
2021Mariana Portilho, Camila Rodrigues, Annelise Caetano Fraga Fernandez · Cidades, comunidades e território/Cidades comunidades e territórios · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
This study describes the formation of Arranjo Local da Penha, a community network created in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro's Penha favela complex, focused on urban agriculture and led by women. Through fieldwork and participant observation, the study analyzed themes of women and agroecology, health, and healthy eating. The network promoted women's empowerment and access to healthy food, but faced limits in the mobilization and development of urban agriculture.
Governance failureCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthWelfareUrban–rural linkageFirst report of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus infecting tomato in Florida, USA
2021K. K. Dey, Maria Velez-Climent, P. Soria, Özgur Batuman, Vessela Mavrodieva, Guo Wei, Jun Zhou, Scott Adkins, John D. McVay · New Disease Reports · United States (Florida)
In October 2019, Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) was detected in six of eight symptomatic tomato plants from a 1.6 ha community garden in Alachua County, Florida. The plants also showed symptoms of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), with three samples testing positive for TYLCV. This marks the first report of ToBRFV infecting tomatoes in Florida, USA.
Contamination & food safetyCommunityHealthThe Collective Fabric of Sustainable Management of Mining Sites to Reconcile Sensitive Land Uses and Human Health
2021Camille Dumat · Aspects in Mining & Mineral Science · Global
This paper discusses the negative environmental and health impacts of mining, such as air and soil pollution, despite its socio-economic benefits. It highlights that urban agriculture, particularly in areas near former mining sites, faces challenges regarding soil quality and the production of unpolluted vegetables due to public concerns about contamination.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureHealthCommunityClimate Change and Fecal Peril
2021Ahmed Khadra · IGI Global eBooks · Global
This chapter examines the health effects of climate change, specifically focusing on the global issue of fecal peril caused by intestinal parasites. It suggests that water shortages, driven by climate change, increase pressure on water resources, leading to greater use of urban wastewater for irrigation in urban agriculture. Unsafe management and inappropriate wastewater use are likely to exacerbate the transmission of infectious diseases, including those caused by intestinal protozoa and helminths.
Contamination & food safetyHealthClimate changeOrganic cycleIncreasing City Resilience through Urban Agriculture: Challenges and Solutions in the Global North
2021Boglarka Z. Gulyas, Jill L. Edmondson · Sustainability · Global North
A systematic review of literature on urban agriculture (UA) in the Global North identified factors determining its success in enhancing city resilience and challenges limiting it. UA's success in increasing city resilience was defined as dependent on five factors: institutional and public support, a sufficient knowledge base, communication and collaboration among actors, and resourcefulness in efficient space and resource use. However, comprehensive assessments of UA's potential are still lacking, suggesting challenges in its effective implementation.
Governance failureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceHealthCommunityHORTAS ESCOLARES: PARÂMETROS PEDAGÓGICOS PARA RECURSOS MATERIAIS E ESTRUTURA FÍSICA
2021ELIZABETE CRISTINA RIBEIRO SILVA JARDIM · Editora Realize eBooks · Brazil
This research analyzed Brazilian school garden experiences across three document sets, identifying procedures and resources incongruent with stated counter-hegemonic objectives. The study found structural inadequacies for the school space and omissions regarding the protection and safety of farmers and students during activities. It recommends adjustments to location, spatial organization, and material resources for school gardens to ensure the health of food producers.
Governance failureFood educationCommunityHealthPolicyDifferences in the Content of Zn Fractions in the Profiles of Soils from Allotment and Domestic Gardens in South-Eastern Poland
2021Iwona Makuch-Pietraś, A. Wójcikowska-Kapusta · Land · Poland
This research investigated the distribution, bioavailability, and total forms of zinc (Zn) in soils from domestic and family allotment gardens across six cities in south-eastern Poland. It found that horticultural treatments had a greater impact on sandy soils, and higher Zn contents were present in humus horizons. High values of concentration and Igeo indices indicated significant Zn pollution in these soils, with bioavailable zinc forms being notably high.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityOccurrence and Determination of Antimicrobial Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates in Fish and Vegetables as Indicator Organism of Faecal Contamination in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
2021Francis Mwanza, Erick Komba, Dominic Kambarage · International Journal of Microbiology · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
This study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, investigated the occurrence, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic relatedness of E. coli isolates from 156 samples of manure, vegetables, and fish. Of these, 36 samples (23.1%) were positive for E. coli, yielding 48 isolates. A significant finding was that 25 (52.1%) of these isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, and 12 (48.0%) showed multidrug resistance, indicating a potential microbial health risk to humans through contamination.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleCommunityExpanding Dengue Vectors Through the Border of Dhaka City: Vector Breeding Grounds in Gazipur City Corporation, Bangladesh
2021GM Saifur Rahman, Tahmina Akter · Bangladesh Journal of Zoology · Bangladesh
An entomological study in September 2019 examined 100 houses across five areas of Gazipur City Corporation, Bangladesh, to identify dengue vector breeding grounds. Both Aedes vectors were found in all areas, with Aedes aegypti being dominant. Rooftop gardens and under-construction sites were identified as the most important breeding sites, and the study found a comparatively higher number of Ae. aegypti breeding, indicating a potential for a major outbreak.
Environmental trade-offsHealthChromium Laden Soil, Water, and Vegetables nearby Tanning Industries: Speciation and Spatial Distribution
2021Adugnaw Maru Gezahegn, Fekadu Fufa, Esayas Alemayehu, Abebe Beyene · Journal of Chemistry · Ethiopia (Modjo city)
This study investigated the spatial distribution and speciation of chromium in water, soil, and edible plants in tannery-contaminated areas of Modjo city, Ethiopia. Total chromium in the Modjo River was 20.6 mg L−1 upstream, and soil Cr (III) and Cr (VI) concentrations were found to be higher than guideline values. Chromium concentrations in edible plants were also significantly higher than in control areas, with roots accumulating more chromium than leaves and fruits. It was concluded that water, soil, and edible plants in this area contain chromium concentrations higher than recommended for a healthy environment and human consumption.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkagePotentially Toxic Trace Elements in the Urban Soils of Santiago de Compostela (Northwestern Spain)
2021Cecilia Herbón, María Teresa Barral, Remigio Paradelo · Applied Sciences · Spain (Santiago de Compostela)
The concentrations of trace elements Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, and As were investigated in 55 urban soils in Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain. While most soils showed higher trace element concentrations than regional backgrounds, they were not classified as contaminated according to Spanish regulations. However, geoaccumulation index values indicated low to moderate pollution levels in most soils, with Cu, Pb, and Zn highest in city center green areas, and Cr and Ni linked to parent material lithology.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleCommunityGrassroots Sustainability in a Concrete Landscape
2021Christina Ergas · · United States
This chapter explores urban ecovillages in the United States, highlighting challenges faced by ecovillagers in a neoliberal context. It examines cultural conflicts between sustainability and consumer culture, and points out the exclusive, upper-class, white nature of the local food movement in the US. Monetary and time constraints have made local organic food an elite phenomenon, often cited as a first step to gentrification in urban communities.
Equity & displacementCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsClimate changeHealthThe cultural economy of human waste reuse: perspectives from peri-urban Karnataka, India
2021Zachary Burt, C. Shambu Prasad, Pay Drechsel, Isha Ray · Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development · India (Karnataka)
A preference-ranking model was developed to understand the acceptance of fecal sludge-derived fertilizer (FSF) in Karnataka, India, by modeling farmowners and farmworkers separately. The study found that farmers willing to use FSF prefer to conceal its origins from workers and their caste group, especially caste-adhering, vegetarian farmowners. Workers were open to FSF if it resembled cow manure, revealing that the waste economy in rural India is shaped by unacknowledged caste hierarchies and practices.
Equity & displacementOrganic cyclePeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsHealthCommunityPhytoavailability of Lead for Vegetables in Urban Garden Soils
2021Chammi P. Attanayake, Ganga M. Hettiarachchi, Mónica Palomo, Gary M. Pierzynski, Blanca Calderón · ACS Agricultural Science & Technology · United States
The effect of limestone and composted manure on lead (Pb) in vegetables and Pb bioaccessibility was assessed in a contaminated urban garden (total Pb ~200 mg kg⁻¹). Amendments did not affect Pb in vegetables or Pb bioaccessibility. Peeling reduced Pb concentration in radish by half, and removing surface dust reduced Pb in leafy vegetables by 40-50%. Daily Pb intake from consuming lettuce and carrot/beetroot from this garden was approximately 1.5 times higher than the interim reference level proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCompostCommunityTrinity assessment method applied to heavy-metal contamination in peri-urban soil–crop systems: A case study in northeast China
2021Xingjia Wang, Wenbo Li, Dongyan Wang, Songze Wu, Zhuoran Yan, Jiaqi Han · Ecological Indicators · China
A 'trinity' assessment method was developed to evaluate heavy-metal contamination in peri-urban soil–crop systems in Northeast China, covering total, available, and accumulated heavy metals. While traditional methods indicated less contamination, the trinity method revealed spatial clustering of heavy-metal contamination in cultivated lands caused by urbanization and industrialization, and a decreasing urban–rural trend in contaminated areas, particularly in transition zones.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureHealth“It’s one of the few things that … pulls us together when the outside world is really tough.” Exploring the outcomes and challenges of a charity-led community garden in a disadvantaged English city
2021Sam Ramsden · Local Environment · United Kingdom (England)
This article analyzes a charity-led community gardening project in a disadvantaged northern English community, which operated for three years with external funding. While it successfully engaged marginalized people, leading to increased skills, confidence, reduced isolation, and improved wellbeing, the project faced significant challenges requiring professional management. Crucially, after the funding ended, the community garden's future was fragile, and the long-term sustainability of outcomes for marginalized participants was vulnerable due to economic viability issues.
Economic viabilityCommunityHealthWelfareEconomicsPolicyProximity of Urban Farms to Hazards With and Without Heavy Metal Contamination in Baltimore, Maryland
2021Jonathan Hall, Isabel Shargo, Niya Khanjar, Jianna Howard, Laura Schmidt, Ashley Deng, Camryn Edwards, Isabelle Berman, Joseph Galarraga, Sacoby Wilson · Environmental Justice · United States
This study in Baltimore, Maryland, used GIS mapping and spatial analysis to assess the proximity of urban farms to environmental hazards, including those with heavy metal contamination. Analyses indicated that contamination of urban farms is a possibility due to proximity: more environmental hazards were found in census tracts with urban farms, and low-income communities of color had hazards near urban farms. Historically industrial areas showed a higher concentration of environmental hazards with heavy metal or unknown contamination.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityUrban–rural linkagePolicyAs exigências cognitivas e a complexidade do trabalho para o agricultor urbano: um estudo de caso
2021Larissa Maas, Leila Amaral Gontijo · Saúde e Sociedade · Global
This case study investigated the cognitive demands and work complexity for urban organic farmers whose main economic activity is selling their products. The findings indicate that the cognitive load for these farmers is high, contributing to complex work. The study notes a lack of existing research on the cognitive load of organic urban agriculture workers, as it is still a nascent movement.
Limited or null effectEconomicsHealthPolicyProximity of Urban Farms to Contaminated Sites in Baltimore, Maryland
2021Isabel Shargo, Jonathan Hall, Ashley Deng, Niya Khanjar, Camryn Edwards, Isabelle Berman, Joseph Galarraga, Sacoby Wilson · Landscape Journal · United States (Baltimore)
This study in Baltimore, Maryland, used GIS mapping and hotspot analysis to assess the proximity of urban farms to environmental hazards. Most urban farms were located in low-income communities of color. However, most environmental hazards were not near urban farms but in predominantly White areas or historical industrial centers. Despite a generally low risk of contamination, some urban farms in low-income and Black/African American communities were potentially contaminated by hazardous sites.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityTo What Extent Do Local Farmers' Markets, Community Supported Agriculture Programs, and Community Gardens Help Low-Income Families Improve Access to Fresh, Local Produce?
2021Christy Gene Somsen · Digital Commons - USU (Utah State University) · United States (Utah)
Farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, and community gardens, while aiming to help low-income families access fresh produce, often assist more middle-class families. In Utah, these programs could be improved, as the state does not utilize the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program or accept WIC Cash Value Vouchers, and has few Farm to School Programs.
Equity & displacementCommunityCSA & TeikeiWelfareHealthPolicyFood educationA Multi-Sectoral Approach Improves Early Child Development in a Disadvantaged Community in Peru: Role of Community Gardens, Nutrition Workshops and Enhanced Caregiver-Child Interaction: Project "Wawa Illari"
2020Doris González-Fernández, Ana Sofía Mazzini Salom, Fermina Herrera Bendezu, Sonia Huamán, Bertha Rojas Hernández, Illène Pevec, Eliana Mariana Galarza Izquierdo, Nicoletta Armstrong, Virginia Thomas, Sonia Vela Gonzáles, Carlos Gonzáles Saravia, Marilyn E. Scott, Kristine G. Koski · Frontiers in Public Health · Peru (Lima)
In peripheral settlements of the Pachacámac district of metropolitan Lima, Peru, community health promoters delivered a sequence of (1) home and community gardens, (2) 'conscious nutrition' and (3) parenting workshops (ICDP), comparing 113 children aged 0–3 in intervention communities with 127 in control communities at baseline, 8 and 12 months. The interventions significantly reduced the risk of food insecurity (adjusted risk ratio 0.20, 95% CI 0.08–0.51) and of language delay (0.39, 0.19–0.82), but did not significantly improve motor or social/cognitive delay. Multiple micronutrient supplement use lowered motor delay risk (0.12), while households with more pets had higher risk of motor delay (3.24), social/cognitive delay (2.72) and food insecurity (1.73). Because gardens were bundled with nutrition and parenting components, the contribution of the gardens alone cannot be isolated.
Limited or null effectHealthFood educationCommunityWelfare“Sow, Grow, Know, and Show”: The Impact of School Gardens on Student Self-Perception in the Mississippi Delta
2020Emily A. Holmes, Mary F. Campbell, Wesley James, Karen Matthews · Ecology of Food and Nutrition · United States (Mississippi Delta)
This research evaluated the impact of school garden programs on fifth-grade students' garden knowledge, self-perception, and standardized test scores in the Mississippi Delta. The study found no effect on standardized test scores, but students showed increased garden knowledge and reported positive feelings about their future, teamwork, and leadership ability, supported by observations of joy and confidence.
Limited or null effectFood educationHealthCommunity