Research & reports

Belma Soto-Fernández, Lurys Bourdett-Stanziola · Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research · Latin America

A documentary review on the importance of urban gardening in Latin America revealed that urban gardening, when approached through the lens of agrobiodiversity, has become a key strategy for safe food production and environmental sustainability. However, it was found that several Latin American countries lack clear and established laws to regulate this activity. Preliminary evidence of rotavirus was detected in fresh vegetables from an urban garden in Panama, indicating that urban gardens can become infection foci capable of causing diseases of public health and veterinary importance.

Lena Schmeiduch, Émile Thévenot · International Review of Education · Global

This study explored the potential for lifelong learning within sustainability-led initiatives, such as ecovillages and community-supported agriculture, through the theoretical lens of Noah Sobe's four pillars of lifelong education. While these initiatives offer opportunities to address sustainability-related challenges, their insular nature and limited accessibility have drawn criticism in the literature on sustainability transitions. The analysis suggests that these initiatives and lifelong learning agendas frequently converge in their framing of sustainability issues.

Gideon Baffoe, Philip Antwi‐Agyei · City and Environment Interactions · Ghana (Accra)

This mixed-methods study analyzed the role of urban agriculture (UA) in climate resilience in Accra, Ghana, from the perspective of policymakers. While UA contributes to food security, water use efficiency, and ecological protection, its integration into policy frameworks was found to be limited due to challenges such as weak institutional coordination, competing economic priorities, and governance inefficiencies.

M. J. Ni, Shuai Yan, Ting Li, Zijun Zhou, Xiaojing Liu, Shirong Zhang, Guiyin Wang, Xiaoxun Xu, Yulin Pu, Yongxia Jia, Lan Li · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · China (Chengdu)

This study investigated heavy metal (HM) contamination in urban and peri-urban agricultural soils of the Chengdu Plain, China, using an integrated multi-model approach. Four major HM sources were identified, including natural (30.0%), mixed agricultural and transportation (29.5%), metal smelting (19.4%), and atmospheric deposition (21.1%). Risk assessments revealed that Cd and Hg posed the highest ecological risks, and human health risk assessment indicated unacceptable health risks for children, with non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk probabilities reaching 4% and 10% respectively.

Fuchaka Waswa, Duncan Gichabe, Ruth Kahuthıa-Gathu · Journal of the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO · Kenya (Ruiru)

This study investigated land use changes in Ruiru Sub-County, Kenya, from 1988 to 2024 using GIS. By 2024, agricultural land had decreased by 45.62%, while urban land use increased by 509%, and bare/rocky areas rose by 133% due to abandoned stone mining. The decline in agricultural land leads to reduced industrial crop areas and a shift to leafy vegetables, with an expected increase in agro-chemical use in intensive peri-urban farming.

YUKUN, HE, HE, YUZHONG, Kiyoyama, Yohei, Ishida, Shigeyuki, Hama-cha Co-Creation Team · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Japan (Kyoto)

This paper documents a 2024–2025 field practice concerning Hama-cha, a traditional tencha in Kyoto, which faces threats from labor aging and persistent operational difficulties. Researchers encountered challenges in accessing tacit knowledge and identifying clear solutions for labor shortages, despite both farmers and researchers recognizing the problem. The study highlights the ongoing operational difficulties and lack of clear solutions for the economic viability of this traditional urban agriculture practice.

Yukarie Ayu Wulandari, Ade Sumiahadi, Dirgahani Putri, Helfi Gustia, Rosdiana · Jurnal AGROSAINS dan TEKNOLOGI · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This study, conducted from March to June 2025 in East Jakarta, investigated heavy metal contamination levels in mustard greens grown through urban agriculture. Mustard green samples were collected from five sub-districts, and lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) content was measured. Results showed that Cd absorption in mustard greens was very low, well below national and international maximum standards, but Pb absorption exceeded both national (0.5 ppm) and international (0.3 ppm) maximum permissible standards. No strong correlation was found between air quality and Cd or Pb content in the mustard greens.

Abdul Rahim Mohammed Sabtiu, Isaac Amankona Hinne, Isaac Kwame Sraku, Daniel Kodjo Halou, Richard Tettey Doe, Simon K. Attah, Fred Aboagye‐Antwi, Yaw A. Afrane · Malaria Journal · Ghana (Accra)

A study in Accra, Ghana, investigated mosquito larval habitats and their impact on Anopheles gambiae s.l. larvae density, conducting surveys at 15 locations during 2022's dry and rainy seasons. Of 727 potential habitats, 65.34% were positive for Anopheles larvae, with drainage ditches being the most common type. Irrigated urban farming sites showed the highest abundance of An. gambiae s.l. larvae, particularly during the rainy season, indicating that urban farming contributes to increased mosquito breeding habitats.

Dauda Rotimi Awoniran, Temitayo Abayomi Adeseye, Shakirulah Olayemi Agboola, Shade Babalola · Sustainability Science and Resources · Nigeria (Lagos)

This study examined agricultural land use change in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria, between 1984 and 2024 using Landsat satellite images and spectral indices. Findings indicated that farmlands in the study area declined by 13.03% between 1984 and 2013, and by 21.79% between 2013 and 2024. Between 1984 and 2013, 89.48% of farmlands were converted to other land uses, and between 2013 and 2024, 73.51% were converted. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) results also indicated a deterioration in the environmental condition of urban farmlands.

Emilie E. Ellis, S. Campbell, Jill L. Edmondson · Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · Global

A large-scale assessment across three cities found up to a 43% reduction in species richness of bees, hoverflies, and nocturnal moths in urban horticultural sites along urbanization gradients. These declines are driven by taxon-specific landscape changes like reduced tree canopy and semi-natural habitat. Moths and hoverflies were particularly sensitive to urbanization compared to bees, indicating a wide range of pollinators are under threat in urban landscapes.

Justin B. Richardson, Eric Vukicevich, Eric C. Sirkovich · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology · United States

Soils, sap, and maple syrup were collected from four artisanal maple syrup producers in four suburban areas across the northeastern United States to assess nutrient and trace element concentrations. Soil arsenic and lead concentrations approached or exceeded EPA limits. Sap and syrup arsenic, cadmium, nickel, lead, and zinc concentrations reached or exceeded FDA limits for food.

Blessing Nyamasoka‐Magonziwa, Esther Simango, Hatirarami Nezomba · Frontiers in Agronomy · Zimbabwe (Chitungwiza)

This study evaluated climate-smart crop production practices by urban farmers in Chitungwiza District, Zimbabwe, and their effects on household diets. Mixed methods research, including focus group discussions with four farmer groups and interviews with 107 households in 2022, classified only 23% of farmers as climate-smart. While climate-smart crop production positively influenced household diets, with climate-smart households having a significantly higher Household Dietary Diversity Score (3.3 vs. 2.9; p=0.02), there were no significant differences in maize yield between climate-smart and non-climate-smart farmers (2.10 t/ha vs. 2.27 t/ha, respectively, in the 2020/2021 season).

Moses Wanyakha, Nancy Grudens‐Schuck · International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development · United States

This qualitative study reviewed data from 32 counties in Iowa over five years to assess stakeholder participation in Master Gardener community garden donation programs. The analysis found that while these programs engage many stakeholders, the involvement of food pantry patrons in the planning process was low. This low patron involvement limits the programs' ability to effectively serve the community and achieve sustainability and efficacy in providing fresh produce.

Jelena Salmi, Anna Krzywoszynska · Environmental Science & Policy · Finland

A discourse analysis of 103 governance and grey literature documents in Finland examined the politics of soil biodiversity indicators. The study found that eDNA is the preferred scientific basis for soil biodiversity governance in Finland due to alignment between scientific and policy groups. However, land workers' organizations criticize eDNA methods, arguing they risk obscuring local specificity and creating environmental and social injustice, potentially alienating land management groups.

Cristian Granados Martínez, Meyer Guevara-Mora, Eugenia López‐López, José Rincón Ramírez · Water · Colombia

This study evaluated aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure in the Ranchería River, Colombia, across conserved, urban/agricultural, and mining zones during the dry season (January–March 2021). Urban/agricultural zones showed the lowest richness (35 genera) and were characterized by disturbance-tolerant species, particularly Melanoides. Land use types constituted the primary driver of community structure, with a 24.1% pure effect, exceeding physical, chemical, and land cover variables.

Kurnia Dewi, Yusuf Hariyoko, Hasan Ismail · Presidensial · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A qualitative descriptive study investigated stakeholder synergy in urban farming programs in Surabaya, Indonesia. Data was collected through interviews, documentation, and observation involving the DKPP, agricultural extension officers, farmer groups, and the local community. Strong commitment, competence, awareness, and continuity were identified as driving factors for successful implementation, but challenges include declining active farmer groups and limited facilities.

Sergi Ventura, J.R. Armengol Miró, David Camacho-Caballero, Enric Casellas, Ricard Segura-Barrero, Alberto Martilli, gara villalba · Urban Climate · Spain (Barcelona)

This study used the Pseudo Global Warming method and WRF model to assess urban heat adaptation strategies in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. Three strategies were evaluated: increasing rooftop albedo, implementing irrigated sedum green roofs, and increasing peri-urban agriculture and urban parks. While increasing rooftop albedo provided the greatest daytime cooling (−1.75 °C), and green roofs and peri-urban agriculture showed moderate regulation, none of the strategies fully counterbalanced the projected 6 °C temperature increase by 2100, indicating a limited capacity of these adaptations under severe warming scenarios.

Human Sciences Research Council · Figshare · South Africa

A 2025 study from South Africa's Western Cape used propensity score matching on data from 220 households — those participating in Department of Agriculture-funded backyard garden projects plus a control group — to assess urban agriculture's contribution to household food security. Households engaged in urban agriculture benefited from greater dietary diversity and income from selling produce, but the study found no significant positive contribution of urban agriculture to food security.

Izabella Pisarek, Kamila Śmieszkoł, Aleksandra Cichoń, Magdalena Śliwa, Dżoana Latała-Matysiak, Katarzyna Łuczak, Grzegorz Kusza · Journal of Ecological Engineering · Poland

A 2025 study assessed the impact of a railway line on soil quality, particularly heavy metal content, at the "Hutnik" family allotment gardens in Zawadzkie, Poland. Twenty research plots were set out near a forest complex (reference) and near railway infrastructure (a potential emission source), with soil samples collected from a depth of 0-25 cm and analyzed for total zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni). Elevated concentrations of copper, zinc, and lead were found in soils close to the railway line, and based on the chemical analysis data, the study concludes that railway transport may pose a greater threat to the environment than previously expected.

Rueda, Ximena · Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling · Africa

A 2025 comparative analysis examines agricultural, economic, and biodiversity policy across Cameroon, Kenya, and Colombia in the context of agricultural expansion, using discourse analysis of policy documents via the Nature Futures Framework and Life Frames Framework, an evaluation of budgets allocated to major agricultural and biodiversity policies, and stakeholder interviews. It finds a shared struggle across all three countries to harmonize agricultural development with biodiversity conservation despite differing institutional capacities, historical pathways, and sociocultural contexts, with agriculture continuing to dominate policy agendas and resource allocation even as recognition of biodiversity's importance grows. Nature is framed primarily in instrumental terms, most strongly so in Colombia's utilitarian "Nature for Society" orientation, with intrinsic and relational values rooted in Indigenous cosmologies weakly reflected in implementation; funding for biodiversity-related ministries remains minimal relative to agriculture in all three countries — Kenya's environmental budget rarely exceeds 0.3% of national expenditure, with Cameroon showing similar disparities and Colombia's allocations continuing to favor agricultural expansion — and institutional fragmentation further undermines this governance.

Magboul M.S. Siddig, Stephen Boahen Asabere, Abdullah S. Al-Farraj, Eric C. Brevik, Daniela Sauer · Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances · Sudan

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined 76 publications on soil heavy metals in Sudan published between 1996 and 2024, assessing concentrations of 10 heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and potential ecological risk index (PERI) across 9 land-use types including urban agricultural, industrial, roadside, tannery, waste dump, rural agricultural, coastal sediment, gold mining, and river sediment areas. Average heavy metal levels across all land uses exceeded common soil ranges, with Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb surpassing WHO/FAO limits. In urban agricultural soils, Cd averaged about 158 times and Hg about 340 times typical background ranges, while industrial, gold mining, and waste dump land uses exceeded a serious ecological risk threshold (PERI greater than 900). Cd and Hg together accounted for over 70% of PERI in waste dump and gold mining sites.

Mwangi Kamau, Wanjiku Otieno · International Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry · Kenya

This study characterized the physicochemical quality of untreated wastewater from three small-scale slaughterhouses on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, and measured its effect on soil microbiology at 0, 50, and 200 meters from the discharge point during both wet and dry seasons. Wastewater biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) ranged from 1,840 to 2,620 mg/L and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from 3,410 to 4,870 mg/L, exceeding Kenyan discharge standards by 6- to 10-fold. Total bacterial counts in soil at the discharge point were 2.7 times higher than at 200 m (p<0.001), and total coliform counts were 4.1 times higher (p<0.001). The Shannon-Wiener diversity index rose significantly with distance from the discharge point (1.42±0.14 at 0 m vs. 2.34±0.18 at 200 m; p<0.001), indicating that wastewater irrigation selects for a less diverse, coliform-dominated soil microbial community. Seasonal variation was significant for BOD5 and coliform loading but not for the diversity index.

Shuang Gan, Wanglin Yan · Applied Geography · Japan

A multi-scale analytical framework examined changing relationships between urban expansion and farmland protection during the transition from population growth to decline, applied to the Odawara region of Japan. Since population decline began in 2010, conflicts between urban expansion and farmland protection have remained concentrated along the urban-agricultural fringe, with farmland loss and fragmentation continuing despite reduced development pressure, and population change was found to indirectly cause paddy field loss via built-up land expansion with a five-year lag. The main driver of farmland loss has shifted from urban development to agriculture-related loss driven by labor shortages and low farming efficiency, and agricultural promotion areas moderately retain paddy fields but offer only limited protection against fragmentation.

Álvaro Luis José Reyes Córdova · Horizontes Amazónicos · Ecuador

A bibliographic review of research on water quality in the Puyo River and its tributaries in Pastaza, Ecuador, compiled studies from scientific databases and institutional repositories reporting physicochemical, microbiological, and heavy metal parameters. The main sources of contamination were found to be wastewater discharges, fecal coliforms, and accumulation of heavy metals such as lead and mercury linked to urban, agricultural, and mining activities, with community perception aligning with technical findings as most of the population rated the water poor quality and associated it with health problems. Over the past twenty years, a progressive deterioration in water quality parameters has been documented, with increases in turbidity and pathogenic microorganisms despite some isolated recovery efforts, and the review concludes that lack of attention from the municipality and prefecture, together with the absence of continuous monitoring, is worsening the water crisis and demands comprehensive, participatory governance.

Jacek Antonkiewicz, Iwona Paśmionka, Grzegorz Szychowski · Soil Science Annual · Poland

Following a flood that inundated allotment gardens in Nysa, southern Poland, for up to 14 days after the water rose on 14 September 2024, researchers analyzed 12 soil samples collected in early spring 2025 from two allotment garden sites. Most soils were found limed and disinfected, with high organic matter but low total potassium, sodium and sulfur. Zinc and copper concentrations exceeded the average for Polish arable soils, pointing to use of materials enriched with these elements.