Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
833 results(17 / 34)
"Don't Just Come for Yourself": Understanding Leadership Approaches and Volunteer Engagement in Community Gardens
2020Jeffrey Gilbert, Christina Chauvenet, Brett C. Sheppard, Molly De Marco · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Global
This study investigated leadership styles and volunteer engagement in community gardens through interviews with 13 garden managers and six focus groups with 48 volunteers. Findings revealed that managers struggled to recruit and retain volunteers capable of maintaining gardens. Garden managers exhibited either collaborative or directive leadership styles, both of which were acknowledged and appreciated by participants.
Governance failureCommunityHealthFood educationURBANISATION AND THE CONCERNS FOR FOOD SECURITY IN MALAYSIA
2020Azizan Marzuki, Ahmad Sahir Jais · PLANNING MALAYSIA · Malaysia
This qualitative exploratory review, based on a Systematic Literature Review of secondary data, investigated the connection between urban sprawl and its impact on agricultural productivity and food security in Malaysia. The study found that urbanization did affect Malaysia's food security self-sufficiency level, particularly for land-intensive food products like vegetables and livestock, due to the conversion of agricultural lands.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justicePolicyUrban–rural linkageTerritorializing the Urban-Rural Border in Medellín, Colombia: Socio-Ecological Assemblages and Disruptions
2020Colleen Hammelman, Alexis Saenz-Montoya · Journal of Latin American geography · Colombia (Medellín)
In Medellín, Colombia, large infrastructure projects by the local government, intended to transform the city, have contributed to a neoliberal sustainability agenda. Data from community meetings (2015-2017) with displaced people engaged in subsistence urban agriculture revealed that these projects exclude marginalized residents from newly valued "natural" commons. This territorialization strategy controls peripheral spaces by including approved actors while dispossessing less powerful residents of their right to the city.
Equity & displacementUrban–rural linkageCommunityPolicyWelfareEvaluations of internet of things-based personal smart farming system for residential apartments
2020Fatin Natasya Shuhaimi, Nursuriati Jamil, Raseeda Hamzah · Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics · Global
This study proposed and evaluated two Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart farming system designs for personal use in residential apartments, focusing on humidity and temperature monitoring. After comparing sensor readings (DHT 11 and DHT 22) over three days against actual environmental values, and assessing implementation costs and power consumption, the findings regarding accuracy and costs were inconclusive.
Limited or null effectDIYDigital agricultureHealthContamination of toxic metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rooftop vegetables and human health risks in Bangladesh
2020Tanmoy Roy Tusher, Md. Eusuf Sarker, Sumaya Nasrin, Tapos Kormoker, Ram Proshad, Md. Saiful Islam, Shamim Al Mamun, A. R. M. Tareq · Toxin Reviews · Bangladesh
This study investigated toxic metal and PAH contamination in rooftop soils and vegetables (red amaranth, spinach) in urban and peri-urban Bangladesh. Urban rooftop soil and vegetables were highly contaminated with toxic metals and PAHs compared to peri-urban samples. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in urban vegetables exceeded safe limits. However, health risk indices indicated that the levels of toxic metals and PAHs in urban rooftop vegetables would not pose carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic health risks for adults and children, deeming them safe for consumption.
Contamination & food safetyHealthPeri-urban agricultureLocal foods systems and community economic development
2020Steven C. Deller, David Lamie, Maureen Stickel · · Global
This review provides a critical analysis of current research on local and regional food networks, including urban farming projects. It reveals that many presumptions of the local food movement remain largely untested, and much of the current research lacks strong theoretical grounding and quantitative rigor. The review emphasizes the importance for practitioners to distinguish between objective, research-based information and speculative, advocacy-oriented analysis.
Methodological critiqueEconomicsPolicyCSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justicePolluted Waters Use in the Urban Agriculture and Its Impact on the Quality of the Grown Vegetables
2020Fabien Ilunga Mpanga, Michel Shengo Lutandula⃰ · The Global Environmental Engineers · Democratic Republic of Congo (Lubumbashi)
A study conducted in the Kasungami district of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, investigated the link between the use of polluted waters in urban agriculture and heavy metal contamination in soil and cultivated vegetables (amaranths, broccolis). Physicochemical and mineral analyses of water, soil, and plant samples revealed that heavy metals, except cobalt, were present in the water used for urban agriculture at concentrations below quality standards, but the soil contained heavy metals at phytotoxic concentrations. Only broccolis were contaminated with lead, while amaranths had heavy metals below quality standards. These findings suggest that urban agriculture in large agglomerations of the DRC could endanger consumers' health.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageAssessment of Foliar Uptake and Accumulation of Airborne Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons Under Laboratory Conditions
2020Gábor Teke, Katalin Hubai, Dorina Diósi, Nóra Kováts · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology · Global
This laboratory study assessed the foliar uptake and accumulation of airborne polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) using an aqueous extract of urban aerosol, following OECD Guideline 227. The study found significant accumulation of PAHs in lettuce, with naphthalene showing the highest bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and anthracene, pyrene, and fluoranthene showing the lowest bioaccumulation potential. The BCF of each PAH strongly correlated with its molecular weight.
Contamination & food safetyHealthVertical Farming: An Assessment of Singapore City
2020Jacob Wood, Caroline Wong, Swathi Paturi · eTropic electronic journal of studies in the tropics · Singapore
This research examines urban farming, specifically vertical farming methods, in Singapore. Despite substantial public and private investment in R&D for high-tech, high-yielding vertical farms, Singapore faces a highly constrained urban environment where land scarcity is exacerbated by a complex regulatory land use framework.
Governance failureDigital agricultureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsA SUSTAINABLE URBAN FARMING INDEX ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR EVALUATING FOOD PRODUCTIVITY THAT APPLIES MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING METHODS — A CASE STUDY IN MALAYSIA
2020Ali Keyvanfar, Arezou Shafaghat, Tan Sze Inn, Sapura Mohamad · DigitalCommons - Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw State University) · Malaysia
This research developed the Sustainable Urban Farming Index Assessment (SUFIA) Model to quantify and evaluate the performance of urban farms' sustainable food production. Applying a critical literature review and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), the model identified reducing air pollution, soil health and water cleaning, and food sovereignty as critical for food productivity. When implemented at Zenxin Organic Farm in Malaysia for validation, the farm earned a Grade C, indicating it is a usable urban farm but requires substantial improvements in areas such as soil health, water cleaning, site design, and community environment.
Limited or null effectClimate changeOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justicePolicyAgriculture urbaine, pratiques agricoles et impacts environnementaux et de santé publique
2020Maëlle Tripon, Dorothée Boccanfuso, Marie-Ève Yergeau · Cahiers de recherche · Global
This literature review examines urban agriculture (UA) models, their implementation contexts, production needs, and impacts. It highlights that UA faces limitations, particularly restricted access to good quality (unpolluted) soil, water, and air, which can negatively impact productivity. UA can also have negative impacts on ecosystems and human health, such as pollution and diseases, depending on management methods.
Contamination & food safetyHealthBiodiversityClimate changeOrganic cycleSustainable agriculture trough regional solidary in global markets
2020Wellbrock Wanja, Daniela Ludin, Ludwig Lisa N, Kristina Muhlfeld, Wolfgang Gerstlberger · Journal of Applied and Physical Sciences · Global
This paper examines whether Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a solution to the dilemma of farmers needing to operate both economically and sustainably. Through an expert interview and a survey of members, the study identifies problems in the realization of a CSA and provides possible solutions.
Economic viabilityCSA & TeikeiEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceTra espansione urbana e sicurezza alimentare: il caso della Green Belt bonearense
2020Thomas Gilardi · Geography Notebooks · Argentina
In the Bonearense region, urban expansion is encroaching on fertile plains, impacting territorial characteristics. While urban and peri-urban agriculture contributes to food sustenance for the AMBA population, it has not been sufficiently recognized for green area recovery, organic waste recycling, and wastewater management. Regional authorities have begun to acknowledge urban agriculture's role in combating urban poverty, but local economic development faces challenges in mediating food security and recreational services amidst pressures from urban real estate and agro-industrial production.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageCultivating urban conviviality: urban farming in the shadows of Copenhagen's neoliberalisms
2020Rebecca Leigh Rutt · Journal of Political Ecology · Denmark (Copenhagen)
Ethnographic research on a small rooftop garden in Copenhagen, Denmark, explored how urban farming initiatives interact with neoliberal trends. The study found that communal, eco-social urban farming endeavors are entangled in the city's neoliberal turn, with formalization processes and austerity measures both nurturing and endangering these initiatives. Neoliberal labor, food systems, and housing policies are shown to subvert convivial urban farming efforts.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceThe Effect of Irrigation Treatment on the Growth of Lavender Species in an Extensive Green Roof System
2020A.T. Paraskevopoulou, Panagiotis Tsarouchas, Paraskevi A. Londra, A. Kamoutsis · Water · Global
This study investigated the effect of irrigation amount on the growth of four lavender species (Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula dentata var. candicans, Lavandula dentata var. dentata, and Lavandula stoechas) in an extensive green roof system. Two irrigation treatments (high and low), determined by substrate hydraulic properties, were applied, and plant growth was measured. The results consistently showed that low irrigation reduced plant growth. However, with the exception of L. stoechas, the appearance of plants under low irrigation was satisfactory, supporting their use with reduced water.
Limited or null effectDIYClimate changeFirst records of the introduced African carder bee, Pseudoanthidium (Immanthidium) repetitum (Hymenoptera : Megachilidae), in Western Australia
2020Kit Prendergast · Pacific Conservation Biology · Australia
The African carder bee, Pseudoanthidium (Immanthidium) repetitum, first recorded in Queensland in 2000, has now been found in Western Australia, marking a significant distribution expansion. Three confirmed and one unconfirmed localities were identified in the Mandurah region, with abundant female specimens observed in one garden. The presence of this introduced species necessitates vigilance due to known negative impacts on native fauna and flora.
Environmental trade-offsBiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityLas organizaciones de usuarios de agua en la construcción de la escasez hídrica. De las acciones geolegales a una territorialización securitaria del agua
2020Chloé Nicolas-Artero · Revista INVI · Chile
This article analyzes the role of water user organizations in the construction of water scarcity within the Chilean ideological and legal water context. The existence of urban gardens in the north of the country is notable in this context, which is oriented towards water use efficiency.
Governance failurePolicyClimate changeEconomicsRooftop Gardening as A Need for Sustainable Urban Farming: A case of Kathmandu, Nepal
2020Sandesh Thapa, Anjal Nainabasti, Sashila Acharya, Neha Rai, Rakshya Bhandari · International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology · Nepal (Kathmandu)
A key informant survey of 52 respondents was conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal, to assess the current status of rooftop gardening. All respondents expressed positive views on rooftop gardening, with rooftop farms covering 5-13% of the area. Significant monetary soft benefits were identified for food production, air quality, stormwater retention, and carbon sequestration. However, traditional methods using plastic bags, pots, and styrofoam were employed for garden maintenance. Constraints were recorded regarding rooftop farming establishment and continuation, indicating a need for proper training for efficient management.
Limited or null effectDIYFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeCommunityUrban agroforestry and its potential integration into city planning efforts
2020Sarah Taylor Lovell · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global
Despite increasing awareness and proposals for urban agriculture implementation, broad integration into the urban environment has not yet been observed. In most cities, the level of food production has not expanded significantly enough to impact the supply of vegetables, fruits, or other products. Key barriers limiting widespread adoption of urban agriculture include land access, zoning and tax policies, risks of soil and air contaminants, and urban forestry plans neglecting food security.
Governance failurePolicyUrban–rural linkageEconomicsCommunity« Arriver à conjuguer transition écologique et cohésion est un réel défi à l’échelle de la région bruxelloise »
2020Pierre Jassogne · · Belgium
SAULE (Urban Agriculture Housing Ecosystem Symbiosis) was a co-creation project conducted in Brussels, Belgium, from 2017 to 2020, involving citizens, urban agriculture professionals, researchers, social information specialists, and urban planners. Focused on the Ferme du Chant des Cailles urban agriculture site and the Archiducs – Logis-Floreal neighborhood, the project was initiated due to construction threats to the site. The research aimed to reflect on the challenge of combining ecological transition and social cohesion at the Brussels regional level.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyClimate changeThe Attitudes of Local Authorities and Civil Actors to Sofia’s Green Urban Development Through Urban Agriculture
2020Dona Pickard · Sociological Problems Journal · Bulgaria (Sofia)
This article analyzes the attitudes toward urban agriculture as an instrument for sustainable urban policies among local authorities, practitioners, and civil groups in Sofia, Bulgaria. Based on data from the research project "Urban agriculture as a strategy for improving the quality of life of urban communities" (2016–2020), the analysis reveals existing deficits in communication and information exchange between these actors. Factors for these deficits and ways to overcome them are also outlined.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityClimate changeThe impact of school gardens on youth social and emotional learning: a scoping review
2020Abby M. Lohr, Keegan C. Krause, D. Jean McClelland, Noah Van Gorden, Lynn B. Gerald, Vincent J. Del Casino, Ada M. Wilkinson‐Lee, Scott C. Carvajal · Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning · Global
This scoping review synthesized evidence on the impact of school gardens on youth Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), screening 1589 abstracts and 76 full-text articles to include eight studies. While qualitative studies suggested a positive influence on SEL, quantitative studies showed few statistically significant results. Therefore, current evidence from qualitative research indicates school garden programs have the potential to successfully enhance experiences that promote SEL, but more research is needed to further investigate this claim.
Limited or null effectFood educationCommunityDeterrent Factors in Urban Farming Participation
2020Noriah Othman, Siti Zabeda Mohammad, Nurhayati Abdul Malek, Mohd Ali Waliyuddin A. Razak · Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal · Malaysia
This study was conducted in Malaysia to identify deterrent factors hindering "community buy-in" in urban farming projects and to understand how to overcome these problems. The research aims to identify these factors to achieve and sustain community buy-in in urban farming projects in the future.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyWelfareSoil-Transmitted Protozoans and Helminths from Market Gardening Sites of Yaounde, Cameroon
2020Herman Parfait Awono-Ambene, Laurelle Djieukap Njieyap, Patrick Akono Ntonga, Josiane Etang, Christophe Antonio‐Nkondjio, Cyrille Ndo, Jacques Étamé, Flobert Njiokou, Serge Hubert Zébazé Togouet · Journal of Environmental Science and Public Health · Cameroon (Yaounde)
This study analyzed water and soil samples from three market garden sites in Yaounde, Cameroon, from October to December 2016, for physicochemical characteristics and parasite identification. The analysis of 82 samples revealed the presence of 3 protozoans (Entamoeba histolytica, Sarcocystis sp., and Giardia intestinalis) and 11 helminths in the soil. The presence of viable helminths suggests that harmful soil pathogens such as protozoans and helminths can spread through market gardening.
Contamination & food safetyHealthFood Supply and Urban Gardening in the Time of Covid-19
2020Silvana Nicola, A. Ferrante, Giacomo Cocetta, Roberta Bulgari, Carlo Nicoletto, Paolo Sambo, Andrea Ertani · Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca Horticulture · Global
The Covid-19 pandemic revealed the vulnerability of the agrifood system, with lockdowns disrupting long-distance fresh vegetable supply chains and causing dramatic declines in local market sales. While purchases concentrated in supermarkets, increasing crowding risks, gardening can increase opportunities for local and fresh food availability. Scaling up local food production is important to enhance community resilience.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthClimate change