Research & reports

Dariusz Gruszka, Katarzyna Szopka, Cezary Kabała · Land · Poland (Wroclaw)

This study in Wroclaw, Poland, investigated the quality of constructed technogenic soils in urban gardens located on a reclaimed clay pit. Despite beneficial physicochemical properties and high fertility in the topsoil layers, the soils were seriously contaminated with trace elements, including zinc (up to 1700 mg kg−1), lead (920 mg kg−1), copper (740 mg kg−1), cadmium (5.1 mg kg−1), mercury (7.4 mg kg−1), and arsenic (5.1 mg kg−1). This contamination, likely from industrial and urban waste used for mine infilling, compromises soil quality and poses potential health and ecological risks.

Lucas Velasques, Janaína Wohlenberg, Osmar Manoel Nunes, D. Friedrich, Norton Víctor Sampaio · Revista Científica Agropampa · Brazil (Dom Pedrito/RS)

This field study, involving 20 residents of Dom Pedrito/RS, Brazil, who practice home gardening, aimed to identify motivational factors, difficulties, and benefits. The main difficulties reported were the time required for cultivation and the presence of pests and insects. While benefits included consuming healthy food, health improvements, and supermarket savings, the significant challenges of time commitment and pest management indicate limitations to the widespread positive impact of home gardening.

Haofan Xu, Peng Hu, Hailong Wang, Peter Croot, Zhiwen Li, Cheng Li, Shaowen Xie, Hongyi Zhou, Chaosheng Zhang · Environmental Pollution · China

This study in Gaoming county, China, integrated PMF and K-means clustering to identify sources and contamination patterns of 8 potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in peri-urban agricultural soils. Average concentrations of PTEs were reported, with PMF identifying geogenic, industrial/traffic-related, and agricultural sources. The highest PTE concentrations were found in urbanized zones, confirming significant human impact and underscoring the dual influences of agriculture and urbanization on PTE contamination.

Ebenezer Boahen · Discover Agriculture · Ghana

This study assessed the awareness and practices of 50 purposively selected vegetable farmers along the Accra-Tema Motorway, Ghana, regarding heavy metal contamination from vehicular emissions and its potential health implications. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and one-on-one interviews. Results showed that 96% of the farmers were unaware of heavy metal contamination, though 80% expressed a willingness to discontinue farming near the motorway if they were informed of the risks. Farmers face challenges such as limited access to clean irrigation water and dependence on informal agricultural knowledge. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted educational interventions to raise awareness about the risks of heavy metal exposure and to encourage safer farming practices.

Chiara Tornaghi · · Global

This chapter, based on 15 years of research, identifies key shortcomings in urban planning policy that prevent urban agriculture from reaching its full potential for human and non-human health. These include the failure to recognize urban agriculture as food production, the invisibility of soil and its role, and the neglect of soil care and food production specialists in public land design and soil management. The chapter suggests that agroecological considerations can enhance urban agriculture's ambition in public spaces.

Westone Hamwata, Mwendalubi Hazyondo, Victor Daka, Mbanga Muleba, Nzooma M. Shimaponda-Mataa · BMJ Open · Zambia

A cross-sectional study in urban and periurban areas of Ndola district, Zambia, assessed malaria vector behavior and insecticide resistance. Urban agriculture practices created highly productive mosquito breeding sites like irrigation trenches and garden ponds, where Anopheles funestus s.s and Anopheles gambiae s.s coexisted. Anopheles gambiae s.s showed high resistance to pyrethroids, carbamates, and organochlorines, indicating that urban agricultural practices increase the risk of sustaining malaria transmission year-round.

Koenraad Danneels · Landscape Research · India (Bangalore)

This paper responds to a critique regarding urban agriculture (UA) and urban planning in Bangalore, India, between the 1950s and 1970s. While urban agriculture is recognized as an emancipatory driver with economic, social, and physical benefits for urban dwellers, the abstract indicates a critical perspective on its promotion.

Katja Hombrecher · Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft · Germany

A pilot study in Germany investigated the impact of road traffic emissions on food plants grown near roads. Bioindicators like kale, chard, Lollo Rosso, and lettuce were exposed for four weeks at four roadside locations and compared to plants in a garden away from roads. While pollutant levels generally did not exceed background or EU maximum limits, significant traffic-related inputs of PAK 4, antimony, aluminum, chromium, and vanadium, and lesser inputs of copper, iron, and lead were detected compared to the control. The findings indicate a potential contamination risk for certain vegetable plants from road traffic.

Katuka, Stephen Agire, Magaji, Sule, Ismail, Yahaya · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Nigeria (Abuja)

This study analyzed the impact of rising food prices on the food security of different socio-economic groups in Abuja, Nigeria, using a cross-sectional survey of 400 households. Findings revealed that only 18% of households were food secure, while 56% experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. Food price inflation had a significant negative effect on food security, particularly among low-income households. Rising food prices were shown to increase the likelihood of mild, moderate, and severe food insecurity by 53%, 88%, and 132%, respectively.

Johannes Bhanye, Abraham R. Matamanda, Ruvimbo Shayamunda · Discover Global Society · Zimbabwe

In Lydiate informal settlement in peri-urban Zimbabwe, Malawian migrants mobilize insurgent practices, including informal land seizures, spiritual claims, and communal strategies, to access land for farming. Access to land for urban and peri-urban farming remains a significant hurdle, especially for marginalized migrants. Migrants invoke divine ownership narratives, Nyau cult practices, and witchcraft deterrence as tactical tools for defending seized land.

YAO, Kouadio Assemien François, OUEDRAOGO, Moussa, BROU, Konan Richmond, COULIBALY, Léréyaha, OUATTARA, Ismaïla, N'CHO, Odon Clément, YAO, Koffi Blaise · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Côte d'Ivoire

Nine groundwater samples were collected in March 2025 from urban farming areas of the Man municipality, western Côte d’Ivoire, to assess their physicochemical and metallic quality. Analysis revealed high concentrations of major ions and nitrites (up to 101.7 mg/L) in the groundwater, exceeding WHO standards. Extreme pollution by cadmium, iron, and zinc was confirmed, with an overall contamination degree of 793.6. These groundwaters are unsuitable for human consumption and require regular monitoring and sustainable water resource management.

Carithers, Jaci, Gowen, Samantha, Jenney, Francis · Digital Commons - PCOM (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine) · United States (Atlanta)

A study in a Metro Atlanta residence, United States, analyzed lead contamination in soil and plant samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The research found substantial lead contamination, particularly in areas where crops were grown. Results demonstrated the propagation of lead from contaminated soil into local vegetation over time, with an average level of 143.9 mg/kg, ranging from 5.1 mg/kg to 499.5 mg/kg.

K M Tanjida Islam, Md Shahin Mahmud · Pharmacon Jurnal Farmasi Indonesia · Bangladesh

This study characterized multidrug-resistant (MDR) Shigella flexneri strains from contaminated raw vegetables in Bangladesh, retrieved from the NCBI genome database. Whole-genome sequences of four S. flexneri strains from tomatoes and green chilies in Gazipur and Dhaka were analyzed. The analysis identified 4273 core genes and 44 antibiotic resistance genes, with five essential hub genes (tolC, acrA, emrK, emrB, evgS) identified as high-priority therapeutic targets for compromising MDR mechanisms in food-borne S. flexneri.

Anaïs M. Kipelo, M. Jothilakshmi, Dhafer Mohammed M. Al Salah, Georgette N. Ngweme, Emmanuel K. Atibu, Crispin K. Mulaji, Periyasamy Sivalingam, John Poté · Toxicology Reports · Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa)

This study examined trace element levels in Brassica pekinensis Lour. from urban gardening sites (Cecomaf and Lutendele) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and associated human health risks. Analysis showed that Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Hg concentrations in samples from both sites exceeded FAO/WHO maximum permissible limits. Health risk assessments indicated that Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) values for Cd and Pb exceeded recommended limits, and Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values exceeded 1 for most metals, suggesting potential non-carcinogenic risks.

Yvon Mwengwe Muhongo, Eric Nice Nshembe Chishungu · Journal of Advanced Psychology · Democratic Republic of Congo

This study investigated the psychological and environmental impacts of climate change and mining degradation in villages surrounding the Mutanda Mining site in Lualaba province, Democratic Republic of Congo, using a mixed-methods approach. Findings reveal that proximity to the mining site is a major determinant of ecological deterioration and psychological distress. Villages within 5 km of the site showed higher environmental degradation, stronger perceptions of climate change, and significantly elevated eco-anxiety and ecological stress levels. Community resilience mechanisms such as social support, community gardens, and local ecological restoration initiatives partially mitigate psychological impacts.

Sara-Charlotte Cayen, Kesnamelie-Ann Outha, Pierre Paul Audate · International Journal of Environmental Health Research · North America

This narrative review synthesized the ecosystem services of urban food forests and their contributions to urban health and food sustainability in North American cities. Based on 13 studies published between 2018 and 2023, it identified that food forests provide services such as sustainable food production and climate regulation. However, their implementation faces challenges including public space governance, maintenance costs, regulatory barriers, and ecological risks like invasive species.

Amon Abraham, Andrew G. Mtewa, Chimwemwe Chiutula, Richard Lizwe Steven Mvula, Alfred Maluwa, Fasil Ejigu Eregno, John Njalam’mano · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · Malawi (Blantyre)

This cross-sectional study in Blantyre, Malawi, characterized antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) prevalence in 35 samples from five livestock farms, including manure, soil, and vegetables. It found high contamination, with Escherichia coli dominating pig manure (52%) and farm soil (35%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae contaminating all sample types (up to 67% in home soils, 60% in vegetables). All manure isolates showed sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim resistance, and vegetables exhibited severe multidrug resistance, including 100% E. coli resistance to gentamicin. Composting for ≤6 weeks did not eliminate ARBs, indicating manure-amended farms are AMR reservoirs.

Laxman Barua, YOGITA ADHIKARI, Kuldeep Naik · International Journal of Agriculture and Nutrition · India (Prayagraj)

This research assessed heavy metal concentrations in agricultural soils near the Naini industrial area in Prayagraj, India, and evaluated remediation strategies. Lead and cadmium concentrations at 0.5 km from the industrial zone exceeded Indian permissible limits (Pb: 67.8 mg/kg vs 50 mg/kg; Cd: 6.4 mg/kg vs 5 mg/kg). A pot trial showed that Brassica juncea removed 34.7% of Pb and 41.2% of Cd, while lime + biochar reduced Pb by 52.4%. A combined approach reduced bioavailable Pb to below the permissible limit.

E.N. Jenkins, John M. Galbraith, Anna Paltseva · SOIL · Global

This study conducted a literature review of 84 publications to evaluate the accuracy, precision, and practicality of Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) as a tool for analyzing heavy metal contamination in urban soils. Urban soils often face contamination with heavy metals like lead and arsenic, and PXRF was shown to achieve reliable accuracy when properly calibrated. PXRF emerges as a viable method for assessing urban soil contamination.

Christian Kofi Sarpong, Romanus Dogkubong Dinye, Alex Donbeinaa, Vera Nyarko Amoako · Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research · Ghana

This study assessed the role of urban agriculture in Ghanaian cities through a systematic literature review of publications from 2000 to 2024. Urban agriculture was found to significantly contribute to food security, nutrition, and income, and to bolster environmental sustainability. However, challenges such as land tenure insecurity, unsafe irrigation practices, weak institutional support, and limited policy integration persist.

Susanne Berliner · · Global

This narration observes a community garden as a space of social diversity, functioning as a "cosmopolitan canopy" where people from different backgrounds interact. While a cosmopolitan spirit exists, the garden is not neutral; its permeable boundaries and internal segregation indicate it is permeated by power dynamics and control.

Sara Mahdizadeh, Yun Gao · Local Environment · United Kingdom

This qualitative study, based on 16 semi-structured interviews, examined motivations and barriers to participation in community gardens in Huddersfield, UK. Key motivations included social interaction, mental well-being, and skill development. Reported barriers were declining volunteer numbers, physical workload, limited institutional support, and accessibility challenges.

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.

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.

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.