Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2015 results(5 / 81)
Urban Agriculture and Participatory Budgeting for Sustainable Cities: Evidence from Vegetable-Related Projects in Warsaw
2026Kinga Kimic, Magdalena Błaszczyk · Sustainability · Poland (Warsaw)
This study identified and assessed vegetable cultivation projects submitted to the Warsaw Participatory Budget (WPB) between 2015 and 2023. The research classified projects into six types and evaluated them across social, functional, ecological, and economic dimensions. The results showed that vegetable-related projects in the WPB were decidedly niche, with only 101 initiatives submitted and 31 implemented, primarily focusing on education for children rather than direct food access.
Limited or null effectPolicyCommunityEconomicsClimate changePotentially Toxic Elements in Foods Consumed in Uganda: Occurrence, Dietary Exposure, and Public Health Risks
2026Gabson Baguma, Gadson Bamanya, Allan Gonzaga, Hannington Twinomuhwezi, Barnabas Mubangizi, Eric Niringiyimana · Pollutants · Uganda
This review synthesized literature on the occurrence of cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead, and arsenic in foods consumed in Uganda. Contamination was concentrated in mining-influenced agricultural areas, wastewater-irrigated farms, municipal dumpsites, industrial corridors, and urban food markets, with vegetables, cereals, livestock products, fish, and street-vended foods exhibiting the greatest contamination burdens. Lead and cadmium most frequently exceeded WHO/FAO, Codex Alimentarius, and Ugandan food safety limits, and children consistently showed higher dietary exposure than adults.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageEarly Detection of Escherichia coli Producing Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) in Cattle Farm Waste from Urban Jakarta
2026Aulia Maulida, Syafitri Jumianto, Riris Lindiawati Puspitasari, S.Si., M.Si · Prosiding Seminar Nasional Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (SENDAMAS) · Indonesia (Jakarta)
This study examined cattle manure from an urban farm in South Jakarta for the presence of Escherichia coli resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. Using total plate count, selective culture, Gram staining, and biochemical identification, presumptive ESBL-producing E. coli strains were detected. Bacterial growth on cefotaxime-supplemented media indicated phenotypic resistance, demonstrating that urban cattle manure may serve as a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleApplying recovered nutrients and pruning waste to enrich and regenerate agricultural soils in urban agriculture: Effects on emissions and yield of spinach and sweet potato
2026Guido Evangelista, Juan David Arosemena, Gaia Stringari, Joan Romanyà, Xavier Gabarrell, Francesco Orsini, Gara Villalba · Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · Global
This study evaluated the application of 150 t ha-1 of ramial chipped wood (RCW) to degraded peri-urban agricultural soils, comparing its effects on yield, soil health, and greenhouse gas emissions for spinach and sweet potato. Spinach grown with RCW showed the lowest productivity (1.16 – 0.32 kg m-2) among treatments, while sweet potato achieved the highest yield (1.72 – 1.99 kg m-2). High RCW doses initially led to higher CO2 emissions but significantly reduced N2O emissions for spinach (from 0.36 kg ha-1 to 0.07 kg ha-1) and enhanced soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks for sweet potato, indicating agronomic and environmental trade-offs.
Environmental trade-offsOrganic cycleCompostClimate changePeri-urban agricultureGreen Islands in the City: Allotment Gardens as Urban Biofilters and Cooling Spaces in Warsaw, Poland
2026Marta Melon, Tomasz Dzieduszyński, Piotr Sikorski, Beata Joanna Gawryszewska, Maciej Lasocki, Arkadiusz Przybysz · Sustainability · Poland (Warsaw)
The capacity of Family Allotment Gardens (FAGs) in Warsaw, Poland, to provide air-pollution filtration and microclimate regulation was quantified. Particulate matter, air temperature, and relative humidity were measured inside and outside three allotment complexes in autumn 2023. Results showed a moderate reduction in PM concentrations inside gardens (by about 2 µg/m³) and slightly higher humidity (2.1%). However, the cooling effect was weak (less than 0.3 °C), indicating a limited spatial range under autumn conditions.
Limited or null effectClimate changeCommunityBiodiversityRural–Urban Differences in Odonata Diversity and Population Dynamics across Agricultural Landscapes of the Eastern Gangetic Plains
2026Sneha Kumari Bharati, A. Pattanayak, Sidh Nath Prasad Yadav ‘Deen’ · Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology · Global
This study compared odonate diversity and population dynamics in rural (Manpur) and urban (Gaya city) agricultural landscapes of the Eastern Gangetic Plains from March 2022 to February 2024. The rural landscape supported 24 odonate species, while the urban landscape supported 17, showing only moderate similarity (SSI = 0.571) between the two assemblages. This indicates a lower diversity of odonates in urban agricultural areas compared to rural ones.
Environmental trade-offsBiodiversityUrban–rural linkageEvaluating a Healthcare Rooftop Garden: Post-Occupancy Insights into Evidence-Based Design Processes and Governance Considerations
2026Nina Oher, Anna Bengtsson, Patrik Grahn · Land · Global
This study aimed to understand the evidence-based design process behind a rooftop garden at an urban Memory Clinic. Through focus group interviews with healthcare professionals and an interview with the landscape architect, findings showed that while the garden exceeded expectations regarding aesthetics, restorative qualities, and staff use, it was not used for patient-oriented therapeutic activities as intended. This divergence was linked to governance issues such as organizational change, loss of key actors, insufficient documentation of design intentions, procurement disruptions, shifting clinical priorities, and maintenance arrangements.
Governance failureHealthCommunityPolicyAdaptive livelihood strategies of evicted peri-urban farmers in the newly metropolitan city of Ethiopia
2026Abie Assres Fenta, Habtie Anmaw · Discover Sustainability · Ethiopia (Debre Markos)
This qualitative study explored the adaptive livelihood strategies of evicted peri-urban farmers around the metropolis of Debre Markos, Ethiopia. Findings confirmed that farmers tend to hand over their land with insufficient compensation and are compelled to adapt to new livelihoods after losing farmlands. Many displaced young farmers experienced bankruptcy in new businesses due to a lack of business skills, and aged displaced farmers faced challenges adapting to new ways of life. The government did not provide adequate attention to training evicted farmers in technical, financial, and business planning.
Equity & displacementPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageEconomicsPolicyEnvironmental and Social Relationship Changes Through Self-Governance Transition in a Rooftop Community Garden of Senior Residential Living Lab
2026YeunSook Lee, Jaehyun Park, Yumi Hwang · Journal of the Korean housing association · South Korea
A longitudinal qualitative case study in a South Korean senior public rental housing community examined the first transition to self-governance in a rooftop community garden. The transition led to ecological and sensory degradation, including disrupted ecological rhythm and reduced olfactory comfort, and social fragmentation with disputes and leadership frictions. These findings revealed limits of participation-heavy models without codified rules or procedural safeguards, indicating that effective self-governance requires visible rules, procedural fairness, embedded learning, and mediation structures.
Governance failureCommunityElderlyBiodiversityDigestate biochar effects on soil Pb bioaccessibility, crop Pb concentrations, and human health risk in urban vegetable agroecosystems
2026Jennifer Newell, Rory Doherty, Gary Lyons, Siobhan F. Cox · Environmental Geochemistry and Health · Global
A controlled experiment investigated the effects of 5%w/w digestate biochar on lead (Pb) ingestion risks in urban vegetable agrisystems with varying soil Pb concentrations, high pH, and organic matter. Biochar significantly reduced soil-derived Pb ingestion risks in some systems but had no effect on vegetable-derived Pb ingestion risks for any agrisystem. Overall, biochar showed limited and variable effects on reducing Pb ingestion risks, suggesting its remediation potential is context-dependent and may offer limited protection in soils with elevated pH and organic matter.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleEnvironmental performance and methodological challenges of Rooftop Greenhouses: An introductory paper
2026Yizhi Zhang · · Global
This report systematically reviews the environmental performance of rooftop greenhouses, focusing on life cycle assessment (LCA) approaches. The review found that existing studies are limited, often case-specific, and use diverse methodologies, hindering comparisons. Environmental performance is highly context-dependent and influenced by methodological assumptions, with conventional LCA often failing to capture dynamic interactions between greenhouse operations, crop growth, and host buildings, leading to an incomplete representation of environmental performance.
Methodological critiqueClimate changeEconomicsDigital agricultureRemote sensing of urban heat dynamics and the cooling effect of urban green spaces in Ethiopian cities
2026Desalew Meseret Moges, Kristoffer Mattisson, Ebba Malmqvist, P Olsson · Environmental Challenges · Ethiopia
A study using satellite data from 2021–2024 examined urban heat and urban green space (UGS) patterns during the hot season across four Ethiopian cities. It found that UGS expanded in all cities, mainly along urban edges, and offered strong but spatially uneven cooling benefits. Daytime surface temperatures decreased, but nighttime temperatures showed mixed results, and dense central areas remained exposed to heat.
Limited or null effectClimate changeCarbon gardens: A nature-based approach for climate change mitigation and sustainable landscapes
2026Farooq Ahmad Khan, Faheemullah Khan, Sumati Narayan, Mohammad Amir, Zaffar Mahdi Dar · International Journal of Research in Agronomy · Global
This review synthesizes the concept, design principles, carbon sequestration mechanisms, storage potential, and environmental benefits of carbon gardens, which are multifunctional landscapes designed to maximize carbon sequestration and deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. The article highlights their application in urban and rural landscapes and their integration with carbon-negative farming through practices such as biochar use and compost recycling. It also discusses key challenges related to carbon measurement, establishment costs, land availability, and long-term management.
Governance failureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityCompostStrengthening urban resilience in the United States: community preferences for green rooftops integrating agriculture and solar energy
2026Natalie Meyer, Simona Trandafir · Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy · United States (Rhode Island)
A choice-based survey of over 600 US residents from Rhode Island examined preferences and perceived value for green rooftop (GR) space allocations for agriculture, solar energy, and recreation. Latent class modeling revealed that Class 1, representing 20% of respondents, was generally unsupportive of GR installation and expressed disutility towards GR space allocation for solar energy. Both classes uniformly favored allocating GR space for agriculture production and showed a positive willingness to pay for this feature.
Limited or null effectCommunityPolicyEconomicsClimate changeRagamuffin Geographies: A Critical View of Informal Green Spaces Against Formality in Chinese Cities
2026S Wang · Advances in Economics Management and Political Sciences · China
This qualitative literature review examines informal green spaces (IGS) in Chinese cities, contrasting them with formal, hyper-managed landscapes. The study finds that while formal lawns incur high financial maintenance burdens and lower biodiversity, IGS, including spontaneous urban wilderness and community gardens, are often cleared despite offering higher biodiversity and zero maintenance costs. The research highlights a governance dilemma where the prioritization of neatness over ecology leads to the removal of IGS, which support psychological place attachment and spatial justice for marginalized groups.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyBiodiversityEconomicsWelfareSynergising outdoor, indoor, and greenhouse urban agriculture to strengthen urban resilience in an era of polycrisis
2026James Vandenberg, Kerstin Krellenberg · Sustainable Cities and Society · Global
This study investigated how differentiated configurations of outdoor, indoor, and greenhouse urban agriculture (UA) impact Urban Resilience Capacities (URCs). It found that a strategic, place-based, combinatorial approach to integrating UA typologies can produce mutually reinforcing outcomes, strengthening various URCs simultaneously. However, a strong risk of trade-offs exists when UA systems are not aligned, and a critical research gap remains as empirical case studies are concentrated in Europe and North America, overlooking experiences in the Global South.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeCommunityPolicyUrban Agriculture and Smart Cities: The Integration of Controlled Environment Agriculture, Community Gardens, and Public Health Policies
2026Evelyn Seilhe Guerreiro, Márcio Luis Valença Araújo, Adilson Oliveira de Almirante, Eduardo Oliveira Teles, Aloísio Santos Nascimento Filho, Hugo Saba Pereira Cardoso · Journal of Bioengineering, Technologies and Health · Brazil
This study analyzed the integration of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), community gardens, and public health policies, using case studies from Brazilian cities such as Salvador, Recife, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro. CEA contributes to enhanced productivity in small spaces with reduced water and input consumption, while community gardens strengthen social cohesion, mental health, and local food supply. However, challenges remain regarding high implementation costs, regulatory gaps, and lack of institutional support.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsClimate changeToward climate-smart urban agriculture in Palembang: A systematic review on strategies, trade-offs, and synergies
2026Strayker Ali Muda, Heripan Heripan, Fitra Gustiar · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Indonesia (Palembang)
This systematic review examined strategies, trade-offs, and synergies of climate-smart urban agriculture relevant to Palembang City, Indonesia. A total of 400 records were identified from Google Scholar and Scopus, with 352 unique records screened. While urban agriculture showed five key contributions, including strengthening food security, several critical trade-offs were identified, such as land scarcity, energy and water requirements, soil contamination risks, technological costs, and policy fragmentation. The review emphasizes that urban agriculture should be part of a broader transformation of urban food systems, not a stand-alone solution.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyEconomicsThe role of urban community gardens in the food system in Brisbane, Australia
2026Serafina Stone, Jeremy Farr, Damian Hine, Yasmina Sultanbawa, S. K. Fyfe · Local Environment · Australia (Brisbane)
This research investigated how 16 members of four urban community gardens in Brisbane, Australia, derive value from their involvement in relation to the food system, using semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The findings indicate that while urban community gardens alone cannot address food security needs, they provide spaces for building community, generating social capital, connecting to nature, and developing food systems education. These benefits are contingent on the gardens' continued existence and primarily extend to those able to participate.
Limited or null effectCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceCompostBiodiversity Monitoring in Food Forests
2026Jana Marion Böhme · PubData · Europe
This study investigated the current state and professionality of biodiversity monitoring in food forest projects and influencing social-ecological factors through an online survey and interviews with German and Dutch experts. It found heterogeneous characteristics and professionality levels in monitoring activities, primarily due to context factors like actors, governance systems, and socio-economic settings. The professionality of monitoring depended on volunteer and expert availability and funding, indicating a lack of integrated, standardized, and systematic monitoring concepts and institutionalization.
Governance failureBiodiversityCommunityPolicyEconomicsDESAFIOS E POTENCIALIDADES DA AGRICULTURA URBANA PARA A SEGURANÇA ALIMENTAR NA RMB
2026Maria de Nazareth Oliveira Maciel, Daniel Pereira Pinheiro, Luann Yago Oliveira Maciel · Veredas do Direito Direito Ambiental e Desenvolvimento Sustentável · Brazil
This study analyzed the contributions and challenges of urban agriculture for food security in three municipalities of the Belém Metropolitan Region, Brazil. Using multivariate factor analysis with 120 producers from November 2023 to February 2024, findings indicated urban agriculture ensures food security and reduces food scarcity concerns. However, the activity lacks public policy incentives for seed acquisition and land titling, hindering its advancement.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsWelfareClimate changeIntegrating Urban Agriculture into City Planning for Enhancing Urban Community Food Provision: A Case Study of Bhubaneshwar
2026Gitanjali Nanda · International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology · India (Bhubaneswar)
This study examined the spatial, institutional, and planning feasibility of integrating urban agriculture into the urban planning structure of Bhubaneswar, India. Using a mixed-method planning framework, it evaluated urban land availability, rooftop feasibility, food accessibility, supply-chain dependency, institutional readiness, and decentralized food-production potential. Findings indicated that urban agriculture integration within statutory planning systems remains limited in rapidly urbanizing Indian cities, and vendor assessments showed strong dependence on peri-urban and external food inflows contributing to seasonal price instability and food wastage.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agricultureBraiding Food Systems Co-constructing Indigenous Seed Systems in Northern Ontario for Food Sovereignty, Security, and Climate Adaptation
2026Charlotte Potter, Silvia Sarapura, Camilo Jimenez Gonzalez, Justina Walker-Mohamed, Paul Benalcazer, Biinjitiwaabik Zaagging Anishinaabek, Netmizaaggamig Nishnabeg, Red Rock Indian Band · Rural Review Ontario Rural Planning Development and Policy · Canada (Northern Ontario)
The 'Braiding Food Systems' project, a community-led partnership with three Northern Ontario First Nations, used mixed-methods Participatory Action Research to examine conditions influencing food security and sovereignty. Community members identified structural constraints rooted in colonial governance, contemporary ecological pressures, and local transformation opportunities. This research demonstrates that sustained, community-led collaboration can counterbalance colonial food systems by reorganizing decisions, strengthening access, and enhancing resilience within Indigenous food networks.
Governance failureCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changePolicyMapeamento de legislações de Agricultura Urbana e Periurbana no Brasil
2026Elisa Carvalho Lauer, Jaqueline Lima Liskoski, Kelliane Da Consolação Fuscaldi · Revista Campo-Território · Brazil
This study mapped and analyzed urban and peri-urban agriculture (AUP) legislation across municipal, state, and federal levels in Brazil, identifying 217 municipal laws in 113 municipalities, 33 state laws, and federal frameworks. The research systematized normative content into twelve thematic categories, showing AUP's integration into food security, urban sustainability, and income generation agendas. While a qualitatively consistent normative basis exists, gaps persist regarding conceptual definition, area guarantees, water access, financing, and credit. It is necessary to expand and harmonize regulations across all three spheres to consolidate AUP as a structural strategy for sustainable cities.
Governance failurePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsThe various face(t)s of urban agriculture: evidence from secondary towns in Ethiopia
2026Amare Molla Dinku, Goedele Van den Broeck · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · Ethiopia
This qualitative study explored the technical, institutional, and commercial aspects of urban agriculture (UA) in two Ethiopian secondary towns, Dessie and Kombolcha, through 68 key informant interviews and 11 focus group discussions. It found that nearly 90% of local leafy vegetables are sourced via UA, but insecure land rights, limited policy support, and informal trading systems hinder its impact. Informal markets also cause post-harvest losses, disproportionately affecting women.
Governance failureCommunityPeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomics