Research & reports

Savitha Dhandapani, Gandhimathi Chinnasamy, Shaik Anwar Ahamed Nabeela Nasreen, Vidya Susan Philip, Bong Soo Park, S. P. Bhatnagar · Scientia Horticulturae · Global

This study developed meshball-mediated air-pruning, a method embedding stainless-steel spheres into soil to create localized aeration pockets, addressing issues like root circling, poor aeration, and inefficient resource use in containerized plant cultivation. Testing across four species revealed significant benefits for ornamental shrubs such as dwarf ixora and firebush, showing increases in shoot fresh weight, branch number, and root biomass. However, pak choi exhibited no measurable change, and white teak seedlings displayed reduced root biomass, indicating species-specific responses.

João Paulo Moreira dos Santos, Luis Carlos Rodrigues da Mata, Maria Clara da Cunha Carvalho, Gabrielly Rodrigues de Araújo, Robério Soares dos Santos, Maria Eduarda Santiago de Araujo, Iraneide Da Cunha Santiago, Edinalva Pereira Campos, José Gustavo Santiago Santos · Journal of Interdisciplinary Debates · Brazil (José de Freitas)

This qualitative case study in José de Freitas, Brazil, analyzed mathematical rationalities in urban community gardens, using participant observation, interviews, and field notes. It found that farmers use ethnomathematical knowledge for spatial organization, soil management, and commercialization. However, these practices showed limitations when confronted with institutional demands for standardization, highlighting a need for critical articulation with formal mathematics.

Piedley Macêdo Saraiva, Aline Maia de Macedo, Cicera Giovanna Michelly Ferreira de Oliveira, Enzo Fernandes Sá, Laysa Yanne Silva Moreira, Thayla Sousa de Oliveira, Rayna Petrola Rocha Dias Milfont · Revista Ibero-Americana de Humanidades, Ciências e Educação · Brazil

This study analyzed the implementation of a vertical garden in a nursing home in Juazeiro do Norte-CE, Brazil. The intervention contributed to the reuse of construction waste, the production of toxic-free food, and increased opportunities for interaction among residents and caregivers. However, it also revealed limitations related to the vulnerability of the target audience, scheduling incompatibilities with the academic team, and the institution's dependence on continuous garden maintenance.

Pearson, Natalie · British Food Journal · 英国（食を育てる人びとへの質的調査）

It is often argued that growing one's own food reduces household food waste by raising appreciation of food, but focused research on this is lacking. Using thematically analysed qualitative surveys with a privileged sample of food gardeners, this study finds the relationship more complex than proposed: for these gardeners, growing their own food can also decrease appreciation of food and create waste because of the challenges of growing, processing and storing it. Food gardening could nonetheless become an instrumental waste-prevention practice if growing is made easy and convenient, gardeners are given opportunities to work together, more channels exist for sharing surplus, and cooking skills improve. Its contribution is to critique the assumption that growing your own always leads to appreciation of food and less waste.

I Putu Gede Didik Widiarta, Dinar Anindyasari, Taufan Purwokusumaning Daru · Jurnal Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis · Indonesia (Bontang City)

This quantitative study surveyed 220 urban farming respondents in Bontang City, Indonesia, to analyze consumer behavior in adopting livestock waste as organic fertilizer for household agriculture. While knowledge (β=0.58; p<0.01) and environmental impact perception (β=0.47; p<0.05) significantly influenced adoption, major barriers included negative perceptions of livestock waste odor (62%) and limited access to processing technology (45%). These findings highlight significant challenges to the widespread adoption of organic fertilizers from livestock waste in urban areas.

Tresia Manalu, Nadya Stefania Hutauruk, Sri Rahayu Sinaga, Riza Indriani · Jurnal Ecoment Global · Indonesia (Medan)

This descriptive qualitative study analyzed external factors affecting the Rumah Anggur Ardo nursery business in Medan, Indonesia, using PESTEL and Porter's Five Forces frameworks. Findings indicate a relatively favorable competitive environment, with urban farming as a hobby presenting a main opportunity. However, significant challenges include high rainfall damaging seedlings and the absence of material support from the government.

M. Elusaiwe, K. Atusa, Kanya Hilary · Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research · Nigeria

This study investigated the efficiency of agricultural extension agents in promoting urban gardening among 250 respondents in 10 urban areas across two local government areas in Delta State, Nigeria. Findings revealed that most urban farmers, predominantly female civil servants, married women, or widows, were not visited by extension agents, nor were they encouraged to use growth media or form agricultural societies.

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.

Aprilia Shyntia Dewi, Muchlisiniyati Safeyah · Sinektika Jurnal Arsitektur · United States

This qualitative descriptive study analyzed the application of permaculture design principles through architectural elements at Vertical Harvest Farms, USA, using secondary data. The research found that Vertical Harvest Farms largely incorporates permaculture design principles through architectural elements, such as greenhouse-based materials adapted to local climate and optimal spatial arrangement. However, regarding mass typology, the farm was found to be less compliant with the permaculture design principle of "Design from Pattern to Detail."

Siti Hajar, Siti Via Syahrani Putri, Hanif Fatihah Tsari, Muhammad Iqbal, Arjuna Arjuna, Nur Saudah Al Arifa D · Prosiding Seminar Nasional Pembangunan dan Pendidikan Vokasi Pertanian · Indonesia

This study analyzed the empowerment strategies of the Surya Hijau Farmer Group in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using SWOT analysis. The group, which practices urban farming with vertical planting, demonstrated strong internal cooperation but faced challenges including caterpillar pest attacks, difficulty obtaining quality growing media, and water scarcity. A critical finding was that the group's income was affected by fluctuating harvest prices, posing a significant threat to their economic viability.

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.

· Wikipedia · United States

A Wikipedia article on Windowfarm, an open-source vertical hydroponic system originating when founder Britta Riley built the first Windowfarm in her Brooklyn apartment window in 2009. She launched a crowdsourced online community for building the systems from repurposed water bottles and plumbing supplies, which grew to nearly 40,000 registered users. Two Kickstarter campaigns raised over $285,000, but as of December 31, 2016, the company Windowfarms dissolved without sufficient assets to pay outstanding debts to creditors and investors.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) · United States

This EPA page (last updated December 22, 2025) explains chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a wood preservative used since the 1940s for utility poles, posts, and other structural lumber. Manufacturers voluntarily ended CCA use for residential wood products in December 2003. EPA notes cancer and non-cancer health risks for workers and environmental risks to aquatic invertebrates and plants, while stating there is no health risk to the general public; removal of existing CCA structures is not mandated, though periodic sealant coating is recommended to reduce leaching.

Aikaterini Kouloumprouka Zacharaki, James Monaghan, Jennifer R. Bromley, Laura H. Vickers · Plants People Planet · Global

This review identifies challenges for strawberry cultivation in urban production systems, noting that new urban farmers often lack the specialist knowledge of commercial growers. Common bottlenecks include plant physiology, pathogen management, choice of propagation material, fertigation, pollination, and environmental requirements. This knowledge gap appears to result in the abandonment of strawberries as a crop of choice in urban systems.

Pierric Calenge, Maie Gérardot · Métropolitiques · United States (Cleveland)

The work by Max Rousseau and Vincent Béal illuminates the ambiguities of a policy that organizes urban decline and racial segregation in Cleveland. This policy promotes urban degrowth and racial segregation, balancing algorithmic management and urban greening. The study focuses on the Rust Belt region, which experiences de-urbanization marked by the subprime crisis, racism, and segregation.

Holger Braun, Dorothee Apfel, Benedikt Rilling, Carsten Herbes · Cleaner and Responsible Consumption · Germany

A study with 44 hobby gardeners in Germany found that substrates are not a major part of gardeners' social interactions, and price is the dominant purchase criterion for substrates, with sustainability not playing an important role. Although basic knowledge about peat is widespread, purchasing substrates is a utility-driven process with mostly passive information behavior.

Dragana Šunjka, Sanja Lazić, Slavica Vuković, Siniša Berjan, Hamid El Bilali · · Serbia

This chapter examines the food safety of urban agriculture systems in the Republic of Serbia through selected case studies. It highlights that agricultural products from urban production may be contaminated by polluted soil, water, and air, as well as by pesticides, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, nitrate and nitrite, and mycotoxins. The study emphasizes the need for strict control and reduction of synthetic pesticides and other agrochemicals in urban agriculture.

Diana Elinos, M. Carolina Cruz, Andrea Loyo del Castillo, Mar Zamora, Grecia Karime Yebra Peralta, José Gabriel Reyes Fernández · Memorias del Concurso Lasallista de Investigación Desarrollo e innovación · Global

This study analyzed the impact of inorganic pesticides, highlighting their potential mutagenic and carcinogenic effects and negative impact on biodiversity, water, and soil contamination. It proposed a methodology for creating an organic pesticide and presented results on its efficacy in pest control. The study concluded that inorganic pesticides pose significant risks, while organic pesticides offer a safe and effective alternative, and emphasized the need to prioritize organic solutions in agriculture.

Margaretha Häggström, Mårten Häggström · The Trumpeter · Sweden

This four-year exploratory study in a clearcut in western Sweden investigated the feasibility of cultivating crops in a nutrient-poor, shadowless environment to support biodiversity. The study found that while it was possible to grow potatoes, peas, and some summer flowers without special efforts, it was difficult to grow other vegetables and root vegetables. The project suggests that planting activities in clearcuts may impact people's sense of human-nature identity and respect for the natural environment.

Young-Bin Jung, Hyung-Kwon Yun, In-Chang Son, Se-Na Choi, Kwan Jeong Song · Journal of people, plants, and environment · Global

A 12-week study involving 20 middle-aged women in an urban gardening program and 20 in a control group examined the effects on physical activity and sleep quality. While the experimental group showed an increase in physical activity and improvements in stress and sleep quality scores, the study found no statistically significant difference in physical activity, stress index, or sleep quality between the experimental and control groups.

Administrative Region of Central, Thessaloniki, Greece, K.I. Maknea, Nikolaos Thymakis, Julia Nerantzia Tzortzi, A. Asănică · Romanian journal of Horticulture · Greece

Experimental research at eight sites in Thessaloniki, Greece, evaluated the impact of aromatic and medicinal plants on the urban microclimate. Sites with these plants showed a 10-15% temperature reduction compared to non-planted areas, and potted plants on simulated balconies led to a 5-10% temperature reduction. However, areas with dense vegetation and water features exhibited increased humidity and limited air circulation, creating adverse thermal comfort conditions.

Marthe L. Derkzen, Maitreyi Koduganti, Sheetal Patil, Parama Roy · · India (Bengaluru)

Bengaluru has transitioned from a "Garden City" to a "Global Technology Hub," resulting in food production being pushed out and productive lands converted to residential and commercial uses. This urbanization has led to rising land values, sharpening inequalities, and recurrent water insecurity. In response, new forms of urban farming, such as kitchen gardens and community farms, have emerged to mitigate space constraints and meet local food aspirations. This chapter will use participatory mapping, interviews, film, and photography to explore how Bengaluru residents from diverse backgrounds perceive food as cultural connections, community feelings, and environmental resilience.

Andrés G. Rolhauser, J. Scott MacIvor, Adriano N. Roberto, Selena Ahmed, Marney E. Isaac · Ecological Solutions and Evidence · Global

This paper addresses the limited understanding of conditions under which stress-tolerant "nurse" plants can facilitate stress-intolerant "protégé" species on extensive green roofs for urban agriculture. It proposes a framework and linear model, integrating trait–environment theory and facilitation ecology, to make testable predictions on protégé species performance along stress gradients. The framework aims to help researchers assess the feasibility of nurse–protégé interactions under various environmental conditions.

Leigh Whittinghill, Major Ballard, Anju Chaudhary, Smriti Kandel, Caitlin Mullins, Pradip Poudel · HortScience · United States

This study analyzed runoff water quality from four different nutrient management treatments (conventional fertilizer, organic fertilizer, low-compost + organic fertilizer, and high compost) in raised beds and small plastic pool container plots in the United States. Water samples, collected monthly, were analyzed for pH, conductivity, color, turbidity, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonia-nitrogen, total phosphorus, and potassium. While significant differences existed between raised beds and container plots, these did not translate to meaningful water quality differences for most variables, except for nitrate-nitrogen. The conventional fertilizer treatment showed greater or more variable nutrient leaching than other treatments.

Pavlo Ardanov, Annette Piorr, Alexandra Doernberg, Sonja Brodt, Jennifer B. Lauruol, Iryna Kazakova, Valentyna Movchan, Lucas A. Garibaldi · Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · Global

This study assessed information from multiple sources to design diversified cropping systems with vegetables and spice crops for cold temperate climates, integrating trait and observational data from databases, farmer surveys, and literature reviews. While farmers achieved medium to good levels of their main goals, they failed to reach desired multifunctionality with their polycultures. None of the individual data sources provided a comprehensive dataset, but combining them increased crop combination options while also increasing planning and management complexity.