Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
11 results
Community Supported Agriculture and Food Waste in Curitiba, Paraná
2025Dailey Fischer, Roberta Romano, Mariana Monteiro Kugler Batista, Mario Prokopiuk, Valério Alécio Turnes, Carlos Alberto Cioce Sampaio · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (Curitiba)
An exploratory survey (N=401, n=144) was conducted to assess food waste patterns among consumers involved in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives in the Central Urban Core of Curitiba, Brazil. The results showed that participation in CSAs does not significantly influence consumer behavior regarding food waste. This indicates a need for sustainable consumption education and context-specific solutions.
Limited or null effectCSA & TeikeiFood lossFood educationEconomicsRénover Cleveland : démolition, racisme et agriculture urbaine dans l’Amérique abandonnée
2024Pierric 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.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceHealthWelfareClimate changeBiodiversityFood educationElderlyFood lossOrganic cyclePollinatorsHeirloom & landraceFood miles & supply chainCSA & TeikeiPeri-urban agricultureDigital agricultureDIYCompostFood educationWelfareElderlyFood lossOrganic cycleCommunityBiodiversityPollinatorsPolicyHealthEconomicsHeirloom & landraceUrban–rural linkageFood miles & supply chainCSA & TeikeiPeri-urban agricultureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureGrowing together or growing apart? A study of food donation community garden programming during the COVID-19 pandemic
2024Moses Wanyakha, Nancy Grudens‐Schuck, Ann M. Oberhauser · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States (Iowa)
This study investigated resilience and vulnerabilities in fresh produce donation partnership programs to food pantries in Iowa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings revealed a significant decrease in labor hours during the pandemic years of 2020–2021, attributed to government policies and social distancing requirements. Volunteer shortages, donation inconsistency, and exclusionary community practices appeared to be inherent vulnerabilities of volunteer-based food donation programs.
Limited or null effectCommunityWelfareFood lossPolicyPemanfaatan Pemasaran Digital sebagai Media Penjualan Produk Pertanian Perkotaan oleh Kelompok Tani Empelan Terbin
2023Kadek Dwi Pradnyani Novianti, Ni Kadek Sukerti · WIDYABHAKTI Jurnal Ilmiah Populer · Indonesia (Denpasar)
This community service activity focused on the Empelan Terbin Farmer Group in Denpasar City, which practices urban agriculture but faces challenges in distributing and selling its produce. The group's agricultural products were often only shared locally or discarded due to excess harvest, indicating a lack of effective sales channels. To address this, the activity provided training and assistance in digital marketing via Facebook to help the group introduce its products to a wider audience and generate profit for sustainable land management.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureEconomicsCommunityFood lossUrbanisation threats to dairy cattle health: Insights from Greater Bengaluru, India
2023MS Alam, Silpa Mullakkalparambil Velayudhan, Debpriyo Kumar Dey, Chiamaka Adilieme, Pradeep Kumar Malik, Raghavendra Bhatta, Sven König, Eva Schlecht · Tropical Animal Health and Production · India (Bengaluru)
A study in Greater Bengaluru, India, interviewed 151 dairy farmers and analyzed 97 forage samples from 10 lakes and vegetable leftovers to assess urbanization's impact on cattle health. While lake fodder was nutritionally high-quality, 43% of samples contained toxic heavy metals above critical levels. Logit models showed that insufficient drinking water and lake fodder negatively impacted cattle health, despite 60% of farmers believing their cows were healthy.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageFood lossA new hope for India to eradicate the problem of hunger and unemployment with its advancement in both urban and rural India
2021Dr.Sumanta Bhattacharya, H. B. Lal, Bhavneet Kaur Sachdev · Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research · India
India's horticulture industry has grown, contributing to GDP and employing 42% of the population. However, 60% of products rot due to a lack of cold storage, hindering the elimination of food shortages and export amplification. Floriculture has also improved, with women playing a role in rural economy and empowerment.
Economic viabilityUrban–rural linkageFood lossClimate changeEconomicsUrban food systems
2015J.S.C. Wiskerke · · Global
This chapter focuses on urban food supplies and the challenges of managing waste flows from urban households and markets in developing countries. Large amounts of municipal solid waste, human excreta, and wastewater are produced, most of which end up in non-engineered landfills or pollute the urban environment. It is noted that these wastes pollute the urban environment, especially in low-income countries with less developed sanitation infrastructure.
Environmental trade-offsOrganic cycleCompostFood lossHealthThe 2009 Late Blight Pandemic in the Eastern United States – Causes and Results
2012William E. Fry, M. T. McGrath, Abby Seaman, Thomas A. Zitter, A. McLeod, Giovanna Danies, Ian M. Small, Kevin Myers, Kathryne L. Everts, Amanda J. Gevens, Beth K. Gugino, Sara B. Johnson, Howard S. Judelson, Jean B. Ristaino, Pamela Roberts, Gary A. Secor, K. W. Seebold, K. Snover-Clift, A. Wyenandt, Niklaus J. Grünwald, Christine D. Smart · Plant Disease · United States
The 2009 tomato late blight pandemic in the eastern United States resulted in significant crop losses for many home gardeners and organic producers. This event led to widespread questions regarding its causes and differences from previous epidemics.
Limited or null effectCSA & TeikeiFood lossClimate changeMaterial Ecocriticism: Dirt, Waste, Bodies, Food, and Other Matter
2012D. Z. Phillips, Heather I. Sullivan · ISLE Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment · United States
This collection of essays for ISLE assesses the material aspects of healthy economies, environments, and bodies, arguing that the traditional economic-ecological "health" dichotomy is insufficient. It finds that the determination of "healthy" is complex, as artificial environments can be benign, and even a flourishing community garden can have neglected produce going to waste. The essays explore how a large number of healthy human bodies can be detrimental to healthy environments.
Limited or null effectCommunityFood lossOrganic cycleAnalisis Faktor Penyebab dan Dampak Perubahan Penggunaan Lahan Pertanian Pinggiran Kota Yogyakarta
2010Senthot Sudirman, Irham Irham, Slamet Hartono, Azwar Maas · · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)
This study analyzed agricultural land use changes in peri-urban Yogyakarta from 1996-2007, covering 922.17 ha in Sleman, 1,888.60 ha in Bantul, and 1,082.79 ha across 47 villages. Factors like agricultural production exchange value, irrigated land, built area percentage, population density, education, and land price significantly influenced land change rates, which negatively correlated with distance from the city. However, agricultural land percentage to village area, land tax, and dummy variables for Bantul and Kulon Progo did not significantly influence these rates, and the changes negatively impacted regional food loss, availability, and farming sustainability prospects.
Limited or null effectPeri-urban agricultureFood lossFood sovereignty & justiceRecognizing Ethiopia's urban farmers.
1993Lee M · PubMed · Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, urban agriculture faces significant challenges due to government disapproval of public land use for farming and difficulty in obtaining credit. A 1983 survey in Addis Ababa found that 17% of 1352 households produced their own food on less than 25 sq. meters, with 90% of non-farmers citing lack of land. Despite urban agricultural cooperatives demonstrating 70% higher member income, their lack of government legalization prevents access to loans for productivity improvement.
Governance failureCommunityEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceHealthWelfareClimate changeUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureFood educationBiodiversityCompostDIYElderlyFood lossHeirloom & landraceOrganic cyclePollinatorsFood miles & supply chainCSA & TeikeiDigital agriculture