Research & reports

Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.

32 results(2 / 2)

• Overview on urban and peri-urban agriculture: definition, impact on human health, constraints and policy issues

  2008

  Erastus K. Kang’ethe, Delia Grace, Thomas F. Randolph · East African Medical Journal · East Africa

  This study synthesizes current knowledge on urban agriculture (UA) in East Africa, focusing on its human health impact. It identifies UA as an important source of food security, but notes that many zoonotic and food-borne diseases are associated with it, with a lack of evidence on human health impact and management. Major constraints include illegality and limited access to inputs and markets, indicating a need for more research to understand both positive and negative health impacts.

  Contamination & food safetyHealthFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsPeri-urban agriculture
  Read source →DOI: 10.4314/eamj.v84i11.9576

• El riego con aguas de mala calidaden la agricultura urbana. Aspectosa considerar. I. Aguas salinas o alcalinas

  2007

  F Ortega Sastriques, Rosa Orellana Gallego · Revista ciencias técnicas agropecuarias · Global

  In many cities, the high price and limited availability of potable water necessitate considering irrigation with poor quality water, such as saline or alkaline waters, in urban agriculture. This paper considers aspects of irrigation with poor quality water, including risks like contamination.

  Contamination & food safetyClimate changeEconomics
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• Wastewater use for urban and peri-urban agriculture.

  2006

  Stephanie Buechler, Gayathri Devi Mekala, B. Keraita · Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) · Global

  This 2006 global study from Victoria University discusses wastewater use in urban and peri-urban agriculture for crop production and aquaculture, noting its role in generating livelihoods and providing cheap produce. However, the study emphasizes that clear policy guidelines and careful research are needed to prevent potential negative impacts on human health and the environment from wastewater reuse.

  Contamination & food safetyUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureHealthPolicyEconomics
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• Urban Agriculture in Shenzhen: Problems and Strategies for Sustainable Development

  2004

  Jianguo Dai · Journal of Shenzhen Polytechnic · China (Shenzhen)

  Urban agriculture in Shenzhen faces problems including decreasing farmland, inadequate skilled farmers, poor disaster resistance, immature insurance, increasing contamination of water, soil, air, and agricultural products, and poor modern enterprise management. Strategies proposed for sustainable development include specific laws, pollution protection, education, research, technology application, industrial technology application, leisure agriculture development, and diversification.

  Contamination & food safetyPolicyEconomicsClimate changeFood education
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• Heavy metal levels of pasture grasses in metropolitan area

  2003

  G. B. Luilo, Othman C. Othman · Journal de Physique IV (Proceedings) · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)

  This study measured heavy metal levels (cadmium, manganese, lead, and zinc) in Cynodon grasses near roads in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Mean levels of lead and zinc varied exponentially with distance from the road up to 15m and correlated with average daily traffic, suggesting vehicular sources. For public health reasons, it is recommended that pasture grasses in road vicinities not be used for foraging dairy cattle and goats.

  Contamination & food safetyHealthEconomics
  Read source →DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20030421

• Use of untreated wastewater in peri-urban agriculture in Pakistan: risks and opportunities

  2002

  Jeroen H. J. Ensink, Wim van der Hoek, Yutaka Matsuno, Sarfraz Munir, Muhammad Rizwan Aslam · CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) · Pakistan

  The use of untreated wastewater for irrigation is widespread in Pakistan's peri-urban agriculture, driven by water scarcity and lack of treatment funds. This practice has led to an uncontrolled expansion of wastewater use. The paper emphasizes the need to document this practice to find improvement methods within the financial constraints of low-income countries.

  Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureHealthEconomics
  Read source →DOI: 10.3910/2009.069

• Urban agriculture between allotment and market gardening: contributions to the sustainability of African and Asian cities

  2002

  L.M. van den Berg · WIT transactions on ecology and the environment · Africa, Asia

  Urban agriculture, despite severe competition for space, plays roles such as fresh food supply, leisure, supplementary income for the urban poor, and green space management. Case studies in Africa and Southeast Asia demonstrate the difficulty of maintaining these roles due to public health and environmental degradation concerns. Urban agricultural producers may rely on polluted streams for irrigation, cause soil erosion through inappropriate farming techniques, or poison surrounding residents with pesticides. The paper suggests that urban agriculture could be more beneficial to the urban system if treated by town planners as a normal urban function requiring both regulation and protection.

  Contamination & food safetyEconomicsHealthOrganic cyclePolicy
  Read source →DOI: 10.2495/urs020911