Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
45 results(1 / 2)
A scoping review of the impact of urbanization on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa
2026Alemseged Gerezgiher Hailu, daniel girmay, samuel ataklti · Discover Food · Sub-Saharan Africa
This scoping review analyzed 155 sources (2009–2024) on urbanization's impact on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Findings showed rapid urban expansion converted 30% of peri-urban agricultural land in some regions, increasing dependence on imported staples, and low-income households spend 60–80% of income on food. A policy gap was identified, with only 12% of countries having supportive policies and 19% of cities designating land for farming.
Environmental trade-offsFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureClimate changeHealthPerceived sustainability impacts of converting to community‐supported agriculture
2026Lukas Egli, Jana V. Schmidt, Hanna‐Sofie Haf, Mirco Zech · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global
This exploratory quantitative survey assessed farmers' perceived sustainability impacts of converting to Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA). While most perceived impacts were positive, adverse impacts were anticipated regarding climate and water, such as increased water usage from vegetable production. Farmers in CSAs with medium to high member participation perceived significantly higher biodiversity impacts and more positive sustainability impacts for members.
Environmental trade-offsCSA & TeikeiClimate changeBiodiversityEconomicsReducing Sulfur Dioxide and Boosting Agricultural Productivity: Evidence From China's Sulfur Dioxide Trading Pilot
2026QianYing Chen, Pengyu Chen, Guangwei Liu · Food and Energy Security · China
This study, using China's 2007 sulfur dioxide emission trading as a starting point, reveals the relationship between Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Trading (SDE) and agricultural productivity. The analysis found that SDE can suppress agricultural productivity, and it has a greater negative impact on cotton-growing, non-rice-producing, and non-fruit-producing areas. Furthermore, SDE inhibits local urban agricultural productivity while promoting agricultural productivity in neighboring cities.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeEconomicsMultifunctional zoning optimization of agricultural land use by coupling Bayesian belief network with density peaks clustering – a case study in Guangdong, China
2026Hao Yang, Zijin Wang, Yueming Hu, Zhengxi Tan, Runyan Zou, L. Wang, Xiaoyun Mao · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · China (Guangdong)
A study in Guangdong Province, China, coupled a Bayesian belief network with density peaks clustering to analyze agricultural land resources. The research identified significant synergies between food production function and other functions, but also a trade-off with food cleanliness. Consequently, Guangdong agricultural land was zoned into five functional zones.
Environmental trade-offsPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageToward 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 & justiceCommunityPolicyEconomicsUrban farming and the nexus of economic growth and environmental sustainability in coastal cities, Indonesia
2025Tri Astuti, Hasddin Hasddin, Asrul Asrul, J Jasman, Muh. Yani Balaka, Haydir Haydir, Alfian Ishak, Muhamad Idham Handa, Villa Evadelvia Ginal Sambari, Eva Safitri Maladeni · European Journal of Sustainable Development Research · Indonesia (Kendari City)
This study quantitatively investigated the contribution of urban farming to economic growth and environmental sustainability in Kendari City, Indonesia. Urban farming is the third-highest contributor to the city's gross domestic regional product, accounting for 10.66% of total economic output, yet the sector's overall growth fluctuates, and its direct economic impact is underreported. In terms of environmental performance, Kendari's energy consumption and CO₂ emissions exceeded Asian Green City Index thresholds, categorizing the city as "below average" in sustainability.
Environmental trade-offsEconomicsClimate changePolicyPotential for urban agriculture: Expert insights on sustainable development goals and future challenges
2025Margarethe Karpe, Jeremías Lachman, Lili Wang, L.F.M. Marcelis, E. Heuvelink · Sustainable Production and Consumption · Global
A Delphi survey with 108 experts explored urban agriculture's potential contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under a scenario of 30% urban food self-sufficiency. Experts identified SDG 7.2 (renewable energies) as a key challenge due to high energy use, and agreed that none of the evaluated SDG targets for urban agriculture will be met by 2030. They also noted a lack of regulations and public policies for innovative agricultural systems.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicySustainability of Peri-Urban Rice Farming Practices in Ilorin, Nigeria
2025A. K. Ahmed, Rasheed Abiodun KURANGA, Oluwadara Latifat ISOLA-MUYIDEEN · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science · Nigeria (Ilorin)
This study assessed the sustainability of environmental management practices among peri-urban rice farmers in Ilorin, Nigeria, using a sustainability index. It found that many practices were less sustainable, with 69.51% of farmers relying on chemical sprays and 69.85% using chemical fertilizers. The overall Environmental Management Practices Sustainability Index (EMPSI) for all farmers was 0.492, placing them in the moderately sustainable category.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsQuantifying US metropolitan level environmental burdens & benefits from greater localization of vegetable farming
2025Peter Nixon, Anu Ramaswami · Environmental Research Letters · United States
This paper quantifies environmental benefits and disbenefits from various vegetable farming localization scenarios across 378 US metropolitan areas. While scenarios found few significant land constraints and revealed net environmental benefits to groundwater overdraft and fertilizer-related PM2.5 emissions in 11%–55% of metros, the model also revealed where relocalization would exacerbate existing environmental vulnerabilities. This indicates potential environmental tradeoffs depending on the location.
Environmental trade-offsEconomicsClimate changeUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureUrban agriculture supports China’s vegetable supply without raising greenhouse gas emissions
2025Yuanchao Hu, Prajal Pradhan, Haoran Zhang, Zhen Wang, Qianyuan Huang, Qiqi Jia, Xihong Lian, Chao Xu, Rui Yang, Yuxi Tian, Zhibang Xu, Limin Jiao, Jürgen P. Kropp · Resources Environment and Sustainability · China
This study constructed a new dataset of urban productive spaces for 124 large Chinese cities to assess the potential of urban agriculture. It found that approximately 30% of urban vegetable demand could be met by utilizing spaces such as rooftops and open areas. However, urban agriculture showed little potential for greenhouse gas emission mitigation, with an average intensity (0.30 kgCO2e/kg) similar to traditional agriculture (0.31 kgCO2e/kg).
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeUrban–rural linkageEconomicsDigital agricultureMidwestern specialty crop impacts on the environment and health: a scoping review
2024Laura E. Balis, Emily Shaw, Whitney Fung Uy, Katie Nelson, Maryan Isack, Laura Flournoy, Daniele Vest, Jessie Deelo, Amy L. Yaroch · Agriculture & Food Security · United States
This scoping review examined the environmental and health impacts of locally distributed specialty crops in the Midwestern United States, analyzing 9 grey and 19 peer-reviewed sources. While specialty crops positively impacted nutritional intake for diverse populations, the effectiveness of production practices on soil and plant quality and greenhouse gas emissions was mixed. The review concluded that more rigorous study designs with long-term follow-up are needed.
Environmental trade-offsCommunityHealthEconomicsClimate changeUrban Agriculture and Food Security
2024Aashna Sinha, Kailash Bisht, Digvijay Singh · · Global
This article explores vertical hydroponic farming, noting its benefits like reduced space and water use, and enhanced robustness with Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms (PGPMs). However, it also demonstrated that the system's ecological impact is significantly affected by growing media, pots, electricity use, and transportation. The study suggests potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and abiotic resource decline by using fiber as growing medium and paper containers.
Environmental trade-offsDigital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsOrganic cycleSharing or sparing? The trade-offs among urban services, food production and ecosystem services
2024Dongxiang Chen, Yuanming Wang, Haijun Bao · Habitat International · Global
This research extended the land sharing and sparing framework to urban land use, quantifying the impact of urban services, food production, and ecosystem services. The results showed that land-sparing scenarios had a 23.6% lower overall value loss than sharing scenarios on average. However, while land-sparing mitigates losses in food production and ecosystem services, it increases the cost of urban services, creating a trade-off that challenges achieving an optimal win-win situation.
Environmental trade-offsPolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageClimate changeFAZENDA VERTICAL COMO MODELO SUSTENTÁVEL DE AGRICULTURA URBANA
2023Renata Priore Lima, Lady Laura Soares Gundim · Revista Gestão & Sustentabilidade Ambiental · Brazil (São Paulo)
This study investigates the benefits of vertical farms as a sustainable food production model in cities. Through a literature review and a case study of Pink Farms in São Paulo, Brazil, the results indicate benefits such as energy and land use optimization, but also highlight the ecological, social, and landscape limitations of vertical farms.
Environmental trade-offsDigital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsIMPACTS ENVIRONNEMENTAUX ET CHANGEMENTS URBAINS DANS LA COMMUNE DE HAMMA BOUZIANE (CONSTANTINE, ALGÉRIE)
2023Institut de Gestion des Techniques Urbaines, Université Larbi Ben M’hidi, MERIEM BENLAHRECHE, Saïd Mazouz, Département d’architecture, Université Larbi Ben M’hidi · Revue Roumaine de Géographie / Romanian Journal of Geography · Algeria
This article aims to explain urban phenomena in Hamma Bouziane, Algeria, a city known for its fertile land. The study indicates that the peri-urban agriculture of Hamma Bouziane is suffering negative repercussions due to unbridled urban expansion and socio-economic changes.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageClimate changeEconomicsEffects of sand mining on peri-urban agriculture in Ife East and Ife Central Local Government Areas, Osun State, Nigeria.
2023F.E. Awoyelu, R.A. Mebo · Agro-Science · Nigeria (Osun State)
This study assessed the effects of artisanal sand mining on peri-urban agriculture in Ife East and Ife Central Local Government Areas, Osun State, Nigeria, from 2015 to 2019. Data from 120 respondents (landowners, cultivators, residents) showed that cultivated land area decreased by 24.8% (from 48% to 23.2%), while sand-mined area substantially increased by 20.4% (from 14.6% to 35%). Landowners' decision to part with land for sand mining increased with age, household size, and farming as primary occupation, but decreased with higher education levels.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsUrban–rural linkageClimate changeRendimientos y eficiencia en el uso del agua de lechuga y tomate cherry en jardines urbanos
2023Posgrado en Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso Integral del Agua, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Estado de México, México, Hugo Antonio Fernández, R. Salazar, Posgrado en Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso Integral del Agua, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Estado de México, México, E. Fitz-Rodríguez, Posgrado en Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso Integral del Agua, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Estado de México, México, I.L. López-Cruz, Posgrado en Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso Integral del Agua, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Estado de México, México, Uwe Schmidt, Dennis Dannehl · Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua · Mexico (Mexico City)
Yields and water productivity of romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes were investigated in 13 urban gardens in Mexico City. Lettuce yields ranged from 0.10 to 1.20 kg m-2 with water use efficiency from 0.21 to 2.93 kg m-3, while cherry tomato yields ranged from 0.25 to 3.40 kg m-2 with water use efficiency from 0.32 to 5.52 kg m-3. Irrigation in these gardens is empirically done using potable water, showing an excess water supply of 0.27 to 0.4 m3 m-2 for a complete cycle of lettuce and cherry tomatoes.
Environmental trade-offsDIYEconomicsClimate changeGreen City or Urban Countryside?; An Analytic Review of the Urban Sprawl Phenomenon in the Algerian City N’Gaous
2022Imen Bendjemila, Salah Chaouche · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Algeria
Urban sprawl in N'Gaous, Algeria, expanded its land area by over ten times (from 33.7 to 379.7 hectares) and its population by over six times (from 4,887 to 33,515 persons) over 60 years. This rapid growth creates significant issues, particularly for peri-urban orchards, which are the primary economic activity. The study used an analytical approach with Geographic Information Systems to assess the agronomic potential of soils and quantify agricultural land consumed by construction, aiming to achieve an optimal agri-urban balance rather than merely avoiding urban expansion.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageEconomicsPolicyImpacts of hailstorm on urban agriculture in Northern of Maputo City and Matola (Mozambique) - An analysis from a climate change perspective
2022Bernardino Bernardo, Elisa Eda Nhambire, Alice Castigo Binda Freia, Octávio Manuel de Jesus, José Júlio Júnior Guambe, Zacarias Alexandre Ombe, Gustavo Sobrinho Dgedge · Cadernos de Geografia · Mozambique (Maputo)
This mixed-method study analyzed the impacts of hailstorms on urban horticulture in northern Maputo City and Matola, Mozambique, following a storm on June 1, 2021. The study found total and partial destruction of ready-to-cut vegetables, including cabbage, lettuce, and onions, across all production areas. This resulted in heavy financial losses for farmers and a significant increase in vegetable prices in local markets.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceGreen City or Urban Countryside?
2022Imen Bendjemila, Salah Chaouche · Prostor : znanstveni časopis za arhitekturu i urbanizam · Algeria
This study investigated urban growth and urbanization in N'Gaous, Algeria, over the last 60 years, using an analytical approach and Geographic Information Systems to assess the agronomic potential of soils. It found that N'Gaous experienced significant urban sprawl, with its land area expanding over ten times and population increasing more than six times, leading to serious issues for peri-urban orchards. The study quantified and monitored the agricultural potential consumed by construction, highlighting the negative impact of urban expansion on agricultural land.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageEconomicsPolicyThe Adaptation of Export-Scale Urban Farmers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bandung Metropolitan
2022Kinanti Safitri, Oekan S. Abdoellah, Budhi Gunawan, Parikesit Parikesit, Yusep Suparman, Akhmad Mubarak, Margareth Pardede · The Qualitative Report · Indonesia (Bandung)
This mixed-method study, involving 107 export-scale urban farmers in the Bandung metropolitan area, Indonesia, investigated their adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmers prioritized commercial agriculture and adapted through market access, agricultural management, and financial resource strengthening. However, some adaptation methods were not environmentally friendly, as farmers increased reliance on synthetic inputs and used cold storage on open land, leading to intensive, non-environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Environmental trade-offsEconomicsClimate changeUrban–rural linkageAgroproductive buildings: vertical farm as a sustainable model of urban agriculture
2022Lady L. S Gundim, Renata Priore Lima · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (São Paulo)
This article investigates the benefits of vertical farms as a sustainable food production model in cities, using a literature review and a case study of Pink Farms in São Paulo/SP, Brazil. Results indicate benefits such as energy and land use optimization, but also highlight ecological, social, and landscape limitations.
Environmental trade-offsDigital agricultureEconomicsImpacts of urban sprawl in the Administrative Region of Ribeirão Preto (Brazil) and measures to restore improved landscapes
2022Laís Caroline Marianno de Olivera, Gislaine Costa de Mendonça, Renata Cristina Araújo Costa, Regina Aparecida Leite de Camargo, Luís Filipe Sanches Fernandes, Fernando António Leal Pacheco, Teresa Cristina Tarlé Pissarra · Land Use Policy · Brazil
This study investigated the impacts of 35 years of urban expansion in Brazil's Administrative Region of Ribeirão Preto, linking it to agricultural land loss and environmental consequences. Using Landsat images and GIS, the research found rural area losses exceeding 350 km2, with equivalent production and economic losses of approximately 1.1 Mton/year and 230 MR$/year. Significant environmental impacts included the destruction of over 9100 km of natural watercourses, nearly 630 km2 of Permanent Preservation Areas, and the occupation of Guarani Aquifer recharge areas with impermeable surfaces, affecting approximately 7000 headwaters.
Environmental trade-offsUrban–rural linkageEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceServiços e Desserviços Ambientais Associados à Agricultura Urbana e Periurbana no Município de São Paulo
2021Bruno do Nascimento Macedo, Fernanda Nogueira Comas, Amarílis Lucia Casteli Figueiredo Gallardo · Journal of Urban Technology and Sustainability · Brazil (São Paulo)
This study discussed the main environmental services and disservices associated with urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in São Paulo, Brazil, using a systematic literature review and spatial analysis. It identified 12 environmental services and 5 disservices, mapping 197 UPA initiatives. The research concluded that UPA has the potential to offer environmental benefits, but can also exert negative pressures on the environment, including in areas that should be protected.
Environmental trade-offsUrban–rural linkageClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyDevelopment potentials and sustainability challenges of peri-urban farming in the metropolis of Rabat (Morocco)
2021Fatiha Hakimi · Journal of Analytical Science & Technology · Morocco (Rabat)
This study assessed the practices, roles, and challenges of peri-urban farming in the metropolis of Rabat, Morocco, surveying 50 respondents. Peri-urban agriculture is a multifunctional activity contributing to job creation, income generation, food supply, and environmental beautification. However, it faces several constraints, including precarious and costly labor, absence of regulating laws, lack of training and technical supervision for peri-urban farmers, and water resource shortages.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsClimate changePolicy