Research & reports

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

6 results

• Socio-economic and urban form characteristics driving urban agriculture development: A spatial analysis across 11 large European cities

  2026

  Paris Pencharz, Peter H. Verburg, Pierre Chopin · Landscape and Urban Planning · Europe

  This study investigated the conditions enabling urban agriculture (UA) at a 1 km² scale across 11 large European cities. The intercity model suggested that UA is more likely found in greener, central neighborhoods with lower property prices and lower proportions of locally born residents. However, there is not a consistent set of factors implying UA presence, suggesting other social and policy factors might be at play.

  Equity & displacementEconomicsCommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkage
  Read source →DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2026.105658

• Milan's private Vertical Forests vs. horizontal urban greening

  2021

  Lucia Di Paola · · Italy

  This paper examines Milan's Porta Nuova re-urbanization project (2004-2015), which features Vertical Forest skyscrapers as symbols of urban greening. Activists and resident groups strongly opposed the project, criticizing the privatization of a public park and high rents, arguing it represents a top-down privatization leading to exclusion and gentrification. In response, these groups developed a public community garden in the same neighborhood as an alternative model for democratic horizontal urban greening.

  Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyEconomics
  Read source →DOI: 10.4324/9781003183273-3

• Gentrification e urban gardening a Berlino. Riflessioni da Tempelhofer Feld e Prinzessinnengärten

  2020

  Sara Giovansana, Giacomo Zanolin · Geography Notebooks · Germany (Berlin)

  This study examines urban creativity in Berlin, focusing on urban gardens at Tempelhofer Feld and Prinzessinnengärten. Based on field research, it reflects on the potential of creative class initiatives in relation to gentrification. The work aims to outline the Berlin green experience as a sign of urban change.

  Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyEconomics
  Read source →DOI: 10.7358/gn-2020-002-giza

• Food for all?

  2019

  Michael Hardman, Mags Adams, Melissa Barker, Luke Beesley · Manchester University Press eBooks · United Kingdom (Todmorden)

  The Incredible Edible Todmorden (IET) movement in Todmorden, UK, was investigated using a qualitative approach. The scheme was found to have an overwhelmingly positive impact on the town, providing social, environmental, and economic benefits and contributing to a more just food movement through its "free for all" philosophy. However, negative aspects were also highlighted, including maintenance issues and a lack of perceived inclusivity in some parts.

  Equity & displacementCommunityEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justice
  Read source →DOI: 10.7765/9781526126108.00017

• Urban sustainability experiments in their socio-economic milieux: A quantitative approach

  2018

  Irene Håkansson · Journal of Cleaner Production · United Kingdom (London)

  A quantitative study using data from nearly two thousand urban agriculture projects across metropolitan London investigated the geographically uneven distribution of urban sustainability experiments. Spatial statistical analyses indicated that gentrifying and income-deprived neighborhoods disproportionately often provide distinct urban milieux for initiatives to emerge, while already gentrified or otherwise advantaged urban neighborhoods have a disproportionately low number of projects.

  Equity & displacementCommunityEconomicsPolicy
  Read source →DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.095

• Ethno-cultural representation in the urban landscape

  2004

  Clare Rishbeth · Journal of Urban Design · United Kingdom (London)

  This paper investigates how urban greenspace can be designed and managed to reflect ethnic diversity and how this is perceived by users, using two case studies of community gardens in London. It found some differences in the response to the gardens by people from different ethnic backgrounds. The use of obvious symbolism was not necessarily a primary means of encouraging users from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, though appreciated for educational and design strengths. Concern is expressed about aspects of the physical and psychological containment of ethnic groups in fixed places and identities leading to the perpetuation of stereotypes.

  Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyEconomics
  Read source →DOI: 10.1080/1357480042000283878