Research & reports

Priyanie Amerasinghe, R. M. Bhardwaj, Christopher A. Scott, Kiran Jella · · India

This study analyzed the current status of wastewater generation, its uses, and livelihood benefits, particularly in agriculture, in India. It was based on national data and case studies from Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Kolkata. A lack of systematic data collection by municipalities makes it difficult to accurately assess wastewater generation or estimate the total urban area under wastewater irrigation.

张艳芳 · 中国乡镇企业 · China (Xi'an)

The Xi'an Municipal Government Executive Meeting discussed urban agricultural development and approved in principle the "Xi'an Urban Modern Agricultural Demonstration Zone Plan in the Northern Foothills of Qinling (2012-2020)" and the "Xi'an Baqiao Sub-district Planning Adjustment - Hongqing Group Plan (2010-2020)". The Qinling Northern Foothills Xi'an Urban Modern Agricultural Demonstration Zone will cover the area along the Qinling Northern Foothills Ring Road and its northern regions in southern Xi'an, and most areas south of the Southern Horizontal Line.

石进朝, 朱启酒, Qian Jing · 北京农业职业学院学报 · China (Beijing)

This study analyzed the integration mechanism and value-added potential of urban agriculture, ecotourism, and cultural creative industries from the perspective of agriculture's ecological service value. The results indicate that the organic integration of these three industries is a major trend in the development of urban modern agriculture, capable of creating more valuable spaces for Beijing's urban modern agriculture and rural tourism.

Lin Xu · Guangdong nongye kexue · China (Guangzhou)

This paper analyzes the absorptive capacity of urban agriculture for surplus labor in China, using C-D and CES production function models with sampled data from 1990 to 2008. The study found that urban agriculture development in Guangzhou had a strong capacity to absorb surplus labor. A SWOT analysis was also conducted for Guangzhou's urban agriculture, leading to six specific development measures.

WU De-hu · Anhui nongye kexue · China (Zhengzhou)

This study elaborated on the significance of developing characteristic agriculture in China's Central Economic Zone, using Zhengzhou urban agriculture as an example. It identified existing problems in urban agriculture development, including understanding deviation, extensive development, market confusion, short industrial chains, low specialization, and harsh environments. The research proposed countermeasures such as strengthening government macro-control, perfecting compensation mechanisms, and promoting scientific innovation and industrialization.

冉淑青, 周潮 · Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni · China

This study explores the guiding significance of the "Garden City" theory for the development and construction of new development zones in China. Addressing issues of sprawling urban expansion and urban-rural separation, it discusses the ideal composition of development zones guided by the Garden City concept. This includes urban clusters, urban complexes, urban green space systems and urban agriculture, rapid transportation systems, and development strategies for urban construction, industrial development, urban-rural integration, social management, and policy formulation.

Chen Hui-fan · Anhui nongye kexue · China (Zhengzhou)

This article analyzes the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model in Zhengzhou and proposes a new Chinese-style CSA model, "daughter-in-law in the city, her husband outside the city," inspired by roof vegetable gardens. This model is presented as beneficial for organic agriculture development and urban roof greening, offering a mutually beneficial practice for combining roof greening and agriculture. It is described as a green economy approach that promotes ecological environment protection and urban-rural economic development.

Zhao Shu-ji · Tianjin Agricultural Sciences · China (Tianjin)

In Tianjin, the demand characteristics for financial support for urban agriculture development were investigated. The results showed that peasant households and agricultural zones had multiple needs for agricultural techniques, and urban agriculture development required significant support from government fiscal and monetary resources.

김효정 · 한국여성학 · South Korea

Through in-depth interviews and participant observation research targeting women's activist organizations established since 2010, the characteristics of urban agriculture cases led or participated in by unmarried women in their 20s and 30s were analyzed. Unmarried women activists met the growing demand for safe and healthy food among single-person households through community farming in urban areas, practicing agriculture not only for food production but also as a lifestyle pursuit and recreational culture. However, their practices face limitations such as urban space constraints, difficulties for unmarried women to relocate to rural areas, excessive ecological value attribution, and a lack of solidarity with rural communities.

Ran Shu · Journal of Huaiyin Institute of Technology · China

This study examined the guiding significance of the over 100-year-old Garden City theory for the construction of new development zones in China. Addressing issues like continuous development and urban-rural separation in Chinese cities, the research analyzed the core ideas of the Garden City theory and its relevance for development zone construction. It discussed the ideal composition of development zones, including city groups, urban complexes, urban green space systems, urban agriculture, and rapid transit systems, as well as development tactics encompassing city construction, industrial development, urban-rural integration, social management, and policy formulation.

Cao We · Economic Geography · China

This study first divided Pukou District, Nanjing City, China into four land-use functional zones — an optimized/integrated zone, a key development zone, an urban agricultural zone, and an ecological tourism zone — based on each town's resource and environmental endowments and development intensity and potential. Using survey data from 201 households in the study area and a BP artificial neural network model, it then analyzed how farmers' willingness influenced urban-rural harmony development across zone types. Satisfaction with relocation and with social insurance were the main influencing factors in the optimized/integrated zone; willingness toward large-scale land operation, worry about retirement life, and satisfaction with relocation were the main factors in the key development zone; and worry about retirement life, willingness toward large-scale land operation, and satisfaction with relocation were the main factors in both the urban agricultural zone and the ecological tourism zone. The study concludes that urban-rural harmony development should be pursued through differentiated approaches tailored to regional characteristics and to differences in farmers' willingness.

Du, Xing-ying · 亚洲农业研究：英文版 · China (Huainan)

This paper analyzes the necessity of developing urban agriculture in Huainan City, China, identifying it as crucial for agricultural industry transformation, urban-rural integration, sustainable urban development, and effective resolution of issues concerning agriculture, countryside, and farmers. It also examines the city's endowments for urban agriculture and proposes a basic conception for its industrial form and spatial framework.

Zeng Fan-rong · Shanghai nongye xuebao · China (Shanghai)

This paper presented ideas and proposals for the future development of modern urban agriculture in Minhang District, Shanghai, particularly during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period. These proposals focused on developmental orientation, adjustments to industrial structure and spatial distribution, and innovation in agricultural management systems.

程存旺, 孙永生, 石嫣, 温铁军 · 绿叶 · China (Beijing)

This paper discusses the importance of ecological civilization in China's national development strategy, as highlighted by the 18th National Congress. It argues that Beijing's agricultural work should shift from industrialization to "social agriculture," moving beyond traditional GDP-focused strategies from 1956 and 1996. The paper advocates for promoting urban agriculture that combines citizens and farmers, aligning with ecological civilization and drawing on domestic and international transformation experiences.

Shengzhong Chen · Guangdong nongye kexue · China (Guangzhou)

This study analyzed the development conditions, process, characteristics, and barriers of urban agriculture in Guangzhou City. It showed that while urban agriculture in Guangzhou has formed functions such as production, technology demonstration, ecological barriers, and leisure services, it faces internal and external development barriers including a decline in agriculture's status, expansion of urban land, labor shortages, and environmental pollution. These barriers hinder the healthy and sustainable development of urban agriculture.

윤희정, 조미경 · · Korea

This study aimed to critically consider and classify new paradigms for urban parks in the 21st century. While urban parks exhibit progressive aspects such as process, openness, productivity, and community space, they face significant criticism regarding the long development period for tree growth, covering open spaces, ecological limitations, economic validity, urban sprawl, underutilization as a low-carbon strategy, and negative consilience with contiguous fields. Based on these critical considerations, the study proposed urban agricultural parks as an alternative.

许厚祺, 刘爱民 · 中国农业综合开发 · China (Tianjin)

This article describes Tianjin City's comprehensive agricultural development since 1994, focusing on expanding scale benefits and improving technological levels. Tianjin, located in northeastern North China Plain, has actively developed coastal urban modern agriculture, creating a unique path for agricultural development.

邹冰洋 · 中国乡镇企业 · China (Beijing)

In 2012, a forum on urban modern agriculture and urban-rural integration was held in Beijing during the 13th Annual Meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology. The forum discussed successful experiences, typical models, new mechanisms, new plans, and new theories related to modern agricultural industries, increasing farmer income, and new rural construction. It focused on transforming economic growth patterns and advancing urban-rural integration.

夏平, 徐丽萍 · 公民导刊 · China (Chongqing)

On July 6, 2012, Chongqing Municipality announced a plan to divide the city into three characteristic and efficient agricultural regions, designating the main eight urban districts as an urban agriculture demonstration zone. Qianjiang District, which began characteristic and efficient agriculture construction in 2010, developed the Yangtoushan Modern Agricultural Demonstration Park. This park attracted large companies, focused on characteristic agricultural efficiency, provided a new platform for increasing local income, and demonstrated tourism value, injecting new vitality into Wuling Mountain tourism.

Zhang Lin-qi · Hubei nongye kexue · China (Wuhan)

This study discussed a reasonable mode for urban agricultural development in Wuhan city, China, by analyzing its current progress and problems in the context of new rural planning. It described the theoretical and realistic significance of urban agricultural development and concluded that urban agriculture integrated with new countryside planning is a scientific mode suitable for the city's rural development.

Johanna F. Lindahl · · Vietnam

The circulation of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in pigs and mosquitoes was investigated around Can Tho city in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Of 315 sows, 60% were JEV seropositive, and seropositivity was associated with more stillborn piglets in sows under 1.5 years old. Among 7885 mosquitoes collected in and around Can Tho city, seven pools collected near pigs tested positive for JEV, indicating co-circulation of JEV genotypes I and III. All 43 pigs sampled within Can Tho city were JEV seropositive, demonstrating that JEV can be a public health issue in urban areas.

陈少金, 王志容, 廖成林 · 农村工作通讯 · China (Foshan)

Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China, has developed modern agriculture by promoting urban, ecological, sightseeing, export-oriented, and brand agriculture. In 2011, the added value of modern agriculture accounted for 84.6% of the primary industry, with agricultural land output reaching 20,200 yuan per mu. This development was primarily facilitated by the establishment of "three platforms."

NI Xiao-nin · Urban Problems · China (Beijing)

This article argues, based on an analysis of Beijing's modern agriculture and environmental agriculture policies, that urban agriculture is eliminating the gap between city and rural areas and gaining the micro-desire to obey environmental agriculture policies. Simultaneously, environmental policies support urban agriculture by internationalizing it. The article suggests that institutional innovations in environmental agriculture regulation, agricultural standardization, and environmental agriculture economic policies are necessary for better environmental and urbanization development.

Cai Jianming, Guo Hua, Larissa Muller, Margaret Zhou · Journal of Resources and Ecology · China (Beijing)

This study analyzed changes in Beijing's food footprint and food self-sufficiency rate over a 30-year period from 1981 to 2011. During this time, the food footprint grew from 11,800 to 29,400 km2, while the self-sufficiency rate for vegetables dropped from 59.3% to 39.0%, with significant declines also seen for fruit, grain, and edible oil. It was concluded that with proper shifts in farmland use, full utilization of temporary idle land, and the development of rooftop farming, Beijing could increase its vegetable self-sufficiency rate to 60% without significantly reducing the production of other types of local food.

Li D · Chinese Horticulture Abstracts · China

With rapid urbanization in China, urban environments face increasing threats, making horticultural plants a choice to improve and beautify living spaces. This study analyzed the connotation, industry orientation, realistic meaning, and development prospects of the domestic horticulture industry in China, based on the current state of urban horticulture.