Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
735 results(10 / 30)
Parasitisation of Yponomeuta malinellus feeding on Crataegus monogyna in the allotment gardens in the city of Poznań, Poland
2022H. Piekarska-Boniecka, Marta Rzańska-Wieczorek, Idzi Siatkowski, Tadeusz Barczak · Plant Protection Science · Poland (Poznań)
This study investigated the parasitisation of Yponomeuta malinellus feeding on Crataegus monogyna in the allotment gardens in the city of Poznań, Poland.
BiodiversityCommunityReview of “How Green Became Good. Urbanized Nature and the Making of Cities and Citizens”
2022Fiona Greenland · Social Forces · Germany (Ruhr valley)
This review of "How Green Became Good" by Hillary Angelo examines why urban greening became a public good, challenging conventional accounts. Tracing urban greening in Germany's Ruhr valley, Angelo argues that greening constructs not only physical spaces but also social imaginaries, where nature as a public good is mutually constitutive with economic production needs, rather than being in opposition. The work shifts the understanding of urbanized nature from inherently contentious politics to a socio-cultural process of urban modernization.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsTowards defining agricultural projects in towns: METH-EXPAU®, a multi-phase method
2022Giulia Giacchè, Véronique Saint-Gès, Yoann Durrieu, Mélanie Collé, Christine Aubry · Territoire en mouvement · France
A multi-phase method, METH-EXPAU®, is proposed for defining urban agriculture (UA) projects, aiming to help landowners select appropriate UA forms based on territorial characteristics. Applied to three case studies in France—Montrouge, a priority district in Lille, and a new district in Bordeaux—the method revealed its potential and shortcomings. It demonstrated how structural, technical, and social characteristics of spaces and agents can rule out certain UA forms that do not correspond to the territory's current needs.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyPeri-urban agricultureFen bilgisi öğretmeni eğitiminde yerleşke bahçesinin öğrenme ortamı olarak kullanılması
2022Sibel Telli · Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University AVESIS · Turkey
This case study aimed to introduce the educational use of school gardens to 38 pre-service science teachers at a state university in Turkey, improving their subject knowledge, teaching competency, and confidence in outdoor settings. Educational research indicates that teacher education programs primarily focus on classrooms, leaving teachers unprepared for outdoor instruction. Through a lesson study model in a campus garden, pre-service teachers reported awareness of using scientific plant names but felt insufficient in their ability. However, the model was shown to contribute to their professional competence and subject knowledge.
Food educationCommunityFlat Rooftops as Productive Landscapes in Birmingham
2022Yangzixian Yang · Journal of Architectural Research and Development · United Kingdom (Birmingham)
This paper aims to assess Birmingham's suitability for flat rooftop farming in the United Kingdom. It explores two examples of rooftop farms, Brooklyn Grange in New York and Thammasat University, the largest rooftop farm in Asia, and proposes converting the tops of buildings at Birmingham City University into a flat roof farm.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsHealthDesigning the adaptation. The resilience of urban agriculture in the European context
2022Maicol Negrello, Daniele Roccaro, Kevin Santus, Isabella Spagnolo · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Europe
This paper examines urban agriculture's role in enhancing the resilience of European urban areas against climate change. Through a historical overview and analysis of contemporary case studies, it provides design tools for interventions at urban and architectural scales. The essay presents a replicable morpho-typological approach for designers and policy-makers to increase urban resilience.
Climate changeCommunityPolicyFood educationMultifunctionality of urban agriculture and its characteristics in Latvia
2022Madara Dobele, Aina Dobele, Andra Zvirbule · Rural Sustainability Research · Europe
This research aimed to identify the main functions of urban agriculture and evaluate their significance in Latvia. The study identified 14 functions of urban agriculture, classified into five groups: political, economic, social, environmental, and technological. The most significant functions in Latvia were found to be social (promotion of social cohesion and public health, education, and maintaining traditions and values) and technological innovations.
PolicyEconomicsCommunityClimate changeUrban–rural linkagePopulation densities of birds breeding in an urban environment dominated by allotment gardens and other ‘green’ areas in a Central European city
2022Grzegorz Kopij · Acta Musei Silesiae. Scientiae Naturales · Poland (Wrocław)
In 2017, a study in Wrocław, SW Poland, recorded 50 breeding bird species in an urban environment (589 ha) dominated by green habitats, including allotment gardens (41.2%). Population densities were estimated for 41 species, with high densities observed for Phoenicurus phoenicurus (9.2 pairs/100 ha) and Sylvia atricapilla (7.3). Allotment gardens showed higher densities for Pica pica (14.5) compared to Corvus cornix (6.5), and for Columba palumbus (2.8) compared to Streptopelia decaocto (1.2).
BiodiversityCommunityLandscape engineering and aesthetics approaches to design a community garden: Social activity zones appraisal in the envisaged Drwinka River Park (Kraków, Poland)
2022Wiktor Halecki · Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis Studia Naturae · Poland (Kraków)
This paper aims to present a coherent concept for reclaiming the estate in Drwinka River Park in Kraków, Poland. The design seeks to create a friendly space that residents can use for rest and meetings, as well as to enhance aesthetics and quality of life. Parks and community gardens are listed as strategic components for equipping the city with public spaces for meetings, recreation, and other activities.
CommunityExploring member trust in German community-supported agriculture: a multiple regression analysis
2022Felix Zoll, Caitlin K. Kirby, Kathrin Specht, Rosemarie Siebert · Agriculture and Human Values · Germany
A quantitative study (n=790) among Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) members in Germany used a multiple regression model to identify factors predicting trust in CSA and its farmers. The analysis found that "reputation," "supply of information," "direct social interaction," and "duration of CSA membership" influenced trust. Conversely, "certification status of the CSA farm" and "attitudes toward organic certification" did not significantly predict trust.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceChanges in the ways of using plots in allotment gardens in Poland. A case of selected gardens in the Łódź Voivodship
2022Roman Szkup · Journal of Geography Politics and Society · Poland
Changes in the ways of using plots in allotment gardens in Poland were investigated. A direct inventory and questionnaire survey were conducted among users of five gardens: one in Łódź and four in its suburban zone. Analysis revealed that the farther from the center of Łódź, the less dominant the leisure and recreational model was. Additionally, users' professional activity and age were identified as socio-demographic features currently determining the way plots are used in these gardens.
CommunityUrban–rural linkageEconomicsUrban Farming Models, Ecosystems and Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Environments: The Case of SATURN Pan European Programme
2022Anastasia Nikologianni, Alessandro Betta, Mattia Andreola, Angelica Pianegonda, Gian Antonio Battistel, Anna Ternell, Alessandro Gretter · Athens Journal of Sciences · Europe
This paper explores urban farming models and their role in climate change adaptation within urban environments, drawing on the SATURN project's collaboration across Gothenburg (Sweden), Trento (Italy), and Birmingham (UK). It presents Gothenburg's entrepreneurial model, where municipal management leases allotments to farmers to scale businesses and provide sustainable food. Trento combines bottom-up and institutional processes to foster short local supply chains, potentially benefiting from a land lease scheme. Birmingham's model views urban farming primarily as community support for mental health and awareness, rather than an entrepreneurial activity. The research demonstrates how abandoned and underutilized land can be regenerated through these diverse European urban agriculture models.
Climate changeCommunityHealthHolistic approach to assess the association between the synergistic effect of physical activity, exposure to greenspace, and fruits and vegetable intake on health and wellbeing: Cross-sectional analysis of UK Biobank
2022Catalina Cruz-Piedrahita, Charlotte Roscoe, Caroline Howe, Daniela Fecht, Audrey de Nazelle · Frontiers in Public Health · United Kingdom
A cross-sectional analysis of 204,478 UK Biobank participants examined the association of fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, and greenspace exposure with health and wellbeing markers. Meeting recommended levels for fruit/vegetable intake and physical activity was linked to better health and wellbeing. However, participants in greener areas who were physically active were more likely to feel alone and report poor health, and evidence for three-way interactions was weak.
HealthCommunityFarm lab
2022Phil Nichols, Sara Heitlinger · interactions · United Kingdom (London)
Spitalfields City Farm, an urban farm in Inner East London, has served as a site for participatory design collaborations with researcher Sara Heitlinger for over 10 years. This article presents an exchange of views between Heitlinger and farm manager Phil Nichols regarding the farm's work and their ongoing collaboration in the context of social and environmental sustainability.
CommunityPolicyClimate changePerceived functions of allotment gardens and their importance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
2022Edyta Janus, Bożena Szewczyk-Taranek, Agnieszka Smrokowska-Reichmann · Folia Horticulturae · Poland
A questionnaire survey of 203 allotment garden owners in three Silesian cities, Poland, explored perceived functions and importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents over 61 years observed a generational shift from food cultivation to recreation, while no age group noted technological progress or new crops. Allotment gardens were crucial during the pandemic as a private, restriction-free space and a coping strategy for lockdown stress.
CommunityHealthFood educationEconomicsTowards Sustainable Urban Food Systems: Potentials, Impacts and Challenges of Grassroots Initiatives in the Foodshed of Muenster, Germany
2022Janina Wittenberg, Maria Gernert, Hamid El Bilali, Carola Strassner · Sustainability · Germany (Münster)
This paper explores the role of grassroots initiatives in the transition towards a sustainable urban food system in Münster, Germany, using questionnaires, interviews, and desk research. Results indicate that many initiatives in Münster focus on education and information, raising awareness, rather than offering material alternatives. Policy, education, networks, and communication were identified as key leverage points.
Limited or null effectCommunityCSA & TeikeiFood educationPolicyFood Policy Processes in the City of Rome: A Perspective on Policy Integration and Governance Innovation
2022Bianca Minotti, Angela Cimini, Gabriella D’Amico, Davide Marino, Giampiero Mazzocchi, Simona Tarra · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Italy (Rome)
This study analyzed food policy processes in the city of Rome, Italy, focusing on the Agrifood Plan, Food Policy for Rome, and Community Gardens Movement. Using a conceptual framework combining policy integration and governance innovation, the research showed that each process performs a different form of governance based on the actors and backgrounds involved. The study demonstrated a strong link between governance innovation and policy integration, with the conception and application of policy integration varying according to the process's governance vision.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceArchitecture of Rooftop Gardens, as a New Dimension of Public Space in London. Case Studies in Qualitative Research
2022Dorota Winnicka-Jasłowska, Sabrina TKACZUK · Architecture Civil Engineering Environment · United Kingdom
This study conducted qualitative research on three rooftop gardens in London, investigating their way of use, attractiveness, maintenance, and popularity levels. Surveys were carried out among visitors, alongside two non-participant observational surveys during warm and cold months. The research established a profile of users visiting such public spaces and determined characteristic architectural features that make these spaces accessible, attractive, and willingly visited.
CommunityPolicyIntegrated Planning and Implementation of a Blue-Green Architecture Project by Applying a Design-Build Teaching Approach
2022Friederike Well, Ferdinand Ludwig · Land · Germany (Munich)
A design strategy for blue-green architecture (BGA) was applied and evaluated in a practical project at a school garden in Munich, Germany. Architecture and landscape architecture students designed and implemented a BGA, building a nature-based system where school garden greywater is treated in a constructed wetland and combined with rainwater to feed a redesigned pond. This increased biodiversity, contributed to the environmental education of pupils, and demonstrated high learning success for the students.
Food educationBiodiversityClimate changeCommunityProximidade pessoal, dissidência disruptiva e governança urbana participativa como formas de ativismo pela mudança climática por meio da agricultura urbana
2022Sandrine Simon · Educação Sociedade & Culturas · United Kingdom (Bristol)
This article explores three types of climate change activism expressed through urban agriculture: 'proximities', 'disruptive dissent', and 'participatory urban governance'. It analyzes how urban agriculture, as a form of grassroots climate change activism, can help in taking action, using illustrative examples from Bristol, UK, and Lisbon, Portugal. The paper suggests that citizens are exploring ways to participate in combating climate change by changing economic and productive systems in their daily lives and lifestyles.
Climate changeCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceSensory Traits and Consumer's Perceived Quality of Traditional and Modern Fresh Market Tomato Varieties: A Study in Three European Countries
2021Sinesio F., Cammareri M., Cottet V., Fontanet L., Jost M., Moneta E., Palombieri S., Peparaio M., Romero del Castillo R., Saggia Civitelli E., Spigno P., Vitiello A., Navez B., Casals J., Causse M., Granell A., Grandillo S. · Foods 10(11):2521 · Europe
Assessed traditional and modern tomato varieties in France, Spain, and Italy at physicochemical, trained-panel, and consumer levels. Multi-level approach revealed how sensory traits drive perceived quality across regionally familiar cultivars.
Heirloom & landraceCommunityHealthVolatile and Sensory Characterization of La Mancha Trujillo Melons over Three Consecutive Harvests
2021Ferrer Valverde M.A., Sánchez-Palomo E., Osorio Alises M., Chaya Romero C., González-Viñas M.A. · Foods 10(8):1683 · Spain
Characterized the traditional Trujillo melon from La Mancha, Spain, over three harvests, identifying 55 volatile compounds. Sensory profile featured jam, cucumber, sweet, and honey aromas, documenting quality of a regional heirloom melon.
Heirloom & landraceBiodiversityCommunityThe Greenery of Early Modernist Housing Estates: The 1919–1927 Wałbrzych Agglomeration
2021Ludwig B. · Sustainability (MDPI) · Germany
Analyzes the significance of green-space design in early modernist housing estates (1919–1927) in then-German Lower Silesia, addressing urban layout, public/private greenery systems including gardens, and protection of valued trees from natural, landscape, and social perspectives.
BiodiversityCommunityHealthPractices in building housing and settlements in the Nazi era. Case study: Breslau
2021Störtkuhl B. · Architectus, No. 3(67), pp. 25–37 · Germany
Studies how the self-build Reichsheimstätten, originating as a late-Weimar crisis measure, became central to Nazi housing policy aimed at 're-rooting' the population in German soil, using Breslau as a case study.
PolicyCommunityA qualitative comparative analysis of collaborative governance structures as applied in urban gardens
2021Molenveld A., Voorberg W., Van Buuren A., Hagen L. · Public Management Review · Netherlands
Fuzzy-set QCA of 14 Dutch urban gardens with partnerships among citizens, public authorities, and private actors, identifying financial independence, institutionalization, and a small core volunteer group as key to garden durability.
PolicyCommunity