Research & reports

James Mbugua · African Journal of Climate Change and Resource Sustainability · Global

Biochar is presented as a promising nature-based solution for urban resilience, applicable in soil remediation, stormwater management, and carbon sequestration within green infrastructure. However, its widespread adoption faces significant barriers, including inconsistent feedstock supply, high production costs, limited public awareness, and a lack of standardized quality and safety regulations. The study also identifies a critical need for policies that integrate biochar into urban planning frameworks and incentivize its production and application.

Xiaoying Ding, Haotian Zhang, Xiaoxiao Fan, Xiaoyu Zhang, Xiaopeng Yue, Ping Shu · Buildings · Global

This review analyzed English and Chinese literature on community garden ecosystem services from Web of Science and CNKI, focusing on publication trends, locations, and topics. It found a significant increase in studies since 2015, concentrated in urban areas of Europe, America, and eastern China. Both language literatures emphasize food supply, learning and education, and social cohesion, correlating with contextual factors.

Rumana Sultana · · Global

This chapter explores the relationship between ecological properties and cultural ecosystem services (CES) in urban settings, focusing on their role in climate change adaptation in the Global South. It examines various urban CES, including urban farming and rooftop gardening, and their diverse roles in adaptation, such as increasing environmental awareness and community engagement. A case study of Dhaka, Bangladesh, suggests that integrating CES into urban development planning is crucial for climate change adaptation.

Paola Lassandro, Salvatore Capotorto, Valeria Mammone · Sustainability · Global

This study explored smart, low-cost cultivation systems for building facades as nature-based solutions to improve energy efficiency and urban food production. An eco-smart irrigation system, achieving up to 57.14% water savings, was implemented in a vertical green module. This system reduced internal temperatures by 3–4 °C in an office room during hot days in a Mediterranean city.

Firdavs Berdikulov, Iroda Orifjonova, Bekhzod Eshboev, Jumanazar Xolmurzayev, Bakhtiyor Abdusayitov · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Uzbekistan (Samarkand)

This study examined agricultural growth in Samarkand, Uzbekistan's peri-urban regions from 2000 to 2024, using government data and predictive modeling. It found that urban populations surged while arable land declined, and the vegetable surplus, though currently meeting demand, began shrinking around 2015, suggesting a tipping point toward shortages. The research indicates that without proactive measures like smarter land allocation and advanced irrigation, Samarkand risks a structural food deficit within a decade.

Rommy Andhika Laksono, Hayatul Rahmi, Abdul Yusuf, Anggun Pertiwi · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Khatulistiwa · Indonesia

A community service initiative in Kutaampel Village, Karawang Regency, Indonesia, from January to December 2025, introduced a solar-powered vertical urban farming system to 30 participants. The program involved outreach, technical training on assembling the UNSIKA Solar-Powered Hydroponic and Aeroponic System (SHIATUN) and IoT sensors, field simulation, and three months of mentoring. Results showed 70% of participants could independently manage the system, with three groups replicating it, and increased youth interest in technology-based agriculture.

Liu Xinyun, Zhao Jianya, Zhang Yanglan, Wang Shu · Rural and regional development · China (Guangdong)

A study using 2017–2022 panel data in Guangdong Province, China, investigated urban agriculture's (UA) contribution to food self-sufficiency in highly urbanized regions. By categorizing cities by urbanization rate and analyzing spatial-temporal patterns in grain, vegetable, and fruit self-sufficiency, findings showed critically low grain self-sufficiency in high-degree urbanized cities. Despite incremental gains in UA productivity, urban yields for grains and vegetables lagged behind non-urban areas, indicating a limited contribution.

Rizki Nor Amelia, Sri Ngabekti, Putri Alifa Kholil, Abdul Jabbar, Prasetyo Listiaji · Jurnal Pemberdayaan Masyarakat · Indonesia

This community service project implemented a Green Literacy Bootcamp at SMP Negeri 25 Semarang, Indonesia, involving 45 students, to strengthen environmental literacy in a coastal eco-school. The program included intensive training, follow-up, and student-led projects on waste management, urban farming, and tidal flood mitigation. Evaluation using pre-post environmental literacy tests and a satisfaction survey showed substantial improvement in environmental literacy, particularly in environmental hope and cognitive skills, and high student satisfaction.

NERUCCI, GABRIELE · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global

This presentation discusses the ecosystem services provided by plants in urban environments, specifically focusing on agricultural plants and their contribution to biodiversity. It also covers the current state of urban and peri-urban agriculture globally.

Roy Hanney · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · United Kingdom

This project report documents the development, presentation, and evaluation of "Rituals for Earthly Survival," a Butoh-inspired immersive audiovisual performance presented in Portsmouth, UK, in November 2024. It details the creative process, artistic approach, audience experience, and methodologies, including composting and collective creation, used to explore environmental crisis and renewal. The report serves as supporting documentation for ongoing creative practice research.

Eko Muhammad Bayu, Nur Edy Suminarti, Adi Setiawan · International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology · Indonesia

This study in Indonesia investigated the interaction of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizae to optimize melon growth and yield in rooftop farming. Using a split-plot design with varying concentrations of PGPR and mycorrhizae, researchers observed significant interactions on fresh root weight, total dry weight, and fruit weight. The combination of 15 ml/L PGPR and 10 g/plant mycorrhiza increased fruit weight by up to 67% compared to controls.

Moritz von Cossel, Rocío Díaz‐Chavez, Bastian Winkler · Agriculture · Global

This Special Issue serves as a timely follow-up to a previous exploration of “Social–Ecologically More Sustainable Agricultural Production.”

José Cleydson F. Silva, Kleiton Lima de Godoy Machado, Anna Flavia de Souza Silva, Raquel Dias, Victor Ricardo Bodnar, Wallison Oliveira Vieira, María Alejandra Moreno-Pizani, Jenifer Dias Ramos, Ivani Pauli, Lucas Cavalcante da Costa · Sustainability · Global

This global review explores innovative advancements in agriculture and food technology, including urban farming, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, and food production in extreme environments. It examines advances in biotechnology, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and the role of AI in precision farming to improve crop yields and nutrition. The review also discusses the importance of policy, regulation, and community-driven approaches for a resilient global food system.

Leonardo Zaffi, Michele D’Ostuni · TECHNE - Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment · Global

This paper reconsiders the relationship between urbanized areas and food production, noting that cities are sustained by food from remote locations with unsustainable environmental impacts. Advances in soil-free cultivation technologies offer opportunities to integrate productive vegetation into urban and residential spaces. This approach calls for innovative design paradigms that integrate the built environment with cultivated spaces to promote sustainable regeneration.

Tri 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.

Sadiq Ur Rehman, Muhammad Adeel Mannan, Muhammad Ahsan Shaikh, Muhammad Uzair · Memoria Investigaciones en Ingeniería · Pakistan

In Pakistan, an IoT-based solar-powered smart vertical farming system was proposed to address agricultural challenges like water scarcity. A six-week trial cultivating cherry tomatoes showed the system achieved a 60-65% yield increase, 40% energy saving, and 28.57% water consumption reduction compared to traditional methods. However, limitations included the small trial size and lack of long-term environmental impact data, and scalability challenges such as cost, maintenance, and local restrictions need to be addressed for wider adoption.

Clare Adams, Alexandra Tsatsou, Niki Frantzeskaki · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · Global

This chapter aims to understand how knowledge can facilitate processes of reflexive urban governance of nature-based solutions in diverse governance contexts. It examines two case studies: urban forestry governance in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, and Trikala's Urban Agriculture Initiative, Greece.

Sebastian Theis · PLOS Sustainability and Transformation · Global

This synthesis explores how localized environmental actions, such as community gardens, address specific sustainability challenges and contribute to environmental conservation. Analyzing 17 different programs across 40 countries, the paper highlights key challenges and pathways for adapting localized environmental actions, emphasizing the need for clear outcomes, robust tracking mechanisms, and scalable approaches. The study presents 10 core points to serve as the foundation for a generalizable framework to advance small-scale environmental actions.

Anna Paltseva · iScience · Global

This article presents a participatory science framework for urban soil research, engaging communities in soil monitoring and management through co-designed projects and educational outreach. The framework integrates digital tools and real-time mapping to enhance data accuracy and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to improve urban soil health. Demonstrated through case studies, this approach aims to build capacity for sustained community involvement and equitable environmental decision-making.

Popov, Velian · reposiTUm (TU Wien) · Bulgaria (Plovdiv)

This study examines the disappearing phenomenon of informal urban gardening, known as Rancho, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, focusing on its socio-historical factors. Despite its authentic, decades-long existence, Rancho is neglected and considered outdated, with a lack of legal regulation and its informal character endangering its future. The study proposes a gradual transformation of these areas into community urban gardens with new infrastructures to raise awareness and encourage authorities to reintegrate Rancho into the urban context.

Elias Nuwagaba, Murindwa Rutanga · East African Scholars Journal of Education Humanities and Literature · Uganda (Mbarara City)

This study explored how state-initiated, unplanned urbanization in Mbarara City, Western Uganda, affects the sustainability of urban farming and urban livelihoods. The research found that rapid, haphazard urban expansion, lacking strategic planning, has led to significant challenges. These include the emergence of slums, illegal land occupations, destruction of wetlands and riverbanks causing water pollution, and inadequate waste management, all negatively impacting public health and urban farming sustainability.

Amy Bogaard · Journal of Urban Archaeology · Europe

This paper frames agroecological expectations for different urban forms based on Roland Fletcher’s model of settlement population scale and density. It hypothesizes that low-density urbanism allows labor-intensive land management, while high-density urbanism requires lower inputs per unit area and stress-tolerant crops. The study applies these expectations to early urban forms in western Eurasia, finding that diverse farming strategies in high-density areas and flexible low-density urban agroecology offer lessons for future urban farming.

Meredith L. Mull, Mario Torralba · Frontiers in Nutrition · Global

This exploratory Q-methodology study investigated how university students in sustainability programs conceptualize sustainable food systems. Analysis revealed five distinct narratives, with consensus on food security and transparent governance. However, elements like urban agriculture, GMOs, and food traditions were consistently deprioritized by the participants. The findings emphasize incorporating plural perspectives and context-sensitive approaches in food system research and policy.

zahra nobar, Akbar Rahimi, Alessio Russo · Land · Global

This study assessed the efficacy of nature-based solutions in revegetating abandoned urban agricultural lands to enhance outdoor thermal comfort, using ENVI-met 4.4.6 and Ray-Man 3.1 simulation models. Simulation results showed that species like Quercus spp. (broadleaf) and Cupressus arizonica (evergreen) substantially reduced the Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt) index by up to 26.76 °C, primarily due to their shading effects and large canopies. Combining these vegetation types with crops emerged as the most effective strategy to mitigate heat stress and optimize land-use.

Marni Putri Gea, Restu Jaya Zendrato, Septian Oktani Telaumbanua, Ayler Beniah Ndraha · Flora Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Pertanian dan Perkebunan · Global

This literature review indicates that urban agriculture, utilizing modern techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, and rooftop gardens, is an innovative solution for food security in urban areas. Urban agriculture reduces distribution costs, minimizes environmental impact, and offers social and economic benefits. The review concludes that urban agriculture contributes significantly to improving food security and provides a sustainable alternative for the global food system.