Research & reports

Regina Lucia Santana, Roberto Andreani, João Adalberto Campato, Denise Regina da Costa Aguiar · Revista FSA · Brazil (São Paulo)

This descriptive and transversal field study, conducted at Professora Maria Expedita Silva State School in Mauá, São Paulo, aimed to implement sustainable and community actions using a school garden. The project sought to unite the school and local community in consuming and preserving the garden, fostering environmental responsibility and promoting natural diets. Results showed adolescent engagement in the educational project's sustainable actions, leading to more collaborative attitudes towards their natural environment.

Grete Swensen, Vebjørn Egner Stafseng, Véronique Karine Simon · International Journal of Heritage Studies · France (Bordeaux)

This comparative case study examines two regeneration projects, the Darwin Ecosystem Project in Bordeaux, France, and Dr. Dedichen’s Greenhouse in Oslo, Norway, to understand how heritage combined with urban gardening can enhance areas requiring regeneration. The study notes that conflicting economic, political, and cultural views are likely to affect the heritage discourse in marginalized urban areas. It describes how old buildings and historical fragments can be integrated into urban planning initiatives, with residents, artists, and citizen groups cooperating with planning authorities to transform neighborhoods.

Larisa Ivaşcu · Review of Management and Economic Engineering · Romania

This paper presents preliminary results on urban farming in Romania and Malaysia for the period June 2020 - September 2021, highlighting its role in sustainability, particularly during the pandemic. Malaysia exhibits well-defined urban farming behaviors, whereas Romania's concept is incipient. Increased involvement of individuals or employees in urban agriculture is associated with substantial benefits, including increased motivation, improved health, and improved sports.

Miriam Bertrán-Vilà, Ayari G. Pasquier Merino, Jéssica Geraldine Villatoro-Hernández · Sustainability · Mexico (Mexico City)

This study described the conditions of 60 peri-urban farmers in Mexico City working with agroecological schemes, analyzing the role of social and cultural capital in consolidating their projects and consumer links. Based on field visits and interviews, the research argued that the social and cultural capital of production units are key elements in determining the viability of the agroecological transition.

Monika Egerer · Anliegen Natur · Global

A global survey explored the importance of urban gardens during the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey showed that gardening is an effective outdoor strategy for stress relief, food provision, and increasing feelings of safety during uncertain times.

Lili Chrisnawati, Dzul F. Mumtazah, Dewi Mulia Sari · Community Development Journal Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Kota Metro)

This community service activity involved providing outreach and training on microgreen cultivation to the WES (Women and Environmental Studies) community in Kota Metro, Indonesia. The activity concluded that participants were able to enhance their knowledge regarding microgreens. It is hoped that participants can apply microgreen cultivation skills, which will impact the improvement of healthy lifestyles and strengthen family food security.

Aurore Guillaume, Anna Hubatová-Vacková, Vladimír Kočí · Agriculture · Czech Republic

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed on several egg-producing subjects in the Czech Republic, representing four main laying systems (enriched cages, barns, free-range, and organic), which were also compared to a community garden system. The study's results suggest that feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed composition, and manure management are the most important factors influencing the total environmental impacts of eggs. Additionally, environmental benefits linked to outdoor access or using organic feed over conventional were observed.

Muhammad Adryan Okuputra, Taqiya Rooshida Faramitha, Isnawati Hidayah, Vina Noya Siregar, Galih Dwi Prastio · Jurnal Manajemen · Indonesia (Malang)

A study analyzed hydroponic urban farming as an entrepreneurial development effort in Karangwidoro Village, Malang Regency, Indonesia, where the project has been running since early 2020. Using a community-based research method and SWOT analysis, the study found that Karangwidoro village agriculture has a great opportunity to be developed as a profit business.

Komalawati Komalawati, Sarjana, Anggi Sahru Romdon, Fransiscus Roedy Hartono, Sri Murtiati, Forita Dyah Arianti, Wahyudi Hariyanto, Renie Oelviani · Journal of Resilient Economies (ISSN 2653-1917) · Global

This paper studied the benefits of urban farming as a resilient strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic, using primary data from interviews conducted in June-July 2021 and secondary sources. The analysis found that respondents had a strongly positive perception of urban farming. It concluded that urban farming could be a resilient strategy by reducing stress, increasing community income, and potentially enhancing immunity and health systems in urban areas.

Claudia Antón Biezma · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Spain (Madrid)

This description is about the Adelfas urban garden in Madrid, photographed on January 24, 2021, which won the Spanish Association of Geography's Photography Contest (Student Category 2021). The garden is a large, open space next to the author's home, receiving good sunlight, watered twice weekly by neighbors, and open to everyone. It provides city children with contact with a rural environment, fosters personal relationships, utilizes unused urban spaces, and acts as a small green lung against pollution.

Angelus Vecky Kopong, Siti Kholifah, Sanggar Kanto · Brawijaya Journal of Social Science · Indonesia (Malang City)

This descriptive qualitative study analyzed empowerment strategies for 10 elderly informants in Kampung Wonosari 3G, Malang City, Indonesia, using the A.C.T.O.R.S theory. The research confirmed that strategies focusing on authority, confidence, competence, responsibility, and support led to increased self-respect, self-confidence, and self-reliance among the elderly community. The study suggests urban farming as a change movement to improve the environment in this slum area.

Pablo Torres Lima, Kristen Conway-Gómez, Karla Almanza-Rodríguez · Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · Mexico (Mexico City)

This study examined local community involvement in governance processes in Milpa Alta, a peri-urban agricultural area of Mexico City, using surveys, interviews, and participatory workshops. It found that Milpa Alta lacks integral adaptive capacity to address urban pressures, environmental deterioration, and agricultural dynamics. Limited participation, low local organizational levels, and distrust of government institutions hinder effective governance, indicating that a "local is not enough" approach is insufficient for adaptive governance in this peri-urban context.

Haslynda Syah, Muhammad Hasan, Citra Ayni Kamaruddin, Nurdiana Nurdiana, Nurjannah Nurjannah · Ideas Jurnal Pendidikan Sosial dan Budaya · Indonesia

This qualitative descriptive study investigated food security strategies within an urban farming program in Bara-baraya Village, Indonesia, focusing on the Orchid Women Farmers Group (KWT). Data from interviews and observations revealed that one realized strategy by the government and community members is the development of a Sustainable Food House Yard Area Model.

Shingo Yoshida, Hironori Yagi · 農村計画学会誌 · Japan (Tokyo)

This study clarified the purposes and actual use of leased productive green lands by urban farmers in Tokyo, Japan. Case studies revealed that farmers leased land for scale expansion, new crops/methods, agricultural corporation establishment, and new entries, particularly for successors and new entrants. A questionnaire survey in six cities found that potential tenant farmers prioritized farming conditions, while landowners focused on community harmony, with preferences differing between existing and non-participating farmers.

· Current Science International · Egypt

This research addresses water saving issues and deteriorated school environments in official schools in Egypt. It proposes educational vertical gardens and green vertical walls for school building blocks to improve urban environments, enhance buildings' environmental and economic performance, and positively impact physical and mental health. The proposal aims to boost interaction and creativity by utilizing space as an instrument for new knowledge and highlighting the importance of sustainable development.

Gabe Arif Ditama Sinaga, Yani Kurniawan, Ayuni Kusumawati · Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Humaniora · Indonesia (Malang)

This reflective study, conducted with 30 informants in Malang City, Indonesia, investigated factors driving urban farming success during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous research identified external constraints, such as minimal government intervention, and internal issues, like low public enthusiasm. However, this study found that during the pandemic, urban farming conditions, public enthusiasm, and government intervention increased. The research also correlated communal society and local cultural elements with urban farming activities, suggesting optimal practice when implemented at a community scale and linked to local culture.

Universidad de Guadalajara, Ofelia Barrios Vargas, María Lourdes Rebolledo García, Adán Rubio Cuevas · GESPYE Gestión Pública y Empresarial · Mexico

A diagnosis of urban gardens was conducted in Lázaro Cárdenas de Ocampo, Michoacán, Mexico, to understand the motivations and benefits people gain from home gardens. This cross-sectional study identified private and community gardens, noting a 20% increase in gardens in 2020 compared to the previous year. Residents demonstrated resilience during COVID-19 confinement, stating that gardens served as occupational therapy and family integration.

Qazi Shafayetul Islam, Nasima Akter · European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety · Canada (Toronto)

This qualitative study, involving nine community organization representatives and 15 volunteers in Toronto's priority neighborhoods, identified significant barriers to providing and receiving free food support during COVID-19. Community members faced a lack of information, language barriers, social stigma, and fear of COVID-19. Organizations struggled with insufficient information on needs, limited transportation, storage space, committed volunteers, and funding, highlighting systemic and financial challenges in effective food support programs.

Hui-Shan Sim, Weng Wai Choong, Siaw-Chui Wee, Sheau-Ting Low · International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability · Global

An online survey of 407 millennials investigated their preferences for neighborhood project developments and willingness to pay for them. The study found that millennials prefer recreational parks, police booths, community gardens, transit stations, and feeder bus routes in their neighborhoods. They are most willing to pay for transit stations, followed by educational institutions, recreational parks, police booths, and integrated public transport terminals.

Ivana Chaloska · South East European Journal of Architecture and Design · Global

This master's thesis conducted qualitative empirical research for the multidisciplinary conceptualization of urban public space, focusing on ecological and social sustainability and socio-spatial relations. Through an inter-contextual analysis and a case study highlighting urban community gardens, the research supports a conceptual design of public space that can function as activism for rethinking existing structures or as a continuous process of socio-spatial relations.

Wanda Martin, Lindsey Wagner, Kerry Marshall · Human Geography · Canada

This qualitative study investigated the controversy surrounding urban hen bylaws in Canadian cities, based on semi-structured interviews with 15 urban residents. The research identified three main areas of struggle: the need for education on urban agriculture, differing values for city life, and tensions between individual rights and the collective good. The findings expose challenges in urban hen legislation.

Lorena Suárez Peña, Aharon Jazielt Andrade Sandy, Luis René Justiniano Lujan, Romina Alejandra Robles Calderón, Leevan Salvatierra Burgos, José María Jiménez Carillo · Revista 3i Ingeniería Innovación Investigación · Bolivia

This study diagnosed the benefits of implementing urban gardens to promote food security, environmental sustainability, and community development, classifying feasible garden types. Research in El Torno municipality, Bolivia, identified community and school gardens as the most feasible urban garden types, highlighting their environmental and health benefits. These gardens are easy to implement and offer benefits such as landscape beautification, connection with nature, improved physical and mental health, and environmental education.

Ashley Gripper, Rachel C. Nethery, Tori L. Cowger, Monica M. White, Ichiro Kawachi, Gary Adamkiewicz · Social Science & Medicine · United States (Philadelphia)

This descriptive epidemiologic study in Philadelphia used spatial regression to analyze associations between Black neighborhoods, poverty, food access, and urban agriculture. Fully adjusted spatial models showed significant associations between Black neighborhoods and urban agriculture (RR: 1.28) and between poverty and urban agriculture (RR: 1.27). Neighborhoods with higher proportions of Black residents and lower incomes tended to have more community gardens and urban farms, with the association between low food access and urban agriculture generally increased in Black neighborhoods.

M.C.G. Haitsma Mulier, F.H.M. Van de Ven, Paul Kirshen · Energy Nexus · Netherlands (Amsterdam), United States (Boston)

This study quantified the Water Energy Nutrient Food (WENF) nexus for three urban farms: a greenhouse in Amsterdam, and a community farm and a container farm in East-Boston. It investigated the water, energy, and nutrient demands of these farms and the availability of resources in urban waters. The study found that the water and nutrient demands (nitrogen and phosphorus) of all three farms could be met by local urban water resources, but energy availability depended on the type of agriculture.

Zumatul Atiko Islamiyah Cahyo, Aulia Rachmawati, Rifdha Nurbani Masjidha, Nurul Azizah · Jurnal Penamas Adi Buana · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A microgreens cultivation socialization activity was conducted in Jemur Wonosari village, Surabaya City, Indonesia. Participants included representatives from farmer groups and all RW (community association) heads of Jemur Wonosari village, using vegetable seeds, rockwool, water, cocopeat, microgreens trays, and water sprays. The activity positively impacted the community's knowledge of urban farming systems, particularly beyond hydroponics, indicating microgreens could be an alternative for maintaining household-level food security.