Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
3622 results(108 / 145)
Reading for Sustainability through Botanical Aesthetics: Embodied Perceptions of Perth’s Flora, 1829 to 1929
2015John Ryan · UWA Profiles and Research Repository (University of Western Australia) · Australia (Perth)
This paper argues that the role of plant life in sustainability theory and practice is problematically limited to utilitarian discourses such as sustainable agriculture, food security, organic farming, urban gardening, and sustainable forestry management. These discourses exemplify a limited anthropocentric perspective on the botanical world, largely disregarding other values like a plant's intrinsic right-to-exist and the metaphysics of the plant world. The study focuses on embodied perceptions of Perth's flora from 1829 to 1929.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changeCommunityUrban Market Gardening and Rodent-Borne Pathogenic Leptospira in Arid Zones: A Case Study in Niamey, Niger
2015Gauthier Dobigny, Madougou Garba, Caroline Tatard, Anne Loiseau, Maxime Galan, Ibrahima Kadaouré, Jean‐Pierre Rossi, Mathieu Picardeau, Eric Bertherat · PLoS neglected tropical diseases · Niger
An extensive survey of urban rodents in Niamey, Niger, investigated the presence and distribution of rodent-borne pathogenic Leptospira species. Leptospires were not detected in the core city, but L. kirschneri was found in Arvicanthis niloticus and Cricetomys gambianus, rodent species restricted to irrigated cultures within the city. This study indicates the importance of market gardening in the maintenance and circulation of leptospirosis within Sahelian cities.
Contamination & food safetyHealthPeri-urban agricultureManaging community gardens in the Czech Republic
2015Eliška Novotná · ACC Journal · Czech Republic
This research investigated the management of community gardens in the Czech Republic, focusing on their economic self-sufficiency and long-term sustainability. The study examined the equipment and operation of gardens, funding sources for investments and operations, and the disclosure of information about their management.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyClimate changeComparative Analysis of Heavy Metals from Groundwater Sources Situated in Keko and Kigogo Residential Areas, Dar es Salaam
2015Isabela Thomas Mkude · Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
This study assessed heavy metal concentrations in 12 groundwater samples from Keko and Kigogo areas in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, during dry and rainy seasons. While copper and zinc concentrations were low, lead concentrations were detected beyond WHO permissible levels (0.01-0.35mg/l). This high lead presence may be attributed to urban agriculture activities, onsite facilities, and industrial waste discharge around the Msimbazi river.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCoalition Building for Health: A Community Garden Pilot Project with Apartment Dwelling Refugees
2015Lynne Eggert, Jane Blood‐Siegfried, Mary T. Champagne, Maha Al-Jumaily, Donna J. Biederman · Journal of Community Health Nursing · Global
This study reports on a pilot project that formed a coalition, guided by the Community Coalition Action Theory, to implement a community garden for apartment-dwelling refugees. Outcomes included successful coalition formation, the establishment of a community garden, reported satisfaction from all gardeners with increased vegetable intake, access to culturally meaningful foods, and evidence of increased community engagement. The project demonstrated the opportunity for community health nurses to convene a coalition to positively impact refugee health.
CommunityHealthWelfareFood educationUse of soil amendments for urban horticulture in the savannah and forest areas of Ghana
2015Abdul‐Halim Abubakari, Laura Atuah, B. Banful, Hypolite Bayor · Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management · Ghana
A study in Ghana reviewed literature and surveyed farmers on soil amendments for urban horticulture. The review found that research on soil amendments has been limited to land management and nutrient recovery, not addressing quality issues for specific production systems. Farmers adopt varying application rates due to lack of standardization, and barriers include technology for collection, funds for purchase, and labor employment.
Economic viabilityDIYCompostEconomicsEnseñanza del desarrollo sostenible y la agricultura orgánica por medio de una huerta escolar
2015Óscar Moreno Flogia, Andrea Navarrete, Fernando Rodríguez Cortés · · Colombia
This article presents research results on how to approach the concept of "sustainable development" by teaching organic agriculture principles in a school garden at Liceo Campestre Bosque Andino in Sibate, Cundinamarca, Colombia. Constructivism and meaningful learning served as the pedagogical framework, with concept maps and the Likert scale used as assessment tools.
Food educationOrganic cycleCommunityClimate changeAssessing the Residents’ Preference of Awareness Regarding Urban Agriculture at Rooftop Garden
2015Neda Jafari, Mohd Yazid Mohd Yunos, Md Azree Othuman Mydin, Osman Mohd Tahir · Applied Mechanics and Materials · Malaysia
This quantitative survey research examined residents' awareness and preferences regarding urban agriculture at rooftop gardens in The Heritage condominium in Selangor and Sri Putramas 2 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The survey results indicated that residents who participated agreed with the awareness of urban agriculture at rooftop gardens. The study aims to promote sustainable building and the use of urban agriculture in residential rooftop gardening.
DIYCommunityFood educationUnravelling the politics of urban food transitions. A governance approach on Alternative Food Networks
2015Alessandra Manganelli · Lirias · Global
This early-stage PhD research (Month 12) investigates the governance of Alternative Food Networks (AFNs), focusing on their internal dynamics and relations with external institutions. While civil society actors catalyze AFNs, the institutional environment they face is not always favorable or accountable, with examples including changes in political priorities and constraining regulations. The Brussels-Capital Region serves as the main empirical case study, analyzing movements like GASAP and "Le Debut des Haricots."
Governance failurePolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceApplications of Carbon Footprint in Urban Planning and Geography
2015Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu · · Global
This abstract discusses how urban expansion and the separation of urban and agricultural areas increase energy demand for transporting food and goods. It notes that despite technological advances, a gap exists between energy demand and supply, even in advanced countries. The abstract concludes that reducing energy demand is a more realistic approach for sustainable development than solely relying on technological progress.
Urban–rural linkageFood miles & supply chainClimate changePolicyLongitudinal study of urbanisation processes in peri-urban areas of Greater Copenhagen:what happens to farming?
2015Anne Gravsholt Busck, Christian Fertner, Lone Søderkvist Kristensen, Søren Bech Pilgaard Kristensen, Mike Brian Johannsen Kyndesen, Susanne Ogstrup, Jørgen Primdahl, Søren Præstholm, Ann-Sofie Richardt, Jens Peter Vesterager, Lars Winther · Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) · Denmark
This longitudinal study investigated urbanization processes in peri-urban agricultural areas of the Greater Copenhagen region, Denmark, surveying 160-200 farm properties across eight study areas in 1984, 1994, 2004, and 2014 using face-to-face interviews. It found that while some agricultural land became urban, the overall agricultural land use remained largely stable, though concentrated on fewer, larger farms. Economic activities diversified, with more property owners engaging in other gainful activities, and farming in these areas faces constant challenges from increasing external activities.
Peri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkagePolicyEconomicsThe Death of Distance: Food Deserts Across the Global Divide
2015Meredith Gartin · Palgrave Macmillan US eBooks · Global
Over half of humanity resides in cities, and most cities cannot produce enough food to sustain their residents. Some cities are exploring urban agriculture to create more resilient food systems, aiming for food security despite external forces. However, some argue that the global food system is too interconnected with local systems, making no system entirely invulnerable. This chapter focuses on three case studies exploring interlocking food deserts to illustrate how global and local processes converge on health issues like obesity in urban settings.
Food sovereignty & justiceHealthUrban–rural linkageClimate changeFortalecimiento cultural desde la agricultura en el cabildo indigena Ambiká -Pijao, a través de la casa de pensamiento semillas Ambiká
2015Jenny Morales Sánchez, Paola Aguilera Rocha · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Colombia (Bogotá)
In Usme locality, Bogotá, Colombia, the Ambiká-Pijao indigenous community, displaced from Tolima, undertook an initiative through the "Ambiká Seeds House of Thought" to recognize ancestral agricultural traditions. This non-conventional education facility hosts children aged 2 months to 5 years to maintain and strengthen their customs and ancestral knowledge. Maize, a native and sacred plant, was planted in soda bottles as an urban agriculture strategy for limited spaces, allowing children to connect with their customs and understand planting as a sacred act in their worldview.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceHeirloom & landraceCommunity and School Gardens as Spaces for Learning Social Resilience.
2015Kimberley Reis, Jo-Anne S. Ferreira · ePublications@SCU (Southern Cross University) · Australia
This study examines how community and school gardens can teach individual and community resilience to potential food shortages, emergencies, food insecurity, and climate change challenges. It focuses on the role of gardens in providing food access and building resilience among school-aged children and young adults. Insights from a larger Australian PhD thesis are analyzed to assist educators, particularly in policy, who engage with young learners in these gardens, with findings argued to have international relevance.
CommunityFood educationClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceBoerende stedelingen of verstedelijkte boeren
2015Reinoud Vermoesen · Tijdschrift voor Geschiedenis · Belgium (Antwerp)
This study examined urban farming in early modern Antwerp, focusing on individual households and the gardeners’ guild. While 18th-century records mentioned few farmers within the city walls, this research suggests a more widespread phenomenon. Gardeners’ guild members primarily had a retail function rather than food production, and a variety of households not belonging to the guild were also active in agriculture.
Urban–rural linkageEconomicsPolicyThe functions of Market gardening in the socio-economic context of Lubumbashi in DR Congo
2015Tshomba Kalumbu John, Nyembo Mugalu Leopold, Ntumba Ndaye François, Mushagalusa Balasha Arsène, Muyambo Musaya Emmanuel, Nkulu Mwine Fyama Jules · International journal of innovation and applied studies · DR Congo (Lubumbashi)
This study, conducted in the Kilobelobe vegetable growing area of Lubumbashi, DR Congo, from January to March 2014, surveyed 50 vegetable growers. It aimed to analyze the contribution of the vegetable sector to poverty reduction through its impact on growers' income. Results indicate that producers benefit from multiple socio-economic functions of gardening, contributing to unemployment reduction, income generation, healthcare, food security, and waste management.
EconomicsWelfareHealthPeri-urban agricultureSustainable Development for People or Profit?
2015Eric Weaver · Suburban Sustainability · Global
This review details the relationship between key planetary systems and the many adverse impacts of industrial agriculture, drawing from top-tier journals. Research indicates that industrial agriculture is a major force pushing environmental limits, with multinational corporations continuing to influence national environmental regulations. Current literature debates whether political systems can institute sustainable solutions, suggesting that grassroots efforts may be the most viable solution to displace the industrial agriculture model.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsContesting urban agriculture: the politics of meat production in the License-Buy-Back Scheme (2006-2007) in Hong Kong
2015Kin Wing Chan · Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) · Hong Kong
This study examines the politics of meat production in Hong Kong's 2006-2007 License-Buy-Back Scheme (LBBS), focusing on pig farming. It investigates how the LBBS served as a tactic to reduce and control the pig farming industry, contrasting it with urban vegetable farming which holds a more positive aesthetic image. The research highlights a scarcity of studies on why certain forms of urban agriculture are valued more than others.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceThe Case of the Co-op Coup
2015Claire L. McCarty, Pamela Dixon · Journal of case studies · Global
A case study on the West Central Food Hub Producers' Co-op reveals that the group decided not to proceed with starting the Food Hub Co-op. The decision was made because the costs for management, infrastructure, and delivery would far outweigh the co-op's profitability, leading to its discontinuation.
Economic viabilityCSA & TeikeiEconomicsCommunityAgriculture urbaine et enjeux de santé
2015Christine Aubry, Jeanne Pourias, Anne Cécile Daniel · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · Global
Urban agriculture is gaining popularity, often for its contribution to urban greening, re-establishing connections between urban dwellers and agricultural and food production, and among urban dwellers themselves. However, urban agriculture also involves significant health issues, which advocate for urban planning that promotes its maintenance or establishment under healthy environmental conditions.
Contamination & food safetyHealthPolicyCommunityTransforming Food Systems Through Food Sovereignty: An Australian Urban Context
2015Federico Davila, Robert Dyball · Australian Journal of Environmental Education · Australia
This article examines the potential of food sovereignty, as defined by La Via Campesina, to reframe food as a human right within the Australian food discourse. It argues that urban food production in Australia offers educative value by transforming individuals' social and environmental concerns about food systems. Community participation in urban food production can foster political understanding and support for alternative food systems, developing elements of food sovereignty in an Australian urban context.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityFood educationPolicyBeyond ‘local’ food: how supermarkets and consumer choice affect the economic viability of small‐scale family farms in Sydney, Australia
2015Sarah James · Area · Australia (Sydney)
This paper argues that small-scale family farmers on Sydney's urban fringe are directly connected to and reliant on the mainstream food system for their economic viability. It highlights that a localized focus on threats and solutions risks neglecting the impact of supermarket power and consumer choice on these producers. The study emphasizes the need to examine the continuing connection between the mainstream system and 'local', small-scale producers to achieve food system change.
Economic viabilityPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceThe business models of commercial urban farming in developed countries
2015David Ingemar Hedin · · Global
This thesis analyzed business models in commercial urban farming in developed countries, identifying three main classes: small production, large production, and secondary purpose. Small production typically uses farmer's markets and restaurants, large production focuses on leafy greens for retail and restaurants, and secondary purpose operations benefit other business activities. The analysis found that the small production cluster is unstable, with firms likely to expand outside the city, grow into large production, or introduce secondary value propositions.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceInformal planning in a transactive governmentality. Re-reading planning practices through Ghent’s community gardens
2015Chiara Certomà, Bruno Notteboom · Planning Theory · Belgium (Ghent)
This article examines a new planning mode involving collaboration between state, private, and community actors in the context of urban gardening movements. It analyzes urban gardening projects in Ghent, Belgium, to explore the transformation of planning practices. The article concludes that urban gardening exemplifies an emerging informal planning mode supported by a transactive governmentality, potentially leading to co-creative transformation of public urban space.
CommunityPolicyUrbanization and soil nutrient challenges and opportunities: lessons from Malawian cities.
2015David Mkwambisi, Andrew J. Dougill, Philip Antwi‐Agyei, C. P. Chabvuta · CABI eBooks · Malawi
Research in Lilongwe and Blantyre, Malawi, assessed urban agriculture's potential to improve soil quality, crop yields, and livelihoods. Preliminary evidence showed urban waste could address food insecurity and soil nutrient benefits, but several constraints in waste management were identified. City authorities are not proactively utilizing organic municipal waste for soil quality and agricultural production benefits.
Governance failureOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCompost