Research & reports

Marília Alves dos Santos, W. D. B. S. Bonaci, L. S. FOGANHOLO · Fractal Revista de Psicologia · Brazil (São Paulo)

This report describes a supervised internship experience in Social and Community Psychology conducted in 2017 with an intergenerational community garden group at a social assistance institution in rural São Paulo state. Key observed results of this intervention among group members included the learning of various cultivation techniques, the strengthening of interpersonal relationships, the development of group autonomy and self-organization, and the group's formation as an important support network.

Tamer El Gabaly, Rasha Abd el-Lateef · Journal of Engineering Research - Egypt/Journal of Engineering Research · Global

This paper explores a new theory of sustainable architectural design, termed "Breathing Architecture," in the context of reducing fuel consumption and adapting to climate change. It uses a qualitative research methodology, including data collection, data analysis, theoretical analysis, and analytical case studies, integrating green technologies and sustainability. The aim is to develop a new architectural language based on dynamic relationships among materials, structures, and spatial ideas, with empirical application and study.

Diffa Nida Haniyah, Endah Djuwendah, M. Gunardi Judawinata, Agriani Hermita Sadeli · MIMBAR AGRIBISNIS Jurnal Pemikiran Masyarakat Ilmiah Berwawasan Agribisnis · Indonesia (Bandung)

This qualitative case study in Bandung, Indonesia, examines Seni Tani, an organic farming business applying the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) concept. Seni Tani practices regenerative organic agriculture, producing organic products without synthetic chemical inputs and operating as a socially responsible urban farming enterprise. Its CSA program, CSATani Sauyunan, fulfills the principles of partnership, locality, solidarity, and producer-consumer relations, categorized as a small-scale, informal Multi-Farm, Subscription, and Mixed-Vegetable CSA.

Audrey Ferreira Rosa · Formação (Online) · Brazil (Presidente Prudente)

A survey was conducted among 13 urban and peri-urban farmers in Presidente Prudente/SP, Brazil, to analyze their profiles. This survey was part of a master's research conducted between 2018 and 2019. The findings indicated that there is no single or homogeneous profile characterizing urban and peri-urban farmers, and the information obtained differed from farmers in other Brazilian municipalities and states, highlighting the heterogeneity of individuals involved in urban and peri-urban agriculture.

Farhan Fauzan, Ernady Syaodih · Jurnal Riset Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota · Indonesia (Bandung)

This study in Sukajadi District, Bandung City, Indonesia, identified the extent of smart environment implementation based on 14 indicators, including urban farming, using qualitative and quantitative methods with SWOT analysis. Data were collected through observations and interviews with stakeholders. The research aimed to identify implementation extent, related problems, and applicable strategies for smart environment development in the district.

Ulfi Andrian Sari, Hayyun Lathifaty Yasri, Azizatur Rahmah · AKSIOLOGIYA Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Purwantoro)

In Purwantoro RW 5, Indonesia, a wick system hydroponics training program was implemented using the ABCD (asset-based community development) method. The program focused on utilizing terrace land and targeted RW 5 administrators and PKK mothers. A survey found that 52% of participants understood the training as "good" and 48% as "very good"; 84% "strongly agreed" that hydroponics is an alternative for farming in narrow spaces, and 72% "strongly agreed" it can address food security.

Meike Rombach, David Dean, Tim Baird, Jacob Kambuta · Foods · United States

This study investigated factors determining US consumer preferences for growing and processing horticultural products (fruit, vegetables, wine, beer) versus buying them, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using PLS-SEM, findings showed that engagement with horticulture pre- and post-pandemic influenced preferences for growing/processing, and this engagement was significantly impacted by attitudes towards US growers. Attitudes towards COVID-19 and human values like self-enhancement, conservation, and self-transcendence were also significant, but openness to change was not.

Vito D'Onghia · IGI Global eBooks · Global

This paper analyzes the cultural debate and policies in urban and rural fields, comparing various actions to outline new opportunities for developing more sustainable cities with inclusive projects. It considers how urban agriculture in policy contexts raises questions about integrating sustainable practices and spatial planning tools to guide local communities. Innovative experiments at national and international levels demonstrate how research and practical experiences can support urban agriculture.

Ainsley C. McStay, S.L. Walser, Eric C. Sirkovich, Nicolas Perdrial, Justin B. Richardson · Journal of Environmental Quality · United States

This study evaluated portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) measurements of macronutrients, micronutrients, and toxic elements (As, Pb) in soils and plants from 10 urban community gardens across the eastern United States. It found that pXRF and traditional methods provided agreeable estimates for some elements (Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb) but not for macronutrients (Ca, K, P). While pXRF is an accurate tool for screening Mn, Cu, Zn, and Pb, macronutrients were poorly estimated in fruits, leaves, and roots, and genus-specific and garden-specific factors may be important for plant uptake models.

Ananere da Silva Crüz, Márcia Maria Rodrigues Sá, Tarcísio Dorn de Oliveira, Daniel Knebel Baggio, Nelson José Thesing, Sandra Beatriz Vicenci Fernandes · Revista GESTO Revista de Gestão Estratégica de Organizações · Global

This literature review highlights the importance of urban and peri-urban agriculture (AUPs) for food security, household economy, and biodiversity. It concludes that AUPs contribute to job creation, alternative income, supplying small markets, valuing local cultures, community empowerment, and expanding gender participation opportunities. AUPs also improve climate and biodiversity, enhance urban productivity, foster cooperation among residents, reduce temperatures, improve air quality, preserve natural resources, and mitigate food scarcity.

Aria Razfar, Beverly Troiano · · United States (New York City)

This chapter presents action research conducted by an elementary teacher in a second-grade classroom in New York City, United States, where a gardening unit was implemented. The gardening unit was part of a thematic unit on "community," a theme that emerged from surveys of student interests, experiences, and problems. The origins of critical urban gardening trace back to 1970s New York, when communities reappropriated green space.

Sandrine 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.

Jennifer D. Paño, Jeralden Jumao-as, Marchee T. Picardal · Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal · Global

This meta-synthesis of 22 published articles examined the impact of garden-based education (GBE) on the cognitive domain of learning. Five themes emerged: experiential learning, meaningful learning, explicit and implicit learning, discovery learning, and transmissible learning. GBE is a successful program contributing to the improvement of academic performance, although there is no standard template for its implementation.

Isti Fajaroh, Eko Murdiyanto, Budiarto Budiarto · Jurnal Dinamika Sosial Ekonomi · Indonesia

This qualitative case study investigated the implementation of urban farming by the Srikandi Women Farmers Group (KWT Srikandi) in Depok District, Sleman Regency, Indonesia, the role of stakeholders, and the community empowerment process. Urban farming began with planning by the community and KWT Srikandi, and its produce was utilized for community consumption. The process led to community independence and restored social functions such as camaraderie, cooperation, and mutual assistance in a heterogeneous society.

Manuela Alves da Cunha, Ryzia de Cássia Vieira Cardoso · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (Salvador)

A descriptive study was conducted to highlight the contribution of urban gardens to promoting Food and Nutrition Security and sustainable development in Salvador, Brazil. Data collected from urban garden farmers in the city showed that the gardens have been promoting work and generating income for families, contributing to food supply and security. In addition to producing fresh vegetables for the local population, the activity contributes to ecosystem balance and sustainability.

Ana Clara Aparecida Alves de Souza, Fernando Dias Lopes · Cadernos EBAPE BR · Brazil (Porto Alegre)

This two-year participatory investigation of Horta da Formiga, a collective urban garden in Porto Alegre, Brazil, analyzed how key agents reconcile inherent contradictions. The study found that while individuals exhibit agency, structured conditions within the social field prevent the organic and diverse reconciliation of contradictions. This occurs despite agents aligning with state-legitimized capital.

Joshua Arnold · Processes · United States (California)

A survey of 29 urban farms in the San Francisco Bay Area from 2014 to 2017 examined on-farm spatial composition, management practices, and estimated productivity. Findings showed a large proportion of farm area dedicated to infrastructure and underutilized potential production space. All surveyed farms adopted diverse agroecological practices, and measured farms were productive with estimated seasonal yields of 7.14 kg/square meter, comparable to actual yields at two farms.

Chiara Marradi, Ingrid Mulder · Sustainability · Global

This work addresses the challenge of scaling bottom-up initiatives, such as urban farming, into new local ecosystems, noting that these initiatives often struggle due to socio-cultural challenges. It introduces a three-phased approach to enable knowledge exchange and collaboration across cultures and ecosystems. The approach defines common scalability criteria and frames scaling as a multi-step learning process to bridge cognitive and context gaps, contributing to transferable impact-driven scaling strategies.

Olga Orlić, Anita Čeh Časni, Kosjenka Dumančić · Ubiquity Press eBooks · Croatia

This chapter provides an overview of the development of Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Croatia, within the broader context of food citizenship and solidarity economy concepts. CSA has gained attention over the past 20-30 years due to increasing awareness of the need to change food politics regarding food security and sovereignty. In Croatia, initiators and actors of CSA groups have been pioneers in achieving food citizenship.

Elizandra Flávia Araujo, Marcos Paulo Fuck · Cadernos de Ciência & Tecnologia · Brazil (Curitiba)

This study aimed to identify and characterize different categories of urban agriculture practitioners in Curitiba. A descriptive study using bibliographic and documentary analysis found that urban agriculture activities are concentrated in peripheral areas of the city, with most participants having a monthly family income of up to two minimum wages. Despite a wide range of actors engaging in these practices, their visibility and inclusion in the political agenda occur asymmetrically.

Ramon Majé Floriano · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Colombia

The STEM community gardens project aims to contribute to food security in the San Francisco, Santa Inés, and Holland villages of the Pitalito Huila municipality in Colombia. This report outlines the project's development through three phases: immersion, transfer, and communication.

Amine Mseddi, Mariann Simon · European Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning · Hungary (Budapest)

This paper analyzes four community gardens on vacant inner-city plots in Budapest, Hungary, to understand their challenges and opportunities. It found that these gardens face significant obstacles including temporary status, changing political circumstances, and varying local population attitudes. Despite these challenges, NGOs and local communities play a crucial role in sustaining these projects and raising awareness.

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

This study diagnosed urban gardens in Lázaro Cárdenas de Ocampo, Michoacán, Mexico, identifying private and community gardens and a 20% increase in gardens in 2020 compared to the previous year. A cross-sectional study with on-site interviews, recordings, and photographs was conducted. The findings suggest that urban gardens served as occupational therapy and family integration during COVID-19 confinement, demonstrating promising resilience in the population.

Paulien C. H. van de Vlasakker, Karin Tonderski, Geneviève S. Metson · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Global

A review of empirical peer-reviewed studies (2000-2021) on nutrient losses to water from soil- and ground-based urban agriculture. Of 241 publications screened for a stated concern with nutrient losses to water, 20 were retained, but only seven had actually measured losses to water. Of four experimental studies, three measured leachate losses under different garden management practices; of 16 real-world studies, only four quantified losses to water as leachate, with measured average losses ranging from 0.005 to 6.5 kg/ha for phosphorus and 0.05 to 140 kg/ha for nitrogen. Thirteen of the 16 non-experimental studies provided input and harvested-crop data allowing nutrient balances to be calculated; despite wide value ranges, most studied gardens showed nutrient surpluses (inputs exceeding crop harvest) for nitrogen and phosphorus but not potassium, identified as a risk factor for losses to water, though large surpluses were not always linked to higher leachate losses. The review concludes that more field studies measuring actual losses to water, and documenting contextual factors, are needed to determine whether urban agriculture can contribute to a circular economy without causing nutrient-related water quality impairment.

Doralice Sátyro Maia, Miriam Hermi Zaar · Revista Espaço e Geografia · Brazil

A study of João Pessoa (Paraíba) and Natal (Rio Grande do Norte), two cities on Brazil's northeastern coast, analysing the persistence of rural practices - small-scale cattle farms (vacarias) in João Pessoa and agricultural practices in Natal - as "islands of rurality" that resist real-estate speculation and urbanization mechanisms within areas classified as urban. Arguing that the spread of new technologies and communication networks, along with the homogenization of social and labour relations, has produced a multiscalar and complex territorial structure that calls for rethinking methods of distinguishing rural from urban, the study combines fieldwork (observation, photographic records, questionnaires, and informal conversations with those involved), findings from prior research, and data gathered from government institutions to examine what is now called "urban agriculture" alongside the persistence of small-scale cattle raising in both cities.