Research & reports

원선이 · 한국화예디자인학연구 · South Korea

The Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services in South Korea created a vegetable garden to provide urban agriculture activists with rational methods for rooftop garden creation and crop cultivation guidelines. Over two years, 201 plant materials were collected and studied, with 170 ultimately selected. Selected edible plants included 48 vegetable species, 9 fruit tree species, and 11 field crop species, while ornamental plants included 40 flower species, 23 herb species, 16 sedum and sedge species, and 23 woody species. Four planting models—box, tunnel, wall, and mobile box types—were also developed based on the growth characteristics and uses of the collected plant materials.

Priyanie Amerasinghe, R. M. Bhardwaj, Christopher A. Scott, Kiran Jella · · India

This study analyzed the current status of wastewater generation, its uses, and livelihood benefits, particularly in agriculture, in India. It was based on national data and case studies from Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Kolkata. A lack of systematic data collection by municipalities makes it difficult to accurately assess wastewater generation or estimate the total urban area under wastewater irrigation.

Wen-jiang Li, Linjun Li, Guoyu Qiu · Journal of Integrative Agriculture · China (Shenzhen)

Water and electricity-use patterns in Shenzhen, South China, were analyzed from 2001 to 2009. Water and electricity use per GDP in agriculture was the highest among sectors, indicating inefficiency. Traditional agriculture in Shenzhen will not be sustainable during urbanization and industrialization, except for high-tech intensive agriculture with low water and energy costs, and has been gradually substituted by industry, construction, residential life, and services.

Juan Wu, Ming Xin Liu, Lei Xiao · Advanced materials research · China (Zhongshan)

This study reports on a thermal experiment and energy saving analysis of rooftop farming conducted in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China, in August 2011. External and internal surface temperatures of roofs with and without greening were measured using the same climate parameters. The experiment results indicate that green roofs with urban farming contribute to modulating air temperature in building interior spaces, showing lower external surface temperatures than normal flat roofs during hot summer days. The vegetated green roof system was found to effectively lower surface temperature by 6 °C and save 18.7% electric power compared to traditional flat roofs.

Yohanes Parlindungan Situmeang, Anak Agung Ngurah Mayun Wirajaya, Made Sri Yuliartini · · Indonesia (Denpasar)

In West Denpasar, Indonesia, urban agriculture contributes to food security and provides an alternative for the urban poor. Urban farmers show high interest in cultivating kale, pandan leaves, and lotus flowers, which are recommended due to favorable agro-climatic conditions and high economic value. Optimizing idle land utilization through urban farming is expected to reduce urban land conversion.

Ran Li · Anhui Nongye Daxue xuebao · China

A dimensional cropping-raising pattern and a self-contained facility were designed for urban agriculture in northern China, where urbanization causes soil shortage, disease, and pollution, exacerbated by an unpleasant climate. This facility features a ground-underground structure combining a greenhouse and a barton, designed to minimize pollution, eliminate heating supply needs, and double land utilization efficiency compared to normal facilities.

Qinyan, Liu · 亚洲农业研究：英文版 · China

This paper analyzed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of urban agriculture in Xixian New Area using the SWOT method. Combining the actual conditions of urban agriculture development in Xixian New Area, it discussed general and specific development modes. It concluded that urban agriculture in Xixian New Area should leverage its strengths, avoid weaknesses, and select suitable development modes and paths.

Jaap Evers · · Vietnam (Hanoi)

This paper discusses the transfer of international commitments on green sustainable growth to local levels, focusing on integrated urban wastewater management in Hanoi, Vietnam. It highlights the substantial potential of urban and peri-urban agriculture to reuse urban wastewater for nutrient recovery and to serve as environmental service providers within urban sanitation systems. However, it notes that many local policymakers are unaware of the significance and opportunities of this practice.

Qin Zhon · Shengtai kexue · China

This study applied SWOT analysis to examine the necessity, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of low-carbon agricultural development in Guangzhou, China. Based on the continuous optimization of urban agricultural structure, strengthened industrialized agricultural operation, accelerated agricultural scientific and technological innovation, strong agricultural infrastructure, and achievements in technology-dissemination systems, it proposes developing modern low-carbon urban agriculture as the strategic direction, to be pursued by improving technological innovation capability, promoting the demonstration and industrialization of new agricultural technologies, and continuously improving socialized service systems.

QI Airon · · China

Using entropy value analysis, obstacle degree analysis, and GIS spatial analysis, this study built an urban agro-ecological security evaluation system for Xi'an, China, and found the security index rose from 0.44 in 2002 to 0.68 in 2011. Urbanization had a large negative influence on the sustainability and system stability of urban agricultural resources but a positive influence on output growth and development assurance, while the average obstacle degree of the key limiting factors declined from 12.47% in 2003 to 7.05% in 2006 and 4.97% in 2011; the security index also varied spatially across districts, lowest (≤0.15) in Lianhu, Beilin, and Xincheng and highest (>0.35) in Chang'an and Yanliang, reflecting differences in agricultural production conditions, transport access, and linkage to the urban economy.

Shengzhong Chen · Guangdong nongye kexue · China (Guangzhou)

This study analyzed the development conditions, process, characteristics, and barriers of urban agriculture in Guangzhou City. It showed that while urban agriculture in Guangzhou has formed functions such as production, technology demonstration, ecological barriers, and leisure services, it faces internal and external development barriers including a decline in agriculture's status, expansion of urban land, labor shortages, and environmental pollution. These barriers hinder the healthy and sustainable development of urban agriculture.

강현정, 김세용 · 한국주거학회 학술발표대회 논문집 · South Korea

Modern cities prioritize development, leading to environmental deterioration. The biotope area ratio may not adequately reflect spatial utilization and plant growth conditions in multi-unit dwellings. While urban agriculture holds potential for environmental reform, a systematic framework and clear guidelines for its practical application are currently lacking. This study aims to derive crop indices for revitalizing urban agriculture and propose development directions for the biotope area ratio.

여화선, 서주환, 정예슬 · 디자인지식저널 · South Korea (Seoul)

This study explored the definition of urban design and the value of urban agriculture, examining trends in South Korean urban agriculture and the current status in Seoul. Analysis of advanced international cases revealed that urban agriculture abroad has developed based on legal frameworks, features diverse facilities and programs, and is utilized for urban environmental preservation. Based on these advanced cases, the study concluded that expanding agricultural facilities, establishing urban agriculture portals, providing education for farming and garden management, and developing local government plans reflecting urban characteristics are necessary to revitalize urban agriculture.

Qiang Li · Ecological Economy · China

This paper discusses urban agriculture in China, noting its increasing prevalence in developed and developing countries and its role in urban food supply and ecological systems. It argues that urban agriculture holds significant strategic value in alleviating crises related to energy, food, and ecology, which have emerged due to rapid urbanization in China since the 21st century. To foster its development, the paper suggests establishing a highly integrated and convenient support system for urban agriculture, based on enterprises providing production factors and technical services.

Guan Hai-ling · Science Technology and Industry · China (Taiyuan)

This paper examines the achievements and current status of urban agricultural development, technology, and innovation in Taiyuan. It proposes countermeasures for urban agricultural scientific and technological innovation in a low-carbon economy, including establishing a training system, supporting research institutions, increasing investment, and strengthening external exchanges and cooperation.

杜受祜, 金小琴 · 西南民族大学学报：人文社会科学版 · China (Chengdu)

This study analyzes and evaluates the ecological security of urban agriculture in Chengdu, China, from 2000 to 2011, using a constructed evaluation index system. Results show that urban agricultural ecological security in Chengdu fluctuated between 2000 and 2007, then improved after 2008 under urban agricultural development. Overall, the ecological security of urban agriculture in Chengdu is trending positively.

杨卓翔 YANG Zhuoxiang, 高阳 GAO Yang, Zhao Zhi, 李双成 LI Shuangcheng · Acta Ecologica Sinica · China (Shenzhen)

An emergy analysis compared the emergy input structure, production efficiency, environmental load, and sustainability of three farms (Biling Modern Agricultural Technology Park, Xili Orchard, and Shanhai Farm) in Shenzhen, China. Xili Orchard showed a high reliance on renewable resources, the lowest environmental load ratio, and the highest emergy indices for sustainable development. Shanhai Farm had a low reliance on renewable resources, the highest environmental load ratio, and was assessed as having the lowest sustainable development capacity.

Yan Zeng · Nongye xiandaihua yanjiu · China

Guangzhou's urbanization necessitates modern urban agriculture, which has evolved from suburban agriculture to a modern form characterized by intensification, marketization, industrialization, high technology, and mechanization. While modern urban agriculture in Guangzhou possesses internal advantages and faces significant opportunities, its development is constrained by internal weaknesses and external threats. To advance sustainable development, improvements are needed in layout, ecological environment protection, agricultural standardization, optimization of agricultural industry structure, agricultural brand and logistics system construction, and investment and financing mechanisms.

Wu, De-Hui, Wu, De-Hui · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · China (Zhengzhou)

This paper analyzes the competitive power of Zhengzhou urban agriculture from the perspectives of production factors, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, business strategies and structure, and horizontal competition, based on the basic theory of the Diamond Model. It introduces cluster development as an effective approach to enhancing the competitive power of Zhengzhou urban agriculture. Finally, it presents countermeasures and suggestions such as optimizing spatial distribution for cluster development, cultivating leading enterprises, optimizing organizational forms, and actively developing low-carbon agriculture.

Se-Kun Kim, Seung-Hee Han · Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science · South Korea

In Kimje-si, South Korea, land use changes were analyzed and future changes beyond 2030 were forecasted using LANDSAT TM imagery, HSB transformation, and a Markov Chain method with GIS data. Geographical features were found to have the greatest influence on land use changes, with 21.67% of mountain lands predicted to become farmland and 13.11% to become city areas.

Wenjuan Hu · Tianjin Agricultural Sciences · China (Nanchang)

This paper analyzed the competitive power of Nanchang urban agriculture using the Diamond model. The analysis considered production factors, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, business strategies and structure, and horizontal competition. The study presented countermeasures and suggestions, including developing low-carbon agriculture and optimizing organizational forms.

엄기철, 정필균, So Hyun Park, 유성녕, 김태완 · · South Korea

A study quantitatively evaluated the effect of vegetation on urban heat island mitigation across six cities in South Korea, analyzing climate change data over 30 years (1979-2008) and estimating evapotranspiration (ET), CO2 uptake, O2 emission and ozone concentration. The hottest period was late July to early August, and the highest 10-day average urban ambient air temperature (UAAT) over the 30 years was 35.03°C. The mean maximum ET of rice and soybean in urban areas was 6.86 and 6.00 mm/day, respectively. Rice and soybean cultivation lowered UAAT by 10.5°C and 3.0°C in Suwon, while the differences between UAAT and canopy temperature at urban paddy and upland fields in Ansung were 2.6°C and 2.2°C. Urban gardens in Suwon lowered UAAT and building surface temperature by 2.0°C and 14.5°C, respectively. CO2 uptake by rice and soybean was estimated at 20.27 and 15.54 kg CO2 per 10a per day, and O2 emission at 14.74 and 11.30 kg O2 per 10a per day. During the hottest summer period, ozone concentrations were estimated to be reduced by 21.0, 8.8, and 4.0 ppb through rice cultivation, soybean cultivation, and urban gardening, respectively.

Yan Shi, Cunwang Cheng, Peng Lei, Tiejun Wen, Caroline Merrifield · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · China (Beijing)

This paper examined the relationship between the Chinese middle class and sustainable agriculture, from the perspective of establishing and operating Beijing's first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, amidst growing middle-class interest in "green" and sustainable food. The study discussed the farm's environmental and institutional sustainability, and explored the potential for future success with CSA models in China based on evidence from this case.

Huang Qin · Resources and Industries · China (Beijing)

This paper, based on a case study of Beijing, China, discusses the necessity of integrating urban agriculture into urban ecological infrastructure construction. Through data review and comprehensive analysis, it examines the diverse services of urban agriculture, urban morphological evolution problems, green space construction bottlenecks, and urban-rural integrated development requirements. The paper analyzes specific ways urban agriculture can support urban ecological infrastructure in suburban, outer suburban, and mountainous regions, proposing government policy guarantees like optimized planning and financial support.

Prasanta Bauri · · India

This article assesses the significance of urban agriculture in globalizing India. It suggests that urban farming offers a pragmatic solution to food insecurity, livelihood crises, unemployment, poverty, hunger, and environmental unsustainability in India. Additionally, commercial urban agriculture could enhance Indian cash crop exports.