Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
7626 results(119 / 306)
Sopian Sopian · Jurnal PIKOM (Penelitian Komunikasi dan Pembangunan) · Indonesia (Bogor)
Amidst a decline in the number of Women Farmers Groups (KWT) in Bogor City, a qualitative case study was conducted to uncover the communication and leadership styles of the KWT Puspasari leader. Results from interviews, observations, and group discussions showed that the KWT Puspasari leader employed action-oriented, process-oriented, people-oriented, and ideas-oriented communication styles, along with ten distinct leadership communication styles that inspired and motivated members.
CommunitySusana Toboso‐Chavero, Gara Villalba, Xavier Gabarrell, Cristina Madrid‐López · Journal of Industrial Ecology · Global
This study developed an integrated framework for designing sustainable roof mosaic scenarios, combining urban farming, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting on unused rooftops of housing estates. Applied to a 66,433 m² rooftop area, the framework involved multi-scale and multi-dimensional analysis. Five participatory-designed rooftop scenarios were found to improve residents' resource self-sufficiency, providing 42–53% of vegetable consumption, 9–35% of electricity, and 38–200% of water needs, depending on the scenario.
CommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceAnjali Mistry, Manfred Spocter · · South Africa (Cape Town)
A study in a middle-class suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, investigated edible cultivation and garden waste management in domestic gardens. While potential gardening space averaged two-thirds of residential plots, 129 respondents primarily cultivated lawns, not food, with minimal vegetable production. Residents often used private gardening services for waste disposal, and on-site garden waste disposal techniques need promotion.
Limited or null effectDIYCompostCommunityUrban–rural linkageAmmar Abdurrohman, Fikri Fadly Arkasala, Noviamas Nurhidayah · Desa-Kota · Indonesia
This study explores the application of a resilient city concept, specifically urban farming, for food security in Surakarta City, Indonesia, especially during a pandemic. It proposes that urban agriculture, including home and community farming using methods like soilless cultivation and vertical culture, can achieve food self-sufficiency despite limited land. Based on a literature review and an ecological urban development approach, the research identifies potential food crops like porang, sweet potatoes, cassava, taro, and various vegetables that are easy for residents to cultivate.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityClimate changeDIYDISEMINASI TEKNOLOGI PEMBUDIDAYA IKAN PADA KELOMPOK PEMBUDIDAYA IKAN DI KELURAHAN DEMANG LEBAR DAUN
2021Indra Griha Tofik Isa, Riana Mayasari, Rian Rahmanda Putra · Community Development Journal Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia
The Macan Kumbang fish farming group in Demang Lebar Daun village, Indonesia, faced challenges including untimely feeding, overfeeding, difficulty measuring water quality, lack of waste management, and issues predicting capital return. This activity aimed to build IoT-based fish farming technology integrated with urban farming to address these problems. The final results showed increased cost effectiveness and production after the implementation of the fish farming technology.
CommunityDigital agricultureRieska Maharani, Zainal Rusdi, Lynda Yunyver, Reza Mega Novalia, Adiva Salsabila · Jurnal Abdidas · Indonesia (Surabaya)
This activity was conducted in RT 07 RW 03, Kendangsari District, Tenggilis Mejoyo Village, Surabaya City, to enhance food security and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. A student team from Muhammadiyah Surabaya University's Accounting Study Program, supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education and Culture's Holistic Village Development and Empowerment Program, provided hydroponic instruction, introduction, practical training, and guidance on selling and diversifying hydroponic products. The program indirectly fostered local food security and resilience and generated new income for residents affected by the pandemic.
CommunityFood educationWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceZerrin Mercan, Büşra BİLİR, Nilüfer Darıca · Cukurova University Faculty of Education Journal · Turkey
This qualitative study examined the gardens of 27 preschool education institutions in Gaziantep province as physical learning environments. Findings showed that while physical and social areas existed in school gardens, they required qualitative support. Silent areas were very limited and located within vocal areas, and creative and sensory areas were not present in the school gardens.
Limited or null effectFood educationCommunityHealthMartha Biddle, JungHee Kang, Julie C. Derringer, Anna M. Rose, D. Brewer, Misook L. Chung, Terry A. Lennie, Gia Mudd‐Martin, Timothy A. Woods · Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition · United States (Kentucky)
A study examined the relationships among food security status, eating patterns, and perceived barriers to food choices among 209 shareholders in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in Kentucky during COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions. The food insecure group (n=33) reported lower consumption of fruits/vegetables and whole grains, greater consumption of fast foods, and more barriers to food choices compared to the food secure group. A low food insecure proportion (16%) among CSA participants suggests a potential role for CSA programs in preventing food insecurity.
CSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceHealthCommunityHan Kyul Heo, Eunseok Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · South Korea
This study investigated types of vertical smart farms (VSF) and citizens' awareness of them in Korean cities through case studies and a questionnaire survey. Four VSF types were identified: rooftop, facade, indoor, and whole-building farms. The survey found that 22.2% of respondents were well-aware of VSF, and improving public awareness was considered the most important factor for VSF introduction. Education and promotion were deemed crucial for VSF diffusion.
Digital agricultureCommunityPolicyChika Kondo · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Japan
This paper analyzes Japan's teikei movement (Japanese CSA) and how it exemplifies diverse economies. Through case studies of two teikei groups in the Kansai region, it assesses how changes made by current generations allow teikei to adapt to long-standing challenges, such as the decline of volunteer labor. Despite current members' detachment from strong activist identities, they sustain their organizations through part-time work, community building, and institutionalizing volunteer labor.
Economic viabilityCSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsLaura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, Anne C. Bellows, Rick Welsh, Mary Kiernan · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Global
This article is a remembrance of Evan Weissman, a food studies scholar and urban geographer who passed away in spring 2020. His academic contributions focused on local food policy, community food systems, food system inequality, and urban agriculture. This special issue reflects his work and enduring impact on food justice and sustainable agricultural and regional planning.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceMarco Boffi, Linda Pola, Natalia Fumagalli, Elisabetta Fermani, Giulio Senes, Paolo Inghilleri · Frontiers in Psychology · Global
This study presents an interdisciplinary co-design method for community gardens, applying attention restoration theory (ART) to understand older people's experiences in natural environments. Six focus group meetings with older people in Milan, Italy, informed the co-design of a restorative area in an Ortica district community garden. Results classified participants' main needs into ART factors: "compatibility" (multifunctional garden), "fascination" (contact with nature), and "being away" (escape from nursing homes), with the designed garden incorporating biophilic principles to address these needs.
ElderlyCommunityHealthSofia Nikolaidou · Cahiers de la Méditerranée · Greece (Athens)
This article analyzed the role of peri-urban agriculture and alternative food networks (AFN) in the Athens metropolitan area, Greece, using a mixed method approach including qualitative, quantitative research, and spatial data collection. Bottom-up claims for food security positively impacted sustainable food systems and public policies, while informal retail channels and self-production schemes strengthened agricultural resilience. However, poor land management and zoning control are major constraints to sustainable agricultural production and farmers' resilience in the Athens metropolitan area.
Governance failurePeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyFood
2021Margaret Robertson · · Global
Chapter 13 examines how food is grown, from smallholders and pastoralists to small farmers and industrialized agriculture, addressing issues of ecosystem health, human health, food waste, and the impact of meat diets. It also discusses the importance of pollinators. The chapter then explores finding space for food in cities, including in schools, yards, urban farms, community gardens, and on public lands.
CommunityBiodiversityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceMathematics
2021Anne Forbes, Vinesh Chandra, Linda Pfeiffer, Rachel Sheffield · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Australia
This textbook, "STEM Education in the Primary School," introduces pre-service teachers to the theory, skills, and practice of teaching STEM through a project-based learning approach. It integrates STEM with the Australian Curriculum using a school garden project case study and explores popular STEM topics with age-appropriate project examples. The text connects current research in STEM education to teaching practice, offering guidance for implementing projects and practices in the classroom.
Food educationCommunityIrene Håkansson · Local Environment · United Kingdom (London)
This paper critically examines urban experimentation for sustainability, arguing that urban experiments are often assessed from a diffusion-oriented perspective that over-emphasizes unifying visions and neglects unsuccessful initiatives. Using a novel methodological approach combining a metropolitan geodemographic typology with qualitative data on 166 active and inactive urban agriculture initiatives across London, the paper demonstrates that neglecting the diversity of urban socio-economic, demographic, and physical contexts may lead to the erroneous suggestion that only demographically privileged places can achieve sustainability. It highlights that contextual differences at neighborhood levels significantly influence socio-spatial patterns of experimentation.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsFemke Beute, Maria Beatrice Andreucci, Annamária Lammel, Zoe G. Davies, Julie Glanville, Hans Keune, Melissa Marselle, Liz O’Brien, Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo, Roy Remmen, Alessio Russo, S. de Vries · Research Repository (University of Gloucestershire) · Global
This paper discusses the role of diverse urban green spaces, such as urban forests, parks, and urban farming locations, in the mental and physical health of urban residents. It notes that green spaces vary in characteristics like scenic beauty and vegetative composition. The paper highlights that urbanization and climate change are pressuring urban green spaces, necessitating in-depth knowledge on how different green space types and characteristics influence mental health for informed design and planning.
HealthCommunityClimate changePolicyT’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss · Public · Global
T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss has dedicated her life to Indigenous plant remediation and restoration projects supporting wetland ecosystems, food forests, and their wild inhabitants. This work aims to restore what was taken from the natural world over the past 150 years, ensuring the survival of future ancestors. Interdisciplinary documentation, including true plant names in Indigenous languages, ensures future generations remain connected to the natural world.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityBiodiversityOrganic cycleChelsea Klinke, Gertrude Korkor Samar · Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation · Canada (Calgary)
This paper argues for an academic paradigm shift in food studies to bridge the gap between scholarship and community-based transformative engagement, supporting social justice frameworks. Through a case study of urban farming in Calgary, it explores place-based learning and participatory approaches that integrate Indigenous ways of knowing. The paper provides strategies for supporting local food systems through activist scholarship and capacity building in urban farming.
Food educationFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityFulgentius Rodney, Joko Priyono · Jurnal Sains Teknologi Urban Perancangan Arsitektur (Stupa) · Indonesia
This project in the West BSD area of Indonesia aims to reduce community stress and provide new green spaces in a future CBD area with limited green infrastructure. It proposes a self-sustaining urban farming model where residents grow, care for, and harvest crops for sale or restaurant use, with seeds replanted for new yields. The "Back To Nature: Community Garden" project applies biophilic design to create communal spaces for activities like planting, working, and gathering, fostering interaction among people and with nature.
CommunityHealthBiodiversityEconomicsAri Handriatni, Sajuri Sajuri · PENA ABDIMAS Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Pekalongan City)
Bandengan village in Pekalongan City, Indonesia, is a flood-prone area where tidal floods made agricultural activities difficult. Extension activities and mentoring were conducted for the youth of Bandengan village, presenting Urban Farming concepts (verticulture, hydroponics, aquaponics, polybags) suitable for limited, flood-affected land. This program impacted the community's enthusiasm to carry out agricultural activities, enabling them to produce vegetable and fruit crops and potentially increase income.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityFood educationClimate changeEsther Sigauke · The Journal of Environmental Education · Zimbabwe
This study focused on an instrumental case study of urban agriculture on a wetland in Zimbabwe, exploring how design thinking can augment focus group discussions to enhance public engagement. Design thinking, oriented towards solving complex problems, was implemented prior to focus group discussions to generate potential solutions connecting farmers to the wetland. The study showed that, if properly planned and executed, design thinking can be instrumental in enhancing the effectiveness of focus group discussions.
CommunityFood educationRosa Maria Pereira da Silva · · Global
This qualitative research explored the use of an Inclusive School Garden as a pedagogical intervention for 15 students, including two with multiple disabilities, focusing on science education through tactile perception. The research involved preparing the garden with recyclable materials and creating inclusive pedagogical tools like Braille cells and a tactile map. In the garden environment, students with visual impairments were able to recognize, touch, identify, and compare vegetables and medicinal plants, and write their names in Braille.
Food educationCommunityWelfareA. Firmansyah Sumardjo · Journal of Hunan University · Indonesia (Bekasi)
This study analyzed the impact of family empowerment on farmer adaptation to the market for urban farming products in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia. Using participatory action research, data from observations, interviews, and focus group discussions revealed that market demand for organic products drove communities to engage in innovative organic urban farming. Males were involved in land preparation and marketing, while females focused on plant maintenance and harvest processing. The study found that family empowerment, combined with urban farming innovation, leads to business sustainability.
DIYCommunityEconomicsHealthKate Lohrey, Patricia Talarczyk · Journal of Student Research · Global
An experiment over six weeks investigated the impact of traffic noise pollution on plant growth in urban community gardens. Plants exposed to traffic noise showed significantly reduced average height (65.6 mm vs 104.2 mm) and weight (0.85 g vs 1.31 g) compared to those in natural noise conditions. The study found a statistically significant deteriorating effect of traffic noise on plant growth.
Environmental trade-offsCommunityHealth