Research & reports

Hawes J., Goldstein B., Newell J. · Nature Cities · Europe and United States

A large-scale life-cycle study using citizen-science data from 73 urban sites in Europe and the US found that food from urban agriculture had a carbon footprint about six times that of conventional farming (roughly 420 vs 70 gCO2e per serving), driven mainly by infrastructure and inputs.

Pancras T., van Bentum E., de Pagter L., van Hoef M., Hoogenboom R., Berendsen B., van Leeuwen S. · Chemosphere · Netherlands

Fruits and vegetables from allotments contaminated by atmospheric deposition from a fluorochemical plant contained PFASs such as PFOA and GenX, with the highest levels downwind and in brassicas, leafy and root vegetables.

Boukharta Ouiam Fatiha, Sauvée Loïc, Chico-Santamarta Leticia, Pena-Fabri Fabiana, Navas-Gracia Luis Manuel · Urban Science · France (Normandy)

Multi-level governance analysis of urban-agriculture projects in Normandy based on interviews and fieldwork. Documents a gap between policy prescriptions and how local authorities actually implement them, showing expectations for UA-driven resilience outrun delivery on the ground.

Ricard Segura, Johannes Langemeyer, Alba Badía, Sergi Ventura, Jaime Vila-Traver, Gara Villalba · The Science of The Total Environment · Spain (Barcelona)

A study in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, Spain, investigated the impacts of peri-urban agricultural expansion on the food-water-climate nexus using urban metabolism and atmospheric-biosphere models across four land-use scenarios. While expansion increased food production and irrigation water requirements, replacing natural non-forested and forest areas for peri-urban agriculture was predicted to reduce net ecosystem productivity by up to 18.5% and total carbon stocks by 3.3%. Irrigated peri-urban agriculture potentially reduced near-surface temperatures by 0.7°C, though reductions in the densest urban areas were minimal.

Sara Favargiotti, Giulia Zantedeschi, Angelica Pianegonda, Matteo Brunelli, Michele Urbani · Land · Italy

This study explored how local and sustainable food distribution models, such as Alternative Food Networks and community-supported agriculture, can integrate into landscape planning and design. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision analysis method, the research focused on Food Hub localization. It tested questions regarding distribution method choice and optimal location with the "L’Ortazzo" Association, a solidarity purchasing group in Italy's Valsugana valley.

Juan David Arosemena Polo, Susana Toboso‐Chavero, Biraj Adhikari, Gara Villalba · Waste Management · Spain (Barcelona)

This research determined the potential of organic municipal solid waste (OMSW) compost to supply nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) demand for urban agriculture (UA) and its environmental benefits in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, Spain. Using spatial material flow analysis and life cycle assessment, it was found that the current waste management system could substitute 8% of total NPK demand with compost, reduce impacts by up to 39%, and yield 130% savings in global warming. A 2025 scenario could substitute 21% of NPK demand and reduce environmental impacts by up to 1,049%.

Neşe Börü · International Journal of Leadership in Education · Turkey

This case study investigated school principals' practices and barriers to sustainable development in Turkish K-12 schools under centralized management, using semi-structured interviews. The findings highlighted the need for leadership skills, collaboration with external bodies, public education, reward systems, and school budgets under a centralized management approach. The research identified that the centralized management system itself presents a barrier to sustainable development efforts in these schools.

Bart Neuts, Steven Valcke, Clio Lambrechts, Vincent R. Nijs, Jan Van Praet · · Europe

This study describes a participatory inquiry conducted in the summer of 2021 at St Godelina’s Abbey in Bruges, Belgium, where visitors co-created 4,784 scenarios for the heritage site's future development. A panel of 40 experts further explored these scenarios, leading to an architectural design that integrates a community garden, orchard, and other elements. The process is presented as a best practice for citizen participation in redeveloping cultural sites, though limitations include significant data collection and analysis efforts, making it impractical for smaller initiatives.

Adrian J Hayes, Tulane Chiarletti, Stephanie Hares, Sarah Devereux, Stephanie Upton, Daniel McNamara, Sally Brookes · Therapeutic Communities The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities · United Kingdom (South West of England)

This paper reports on the development and running of Foundations Group, a pilot 2-hour nano-therapeutic community (TC) intervention. Conducted within the NHS on City Farm premises in the South West of England for 18 months (2021–2022), the group comprised 11 members, one peer, and three staff. The authors reflected on the TC approach of democratic work, non-expert stance, and using support and challenge to enhance self-agency and belongingness, detailing the group's structure.

Monika Egerer, Susan Karlebowski, David Schoo, Ulrike Sturm · Urban forestry & urban greening · Germany

This communication article presents a transdisciplinary research concept focused on developing, implementing, and testing biodiversity conservation interventions in urban community gardens in Berlin and Munich, Germany. The research aims to promote insect diversity with gardeners and neighborhood residents, engaging civil society and city actors to support biodiversity-based urban greening. It outlines participatory methods and experiences in translating research into practice, highlighting the role of city residents in implementing biodiversity interventions.

N Fernández Salido, A Gallego Valadés, C Castells, Jordi Garcés Ferrer · European Journal of Public Health · Europe

The European U-GARDEN project evaluated the impact of urban gardens on promoting active aging through the participation of people over 65. Qualitative analysis of 20 semi-structured interviews revealed multiple benefits, including increased physical activity, psychosocial improvements such as higher personal satisfaction, reduced stress, enhanced self-esteem, and strengthened community connections. Participants also reported economic savings on food costs and increased food security.

Daniele Codato, Denis Grego, Francesca Peroni · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Italy (Padua)

This study in Padua, Italy, used field surveys of key informants and spatial multicriteria decision-making analysis to identify suitable and inclusive areas for community gardens. The results prioritized neighborhoods for new community gardens based on distance, social, and combined indices, providing a methodology to support local policymakers in implementing community gardens.

Alejandro Carlos Campina López, Antonio Alejandro Lorca Marín, María Ángeles de las Heras Pérez, Emilio José Delgado Algarra · Advances in linguistics and communication studies · Spain

This chapter provides a comprehensive guide for setting up and programming sensors to monitor a school garden using Micro Bit boards. The project aims to meet the digital competence and computational thinking requirements specified in the Spanish curriculum (LOMLOE). By systematically monitoring parameters such as soil moisture, temperature, humidity, light intensity, and soil pH, students can make informed decisions about garden management.

Ayşe Kaplan Sarısaltık, Ufuk Sarısaltık · Cleaner and Responsible Consumption · Turkey

This qualitative study explored the role of ODTÜ Bostan, a community garden at the Middle East Technical University in Turkey, in promoting sustainability education, ecology, and food consumption practices. Operating for ten years, the garden not only enhances participants' sustainability competencies but also serves as an educational laboratory, demonstrating the potential of community gardens to address global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss. The research employed autoethnography, thematic analysis of eight semi-structured interviews, and content analysis of archival data.

Barbara Maćkiewicz, Paulina Jeziorek · Przegląd Geograficzny · Poland

A two-case study in Warsaw and Poznań, Poland, explored the relationship between community gardens and cultural institutions, identifying factors that promote and impede their functioning. The study found that these gardens are characterized by a changing governance model, shifting towards a top-down approach where community members lack influence on strategic decisions. The involvement of cultural institutions, while facilitating longevity, may simultaneously disempower the gardens' viability.

Melissa Anna Murphy, Pavel Grabalov · ˜The œGeojournal library · Europe

A study of urban agriculture initiatives in Aarhus, Denmark, and Rotterdam, the Netherlands, explored how municipalities facilitate urban agriculture and its performance in public spaces. It identified four public service trajectories: increasing access and animation, contributing to social services, producing and distributing food, and building communities. The study found that food production and social services may be little suited for urban spaces requiring high public access, although benefits can reach a broad public if localized and facilitated appropriately.

Melis Temel Mumcu, Aykut Emre Bozdoğan · Gazi Journal of Education Sciences · Turkey

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effect of out-of-school learning activities, including a field trip and school garden activities, on 50 6th-grade students' science interest and motivation in Çorum during the 2022-2023 academic year. Findings showed a significant increase in science interest and motivation for the experimental group, while the control group showed no significant difference. Experimental group students also expressed positive views, stating the activities were enjoyable and boosted their interest.

Sarah Bell, Charlotte Johnson, Tse‐Hui Teh, Kat Austen, Gemma Moore · · United Kingdom (London)

This chapter explores co-design in developing urban infrastructures, presenting a six-step "Bottom-Up Infrastructure" model. The method was applied to a rooftop garden on a London social-housing estate, intended to function as drainage infrastructure. The case study revealed the potential for co-design, but also highlighted significant constraints on implementation in cities where communities possess limited power and resources.

Ayşen Çerşil, Esin Kömez Dağlıoğlu · İDEALKENT · Turkey

This study examines urban gardening as a form of food commoning, focusing on collective food production in urban gardens. It explores the role of common spaces and the social dynamics of urban gardening groups for urban food production, using the METU Garden (ODTÜ Bostanı) as a case study. The research aims to relate the social structures and spatial qualities of METU Garden to food commons theories and frameworks.

Gustavo [UNESP] Nagib · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · France (Paris)

Research conducted in Greater Paris between 2018 and 2021 examined ephemeral urban agriculture (UA) initiatives in eco-districts during construction phases. This qualitative study, using fieldwork and observation, found that temporary UA occupations serve as incubators for new initiatives, fostering the emergence of associations and companies. UA is integrating into a new urbanism that anticipates long-term agricultural practices, bringing together various stakeholders.

Matteo Clementi, Valentina Dessì, Giulio Maria Podestà, Szu-Cheng Chien, Barbara Ang Ting Wei, Elena Lucchi · Sustainability · Italy (Milan)

This study proposes an open-source Digital Twin model based on a geographical information system (GIS) for optimizing solar radiation mapping in urban agriculture design. The model considers complex microclimatic variables in urban environments and integrates available open data with in-situ measurements to develop a set of maps for urban farmers and designers. Initially tested on a neighborhood in Milan, Italy, the model's replicability and effectiveness were verified.

Claudinei da Silva [UNESP] Pereira, Antonio Nivaldo [UNESP] Hespanhol · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Europe

This article analyzes agriculture practiced in European cities and their surroundings, tracing its evolution from an essential food security practice in early cities to its decline after the First Industrial Revolution. It examines how the expansion of urbanization and structural transformations of the capitalist economy from the 19th century led to the reduction or disappearance of urban agriculture in major European cities. This shift resulted in a specialized food market supplied by distant producers, highlighting the changing relationship between agriculture, urban morphology, the labor market, and food supply.

Astrid E. Neumann, Felix Conitz, Susan Karlebowski, Ulrike Sturm, Julia M. Schmack, Monika Egerer · Basic and Applied Ecology · Germany (Munich)

This study recorded garden features and pollinators in 33 urban community gardens in Munich and Berlin, Germany, over two summer seasons to understand their impact on pollinator abundance. Findings showed that in more urbanized gardens, flower richness and bare substrate were less prevalent. Flower richness positively correlated with overall pollinator abundance, richness, and diversity, while landscape imperviousness negatively correlated with hoverfly and beetle abundances.

F Balmond · Open MIND · United Kingdom

A desk-based archaeological assessment was conducted for the Land at Lower Laston Field, UK, following the SWARCH HA methodology, without a site visit. The direct archaeological impact of development is considered relatively low due to the site's topography and historical use as agricultural land and allotment gardens. However, indirect impacts from residential development are likely given its proximity to a Conservation Area and intervisibility with the Scheduled Hillsborough Promontory Fort.

Diana Krabbendam, Emiel Wolf, Bernie Deekens, Rosalie Bak, Hans Krikke · SpringerBriefs in applied sciences and technology · Netherlands (Amsterdam)

This chapter outlined activities for citizen-led projects in the Wildeman neighborhood in Amsterdam. The main challenges identified were a lack of trust and community feeling among inhabitants, a lack of involvement and ownership in neighborhood developments, and fragmented existing community activities and services.