Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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735 results(12 / 30)
Can urban agriculture be used to improve green infrastructure and social well-being? The urban garden in the Ponticelli neighbourhood of Naples
2021Fabio Amato, Lucia Simonetti · Journal of urban regeneration and renewal · Italy (Naples)
This paper focuses on the social urban garden in the Ponticelli neighborhood on the eastern outskirts of Naples, Italy, an area facing significant social and cultural problems including high unemployment and crime rates. The urban garden demonstrates how social cohesion can be built through urban agriculture and contribute to sustainability. However, the initiative risks remaining isolated and providing limited benefit to regional environmental sustainability efforts if not framed within an overall metropolitan strategy.
Limited or null effectCommunityHealthClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceSustaining Collective Action in Urban Community Gardens
2021Arthur Feinberg, Elena Hooijschuur, Nicole Rogge, Amineh Ghorbani, Paulien Herder · Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation · Europe
This paper presents an agent-based model to explore conditions for sustained participation in urban community gardening projects in Europe, validated with data from Germany and the Netherlands. The study found that not all of Ostrom's Design Principles for collective action lead to higher participation; instead, participation depends on specific combinations of these principles. It also highlights that sanctioning mechanisms are not always beneficial and can be counter-productive in certain contexts for volunteer participation.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyHeavy metals and metalloids concentrations across UK urban horticultural soils and the factors influencing their bioavailability to food crops
2021Marta Crispo, Miriam C. Dobson, Roscoe S. Blevins, William Meredith, Janice A. Lake, Jill L. Edmondson · Environmental Pollution · United Kingdom
Heavy metal (HM) and metalloid concentrations were assessed in 200 urban horticultural soils across ten UK cities. HM were found to be widespread, with most concentrations below UK soil screening values (C4SLs). However, 83% of lead (Pb) concentrations exceeded C4SLs, which is a significant concern. Bioavailable HM concentrations represented a small fraction (0.01–1.8%) of total concentrations, and black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC) were suggested to contribute to HM immobilization.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityBiodiversityFood education and food for life
2021Gurpinder Singh Lalli · · United Kingdom
This chapter reflects on food education and school gardening programs in England, drawing on ethnographic techniques employed since 2012. It discusses the food curriculum and the impact of engaging with school gardens, which are termed 'school farms' in this context. The work highlights how these spaces, including curriculum and school grounds, play a key role in shaping future thinking for children and young people and support their wellbeing.
Food educationCommunityHealthIncredible Edible Todmorden: Impacts on Community Building, Education, and Local Culture. A Case for the Operationalization of a Sustainability-led Discourse
2021Michelle Brener Mizrahi · European Journal of Cultural Management and Policy · Europe
This paper analyzes how Incredible Edible Todmorden (IET), a community-led project, operated notions of sustainability through permaculture and urban farming to focus on community building and its impacts on education and local culture. The paper puts forth the argument that the discursive operationalization of sustainability can produce important effects in community building, education, and local culture at a local level.
CommunityFood educationOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceIs ‘Growing Better’ ripe for development? Creating an urban farm for social impact
2021Peter Gittins, Leigh Morland · The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation · United Kingdom
This case study explored the business model and growth challenges of 'Growing Better', a micro-social enterprise urban farming facility in the Leeds City Region, UK, which provides a supportive working environment for people with mental health issues. Findings suggested that the potential for growth lies with the social entrepreneur's ability to harness external stakeholder support. However, any venture development should also inform the effective utilization of resources through operations management.
WelfareCommunityEconomicsImplementation and Impacts of Edible Cities : a Nature-Based Solution for Societal Challenges of Urbanization?
2021Martina Artmann, Katharina Sartison · RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) · Germany
This study investigated the implementation and impact potential of edible cities in three German case studies (Andernach, Haar, Munich) as part of a project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Edible cities are a concept that utilizes public spaces to provide free food and urban gardening opportunities for citizens.
CommunityPolicyClimate changeDifferences in the Content of Zn Fractions in the Profiles of Soils from Allotment and Domestic Gardens in South-Eastern Poland
2021Iwona Makuch-Pietraś, A. Wójcikowska-Kapusta · Land · Poland
This research investigated the distribution, bioavailability, and total forms of zinc (Zn) in soils from domestic and family allotment gardens across six cities in south-eastern Poland. It found that horticultural treatments had a greater impact on sandy soils, and higher Zn contents were present in humus horizons. High values of concentration and Igeo indices indicated significant Zn pollution in these soils, with bioavailable zinc forms being notably high.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityTwo Experiences of Urban Agriculture in Medieval Piedmont
2021Roberto Leggero, Mirella Montanari · University of Vienna · Italy
This investigation compared urban agriculture in the proto-city of Chieri and Novara in medieval Piedmont, Italy, finding that urban agriculture was influenced by the city's network and environmental relationship. Chieri's arid clay soils and water scarcity led to specialized wine production and in-city processing areas. Novara's Roman urban model and surrounding countryside facilitated vegetable gardens and peri-urban crops, demonstrating how different urban structures and territories generated diverse forms of urban agriculture.
CommunityPolicyINNOVATIVE URBAN FARMING TECHNIQUES FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF CITIES: FROM FARM TO FORK – CASE OF THE CITY LANUVIO, ROME, ITALY
2021Sangodoyin Olakunle. M, Shehata Mariam, D’Aprile Andrea, Calore Giuseppe, Lorianne Ginot, Correrella Maia, Elian Mariam, Aly Nada, Aboughanema Salma, Ali Sohaila, Aboulnaga Mohsen · International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology · Italy (Rome)
The "Green Symphony" project in Lanuvio, a municipality near Rome, Italy, transformed a vacant ARES site into a smart and sustainable urban farm. The project integrated aquaponic systems, permaculture, vertical farming, and energy harvesting technologies. The developed farm is projected to generate 7 tons of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and fish annually, create 3 stable jobs, and recoup investment costs within a maximum of 5 years.
DIYCommunityClimate changeFood educationHow are allotment gardens managed? A comparative study of usage and development in contemporary urban space in Germany and Poland
2021Magdalena Szczepańska, Ewa Kacprzak, Barbara Maćkiewicz, Lidia Poniży · Moravian Geographical Reports · Germany; Poland
A comparative study analyzed the use and development of allotment gardens (AGs) in Westphalia and Lippe (Germany) and Wielkopolska (Poland). AGs in Westphalia and Lippe are accessible and harmoniously integrated into the landscape, while AGs in Wielkopolska are less accessible, prioritize internal users, and do not always blend with their surroundings. The considerable freedom enjoyed by Polish plot-holders leads to a gradual marginalization of edible-plant growing.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyBiodiversityUrban–rural linkageAgriculture urbaine et biodiversité intégrées au bâti : des réalisations concrètes, vivantes et fonctionnelles
2021Frédéric Madre · Cahiers ESPI2R · France (Paris)
In June 2012, an experimental urban vegetable garden was established on the rooftops of AgroParisTech in Paris, France, marking the integration of urban agriculture into cities. This initiative coincided with the "Gardens in the City" exhibition, organized by the Museum of the Living and the League of Education. Since then, other urban agriculture projects have emerged, particularly in the capital.
CommunityBiodiversityAlternative = transformative? Investigating drivers of transformation in alternative food networks in Germany
2021Felix Zoll, Kathrin Specht, Rosemarie Siebert · Sociologia Ruralis · Germany
To investigate drivers of transformation in alternative food networks (AFNs) in Germany, interviews were conducted with producers and consumers in three AFN models: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), food co-operatives, and self-harvest gardens, followed by qualitative content analysis. Participants in CSA and food co-ops reported a strong reconnection between producers and consumers, indicating transformative potential, while self-harvest gardeners primarily sought individual capacity building and access to their own garden. AFN participation was suggested to foster incremental transformation towards more sustainable food practices and a respective value system.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePotentially Toxic Trace Elements in the Urban Soils of Santiago de Compostela (Northwestern Spain)
2021Cecilia Herbón, María Teresa Barral, Remigio Paradelo · Applied Sciences · Spain (Santiago de Compostela)
The concentrations of trace elements Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, and As were investigated in 55 urban soils in Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain. While most soils showed higher trace element concentrations than regional backgrounds, they were not classified as contaminated according to Spanish regulations. However, geoaccumulation index values indicated low to moderate pollution levels in most soils, with Cu, Pb, and Zn highest in city center green areas, and Cr and Ni linked to parent material lithology.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleCommunity노후 공동주택의 감축형 리모델링에 관한 연구 - 독일 Leinefelde House 1～7과 Halle (Saale), House 8의 사례분석을 중심으로 -
2021김명식 · 한국문화공간건축학회 논문집 · Germany
This study analyzes German cases of reduction-type remodeling for aging apartment housings to provide implications for Korea. It finds that reduction-type remodeling should align with urban regeneration plans, involving demolition of upper floors or vertical sections, and integration of units. Improved characteristics include private gardens for ground floor residents, rooftop gardens, and customized spaces after resident consultation.
DIYCommunityA Socially-Based Redesign of Sustainable Food Practices: Community Supported Agriculture in Italy
2021Alessandra Piccoli, Adanella Rossi, Angela Genova · Sustainability · Italy
To understand the potential of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model in Italy, two investigations were conducted in 2019 and 2020, analyzing structural and organizational aspects, and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Findings indicate that CSAs represent a radically innovative experience capable of redefining production and consumption practices, demonstrating remarkable resilience due to their common value basis and strong interdependence and solidarity among members.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsConstructing Organic Food through Urban Agriculture, Community Gardens in Seville
2021Mario Jordi Sánchez, Antonio Luis Díaz Aguilar · Sustainability · Spain (Seville)
Through observation and qualitative analysis of community urban gardens in southern Spain (Andalusia), this paper notes that the people who cultivate allotments within these community gardens attribute a wide variety of different meanings to their practices. This plurality of meanings moves beyond the rational-technical dimension of the act of growing, while at the same time redefining the act of consuming organic food, because of its connection with productive and social activities.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthŠolski vrtovi v Pomurski regiji
2021Jana Ambrožič‐Dolinšek, Dane Katalinič, Patricija Utroša · Revija za elementarno izobraževanje · Europe
This study examined school gardens in the Pomurje region of Slovenia, finding that half (19 out of 38) of primary schools have them. The establishment of these gardens relies on the goodwill of school management and the voluntary interest of teachers. The research suggests that including school gardening in science curricula is necessary, as garden-related activities contribute to the region's agricultural development.
Food educationCommunitySustainability and education through social networks. Presence and visibility of the school garden on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
2021Juan-Francisco Álvarez-Herrero, María Encarnación Urrea Solano, Rosabel Martínez-Roig · IJERI International Journal of Educational Research and Innovation · Spain
This study examined the presence and visibility of school gardens on social media in Spain by analyzing the last 100 posts with #huertoescolar on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Educational centers primarily documented school garden activities on Twitter, followed by Facebook and Instagram. School gardens were mainly used for practical application of academic content and fostering environmental awareness, but greater integration with Sustainable Development Goals is still needed.
Food educationCommunityDigital agricultureTransformative potential from the ground up: Sustainable innovation journeys, soft change and alignment of interests in urban food initiatives
2021Damian Maye, Paul Swagemakers, J.S.C. Wiskerke, Heidrun Moschitz, James Kirwan, Ingrid Jahrl · European Urban and Regional Studies · Europe
This study utilized the 'sustainable innovation journeys' concept to trace urban food initiatives in Rotterdam (Netherlands), Vigo (Spain), and Zurich (Switzerland) over a six-year period from 2013 to 2018. While micro-level innovation practices can induce sustainability shifts, particularly when aligned with policy interests, the study also observed potentially negative impacts due to a lack of alignment at the initiative or city-region levels.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceResponsabilidad social y docencia universitaria: una propuesta de aprendizaje servicio en educación ambiental
2021Ángela Barrón Ruíz, José Manuel Muñoz Rodríguez · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Spain (Salamanca)
This proposal combines university teaching with social responsibility through service learning, aiming to integrate environmental education for sustainability into schools in Salamanca, Spain. Following a pilot project and the establishment of a network of community school gardens, the pedagogical validity of this training approach has been demonstrated over six academic years for both university and school students.
Food educationCommunityCharacterisation of aquaponic producers and small-scale facilities in Spain and Latin America
2021Gina Patricia Suárez‐Cáceres, Víctor M. Fernández‐Cabanás, José Lobillo-Eguíbar, Luis Pérez‐Urrestarazu · Aquaculture International · Spain
This study aimed to determine the profile and motivations of aquaponic producers, the characteristics of facilities, and production performance in Spain and Latin America. The average producer is a middle-aged man, motivated primarily by producing high-quality, healthy food, environmental concern, and autonomy. Facilities were mainly for education, self-consumption, and hobbies, many located on rooftops, adapting well to urban agriculture. Generally, there is a lack of proper knowledge and expertise to efficiently operate these complex systems.
DIYFood educationCommunityHealthEconomics“It’s one of the few things that … pulls us together when the outside world is really tough.” Exploring the outcomes and challenges of a charity-led community garden in a disadvantaged English city
2021Sam Ramsden · Local Environment · United Kingdom (England)
This article analyzes a charity-led community gardening project in a disadvantaged northern English community, which operated for three years with external funding. While it successfully engaged marginalized people, leading to increased skills, confidence, reduced isolation, and improved wellbeing, the project faced significant challenges requiring professional management. Crucially, after the funding ended, the community garden's future was fragile, and the long-term sustainability of outcomes for marginalized participants was vulnerable due to economic viability issues.
Economic viabilityCommunityHealthWelfareEconomicsPolicyTHEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO THE FORMATION OF URBAN AGROLANDSCAPE STRUCTURES
2021Viktoria Shchurova · Current problems of architecture and urban planning · Ukraine (Kiev)
This article highlights the problems of the negative impact of the agricultural sector integrated into the central and middle zones of large cities. A critical view was formulated on the practical implementation of scientific and legislative documents, using the example of the city of Kiev, and strategies for reorganization, restrictions, or a complete ban on estate development in urban environments were analyzed. Specific plots of estate development in Kiev were identified as requiring reconstruction or complete renovation in accordance with the city's strategic development concept.
Environmental trade-offsPolicyUrban–rural linkageClimate changeCommunityScoping Out Elements of Sociocultural Adaptation in European Urban Agriculture
2021Bianca Cavicchi, Atle Wehn Hegnes · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Europe
This paper explored elements of sociocultural adaptation (SCA) to innovation and climate change in European urban agriculture through a scoping-exploratory review of existing literature. The elements were categorized into three main categories. Key results indicate that socio-technical and socio-ecological innovations are critical to SCA, and some identified SCA elements are more central to the adaptation process than others.
CommunityClimate changePolicy