Research & reports

James J. Connolly, Isabelle Anguelovski · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · United States

This study used state sequence analysis to examine the historical trend of greening (including parks and community gardens) from 1975 to 2014 in nine U.S. cities, in relation to concentrations of white and non-white residents. Findings revealed that the relationship between greening and race/ethnicity varied by city-level growth trajectory. Cities with continuous high growth showed the strongest link between increased greening and whiter populations, while non-white areas in cities with contraction or punctuated growth exhibited uniformly low levels of greening, mostly in recent years.

Brian James Leech, Christopher Strunk · Food Culture & Society · United States (Rock Island)

This research explores the historical evolution of urban gardening in Rock Island, Illinois, a post-industrial city, from 1913 to 2018. It finds that while urban agriculture was prominent during 20th-century crises, it has maintained a constant presence, with initiatives like Victory Gardens and community gardens sharing common goals of addressing poverty and food access. However, gardening programs have often failed to acknowledge the underlying causes of food insecurity.

Alline Gomes Lamenha e Silva, Miguel Aloysio Sattler · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Feliz)

This article presents a multivariate analysis to identify areas available for urban food production in Feliz/RS, Brazil. The analysis synergistically considered the served population, family income, and continuous available areas. The results can strategically contribute to identifying suitable areas for urban food production, supporting food security policies, green corridor implementation, or environmental education initiatives.

Meredith Gaglio · · United States

The "Ecotopia" concept, promoting ecologically and socially responsible American Appropriate Technology (AT), included innovative urban planning like rooftop gardens. However, the expansion and contraction of the intranational Ecotopian network built by former Rainmakers in the mid-to-late 1970s revealed a crisis of purpose within RAIN and signaled a crisis within the AT Movement itself.

Liliane Úbeda Morandi Rotoli, Andréa Rossi Scalco, Giuliana Aparecida Santini Pigatto · DRd - Desenvolvimento Regional em debate · Brazil (São Paulo)

This paper analyzed the governance structure of Community Supported Agriculture in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, from the perspective of Transaction Cost Economics. The investigation followed a qualitative-quantitative survey research method, showing limited rationality in consumer perceptions and a high level of locational, temporal, physical, brand, and technological specificity in transactions. The assessed scenario concluded that the specified governance structure is a hybrid with bilateral dependence between autonomous actors, which, although adequate, requires improvements in reducing uncertainty among agents.

Kristan Majors · Educational Media Reviews Online · United States

"No Place to Grow" is a 2019 documentary film (27 mins) that captures the story of a longstanding LatinX community garden, its farmers, neighborhood protests, and negotiations with government officials in the United States. The film depicts the challenges faced by the community garden, leaving viewers disheartened. It is recommended for libraries collecting on community gardens and urban agriculture.

Amy Hoover, Sarvenaz Vandyousefi, Bonnie Martin, Katie Nikah, Michele Hockett Cooper, Anne Müller, Edwin Marty, Marissa Duswalt-Epstein, Marissa Burgermaster, Lyndsey Waugh, Brie A. Linkenhoker, Jaimie N. Davis · Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · United States (Greater Austin, TX)

This study surveyed 523 teachers and 174 administrators across 109 schools in Greater Austin, TX, to identify factors contributing to thriving school garden programs. Logistic regression analysis revealed that thriving gardens were significantly more likely to have adequate district and administrator support (12 times), funding and community partners (3-fold), active garden committees (4 times), available curriculum, teacher training, and at least 100 annual student users. The findings suggest that strong administrative support is fundamental for successful school gardens.

Unwana I. Udoh, Aditya Deshpande, Bhavin Kothari, Cristián Ortíz, Mohit Jaju, Ridwan Ahmed, Chris Pitts, Christian Lopez, Sherry Chen, Hao Jiang, Njeri Warrington, Hunter Petrik, Stephanie Zheng · University Libraries (University of Maryland) · United States (Baltimore County)

This project, conducted in Baltimore County, was divided into two teams: education/entrepreneurship and marketing. The education/entrepreneurship team assessed residents' awareness of existing community gardens, identified reasons for low participation, and developed gardening educational resources. The marketing team focused on determining optimal locations for community gardens through site selection and marketing strategies, including social media campaigns.

Ciria Cristane da Rosa · Wamon - Revista dos alunos do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Antropologia Social da Universidade Federal do Amazonas · Brazil

This study aimed to understand how urban land regularization can contribute to urban agriculture in the municipality of Marituba, Pará, Brazil. It focused on two urban land regularization instruments mentioned in municipal decree n.º 300 of April 14, 2020: the concession of real right of use and the surface right. Based on bibliographic and documentary research, analyzing academic works on "quintais" (backyards) where agricultural activities occur, it found nine localities with rural characteristics mostly within Marituba's urban perimeter, with few properties possessing Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) documents. Urban land regularization could help these social subjects remain on their properties and continue their activities.

Maria Marciene Costa Da Silva, Maurício Ferreira Mendes, Luciano da Silva Guedes · Geografia em Questão · Brazil

This exploratory research diagnosed horticulture practices in the urban perimeter of Ananás/TO, Brazil, from April to June 2019, using semi-structured interviews and secondary data. It found that urban horticulture in Ananás provides a healthy food alternative for producers and consumers, distributes income, and contributes to social, food, and health development.

Alexandra Cavalcante Salomão Silva, Sávio Tadeu Guimarães · Programa de Iniciação Científica - PIC/UniCEUB - Relatórios de Pesquisa · Brazil (Brasília)

This study investigated the activities of the urban agriculture project "Coletivo Re-Ação Agroecológica" in idle public spaces in Brasília, using a case study and action research. The research aimed to identify factors that encourage and hinder urban agriculture projects, emphasizing it as a component of sustainable urbanism. Results indicate that urban agriculture should be encouraged by the state through practical and less bureaucratic public policies, and interpretive trails in urban farms support the dissemination of educational information, bringing people closer to nature.

ELIZABETE CRISTINA RIBEIRO SILVA JARDIM · Editora Realize eBooks · Brazil

This research analyzed Brazilian school garden experiences across three document sets, identifying procedures and resources incongruent with stated counter-hegemonic objectives. The study found structural inadequacies for the school space and omissions regarding the protection and safety of farmers and students during activities. It recommends adjustments to location, spatial organization, and material resources for school gardens to ensure the health of food producers.

Claudinei da Silva Pereira · GEOUSP Espaço e Tempo (Online) · Brazil (Presidente Prudente)

This paper analyzed agricultural production in Presidente Prudente, Brazil, from two essential dimensions: urban morphology and socioeconomic conditions. A typology for urban agriculture analysis was constructed by mapping the incidence of agriculture and applying questionnaires to commercial producers. The study demonstrated the different functions that agricultural practice performs for individuals and cities.

John Taylor, Mamatha Hanumappa, Lara Miller, Brendan Shane, Matthew L. Richardson · Sustainability · United States (Washington, DC)

A public-access geographic information system (GIS) and Tableau dashboards were developed for comprehensive multifunctional urban green infrastructure (UGI) planning in Washington, DC. The dashboards enable stakeholders to identify existing UGI (150 ha) and potential areas for new UGI, including urban agriculture (UA). A total of 2734 ha is potentially suitable for UGI development, with 2575 ha potentially suitable for UA. Of this UA potential, 56% is located in Wards 5, 7, and 8, which are largely food deserts with primarily Black residents experiencing the greatest inequities. The tool allows users to prioritize equitable UGI development using population vulnerability indices.

Luísa Lima Leal, A. P. D. Turetta, C. L. Capeche, Luiz Felipe Guanaes · Brazilian Journal of Development · Brazil

This study conducted a descriptive analysis of the legal framework for urban and peri-urban agriculture (AUP) in the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at municipal, state, and federal levels. It found that while agricultural regulation in Brazil is primarily rural-focused, AUP can be integrated into development plans, sustainable strategies, and food security initiatives, despite lacking specific dedicated legislation.

Sarah E. Coffey, John F. Munsell, Rico Hübner, Curtis R. Friedel · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · United States (Virginia)

A survey of 68 mayors (39% response rate) in Virginia, US, from communities under 25,000 population, investigated public food forest initiatives. Mayors identified long-term maintenance as the greatest barrier and noted that 78% of municipalities lack land use codes for food-producing trees and shrubs. While nearly 70% reported some public land food production, only one-fifth included food-producing trees. Mayors emphasized sociocultural programs and education over food access as the most compelling aspect.

T. G. McCarthy · Michigan Historical Review · United States

Joseph Stanhope Cialdella's book, "Motor City Green," describes how Detroit residents maintained various relationships with nature, including growing plants and food in their backyards and vacant lots, throughout the city's 130-year history. The book presents a series of episodes, from 1890s vacant lot programs to the Detroit Urban League's 1920s efforts to encourage gardening among African American residents and 1930s summer camps, which defined ideas about urbanism, nature, and relationships among residents.

Leigh Whittinghill, Sait Sarr · Urban Science · United States (Louisville, Kentucky)

A survey of 40 urban farmers and gardeners in Louisville, Kentucky, assessed their agricultural practices and barriers. Most growers engaged in urban agriculture for non-commercial reasons, with only 11% operating for profit, and smaller farms were less likely to be profitable or certified. Common sustainable practices included composting (60%) and crop rotation (54%), while challenges involved limited space, farm certification access, pests, and lack of record-keeping.

Anna Kapała · Comparative Law Review · United States

This study analyzed federal, state, and local regulations in US law to identify instruments supporting local food systems (LFS), including food safety, zoning, tax law, and federal programs. It found that US law lacks a systematic approach to LFS support, but identified legislative tools such as food safety exemptions, sales tax exemptions, local zoning laws for urban agriculture, and federal grant programs.

Rafael Carvalho Machado, Sieglinde Kindl Da Cunha · Waste Management & Research The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy · Brazil (Curitiba)

This study investigated Curitiba, Brazil's Urban Agriculture Program (UAP) and its decentralized composting strategy, which aimed to close the agricultural loop within city bounds. Despite training 24 urban farmer communities in composting techniques, the program was unable to achieve this goal. The research, based on secondary data review, interviews, and participatory observation, identified cultural barriers and conflicts among actor roles within the UAP that hindered the adoption of composting practices.

Stephanie Buechler, Karina Guadalupe Martínez-Molina · Energy and Climate Change · United States

This study compared rural and urban populations living near or receiving energy from a large-scale solar-wind energy park in Arizona, Southwest U.S., using an energy justice framework. Small-scale renewable energy projects better served low-income groups, with more governmental and non-profit organization support for these projects in urban areas. Adverse effects of large-scale projects on communities and wildlife were not being addressed via benefits or profit sharing.

Camila Garcia Fernandes de Souza Margem, Néliton Marques da Sílva · Cadernos Metrópole · Brazil (Manaus)

This article analyzed the feasibility of implementing urban agriculture (UA) on idle land within the Tarumã – Ponta Negra Environmental Protection Area in Manaus, Brazil, as a tool for territorial governance and urban planning. Semi-structured interviews and card sorting techniques were applied to the target population. The study found that the use of idle land for UA is not envisioned as a territorial governance instrument, a situation exacerbated by municipal authorities hindering the legitimization of bills for such land use.

Angélica Campos Nakamura, Valéria de Marcos · Estudos Avançados · Brazil (São Paulo)

Since the 2000s, urban and peri-urban agriculture activities have gained momentum in São Paulo, Brazil, directly impacting the city's agricultural sector. In the far south, public authorities, the University of São Paulo, and several NGOs promoted agroecological practices, leading to the establishment of Cooperapas, São Paulo's only farmers' cooperative. This expanded the production and commercialization of agroecological foods for the city.

Ricardo Theóphilo Folhes, Harley Silva, Raul da Silva Ventura Neto, Kevin Gabriel Leite Da Silva, Círia Cristiane Da Rosa, Aelton Dias Costa · Novos Cadernos NAEA · Brazil (Pará)

This article presents initial results from a bibliographic review on Urban Agriculture (UA) to support a research agenda in the metropolitan regions of Pará State, Brazilian Amazon. The review analyzed concepts, approaches, and challenges in national and international literature. It concludes that UA needs to be problematized within the phenomena of urban-regional space production, which cause socioeconomic and spatial inequalities, representing the greatest structural difficulties for urban agriculture.

Jonathan Hall, Isabel Shargo, Niya Khanjar, Jianna Howard, Laura Schmidt, Ashley Deng, Camryn Edwards, Isabelle Berman, Joseph Galarraga, Sacoby Wilson · Environmental Justice · United States

This study in Baltimore, Maryland, used GIS mapping and spatial analysis to assess the proximity of urban farms to environmental hazards, including those with heavy metal contamination. Analyses indicated that contamination of urban farms is a possibility due to proximity: more environmental hazards were found in census tracts with urban farms, and low-income communities of color had hazards near urban farms. Historically industrial areas showed a higher concentration of environmental hazards with heavy metal or unknown contamination.