Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
3622 results(14 / 145)
Reconstruction and Revitalization of the Allotment Gardens Network in Hungary
2025Tibor Farkas, Róbert Barna, Gábor Koncz · European Countryside · Hungary
Allotment gardens in Hungary play a significant role in agriculture, society, environmental preservation, household economy, and sustainable development. The Hungarian government's allotment garden development program in 2018, 2019, and 2021 received 540 applications, and this study assessed their current status, characteristics, results, impacts, and future needs through an online questionnaire administered in 148 settlements. The most important future goal for applicants was found to be the development of various infrastructures, such as roads and ditches, and the creation of public utilities, including electricity and water supply.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsClimate changeDinámica de productos ecológicos frescos y su aporte a la seguridad alimentaria en Sucre
2025Shamir Abujder · AGRO - ECOLÓGICA · Bolivia (Sucre)
This study analyzed the market dynamics of fresh organic products in urban districts of Sucre, Bolivia, examining their potential to strengthen food security and foster sustainable enterprises. The research focused on two groups: consumers and producers/marketers, within the context of urban and peri-urban agriculture. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, it aimed to provide knowledge on the economic viability of commercializing fresh organic products and contribute to citizen knowledge on responsible and healthy consumption aligned with agroecology.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cyclePeri-urban agricultureSpatial Analysis of Green Infrastructure Changes in Zanjan City
2025Ahmad zanganeh, ُSara Abbasi, Tajulddin Karami · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Iran
In Zanjan City, Iran, recent rapid urban development has led to the conversion of agricultural lands and surrounding green spaces into gray urban infrastructures like roads, parking lots, and buildings, resulting in a significant reduction of green open spaces. This land transformation poses current challenges and threatens the city's future. This study explores the critical role of urban green infrastructure in enhancing Zanjan's sustainability and resilience, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic planning to address ecological, economic, and social challenges from unbalanced development.
PolicyClimate changeBiodiversityEconomicsFrom knowledge to action: understanding coordination practices in community-led urban sustainability projects
2025Néstor Nova, Leidy Johana Palma Huertas, Nestor Nova · Open MIND · Colombia (Bogotá)
This study explores how community-based initiatives coordinate knowledge and collective action in urban agriculture and organic waste management in Bogotá, Colombia.
CommunityOrganic cycleUrban-AI 2024 Workshop Report: The 2nd ACM SIGSPATIAL International Workshop on Advances in Urban-AI (Urban-AI 2024)
2025Olufemi A. Omitaomu, Ali Mostafavi, Sukanya Randhawa, Haoran Niu · SIGSPATIAL Special · Global
Urban AI is an interdisciplinary field integrating artificial intelligence, spatial computing, and urban science to address urbanization challenges. The growth of urban data and digitization of city infrastructures create opportunities for data-driven machine learning in urban science. Urban AI focuses on innovative AI applications for urban problems, developing AI-ready urban data infrastructures, and practical urban applications across areas like urban planning, traffic forecasting, energy optimization, public safety, urban agriculture, and land use management.
Digital agriculturePolicyAnalisis Insight Instagram sebagai Media Pemberdayaan Digital pada Komunitas Pertanian Perkotaan
2025Fadhil Ahla Firdaus, Siti Nurlaela, Mastur Mastur · Journal of Agribusiness Science and Rural Development · Global
This qualitative descriptive study analyzed Instagram insights for the @great.andgreen account from November 20, 2023, to April 28, 2025, to understand its role in digital empowerment for urban farming communities. The account showed positive growth with 1,335 followers, 130,413 impressions, and 18,991 reach, primarily among 18-24 year olds. Content interaction reached 2,215, indicating potential for expanding influence beyond main followers.
Digital agricultureCommunityUrban agriculture: a sustainability guide for developing countries
2025Sini V. Pillai · Social Responsibility Journal · Global
This research reviewed global urban agriculture practices to propose an adaptable model for developing countries, addressing food security and livelihood generation. Findings indicate that developed countries prioritize self-sustainability and community, while developing countries focus on income and food security but face technological, policy, and socio-cultural barriers. The study suggests technology-supported infrastructure and adaptive policies are needed for successful implementation in developing nations.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageSafety in a person-centred, garden-based art therapy group for people with dementia
2025Jenny Clarke, A Crosbie, K Green · International Journal of Art Therapy · Global
This practice paper describes an ongoing, weekly garden-based art therapy group for people with dementia, facilitated in a community garden. Using a person-centred approach, the facilitators explored factors contributing to psychological safety, drawing on client feedback, artwork, and observations. Findings indicated that the non-clinical garden setting provided calming effects, inspiration, and focus, while the person-centred approach fostered expression, communication, and feelings of value and success, despite some challenges inherent to the outdoor environment.
CommunityHealthElderlyUrban Agriculture: A Pathway for Enhancing Food Security and Poverty Resiliency in Tanzania
2025Francis Mwaijande · African Journal of Empirical Research · Tanzania
This study, using a mixed-methods approach with 600 respondents from urban and peri-urban farmers and agri-food supply chain producers in Tanzania, confirmed urban agriculture's contribution to food availability, accessibility, stability, and utilization. However, it found that urban agriculture is not well-integrated into urban food and poverty reduction policies in Tanzania and is practiced without legitimate policy and legal frameworks. This policy gap indicates an inadequate policy enabling environment for urban agriculture to enhance food security.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceWelfarePolicyHealthMotivene for kommunal politikk for urbant landbruk: erfaringer fra Norges største byområder
2025Inger‐Lise Saglie · · Norway
This chapter investigates the motivations for urban agriculture policies in three Norwegian cities: Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim. Five categories of motivations were identified: urban "green" development (environmental friendliness, biodiversity), food production and alternative food systems (linking to peri-urban agriculture), provision of social meeting places and community building, municipal welfare services (work training, integration, health promotion), and active citizenship and co-creation of city development. While motivations were similar across cities, their emphasis varied.
PolicyCommunityBiodiversityWelfareThe Fertile Earth: Revolutionizing Agriculture with People and Nature at its Core
2025Morrell, Daniel · Figshare · Global
This paper examines a systemic shift in agriculture from input-intensive monocultures and dominant meat production to regenerative, organic, and agroecological systems, including urban agriculture. It analyzes the potential of reducing conventional meat reliance to free up land for ecological restoration and aims to restore soil organic carbon levels from 6-8 tonnes/hectare to 40-50 tonnes/hectare. The research quantifies potential global CO2 sequestration through soil carbon enhancement, land use change, and blue carbon initiatives, advocating for urgent policy reforms.
Climate changeBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cyclePlanning and evaluation of rooftop garden designs: A survey-based assessment study at faculty of Agriculture
2025Ahmed Abdelnaby, A. Meawad, A. Gendy, M. Abdelkader · Ornamental Horticulture · Egypt
This study, conducted in 2022-2023 at Zagazig University, Egypt, proposed and evaluated three rooftop garden designs for a college campus using 3D software, with assessments from specialists and users. Results indicated that 100% of specialists and 91.7% of users preferred flowering herbaceous plants, while trees and palms were preferred by 60% of specialists and 48.6% of users. Overall satisfaction with proposed designs for human senses ranged from 69.4% to 75.7%, and agreement on suitable recreational areas ranged from 65.8% to 78.4% among users.
DIYCommunityIMPACTO DE LA AGRICULTURA URBANA EN LA CONVIVENCIA ESCOLAR Y EN EL APRENDIZAJE DE LOS ESTUDIANTES
2025Dairo Mojica-García, Marly Lorena Páez-Manosalva · DIALÉCTICA · Global
This essay explores the impact of urban agriculture cultivation on school coexistence and student learning. It addresses issues of poor school climate, including disrespect, bullying, cyberbullying, and disinterest in learning. The essay finds that urban agriculture helps students practically understand classroom concepts and encourages environmental care, collaborative work, and teamwork, thereby contributing to healthy school coexistence and learning.
Food educationCommunityMathematical Optimization of Vertical Farm Locations Advancing Sustainable Agriculture in Saudi Arabia
2025Amjad Aljuhani, Rahaf Baghdadi, Wafaa Alzahrani, Deemah Aljuhani · · Saudi Arabia
This study examined the feasibility of vertical farming in Saudi Arabia, using mathematical optimization to identify optimal locations. A mixed-integer linear programming model, developed with AIMMS software, incorporated infrastructure compatibility, water availability, and energy consumption. Results identified seven optimal locations across five cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Tabuk, and Khamis Mushait—ensuring efficient lettuce production at minimized costs. However, challenges such as high energy requirements and initial investment costs persist.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceInternet of Things (IOT) for rooftop urban farming III
2025Kit Hoe Chan · DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) · Singapore
This thesis explores the architecture, applications, and challenges of Internet of Things (IoT)-based urban farming systems, focusing on their role in enhancing agricultural productivity in densely populated environments. IoT integrates smart sensors, data analytics, and automation for real-time monitoring and precise control of crop environments, optimizing resource use and increasing yield consistency. The study highlights how IoT supports resilient, resource-efficient, and scalable smart-city agriculture, with future potential for AI-based predictive analytics and blockchain-enabled traceability.
Digital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceBiochar and Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Resilience: Applications, Challenges, and Policy Perspectives
2025James Mbugua · African Journal of Climate Change and Resource Sustainability · Global
Biochar is presented as a promising nature-based solution for urban resilience, applicable in soil remediation, stormwater management, and carbon sequestration within green infrastructure. However, its widespread adoption faces significant barriers, including inconsistent feedstock supply, high production costs, limited public awareness, and a lack of standardized quality and safety regulations. The study also identifies a critical need for policies that integrate biochar into urban planning frameworks and incentivize its production and application.
Governance failureClimate changeBiodiversityCompostPolicyCommunityComprehensive Review of Ecosystem Services of Community Gardens in English- and Chinese-Language Literature
2025Xiaoying Ding, Haotian Zhang, Xiaoxiao Fan, Xiaoyu Zhang, Xiaopeng Yue, Ping Shu · Buildings · Global
This review analyzed English and Chinese literature on community garden ecosystem services from Web of Science and CNKI, focusing on publication trends, locations, and topics. It found a significant increase in studies since 2015, concentrated in urban areas of Europe, America, and eastern China. Both language literatures emphasize food supply, learning and education, and social cohesion, correlating with contextual factors.
CommunityBiodiversityFood educationClimate changeHuerto Pedagógico Comunitario: Estrategia para fortalecimiento de la Educación Ambiental en Instituciones rurales de Colombia
2025Carmen Natalia Bermudez Acosta, Julian David Otalora López, Valentina Vásquez Ramírez · Revista Ecosistema · Colombia (Cali)
This study designed school gardens as an educational strategy in five campuses of the La Buitrera Educational Institution in Cali, Colombia, involving 1,689 students and 73 teachers. Using a qualitative participatory action research approach, it found significant differences in garden area (e.g., San Gabriel with 2,650 m² and 161.67 m²) and student concentration (e.g., García de Toledo with 579 students). The characterization revealed infrastructure and population differences, a predominance of aromatic-medicinal species, and student-teacher complementarity, indicating a need for adapted strategies for sustainable school gardens.
Food educationCommunityBiodiversityOrganic cycleCOMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN URBAN AGRICULTURE (UA): DOES STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION ENHANCE EMPOWERMENT?
2025Nur Shuhamin Nazuri, Mohd Roslan Rosnon, Siti Shazwani Ahmad Suhaimi, Sara Shakilla Mohd Salim · PLANNING MALAYSIA · Malaysia (Klang Valley)
This study investigated the values driving community participation in urban agriculture (UA) in Klang Valley, Malaysia, and their contribution to social and economic empowerment. Researchers surveyed 180 UA program participants using multistage random sampling and applied Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The study concluded that implementation and evaluation are crucial for social and economic empowerment in UA programs, with linking social capital acting as a key mediator between effective planning and empowerment outcomes.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyImplementing Decentralized Composting in Urban Areas in Romania - between European Models and Local Initiatives
2025MAGDALENA DRĂGAN · Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning · Romania
This paper examines the potential for implementing decentralized bio-waste management in urban Romania, a country with low municipal waste management performance. It analyzed three EU decentralized composting systems to identify best practices and explored local bottom-up initiatives in Romania. The study concludes with policy recommendations for adapting these practices to local conditions and engaging with local initiatives to develop context-specific composting solutions.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityPolicyCultural ecosystem services and climate adaptation
2025Rumana Sultana · · Global
This chapter explores the relationship between ecological properties and cultural ecosystem services (CES) in urban settings, focusing on their role in climate change adaptation in the Global South. It examines various urban CES, including urban farming and rooftop gardening, and their diverse roles in adaptation, such as increasing environmental awareness and community engagement. A case study of Dhaka, Bangladesh, suggests that integrating CES into urban development planning is crucial for climate change adaptation.
Climate changeCommunityPolicyBiodiversityCONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE ON THE CONTAMINATION OF BRS LEILA LETTUCE (L. SATIVA) BY LITHIUM CARBONATE (LI₂CO₃)
2025Paula Marques Crelier, Manoel Jerônimo Moreira Cruz, Danusia Ferreira Lima · Seven Editora eBooks · Global
A controlled laboratory experiment cultivated BRS Leila lettuce (L. sativa) in samples contaminated with lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) at concentrations of 150 and 200 mol/L. The study found that lithium correlates with other alkaline and alkaline earth elements in the leaves and roots of the lettuce. This indicates a contamination pathway where lithium is absorbed by the plant.
Contamination & food safetyCommunityHealthPeri-urban agricultureNature-Based Solutions: Green and Smart Façade with an Innovative Cultivation System for Sustainable Buildings and More Climate-Resilient Cities
2025Paola Lassandro, Salvatore Capotorto, Valeria Mammone · Sustainability · Global
This study explored smart, low-cost cultivation systems for building facades as nature-based solutions to improve energy efficiency and urban food production. An eco-smart irrigation system, achieving up to 57.14% water savings, was implemented in a vertical green module. This system reduced internal temperatures by 3–4 °C in an office room during hot days in a Mediterranean city.
Climate changeDigital agricultureUrban–rural linkageSaberes y actitudes ecológicas: entre la experiencia vivida, la escuela y las redes sociodigitales
2025Limachi Pérez, Vicente · Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences (University of Skopje) · Bolivia (Cochabamba)
This study examined the influences of family, school, and sociodigital networks on environmental awareness among secondary school students in urban and rural Cochabamba, Bolivia. Data from three schools showed students' environmental concerns varied by region, and the internet was their primary information source. Despite isolated initiatives like school gardens, schools did not effectively integrate environmental education into the curriculum, limiting its formative impact.
Limited or null effectFood educationUrban–rural linkageCommunityModeling phenolic compound distribution of flaxseed in the Sobat River Floodplain
2025Francisco Dela Cruz, Corazon Magno, Reynaldo Soriano · International Journal of Horticulture and Food Science · Global
This research modeled phenolic compound distribution in eight flaxseed genotypes cultivated in the Sobat River Floodplain during the 2023 season. Total phenolic content ranged from 8.4 to 16.7 mg gallic acid equivalents per g dry weight, with the seed coat contributing 64.2% of free phenolics. Urban gardening trials showed composting-amended substrates increased total phenolics by 13.8%. A predictive model explained 72.3% of total phenolic variance, and supply chain simulations indicated 8.6% phenolic losses over 60 days.
DIYCompostHealth