Research & reports

Liu Yu, Zhi JIANG, Hao-sen WANG · 自然资源学报 · China (Beijing)

This study analyzed the spatial differentiation of agricultural regional functions in Beijing, China, using data from 184 streets and towns. It found that agricultural regional function generally increases from the urban core to the far suburbs, but significantly declines in the urban-rural fringe extended area, leading to a loss of spatial development constraints. Land factors, particularly location and house prices, were identified as key inhibitors of agricultural regional function, especially in low-scoring areas.

Jongwoo Kim · · South Korea

This study aimed to propose activation measures for school-based urban agricultural education in South Korea, using focus group interviews with teachers and literature analysis. Teachers reported a lack of school gardens, particularly open-field plots, and difficulties in management, highlighting the need for personnel. They also noted the use of container gardens to compensate for the lack of space and the selection of crops for student harvesting experiences.

Miaomiao Xie, Manyu Li, Zhaoyang Li, Meng Xu, Yan Chen, Ran Wo, De Tong · Sustainability · China (Beijing)

This study investigated user profiles and landscape service provision in three urban agriculture parks (UAPs) in Beijing, China, based on 345 interviews. Most users had upper-middle incomes and were well-educated, with social connections varying by UAP type. Findings indicated that the scenery service was not adequately supplied, with 31.5% of areas failing to meet demand, suggesting six landscape types require optimization.

Endah Sri Redjeki · INNOVATION RESEARCH JOURNAL · Indonesia

This review suggests that achieving food security in Indonesia during a pandemic requires conservation, seed banks, water reservoir construction, and urban farming. It emphasizes the need for a Penta helix approach, involving government, private sectors, institutions, local communities, and social entrepreneurs, to accelerate goal attainment.

Arief Subangkit, Dini Fajar Yanti, Lidya Maria Kusnadi, Mochammad Ikbal Sonuari · EMPATI Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This research describes the forms of social capital in urban farming development in Pengadegan Village, South Jakarta, Indonesia, using interviews, documentation, and observation. Social capital was found to manifest as ties of trust, social institutions, and social networks. While the community and local government share a commitment to greening and cohesion, two Gapoktan groups exhibit different approaches to network development.

Oswar Mungkasa · Applied Research on Civil Engineering and Environment (ARCEE) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This paper discusses the implementation of green infrastructure (GI) in Indonesian cities, accelerated by public awareness and the government's Green City Development Program (P2KH). Jakarta serves as a case study, where programs like Jakarta Smart City, Green Buildings, Urban Agriculture, and Child Friendly Integrated Public Space (RPTRA) have been successfully implemented. The study notes that GI programs are more readily accepted when they are community-based.

Tri Atmaja, Miina Yanagihara, Kensuke Fukushi · ˜The œinternational archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences · Indonesia

This study in Malang City, Indonesia, inventoried existing and potential areas for urban farming and estimated its total value using Contingent Valuation Method and Market Price Method. Currently, 1.38 ha (0.01% of city area) is used for urban farming across 21 plots, with a potential area of 211.46 ha (1.92% of city area). Urban farming provides services valued at US$28.68 m−2 yr−1, including food provisioning, income generation, recreation, education, and urban comfort. If both existing and potential areas were utilized, urban farming could contribute up to US$60,646,800.35 annually to the city.

Sopian, Sarwititi Sarwoprasodjo, Aida Vitayala S Hubeis, Dwi Retno Hapsari · International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies · Indonesia

A qualitative case study examined the leadership communication style of the chairwoman of Kentagor, described as the best-performing women's farmer group in Bogor city, Indonesia, in relation to urban agriculture group activities. Based on interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and WhatsApp group documentation, her messages reflected a "LO-MO-GO" communication style combining leader-oriented, member-oriented, and group-oriented tendencies.

Noferdiman Noferdiman, Lisna Lisna, Yusma Damayanti · · Indonesia

A community-service program at SMAN 4 Jambi City, Indonesia, delivered counseling, training and participatory environmental activities over five stages to support the school's push for independent Adiwiyata (environmentally sound school) status. Knowledge assessments afterward scored 74 (moderate) for school sanitation management, 70 (moderate) for waste management, and 68 (sufficient) for environmental management, with participants reporting knowledge of managing school gardens, greenhouses, toilet cleanliness and gutters. The program was implemented and received positively by school members.

Sanju Kumari, Kanhaiya Lal, Rajnee Lata · Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry · India

With rapid urbanization shifting agriculture in many Indian metropolitan cities, and land conversion for housing causing land scarcity in Mumbai, residents have turned to urban and peri-urban agricultural (UPA) activities — terrace farming, balcony farming, vegetable production along railway tracks, use of wastewater and sewage for irrigation, and goat keeping — to sustain agricultural production. A paper assesses the ecological, environmental and economic sustainability of UPA development in Mumbai, one of India's global cities, revealing its limitations and proposing possible measures for ensuring sustainability.

이애란, 정나라 · · South Korea

A South Korean study presenting a practical planning approach for creating socially integrated community gardens. It sets out the definition and effects of community gardens, general planning content, and a basic preparation process with checklist, then uses a model garden to walk through the full process from resident participation through site selection, design and construction, with detailed data for each stage. The stated aim is to make existing gardening data usable as a basic reference for building socially integrated community gardens.

Bayu Nandra Ramadhan, Sugihardjo Sugihardjo, Suminah Suminah · Khazanah Jurnal Mahasiswa · Indonesia

This study examines the implementation of Bandung City's Urban Farming Program, which aims to make use of open spaces such as vacant and residual land, and analyzes the level of public participation in it. Using a descriptive quantitative method with proportional random sampling of 75 respondents and multiple linear regression analysis in SPSS 26.0, the study found that the level of public participation in Bandung's urban farming program falls into the upper category, as measured across the stages of planning, implementation, outcome utilization, and monitoring and evaluation. Supporting factors — opportunity, ability, and willingness — were found to contribute a significant impact on program implementation, valued at exactly 37.6%.

Chandra A.J., Diehl J.A. · Land Use Policy · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This study finds that despite urban agriculture occupying approximately 21% of Jakarta's green space, local government policies have failed to recognise its food security potential, leaving farmers with insecure land tenure. The research characterises Jakarta's urban farming as medium to highly commercialised, domestically run small and medium enterprises supplying local markets.

· Sustainability · China (Shanghai)

Examines the technology-driven transition of urban food production in Shanghai, including the Sunqiao modern agriculture zone.

오익근, 서정아, 장승옥 · 한국지역개발학회지 · South Korea

A focus group interview with young urban farmers in Daegu, South Korea, explored job creation through urban farming. Participants perceived farming as physically demanding and unrewarding, despite seeing urban farming as a promising industry for job creation. They also noted a lack of national support policies and difficulties in participation. A contradiction was identified between the young farmers' desire to adopt labor-saving new technologies and the goal of creating jobs through traditional farming.

Rainer Einzenberger, Michaela Hochmuth · Digital Commons - Lingnan (Lingnan University) · China (Hong Kong)

An interview with Professor Kin-Chi Lau was conducted in March 2015 regarding the Urban Gardening Project at Lingnan University of Hong Kong. The interview portrayed the project's history, structures, and organizational characteristics, focusing on the challenges and difficulties participants faced in realizing the project.

Meng YE, Tomohiko Yoshida · Urban and Regional Planning Review · China (Beijing)

This study examined user evaluations of allotment gardens in Beijing, China, where demand is rising. The overall evaluation was between good and general, with high marks for landscape and facilities but low marks for service, guidance, agricultural festival activities, rent, sanitary facilities, and skilled labor. The consortium operation mode received the best evaluation, while the individual mode had the lowest.

Lisa Westholm, Madelene Ostwald · Agroforestry Systems · Africa, Asia, Latin America

This literature review of 104 scientific articles across Africa, Asia, and Latin America examined food production and gender relations in multifunctional land use systems. The review found that the specific role of landscape multifunctionality for women's food security opportunities is rarely explicitly studied. It also showed that products controlled by women are often secondary and far from markets, risking neglect by policymakers, and efforts to increase their value may adversely affect women's empowerment if powerful actors appropriate benefits.

Siti Aisyah Salim, Zawiyah Mohammad Yusof, Laili Farhana Md Ibharim, Siti Hajar · Scientific Repository (Petra Christian University) · Southeast Asia

This study conducts a structured literature review on urban farming activities in Southeast Asia, presenting its taxonomy and future research directions. Analyzing 88 articles from ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus, it focused on urban farming activities, technology applications, and smallholder farming. The review identified benefits of urban farming in Southeast Asia, challenges hindering its utilization, and recommendations to improve the acceptance and use of urban farming applications.

I Gusti Agung Adi Wiraguna, Ngakan Putu Sueca, I Made Adhika · RUANG-SPACE Jurnal Lingkungan Binaan (Space Journal of the Built Environment) · Indonesia (Denpasar)

This mixed-method study in Denpasar, Indonesia, investigated factors driving the conversion of urban agricultural land, primarily rice paddy fields. Despite a local government requirement for 30% urban open space, statistical data showed an average annual decrease of 31.86 hectares of farming land, from 2,632 hectares in 2010 to 2,409 hectares in 2017. The study revealed that various parties, including the government, community, private sector, and social institutions, play important roles in directing this land conversion.

최희선, 안소은, 이후승, 송슬기, 이길상 · 기본연구보고서 · South Korea

This study examined the limitations and problems of existing park and green space policies and explored directions for their reorganization to ensure urban sustainability. It proposes a paradigm shift for policy formulation that ensures diversity, efficiency, and equity, by expanding the concept of urban park and green spaces to "green infrastructure," defined as encompassing both natural-ecological elements and artificially created green spaces within cities. The study also presented policy alternatives to enhance the efficiency of policy implementation through inter-ministerial cooperation and integrated approaches.

Rikawanto Eko Muljawan · Prosiding Konferensi Nasional Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat dan Corporate Social Responsibility (PKM-CSR) · Indonesia (Surabaya)

In East Java, Indonesia, rapid infrastructure development leads to approximately 100 hectares of agricultural land being converted annually, reducing food supply. In Surabaya, 2000 hectares are controlled by developers, with some loaned for farming, and the local government supports urban farming for 624 households on 400 hectares. The abstract suggests that developers, who benefit from extensive land conversion, should contribute to agricultural resource improvement through Corporate Social Responsibility funds for agro eco-technology programs.

Stephan Pauleit, Didit Okta Pribadi, Hany Abo El Wafa · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

The continued existence of agriculture in and near urban areas, such as in Jakarta and Addis Ababa, is an important means to strengthen city resilience. However, its importance is still poorly, or at best intermittently, acknowledged by politicians and urban planners, who are inspired by visions of "modern" cities where agriculture is considered a negligible activity.

Riska Rahma Arriani, Mardwi Rahdriawan · Teknik PWK (Perencanaan Wilayah Kota) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

A qualitative study using purposive sampling investigated the reasons for decreasing community participation in the government-initiated Urban Farming Program at Rusun Marunda, Jakarta, Indonesia. The program, which started with 50 farmers in 2014, saw participation drop to only 5 farmers by 2019. The study found that obstacles in farming demotivated farmers, leading to a decline in participation, particularly among those with economic-egoism motivations.

김종안, 최문식, 이준우, 위태석 · 식품유통연구 · South Korea

This study examined the role of agricultural extension agencies in promoting regional food plans in South Korea, where 46 plans have rapidly spread and 100 are projected by 2022. Analyzing 8 local governments' food policies using monitoring indicators derived from Milan policy agreements, the study found that agricultural technology centers' functions were less emphasized in rural and urban food plans compared to agricultural administration and foundations. Key tasks for agricultural technology centers include farmer education, community kitchens, urban-rural linked farming, and strengthening planned production systems, with a recommendation to shift focus from specialized farmers to a sustainable food system for the entire nation.