Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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892 results(15 / 36)
Urban agriculture and farmers’ willingness to pay for treated wastewater: Insights from vegetable producers in the greater Accra metropolis of Ghana
2023Abdulai Adams, Samuel Sekyi, Irrshad Kaseeram · Cogent Food & Agriculture · Ghana (Accra)
This study analyzed the efficiency performance and willingness to pay (WTP) for treated wastewater among 214 urban vegetable producers in the greater Accra metropolis of Ghana. Using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and logistic regression models, results showed that the current production system is technically inefficient, with 33% more output possible from existing resources. The mean amount farmers were willing to pay for treated wastewater delivered to their farms was GH¢66.7 per month.
Economic viabilityEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceRole of water-energy-food nexus in environmental management and climate action
2023Lalawmpuii Lalawmpuii, Prabhat Kumar · Energy Nexus · Global
This review emphasizes the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus as a tool to combat environmental degradation, address climate action, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It investigates the methodological paradigm and application of the WEF Nexus through case studies on water resources, energy efficiency, urban food production, food waste reduction, cross-sectoral perspectives, and the circular economy. The WEF nexus approach was found to stimulate multilevel and inter-sectoral governance, aiding in addressing complexities and inefficiencies in achieving the SDGs.
Climate changePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceUrban agriculture and environmental sustainability
2023Gizaw Ebissa, Kumelachew Yeshitela, Hayal Desta, Aramde Fetene · Environment Development and Sustainability · Global
This study investigated urban agriculture's (UA) contributions to environmental sustainability (ES) using scholarly search engines. Findings indicate UA contributes to ES by mitigating greenhouse gases, urban heat island effects, and floods, while enhancing biodiversity and promoting agro-tourism. However, challenges such as lack of policy support, exclusion from urban land use planning, and urbanites' behavior towards UA products limit its full benefits.
Governance failureClimate changeBiodiversityPolicyCommunityFostering Sustainable Urban Farming in Malaysia: The Green Agenda of Urban Hijau
2023Cordelia Mason, Wan Mohd Hilmi Wan Ahmad · · Malaysia
This 2023 case study examines Urban Hijau, a social enterprise in Malaysia that promotes urban farming for sustainability. It describes Urban Hijau's origins and progression through various sustainable farming systems, including permaculture, and discusses the opportunities and challenges in urban farming and food security. The study concludes by posing questions about the significant contribution of small urban farms to the food industry and Urban Hijau's long-term sustainability.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeOrganic cycleStakeholder’s practices for the sustainability assessment of professional urban agriculture reveal numerous original criteria and indicators
2023Paola Clerino, Agnès Fargue‐Lelièvre, Jean-Marc Meynard · Agronomy for Sustainable Development · Global
This study investigated the sustainability assessment practices of professional intra-urban agriculture (PIUA) projects in the Global North, analyzing 19 case studies. Four dimensions underpinning sustainability assessment were identified: internal sustainability, external sustainability, the project leader’s credibility, and the innovative nature of the project. The study found 67 diverse assessment criteria and that 78% of indicators used were qualitative, noting that assessment practices evolve over time. The results enhance understanding of how PIUA project sustainability is assessed.
EconomicsPolicyCommunityClimate changeEnvironmental horticulture for domestic and community gardens—An integrated and applied research approach
2023M.B. Gush, Tijana Blanuša, Lauriane Suyin Chalmin‐Pui, A. Griffiths, Elisabeth K. Larsen, Raghavendra Prasad, Marc Redmile‐Gordon, Chloe Sutcliffe · Plants People Planet · Global
This article presents an integrated and applied research approach to environmental horticulture from The Royal Horticultural Society. It emphasizes the importance of domestic and community gardens in the context of global environmental threats and discusses four primary research focus areas. These areas include responding to climate change, using plants for environmental regulation, sustainable resource management, and gardening for human health and wellbeing.
CommunityBiodiversityClimate changeDIYO.6.3-10 Investigating the impact of a school garden intervention on children’s school motivation, climate literacy, food literacy and physical activity: the FoodACT protocol
2023Anna Stage, Mads Bølling, Glen Nielsen, Peter Bentsen, Mette Aadahl, Camilla Roed Otte, Peter Elsborg · European Journal of Public Health · Global
The FoodACT study aims to investigate the impact of a school gardening intervention on pupils' school motivation, climate literacy, food literacy, and physical activity, with a special attention on children with low socio-economic status. The study design includes an efficacy study using a pre-post quasi-experimental design measuring pupils’ food literacy, climate literacy, and school motivation; a within-subject association study quantifying the influence of school garden activities on pupils’ physical activity; and an association study investigating contextual characteristics of school garden activities using systematic observations and focus-group interviews. This abstract describes the study protocol and design.
Food educationHealthClimate changePotential And Need of Urban Horticulture for A Sustainable Future
2023Mansi I. Bhati and R.K. Dubey · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
Urban horticulture, a new concept for growing family-sufficient food in urban and peri-urban areas, is gaining importance. However, environmental challenges for urban farming in urban environments include soil contamination, micro-climate alteration and air pollution, and contaminated water resources. Appropriate guidelines for urban and peri-urban agricultural practices are required.
Contamination & food safetyDIYPeri-urban agricultureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunity gardens as psychosocial interventions for refugees and migrants: a narrative review
2023Triya Tessa Ramburn, Yufei Mandy Wu, Rachel Kronick · International Journal of Migration Health and Social Care · Global
A narrative review analyzed 17 peer-reviewed and 4 grey literature articles up to 2021 to document psychosocial outcomes of gardening programs for refugees and migrants. The analysis found that community gardening programs promoted continuity and adaptation (81% of articles), social connectedness (81%), overall wellbeing (95%), and a sense of meaning and self-worth (67%). Community gardens can strengthen psychosocial pillars for the recovery and resettlement of refugees and migrants.
CommunityHealthWelfareClimate changeAutumn Production of Romaine Lettuce on an Extensive Green Roof
2023Stuart Walters, V. P. Thomas, Karen Stoelzle Midden, John W. Groninger · Journal of Living Architecture · Global
This study evaluated the productivity of four Romaine lettuce cultivars grown to maturity in an 8 cm deep lightweight clay substrate on an extensive green roof during the autumn production seasons of 2012 and 2013. Lettuce productivity was improved by the addition of fertilizers, with fast-release fertilizer providing the greatest growth and productivity. However, abnormally cold growing conditions in autumn 2013 resulted in lower yields compared to 2012, highlighting the system's vulnerability to weather.
DIYUrban–rural linkageClimate changeThe Art of Green Maintenance
2023Anna Horolets, Saša Poljak Istenič, Alexandra Schwell · Etnološka tribina · Slovenia (Ljubljana)
This ethnographic fieldwork examined the role of maintenance and care practices in urban gardening. It was conducted at the Onkraj gradbišča community garden in Ljubljana, Slovenia, which was initially conceived as a social and cultural innovation. The study argues that continuous maintenance labor by organizers and gardeners is crucial for the longevity and sustainability of urban future-making practices, highlighting that the focus on innovation often obscures the importance of ongoing care.
CommunityClimate changeThe impact of planting scenarios on agricultural productivity and thermal comfort in urban agriculture land (case study: Tabriz, Iran)
2023Akbar Rahimi, zahra nobar · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · Iran (Tabriz)
This study examined the effect of native plant-crop combinations on micrometeorological conditions and thermal comfort on urban agricultural land in Tabriz, Iran. Through ENVI-MET model simulations validated with field data, seven scenarios were identified. The findings showed that edible functions of deciduous plants increased with canopy height and diameter, improving thermal comfort in high-temperature conditions, and concluded that adopting this planting form would rejuvenate abandoned agricultural fields.
Climate changeBiodiversityUrban–rural linkagePropuesta de indicadores para la planificación de la agricultura urbana en Camagüey
2023Yurisandra Sierra Reyes, Ana de Dios Martínez, Jorge Pereda Mouso, Manuel Francisco Rodríguez Saldaña · Cuadernos de Administración · Cuba (Camagüey)
This article proposes indicators for urban agriculture planning in Camagüey, Cuba, aiming to contribute to urban sustainability and food sovereignty. The methodology involved theoretical analysis and synthesis, a mixed focus group for variable delimitation, and the IADOV method for validation. These indicators are presented as a useful tool for decision-making, enabling the diagnosis and characterization of urban agriculture and its integration into territorial planning.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changePotential Economic, Social and Environmental Contribution Study of Urban Agriculture Based on Five Key Features Identified through Past Studies
2023Arun Kafle, James Hopeward, Baden Myers · Land · Global
This paper assesses the potential economic, social, and environmental contributions of urban agriculture (UA) based on five key features: area, purpose, crop value, mechanisation level, and market mechanism. A review of 15 past studies, including those from Adelaide, Australia, and the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, revealed that most UA research focuses on social benefits and cost savings. Few studies investigate economic viability, employment potential, or greenhouse gas reduction opportunities, indicating a need for a systems approach and diverse real-world case studies.
EconomicsCommunityClimate changeAn Effect on Sustainable Urban Ecological Environment Perception of Environment-friendly Urban Agricultural Education
2023Sun–A Jung · The Global Association of Applied Liberal Arts Studies · Global
This study investigated the effects of environment-friendly urban agricultural education. It found that participants mostly used chemicals for pest control, though some avoided them for safety and environmental reasons. Those who completed the education perceived a higher possibility of solving urban environmental problems and used less manure, with some producing their own.
Food educationOrganic cycleClimate changeCarbon, indoor air, energy and financial benefits of coupled ventilation upgrade and enhanced rooftop garden installation: An interdisciplinary climate mitigation approach
2023Sarabeth Buckley, Catherine L. Connolly, Jonathan I. Levy, Pamela H. Templer, Jacqueline Ashmore, Luís Carvalho, Nathan Phillips, M. Patricia Fabian · Sustainable Cities and Society · Global
This study quantified changes in CO2 emissions, energy use, and financial cost when ventilation upgrades and rooftop garden installations are done simultaneously, with the potential to enhance plant growth from exhausted CO2. Researchers measured indoor CO2 concentrations (maximum 2210 ppm, median 840 ppm, 33% of daytime above 1000 ppm) and estimated ventilation rates (4 L/s). Model calculations showed that while increasing ventilation to recommended levels (7 L/s) would increase CO2 emissions, energy, and cost by 1-4%, rooftop garden installation benefits could counterbalance this, leading to a net decrease of 23-46% in CO2 emissions, 12-13% in energy use, and 12-16% in cost.
Climate changeEconomicsHealthAre Rainwater and Stormwater Part of the Urban CE Efficiency?
2023Carlos Novaes, Rui Cunha Marques · Sustainability · Global
This study points out the potential importance of urban stormwater in the circular economy (CE) when treated as a useful resource. Urban stormwater can replace part of the water supply from distant sources, reducing energy consumption and emissions. Urban agriculture can also benefit from using green infrastructures. The main gap lies in implementing an efficiency mentality and aligning policies, institutions, regulations, urban planning, and water cycle efficiency.
Climate changeOrganic cyclePolicySeasonal variation and risks of potentially toxic elements in agricultural lowlands of central Cameroon
2023Annie Stéphanie Nana, Timo Falkenberg, Andrea Rechenburg, Joshua Ntajal, Juliet Wanjiku Kamau, Anne Ayo, Christian Borgemeister · Environmental Geochemistry and Health · Cameroon (Yaoundé)
This study assessed the seasonal characteristics and ecological risks of potentially toxic elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni) in urban agricultural soils across four lowlands in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cr exceeded recommended thresholds in some or all areas, with Cr exceeding thresholds in all areas during both seasons. One area recorded strong soil pollution (grade V) during the wet season, indicating that preventive action is needed to limit heavy metal contamination in the lowlands of Yaoundé.
Contamination & food safetyHealthClimate changeUrban Gardening in a Changing Climate: A Review of Effects, Responses and Adaptation Capacities for Cities
2023Francisco Tomatis, Monika Egerer, Adriana Corrêa-Guimarães, Luis Manuel Navas-Gracia · Agriculture · Global
This study systematically reviewed 72 academic documents published from 2000 to 2022 to investigate the relationship between climate change and urban gardening. The analysis showed that climate change can have negative impacts on cities, people, and urban food. Suggestions for building urban gardens' adaptation capacity include rainwater collection, changing plant selection, adjusting planting times, and applying vegetative soil cover. Community and allotment gardens contribute to urban adaptation, mitigation, and resilience by regulating microclimates, reducing urban heat island effects, buffering floods, capturing carbon, and fostering social networks.
Climate changeCommunityDIYPolicyÉvaluation et risque sanitaire de la bioaccumulation de métaux lourds (cadmium, cuivre, plomb et le zinc) chez le chou (Brassica Oleracea L.) produit en agriculture urbaine : Cas du périmètre maraicher de Dogona (Bobo-Dioulasso)
2023Issaka Senou · Journal of Applied Biosciences · Burkina Faso
This study assessed heavy metal bioaccumulation in cabbage grown on the Dogona market garden perimeter in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, using a randomized block design with urban solid waste treatments. The results showed high levels of cadmium, copper, and lead in cabbage leaves, with concentrations significantly exceeding WHO standards across all treatments. A critical finding was that consuming this cabbage poses a high health risk to consumers due to significant ingestion of cadmium and lead.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleClimate changeNature-Based Solutions as Building Blocks for the Transition towards Sustainable Climate-Resilient Food Systems
2023Saskia Keesstra, J.A. Veraart, A. Verhagen, Saskia Visser, Marit E. Kragt, Vincent Linderhof, Wilfred Appelman, Jolanda van den Berg, Ayodeji O. Deolu‐Ajayi, Annemarie Groot · Sustainability · Global
This paper examines the role of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the transition towards sustainable, climate-resilient food systems. A conceptual framework was developed to assess NBS contributions, evaluating three types: intrinsic NBS utilizing existing ecosystems, hybrid NBS managing and adapting ecosystems, and inspired NBS consisting of newly constructed ecosystems. Inspired NBS, in particular, are shown to increase opportunities for achieving sustainable development in food systems, facilitating the transition and contributing to reaching SDGs by 2030.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityHuerta escolar agroecológica: Una mirada didáctica al desarrollo sostenible
2023Fabio Aislant Moreno · GACETA DE PEDAGOGÍA · Global
This documentary review analyzed 18 articles published between 2018 and 2022 to examine agroecological school gardens as a didactic strategy for sustainability. The analysis found that such gardens, when oriented towards education for sustainable development, should involve cooperative learning processes from a transversal perspective. It concluded that agroecological school gardens are key to developing socio-critical skills in students through theoretical and practical work, enhancing their sensitivity to environmental problems.
Food educationCommunityClimate changeOrganic cycleTranscriptional Regulators of Plant Adaptation to Heat Stress
2023Xuejing Wang, Nicholas Wui Kiat Tan, Fong Yi Chung, Nobutoshi Yamaguchi, Eng‐Seng Gan, Toshiro Ito · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · Global
This paper summarizes plant adaptation mechanisms to heat stress, which is an increasing problem for food security due to global warming. It outlines the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation mediated by transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, and regulatory RNAs in response to heat stress. Additionally, cellular activities for heat stress adaptation are discussed, including protein homeostasis maintenance through quality control machinery, autophagy, and ROS homeostasis regulation via a ROS-scavenging system.
Climate changeOpportunities and Constraints for Creating Edible Cities and Accessing Wholesome Functional Foods in a Sustainable Way
2023Katarzyna Świąder, Dražena Čermak, Danuta Gajewska, Katarzyna Najman, Anna Piotrowska, Eliza Kostyra · Sustainability · Global
This review analyzed opportunities and constraints for creating edible cities and accessing wholesome functional foods sustainably. While urban food production methods like controlled-environment farms and home gardens exist, significant constraints include pollution, a lack of government support, and economic challenges for urban farms. These issues must be resolved for edible cities to become widespread.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeHealthPolicyDESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A TEACHING SCENARIO FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ON CREATING A SCHOOL GARDEN USING INQUIRY METHOD
2023Filippos Evangelou · European Journal of Education Studies · Greece (Ioannina)
This paper analyzes the design and implementation of a teaching scenario for creating a school garden using the inquiry method, implemented by students aged 6 to 12 years old at the 9th Primary School of Intercultural Education in Ioannina, Greece, from September 2018 to June 2019. The main purpose of the scenario's implementation is to create the school garden through practical daily teaching and learning activities and an inquiry approach, forming a culture among students about sustainability and sustainable development.
Food educationCommunityClimate change