Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
602 results(15 / 25)
Intersection and material flow in open-space urban farms in Tanzania.
2017Leslie McLees · CABI eBooks · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
This chapter examines open-space urban farms in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using movement, flow, and intersection as heuristic devices to bridge analytical gaps between urban agriculture in the Global South and North. It focuses on the movements of farmers, their life trajectories, and how farms serve as nodes for social interactions, information exchange, and knowledge transfer for both farmers and non-farmers. The chapter aims to facilitate an understanding of urban agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa beyond poverty and marginalization.
CommunityUrban–rural linkageAgricultural Land and the New Urban Paradigm: Coexistence, Integration, or Conflict?
2017Ilenia Pierantoni, Massimo Sargolini · Challenges in Sustainability · Global
This contribution examines the evolving relationship between urban and rural areas, emphasizing their increasing complexity and interdependence. It discusses how managing these interdependencies can solve problems, enhance economic performance, and improve quality of life in and around urban areas. Within this context, green infrastructures and urban agriculture practices are discussed, with strategies for their implementation at regional and local scales suggested.
Urban–rural linkagePolicyEconomicsClimate changeLand-Use Retention and Change to Improve Agricultural Biodiversity
2017Craig J. Pearson · · Global
This chapter addresses three aspects of agricultural biodiversity, primarily using examples from urban agriculture. It suggests viewing biodiversity as a component of land-use that contributes 'public value', rather than a suite of goals competing with food production. The chapter enumerates knowledge of land-use issues that preserve or improve agricultural biodiversity and discusses options for changing land-use to achieve this.
BiodiversityPolicyUrban–rural linkageFeeding Megacities by Urban Agriculture
2017Rattan Lal · · Global
This chapter describes the nature, properties, restoration, and sustainable management of urban soils to enhance food security and environmental quality. It notes that urban ecosystems are rapidly expanding and changing, with urban soils often classified as Anthropic soils. Drastic human-induced disturbances to urban soils hinder ecosystem functions, but restoration strategies aim to create novel soil types that improve vegetative production, denature pollutants, reduce salinization, and strengthen biogeochemical and biogeophysical cycling.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleClimate changeUrbanization, Food Security and Nutrition
2017Marie T. Ruel, James Leo Garrett, Sivan Yosef, Meghan Olivier · · Global
This chapter reviews poverty, food security, and malnutrition in urban versus rural areas, noting a rapid shift of poverty to urban areas and high prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition among urban dwellers. It highlights alarming rises in urban overweight and obesity, alongside persistent undernutrition. The review identifies critical knowledge gaps regarding factors shaping urban food security and calls for new research and data to inform policies supporting urban agriculture, healthy food access, and income generation to address these challenges.
Food sovereignty & justiceHealthEconomicsUrban–rural linkageIdentifying the potential of some heavy metals toxicity in urban and peri-urban cropping systems in Sierra Leone
2017Abdul Rahman Conteh, Alusaine Edward Samura, E. L. S. Hinckley, Osman Nabay, Mohamed S. Kamara · Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice · Sierra Leone (Freetown)
This study was conducted to identify the risks of heavy metal contamination in urban and peri-urban cropping systems in Sierra Leone. Soil and plant samples were collected from 72 sites in Freetown and Bo and analyzed for Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cd. Heavy metals were detected across all sites, and some mild risk of cadmium toxicity was observed in densely populated areas of Freetown, though this was not reflected in plant uptake of cadmium.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageWelfareReview – Cities and Agriculture
2017Aloysius Clemence Mosha · Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance · Global
The book 'Cities and Agriculture' presents experience and evidence on key dimensions of urban food challenges and types of intra- and peri-urban agriculture across 15 chapters. This book illuminated the urban challenge of food provisioning, which has long been overlooked in urban studies, policies, and planning. Neglecting the dynamics and sustainability of food provisioning in scientific research on sustainable urban development is identified as a serious omission, given its significant social and physical impact.
Urban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyCan urban agriculture become a planning strategy to address social-ecological justice?
2017Javier Fernández Andrés · · Global
The abstract is too short to provide a meaningful summary. It only states that cities grew unprecedentedly in the last century, leading to an urbanized world population, and that agriculture adopted industrial methods.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageWho engages in urban and peri-urban agriculture in the condensed urban slums of Bangladesh?
2017Haruka Yamashita, Akira Ishida · Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics · Bangladesh
This study identified factors affecting urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) decision-making among poor urban slum dwellers in Bangladesh, using a logit regression model with secondary household data. In Jessore, households with more family members (without children under five), some savings, owned or rent-free housing, and 1-60 days of waterlogging were more likely to engage in UPA. In Tongi, households with owned or rent-free housing, longer residency, less than four months of waterlogging, or reliance on neighbors were more likely to engage in UPA. The findings indicate that UPA engagement factors vary across urban settings.
Urban–rural linkageWelfareEconomicsTecnología y resolución de conflictos socio-espaciales: la agricultura urbana como alternativa al desarrollismo
2017Elżbieta Ura, J Guerra Pedroza, M Torrealba Febres-Cordero, G Buenaño Alviarez · Revista Educación Superior y Sociedad (ESS) · Venezuela (Region de los Valles del Tuy)
This research in Venezuela's Valles del Tuy region addresses socio-spatial conflicts arising from unplanned territorial occupation, despite the region's historical agricultural use. It proposes urban agriculture as an alternative to developmentalism. An action plan was designed using urban agriculture as the primary alternative to developmentalism in the Valles del Tuy region, aiming to establish foundations for socio-ecological system balance guided by the philosophy of 'buen vivir'.
PolicyCommunityUrban–rural linkageUrban Agriculture Spaces in Built Environment
2017Rawaa Fawzi Naom, Fatima fouad Yaseen · Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning · Global
This research explores the concept of urban agriculture within sustainable urban trends, driven by limited green areas, population growth, and neglect of urban landscapes. Through a literature review and analytical study of urban agriculture projects, the study identified contextual linking as a main characteristic and social and cultural uses as the most important functions of urban agriculture spaces. The findings led to the development of a theoretical model for urban agriculture in city landscapes.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageThe Ellstorp Lot: An Undefined Urban Landscape
2017Maria Finn · · Sweden (Malmö)
Malmö’s Lot 30:40, a former allotment garden area, has been in a state of decay since the 1990s, largely unmanaged by its owner, Jernhusen AB. This site is used by city residents for recreation, though temporary encampments by homeless people are not permitted. The area is described as an undefined urban space, existing in a fluid state that defies conventional descriptions and offers a disordered yet resilient environment.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageUrban farming and its importance for environmental sustainability
2017Mohd. Ramzi Mohd. Hussain, Norul Hafizah Yusoff, Izawati Tukiman · · Global
This paper aims to discuss the literature framework of the growing demand for urban farming activities within the city environment and how they benefit the concept of environmental sustainability. It describes the advantages of urban farming activities from environmental, economic, and social perspectives that contribute to urban sustainability, evaluating the benefits and potential of implementing urban farming within limited urban spaces.
CommunityClimate changeEconomicsUrban–rural linkagePlanning for Peri-urban Agriculture: a geographically-specific, evidence-based approach from Sydney
2016Sarah James, Philip O’Neill · Australian Geographer · Australia (Sydney)
This study collated and analyzed existing Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and non-ABS data on Sydney agriculture between 1992 and 2011. It found that accounting for the Sydney Basin's farmlands remains opaque due to difficulties in acquiring reliable data, and existing data are often contested. The findings reveal trends in Sydney Basin agriculture that invite debate on assumptions about peri-urban agriculture, emphasizing the need for more reliable and consistent longitudinal data for future planning.
Peri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageStrategies for Symbiotic Urban Neighborhoods. Case study in Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland)
2016Sophie Lufkin, Emmanuel Rey, Suren Erkman · Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) · Switzerland
A case study in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, explored three scenarios (technological, behavioral, and symbiotic) for the future development of an urban sector by 2035. These scenarios tested design strategies related to industrial symbioses, production, storage, transportation, and urban agriculture, with energy flow analysis assessing each scenario's energy performance. The research highlights the necessity of complementary approaches that simultaneously combine technology, user behavior, and urban symbiosis to achieve high-energy performance at the neighborhood scale.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changePolicy‘Balik Kampong’: Is Malaysia Facing the Trends of De-Urbanization?
2016NUR HUZEIMA MOHD HUSSAIN, HUGH BYRD · Jurnal Antarabangsa Alam dan Tamadun Melayu · Malaysia
This paper questions whether Malaysia is experiencing de-urbanization, or a return to a new form of rural life, following rapid urbanization and a shift from an agricultural to a manufacturing-dependent society. It notes that urban growth has increased demand for resources, while recent debates on oil depletion and economic decline have prompted discussions about urban and peri-urban food production. The study explores the emerging decentralization of cities and population in Malaysia.
Urban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceAn Automatic Scheduling System for Perishable Product’s Supply Chain
2016Isbat Uzzin Nadhori, Ahmad Ahsan · JAICT · Global
This paper proposes an information technology system to manage the supply chain of perishable products in urban farming. The system aims to increase the availability of fruits and vegetables for urban residents by shortening the distance between farmers and consumers. It enables all supply chain members, including producers, distribution centers, administrators, retailers, and consumers, to access and manage relevant information, thereby facilitating easier and faster planning of planting schedules, product selection, harvest schedules, and request fulfillment.
Digital agricultureFood lossUrban–rural linkageWastewater use in urban agriculture: an exposure and risk assessment in Accra, Ghana
2016P. Antwi Agyei, Jeroen H. J. Ensink · Journal of Science and Technology (Ghana) · Ghana (Accra)
A study in Accra, Ghana, from September 2012 to August 2013, analyzed 323 soil and irrigation water samples and 501 produce samples for E. coli, and interviewed 693 participants. It found irrigation water was significantly more contaminated than farm soil, and over 80% of produce samples were contaminated with E. coli, with street food salad being the most contaminated. Key risk factors included farm soil, wastewater use, and poor hygiene, while consumers did not prioritize health indicators despite high risk awareness.
Contamination & food safetyHealthPolicyUrban–rural linkageNutrients: Growing Systems and Zero Waste Future
2016Gundula Proksch · · Global
This chapter discusses urban agriculture as a holistic approach to nutrient resource management in cities, aiming to reestablish closed-loop systems for nutrient recycling. It provides knowledge on aligning plant nutrient needs with efficient growing systems and recycling strategies like composting and anaerobic digestion. The chapter also illustrates the potential integration of these systems into building designs and their impact on building performance.
Organic cycleCompostUrban–rural linkageA Study on Passive Sustainable Techniques (PST) in Urban Landscape
2016Anbuchchelvi Kalaiarasan · Indian Journal of Science and Technology · Global
This study aimed to strengthen urban landscapes with green infrastructure using passive sustainable practices to improve urban health and safety. It identified 30 micro-level passive techniques, such as xeriscaping and green roofs, which utilize natural processes and limit active energy use. The research compared the environmental effects of these techniques for existing and proposed urban landscapes, concluding that conserving soil, water, air, energy, and species is key to connecting fragmented landscapes into a unified urban green mass.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changeHealthL’agriculture métropolitaine à Santiago du chili : une agriculture urbaine qui prend la clé des champs
2016Cécile Faliès · Problèmes d Amérique latine · Chile (Santiago)
This article provides an overview of agriculture around Santiago, Chile, based on fieldwork conducted since 2005. Despite the presence of agriculture linked to Santiago and Valparaiso, and the emergence of some forms like organic farming, it is difficult to classify this as urban agriculture due to the peripheral location and limited number of plots. The study indicates that urban agriculture, as commonly defined, has a limited presence in the Santiago metropolitan area.
Limited or null effectPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageEconomicsPolicyUrbanization, Food Insecurity and Agriculture – Challenges for Social Sustainable Development
2016P. Kanmani, Karthikeyan Parthasarathy · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
This paper reviews contemporary thinking on urbanization, food insecurity, and agriculture, identifying urbanization and population increase as key drivers of growing food insecurity. It presents ideas and practices for agricultural sustainability, addressing agro-environmental sources, input systems, socio-economic systems, and farming systems. The paper also explores urban sustainability, including urban social sustainability and urban ecology, highlighting urban farming's role in enhancing urban food security.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeUrban–rural linkageCampus Albano, Stockholm - Creating a social-ecological ‘best practices’ campus area in the Baltic region for supporting learning, innovation, and sense of community : In Live Baltic Campus: Inventory Reports
2016Stephan Barthel, Johan Colding, Erik Andersson, Maria Schewenius · Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) · Sweden (Stockholm)
Campus Albano, the newest addition to Stockholm University, began production on November 30, 2015, following a five-year planning and design process. This project is notable for its participatory planning and strong focus on integrating ecosystem services, such as wetlands and allotment gardens, into the final campus design. Student and researcher accommodations are expected by 2018, and university buildings by 2019.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageCommunity Supported Agriculture Als Neuer Impuls Für Die Regionalvermarktung? Stand Der Forschung Und Abgrenzung Von Anderen Alternativen Lebensmittelnetzwerken
2016Marie Wellner, Ludwig Theuvsen · · Global
This paper provides an overview of the current state of research on Alternative Food Networks (ALN) and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) through a literature analysis. It aims to clearly define the research area by differentiating individual ALNs and presents the core elements of the CSA concept in the context of regional marketing.
CSA & TeikeiUrban–rural linkageEconomicsCommunityNutritional profile of the Portuguese cabbage (Brassica oleracea L var. costata) and its relationship with the elemental soil analysis
2016Maria Fernanda Pessoa, Paula Scotti‐Campos, Isabel P. Pais, Ana Feteiro, Daniela Sílvia de Oliveira Canuto, Manuela Simes, João Pelica, Inês Maria Mantinhas Pataco, Vânia Ribeiro, Fernando H. Reboredo, José C. Ramalho, Fernando C. Lidon · Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture · Portugal
The nutritional profile of "Tronchuda" or Portuguese cabbage produced in urban horticultures from 4 regions of mainland Portugal was studied, along with elemental soil analysis of each sampling site. This study revealed significant interactions between essential elements in soil and plant leaves, the edible part of the plant. In general, these leaves contained poor concentrations of Fe and Si, while Mn was absent, regardless of the sampling sites. Conversely, Ca levels were abundant, ranging between 3.3% and 3.9%. Soils from CAP showed a nutrient exhaustion of Fe, Mn, and Mo, although the highest protein and sucrose contents in the leaves were observed in plants growing in those soils. Protein, lipids, and carbohydrates concentrations differed according to sampling site, reflecting different production practices.
HealthEconomicsUrban–rural linkage