Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
3241 results(15 / 130)
Ecopreneurship-based urban farming assistance program for communities in the urban fringe area
2025Durrotun Nafisah, Ika Purnamasari, Isnawati Isnawati, Zulfin Rachma Mufidah · Journal of Community Service and Empowerment · Indonesia
An ecopreneurship-based urban farming assistance program was implemented with the Karya Jaya 4 Farmers Group in Deket District, Indonesia, where agricultural land conversion reduced rice and fish production. The program provided training on hydroponic aquaponic systems and supported the construction of five backyard systems. This initiative increased participants' knowledge and skills, achieved an 85% success rate in system management, and contributed to increased household food production, income, and food security.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceFood educationPeri-urban agricultureIMAGE BRANDING STRATEGY OF TANDURIA ORGANIC FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDE PRODUCTS
2025Dewah Hari Sayogo, Nur Magfirah Aestetika · Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy · Indonesia
This qualitative case study analyzed Tanduria's branding strategy for its organic fertilizer and pesticide products, focusing on brand strength, uniqueness, and favorability. Through direct observations and in-depth interviews with Tanduria’s founders, the study found that the Indonesian urban farming platform successfully promotes its brand by emphasizing ease of use and environmental sustainability, particularly targeting the Millennial generation for home-based planting. This strategy effectively strengthens Tanduria's image as a modern, eco-friendly brand aligned with urban lifestyles.
EconomicsDIYOrganic cycleThe Social Determinants of Urban Agricultural Practice: A Study of Market Gardeners in the City of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
2025Vazoumana Koné · Uirtus · Côte d’Ivoire
In Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, market gardening is widespread, but the Master Plan of Greater Abidjan does not allocate specific spaces for these crops. This forces producers to use unsuitable areas like flood-prone lowlands. A study of 45 market gardeners found that they employ various social practices to legitimize their activities and maintain their presence in urban spaces despite the lack of official land allocation.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsIMPACT OF URBANIZATION PRESSURES ON SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN NIGERIA.
2025Khalid Umar, Hamza Abba, UM Sani, M.D KWAIRANGA · JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND LEGAL STUDIES NORTH-EASTERN UNIVERSITY GOMBE · Nigeria
This review explores the multifaceted effects of urbanization pressures in Nigeria, including environmental degradation, urban poverty, housing shortages, and public health challenges. Case studies from major cities like Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, and Gombe demonstrate innovative responses such as sustainable urban planning, waste management, flood mitigation, and urban agriculture. The study emphasizes the urgent need for inclusive policies, community engagement, and sustainable strategies to promote resilient and equitable urban development in Nigeria.
PolicyEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceQuantifying US metropolitan level environmental burdens & benefits from greater localization of vegetable farming
2025Peter Nixon, Anu Ramaswami · Environmental Research Letters · United States
This paper quantifies environmental benefits and disbenefits from various vegetable farming localization scenarios across 378 US metropolitan areas. While scenarios found few significant land constraints and revealed net environmental benefits to groundwater overdraft and fertilizer-related PM2.5 emissions in 11%–55% of metros, the model also revealed where relocalization would exacerbate existing environmental vulnerabilities. This indicates potential environmental tradeoffs depending on the location.
Environmental trade-offsEconomicsClimate changeUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureThe urban food question in a (neo)colonial perspective: Response to Elza D’Cruz (2024), ‘Urban agriculture and urban planning: a case of Bangalore between the 1950s and the 1970s’
2025Koenraad Danneels · Landscape Research · India (Bangalore)
This paper responds to a critique regarding urban agriculture (UA) and urban planning in Bangalore, India, between the 1950s and 1970s. While urban agriculture is recognized as an emancipatory driver with economic, social, and physical benefits for urban dwellers, the abstract indicates a critical perspective on its promotion.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsHealthFood sovereignty & justiceIntegrating Intelligent Irrigation Systems Across Morocco’s Cultivated Spaces: A Strategic Assessment for Sustainable Water Management
2025Anass El-Aabssi, Abdelhadi Assir · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Morocco
This study assessed the potential integration of Intelligent Irrigation Systems (IIS) across four agricultural categories in Morocco—protected agriculture, traditional open-field farming, urban agriculture, and natural ecosystems—for sustainable water management. The evaluation considered infrastructural readiness, technological compatibility, economic feasibility, environmental impact, and social consequences. Findings indicated that traditional open-field farming, which accounts for 85% of cultivated area and 70% of irrigation water, holds the greatest potential for water savings, up to 70%, through precision irrigation technology.
Digital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsBecoming community economy: how community-supported agriculture diversifies farm labour
2025Guilherme Raj, Giuseppe Feola · Local Environment · Portugal
This study longitudinally examines labor in three Portuguese community-supported agriculture (CSA) initiatives to reconstruct the trajectory of labor diversification over several years. The analysis shows that the CSA setup led to labor diversification in all three case studies. Findings suggest that "community" is an emergent property rather than an inherent quality of CSA, and that empowerment and disempowerment dynamics are crucial in diversifying work relations.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsUrban–rural linkageUrban farming as a form of the future food security in the Czech Republic
2025Jan Szturc, Tomáš Mašíček, Adéla Navrátilová, Jana Kozlovský Dufková · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Europe
This study explored the production potential of urban farming in Olomouc, Czech Republic, using spatial analysis to identify suitable spaces. Results indicated that 408.04 hectares of currently unused land could be repurposed for urban farming, yielding 7,099.9 tons of vegetables. This production could meet 42.68% of the city's total vegetable demand, though detailed analysis is always necessary for specific areas due to varying potential.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyPeri-urban agricultureSikkim's Organic Revolution: A Sustainable Agricultural Model for Rural and Urban Resilience
2025Supriya Chandrakant Gaikwad · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · India (Sikkim)
This paper synthesizes six studies to examine Sikkim's organic farming model, evaluating farmer perceptions, productivity, policy gaps, and urban innovations like rooftop farming. While organic farming in Sikkim boosted yields, lowered input expenses, and improved environmental conditions, marketing and scalability remain significant obstacles, and short-term transition costs and limited market infrastructure are economic constraints. Rooftop agriculture in Gangtok was identified as a valuable addition for urban food security.
Economic viabilityOrganic cyclePolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceRoots of wellbeing: cultivating community wellness through urban farming in Malaysia
2025Jasmin Arif Shah · Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository (Universiti Putra Malaysia) · Malaysia
The practice of urban farming in Malaysia is recognized for promoting the well-being of urban dwellers and smallholder farmers, and for achieving sustainable food production. Urban farming is viewed as a catalyst for achieving the well-being of urban dwellers and the natural environment, with social and health benefits being among the highest motivating factors for urban communities. The development of urban farming communities and the emphasis on sustainable food production through these initiatives are considered important steps towards empowering locals and creating food-independent communities.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsThe importance of digital record-keeping among urban agriculture communities: a review
2025Noryana Ahmad Khusaini, Munifah Siti Amira Yusuf · Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository (Universiti Putra Malaysia) · Global
This review examines the significance of digital record-keeping in urban agriculture, focusing on its impact on efficiency, productivity, market access, economic benefits, sustainability, and environmental benefits. The review identifies challenges such as a lack of digital skills, high implementation costs, inadequate technological infrastructure, limited connectivity, data privacy, and security. These challenges hinder the adoption of digitalization in urban agriculture.
Governance failureDigital agricultureEconomicsCommunityClimate changePOSITIVE EFFECTS OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN BUILDINGS ON URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
2025R Mohammadzadeh · Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction · Global
This qualitative secondary study, based on a structured literature review, examined the role of green infrastructure (GI) integrated into buildings for urban sustainability. Findings indicate that GI supports climate change adaptation, improves air quality, promotes urban biodiversity, and enables energy-efficient design. However, the paper also recognizes limitations related to cost, maintenance, and structural requirements for implementing building-based GI.
Economic viabilityClimate changeBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsResilience to abrupt global catastrophic risks disrupting trade: Combining urban and near-urban agriculture in a quantified case study of a globally median-sized city
2025Matt Boyd, Nick Wilson · PLoS ONE · Global
This study estimates the contribution of urban and near-urban agriculture to resilience against abrupt global catastrophic risks (GCRs) in a globally median-sized city. Using mathematical optimization and Google Earth image analysis, researchers determined optimal crops and land area for food production. Findings indicate that urban agriculture could feed 20% of the population, with an additional 1140 hectares of near-urban cultivation and 110 hectares for biofuel feedstock needed to cover the shortfall, though more land is required in nuclear winter scenarios.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsUrban–rural linkageUrban Household Food Security and Coping Strategies Adopted Under Rising Food Prices in Osun State, Nigeria
2025Abiola Adebunmi Olarinre · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science · Nigeria
This research surveyed 240 households in Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Ilesa cities in Osun State, Nigeria, to analyze urban household food security and coping mechanisms. Findings showed that only 17.9% of households achieved food security, with 39.6% experiencing moderate and 16.3% severe food insecurity. Household income, education, household size, credit access, and food expenditure share significantly influenced food security.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsWelfareFood educationHortas urbanas e restaurantes: análise do projeto Horta do Chef em Curitiba e suas conexões com a gastronomia
2025Ricardo de Amorim Cini, Juliana Hrycyna · Ágora · Brazil (Curitiba)
This study analyzed the challenges, expectations, and potential of the relationship between urban gardens and chefs, focusing on the "Horta do Chef" project developed by the City of Curitiba. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2022 and February 2023, involving a literature review and semi-structured qualitative interviews with two chefs and one public official. The results indicated that the "Horta do Chef" project was discontinued due to its decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Economic viabilityCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceThe Langa Agri-Food Hub in Cape Town, South Africa
2025Natalia Urrego Díaz, Astrid Ley, Kurt Ackermann, Leonie K. Fischer · · South Africa (Cape Town)
This study focuses on the Langa Agri-Food Hub in Cape Town, South Africa. The Hub is an innovation-seeking project aimed at transforming the local food system from the bottom up, supporting farmers, and strengthening the community. Through a literature review and qualitative analysis, including site observations, interviews, and workshops, the study uncovered the Hub's potential to serve as a vital platform for individual empowerment and the strengthening of the local food system.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsClimate changeEspacio público y agroecología urbana. Genealogías y estrategias de integración paisajística en Rosario, Argentina
2025Diego Roldán · Revista Kawsaypacha Sociedad y Medio Ambiente · Argentina (Rosario)
This article explores how urban agriculture in Rosario, Argentina, challenges hegemonic discourses on landscape and territory, offering insights to rethink green public spaces. The study uses critical interpretation of documents, key informant interviews, and direct observation of agroecological initiatives. It investigates the origins of urban agriculture and its links to economic crises and peripheries, analyzing the historical dissociation between aesthetic-recreational and production-environmental imaginaries in green public spaces. The article addresses the potential of agroecological fairs and park-gardens to integrate agroecology and public space, aiming to reassemble nature-city relationships.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceRole of Urban Farming in Promoting Sustainable Economic Development
2025Yosra Abduljalel Alajeli, Gunavathy Selvarajh · Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies · Global
This qualitative desk research investigated urban farming's economic, environmental, and societal impacts on sustainable economic development. Findings indicate urban farming enhances local economies, provides fresh produce, strengthens community engagement, and promotes green infrastructure. However, its broader adoption is hindered by limited land access, inadequate legislative support, and low public awareness.
Governance failureEconomicsClimate changeCommunityPolicyHidroponik Sistem Rakit Apung Solusi Urban Farming di Kota Surakarta
2025Avisema Sigit Saputro, Sumarmi Sumarmi · Jurnal SOLMA · Indonesia (Surakarta)
A community service activity on floating raft hydroponics was conducted in Pundung Gede, Surakarta, Indonesia, on August 17, 2024, with 15 PKK mothers. The initiative aimed to educate residents on urban farming methods to utilize limited urban land for vegetable cultivation, addressing their unfamiliarity with floating raft hydroponics. The activity successfully enabled many participants to understand and practice floating raft cultivation at home.
DIYFood educationCommunityEconomicsImpacts of rising food prices on the food security of different socio-economic groups in Abuja, Nigeria
2025Katuka, Stephen Agire, Magaji, Sule, Ismail, Yahaya · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Nigeria (Abuja)
This study analyzed the impact of rising food prices on the food security of different socio-economic groups in Abuja, Nigeria, using a cross-sectional survey of 400 households. Findings revealed that only 18% of households were food secure, while 56% experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. Food price inflation had a significant negative effect on food security, particularly among low-income households. Rising food prices were shown to increase the likelihood of mild, moderate, and severe food insecurity by 53%, 88%, and 132%, respectively.
Economic viabilityEconomicsHealthWelfareTransformation of Agrarian Land in the Urban Periphery: Dispossession, Legalization and Dispute in Cuautlancingo, Puebla
2025José Arturo Méndez Espinoza, Martín Neri-Suárez, Karen Italia Ruiz-López · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Mexico (Puebla)
A case study in Cuautlancingo, Puebla, Mexico, revealed an adverse context for the reproduction of peri-urban family farming. Urban expansion, neoliberal policies, and real-estate speculation have displaced traditional agricultural practices and fostered land-tenure changes. Between 2005 and 2021, over 40% of agricultural areas were lost due to industrial and housing growth. The study concludes that without effective protection and territorial planning, peri-urban agriculture in Cuautlancingo is at risk of disappearing under urban and industrial pressures, with implications for local food security.
Governance failurePeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceThe Involvement of Disabled People in Regenerative Agriculture: Analysis of Individual, Economic and Environmental Factors
2025Rosmiza Mohd Zainol, R. Zaimah, M.S. Sarmila, Aizan Sofia Amin, Lahvinnya Loganathan · International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences · Malaysia (Selangor)
This quantitative study surveyed 56 People with Disabilities (PWDs) in urban community gardens at a Community Rehabilitation Centre in Selangor to identify factors influencing their participation in urban regenerative agriculture. Using a Likert scale questionnaire, descriptive analysis showed high levels for individual, economic, and environmental factors. This suggests urban regenerative agriculture has potential as an economic and social empowerment platform for PWDs.
CommunityWelfareEconomicsARRANJOS SOCIOPRODUTIVOS E CAMPESINIDADE: UMA ANÁLISE DA SUSTENTABILIDADE ECONÔMICA NA HORTA COMUNITÁRIA POVO UNIDO EM JUAZEIRO/BA
2025Rita Regina Marques Costa, Denes Dantas Vieira, Vivianni Marques Leite dos Santos, Deise Cristiane do Nascimento · Derecho y cambio social. · Brazil (Juazeiro/BA)
This article analyzed the experience of the Povo Unido Community Garden in Juazeiro/BA, Brazil, as a community-based socio-productive arrangement, to understand its implications for the economic sustainability of family farmers. Using an exploratory and quantitative approach with the Lume Method, the study analyzed four representative family units. Results showed significant differences in management styles, with some families more dependent on external inputs and others demonstrating greater autonomy, especially when linking productive and reproductive work.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceGeotecnologias e Diagnóstico do Potencial da Agricultura Urbana e Periurbana no Âmbito Municipal de Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brasil
2025Letícia Rodrigues Faria, David Luciano Rosalen, Ana Cardoso, Laura de Oliveira · Confins · Brazil (São Paulo)
This study investigated urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) practices in Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil, a city with a predominantly agricultural economy. Using geotechnologies and QGIS software, the research mapped existing and potential UPA areas. Results indicated that vacant lots and public areas are promising spaces for urban agricultural development, which could improve quality of life and waste management.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePolicy