Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
4283 results(157 / 172)
Building the Resilience of Vulnerable Communities in Quito: Adapting local food systems to climate change
2009Isabelle Anguelovski · Urban Agriculture Magazine · Ecuador (Quito)
Marginalized urban communities in Quito, Ecuador, residing in informal settlements or on fragile hillsides, are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts like floods, landslides, droughts, and food scarcity. Many of these communities rely on urban agriculture for sustainable livelihoods and food security.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityWelfareEditor's Introduction - Urban Pollinators and Community Gardens
2009Eric G. Strauss · Cities and the Environment · Global
This issue of CATE is dedicated to the theme of urban pollinators in relation to community gardens, addressing a gap in knowledge regarding pollinator ecology in urban landscapes. It notes that while pollinators' roles in agricultural systems are well-studied, their impact in community gardens is less understood. Six papers in this issue explore these questions, aiming to provide a foundation for understanding urban pollinators and guiding future research and management.
PollinatorsBiodiversityCommunityPreliminary Analysis of Urban Green Rooftops’ Environmental Benefits
2009Xing Dong · China Environmental Protection Industry · Global
This paper introduces basic knowledge of rooftop gardens and discusses their various environmental benefits.
BiodiversityClimate changeCharacteristics of Modern Urban Agricultural Enterprises
2009Hong Xin-xing · · Global
This study analyzed the characteristics of urban agricultural enterprises based on their concept. It also illustrated the significance of the study.
EconomicsCommunityLa Agroecología como Propuesta de Educación Ambiental para la Sustentabilidad Social en Rosario. Argentina.
2009Graciela Ottmann, Eduardo Sevilla Guzmán, Antonio Lattucca · REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE AGROECOLOGIA · Argentina (Rosario)
This paper examines the environmental dimension of agroecological productive experiences, focusing on a specific case in Rosario, Argentina. It demonstrates that by articulating various agroecological experiences into productive networks, these networks gain political content, influencing transformation processes with participatory and popular education. Examples include the Network of "Huerteros/as," the Green Life consumer network, "Huerta" Parks, and Social Agroindustries, which are agroecological actions integrated with Rosario's municipal Urban Agriculture program.
Food educationCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceParticipatory Design of Public Spaces for Urban Agriculture, Rosario, Argentina
2009Marielle Dubbeling, Laura Bracalenti, Laura Lagorio · Open House International · Argentina (Rosario)
In Rosario, Argentina, city planners and university staff collaborated with two low-income communities to design and implement a multifunctional neighborhood park, public square, and road reserve for urban agriculture. A step-by-step participatory design process was followed. This participatory design contributed to improving socio-economic and environmental conditions in the city.
CommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsBiodiversityFood educationThe polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in soils in the Region of Valasske Mezirici, the Czech Republic
2009Daniela Plachá, Helena Raclavská, Dalibor Matýsek, Mark H Rümmeli · Geochemical Transactions · Czech Republic
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination was investigated in urban, agricultural, and forest soil samples from the surroundings of Valasske Mezirici, Czech Republic. While PAH levels in urban/agricultural soils were within the typical range for industrialized areas, forest soils showed elevated PAH concentrations compared to other forest soils in Western and Northern Europe. PAH concentrations were highest in localities at higher altitudes and decreased with increasing distance from the town.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrientación sobre la agricultura urbana: una vía para la sostenibilidad
2009Yamila Santana Esponda, Ramiro Renol Ortega Vera · DELOS Desarrollo Local Sostenible · Cuba
This work aims to provide guidance on urban agriculture as a beneficial option for food production in cities and their peripheries in Cuba, especially given rising food prices and global economic crisis. It seeks to enhance knowledge about urban agriculture as a path to sustainability in upper secondary education, focusing on Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara province.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsFood educationState Power, Private Plots and the Greening of Havana's Urban Agriculture Movement
2009Adriana Premat · City & Society · Cuba
This paper, based on ethnographic research in Havana, Cuba, from 1997 to 2007, examines the creation of officially-sanctioned sustainable urban agriculture sites. It highlights the significant role of various non-state actors and interests, often overlooked in scholarly accounts, alongside the state's function. The study offers a refined understanding of the Cuban state's influence and limitations in agricultural development.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceTowards Sustainable Urban Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Zimbabwe: a Comparative Study of Urban Low and High Density Suburbs of Mabelreign-Marlborough-Westgate and Mabvuku-Tafara, Harare 2005-2008
2009Crispen Dirwai, P.M. Makonese, N. Mboto · Figshare · Zimbabwe (Harare)
This study investigated how urban poor (Mabvuku-Tafara) and urban rich (Mabelreign, Marlborough, Westgate) communities in Harare, Zimbabwe, addressed the food crisis between 2005 and 2008. Using a mainly qualitative methodology to compare urban agricultural activities, findings showed that the urban poor engaged in seasonal, often inorganic, less paying off-yard farming, exposed to nature's vagaries. In contrast, the urban rich practiced on-plot perennial, often organic, researched (including soil testing) farming with greenhouses, which yielded better returns.
Equity & displacementCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsOrganic cycleImpact of Community Gardening Workshops on Food Security in Ghanaian Favelas
2009Kwesi Acheampong, Amoako Mensah, Boatemaa Boateng · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Ghana
A survey conducted from January to March across five favelas in Accra, Ghana, investigated the impact of community gardening workshops on food security. While participants gained knowledge on sustainable gardening techniques, 45% of respondents still lacked access to necessary resources like seeds and tools. The study concluded that workshops improved awareness but further support is needed to address practical implementation barriers.
Limited or null effectCommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareRiego con aguas residuales a los cultivos del sorgo y maíz como alternativa para la producción de alimento animal
2009Lorenzo Montero San José, Reinaldo Cun García, Jeny Pérez Petitón, Martha Paula Ricardo Calzadilla, Julián Herrera Puebla · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba (Ciudad de La Habana)
This study, conducted at the "Camilo Cienfuegos" urban farm in San Miguel del Padrón, Havana, Cuba, investigated the effect of wastewater irrigation on sorghum and maize yields for animal feed. Applying a total net dose of 1775.4 m3·ha-1 of wastewater over 31 irrigations significantly increased grain yields to 4.29 t·ha-1 for sorghum and 1.73 t·ha-1 for maize, compared to rainfed conditions.
Organic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceNitrogen and carbon losses from dung storage in urban gardens of Niamey, Niger
2009Martina Předotová, Eva Schlecht, Andreas Buerkert · Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems · Niger (Niamey)
An experiment quantified nitrogen and carbon losses from animal manure stored in urban vegetable gardens in Niamey, Niger. During a 3.5-month dry season experiment, cumulative gaseous nitrogen losses were highest (0.11 g kg−1 manure DM) in the uncovered control, decreasing by 72% with plastic sheet roofing and 50% with roofing plus rock phosphate. In a second 3.5-month rainy season experiment, carbon losses from the control were 164 g kg−1 manure DM, reduced to 77% and 65% of the control by roofing and roofing plus rock phosphate, respectively. Leaching losses during the rainy season were only observed for the unroofed control.
Organic cyclePeri-urban agricultureDIY«Re-ecologizar lo urbano». Agricultura urbana e historia ambiental
2009Antonio Ortega Santos · Historia Contemporánea · Cuba (La Habana)
This article reviews contributions from urban environmental history and examines the potential of productive strategies to transform cities into more sustainable systems. The latter part of the article presents the results of Urban Agriculture in Havana, Cuba. Havana's urban agriculture secured urban food supply levels and the sovereignty of urban agricultural producers, transforming the city into a more socio-environmentally sustainable model as an urgent measure against supply problems for the Cuban economy.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeCommunityPolicyEFECTO DE DIFERENTES ABONOS ORGÁNICOS SOBRE EL ESTABLECIMIENTO DE Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata EN EL SUSTRATO Y LA RIZOSFERA DE PLANTAS DE TOMATE
2009Ana Puertas, L Hidalgo-Díaz · Revista de Protección Vegetal · Cuba
An experiment in Cuba investigated the effect of different organic fertilizers on the establishment of the biological control agent Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata in the substrate and rhizosphere of tomato plants. High colonization levels of the substrate and tomato roots were observed across all treatments using soil, cattle manure, and worm humus in various proportions. Results indicated a tendency for higher root colonization values in organic fertilizers and proportions that allowed medium or lower substrate colonization. Both organic fertilizers can be used to support the application of P. chlamydosporia var. catenulata in urban agriculture.
Organic cycleCompostBiodiversityThe green we need: an investigation of the benefits of green life and green spaces for urban dwellers' physical, mental and social health.
2009Allyson Holbrook · Figshare · Global
"The Green We Need" project, commissioned by Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), identified 171 articles published since 2000 across 75 academic journals. These articles presented new data on the health, quality of life, and social impacts of urban dwellers' access to green space. The research strongly supported a growing body of international studies since 2000 indicating the human need for nearby green spaces for healthy living, physical and social activity, and a direct relationship between proximity to green space and its use for recreation and daily activities.
HealthCommunityFood educationUrban Community Gardens and Food Security: A Survey of Fresh Produce Consumption in Libyan Coastal Cities 2009
2009Abdullah Al-Shahin · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Libya
A cross-sectional survey using structured questionnaires was conducted in four Libyan coastal cities to assess the impact of urban community gardens on food security. Participants reported significant increases in fresh produce consumption, with 72% of those living within five kilometers of their gardens showing increased fruit and vegetable intake. The study suggests urban community gardens positively impact food security by improving access to fruits and vegetables for residents.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthA Study on the Synergy Relationship between Urban Agriculture and Eco-City
2009Qicheng Lu · Ecological Economy · Global
This paper studies the functions of urban agriculture on the evolution of eco-city as a self-organizational system, based on reviews of conceptions and meaning. It analyzes the synergy effects between developing urban agriculture and constructing eco-city from sharing effective, implementing effective, and synchronizing effective perspectives. The study concludes that a typical synergy relationship exists between developing urban agriculture and constructing eco-city.
Climate changePolicyCommunityEl Saber Tradicional en la Agricultura Urbana: influencia de las Fases Lunares en la producción de especies hortícolas.
2009Yael Kemelmajer, Laura Cecilia De Luca · · Global
This work, part of the Programme of Food Self-Production, studied the influence of moon phases on horticultural crop productivity in urban vegetable gardens. Adapting agrarian science mechanisms, it incorporated popular knowledge regarding lunar influence on crops. Broccoli and lettuce were planted during crescent and waning moon phases, and differences in productivity were found for both species according to these moments.
DIYCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDeterminants of re-cycling and use of domestic waste in urban swamp areas of Yaounde in Cameroon
2009Joël Sotamenou · · Cameroon (Yaounde)
This paper identifies determinants of domestic waste recycling and use in three swamp areas of Yaounde, Cameroon, based on data collected from 126 farmers between August and September 2005. Findings indicate that vegetable production, short farm-to-home distance, use of recycled livestock waste, education level, and farm surface positively influence the decision to use domestic waste. Conversely, farmer age has a negative effect.
Organic cycleCommunityUrban–rural linkageFROM THEORY TO PRACTICE - ORGANIC WASTE REDUCTION AT THE LOCAL COMUNITY LEVEL
2009Delia Nicoleta Vieru · · Global
This text discusses organic waste reduction, noting that over 50% of household waste is organic and often leads to pollution. It explains the importance of managing compost processes for quality compost, emphasizing a 30:1 carbon to nitrogen ratio for efficient decomposition. The text proposes school-based compost production as a method to engage the school community in environmental efforts, promoting resource recirculation, education on compost benefits, waste attitude change, reduction of school canteen waste, student involvement, and the creation of fertile soil for school gardens.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityFood educationGrowing Gardens and Nurturing Community in the Urban Environment
2009Katie Shaw · Providence College Digital Commons (Providence College) · Global
This study analyzes how urban agriculture, specifically community gardens, addresses rising global pressures on urban areas by rebuilding local networks. It presents community gardening as a solution to the global food crisis and compares community garden projects in five cities: Accra, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, Havana, and Philadelphia. The research also examines the demographics of community gardeners, particularly their impacts on marginalized members of society, and highlights community gardens' role in city planning and green design.
CommunityFood educationWelfareElderlyPolicyPromoting Healthy Diets through Community Gardens: An Investigation into Their Effectiveness in Reducing Obesity Among Senegalese Adolescents in Uganda
2009Kasaka Kizito, Okumu Mukulu, Sserunkuma Ndegeyi · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Uganda
This mixed-methods study investigated the effectiveness of community gardens in reducing obesity among 200 Senegalese adolescents aged 15-18 in Uganda. Initial analysis suggests that community gardens significantly reduced the proportion of adolescents with obesity by 30%, indicating a positive impact on dietary habits and physical activity levels. While these preliminary findings are promising, further longitudinal studies are needed.
HealthCommunityFood educationWelfareInterdisciplinary Aspects of Climate Change
2009· International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management · Global
This publication presents a table of contents for multiple papers addressing interdisciplinary aspects of climate change. Topics include the impacts of climate change on electricity generation and consumption, the role of cross-disciplinary models in the Irish housing sector, urban agriculture as a way to adapt modern cities, experiences in climate change policy-making, a climate stabilization fund, social learning on climate change among regional agents, costs and effectiveness of mitigation policies, campaign strategies by environmental NGOs, the role of sustainable buildings, quantifying vulnerability and adaptability of natural ecosystems, farming community concerns, local government risk assessment, approaches to resolving climate change, impacts on flood events, municipal solid waste management's impact on greenhouse gas emissions in Estonia, conducting interdisciplinary workshops, public opinion on climate change, and innovative multi-stakeholder approaches.
Climate changeUrban–rural linkagePolicyLinking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development: A role for urban agriculture?
2009Femke Hoekstra, R. van Veenhuizen · · Global
This article focuses on the role of urban agriculture in linking relief, rehabilitation, and development following disasters or emergency situations. It notes that many people in refugee situations establish small-scale gardening or micro-technologies like container gardening to improve food security. The article highlights urban agriculture's multiple functions, including community building and sustainable environments.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityWelfareDIY