Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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3622 results(16 / 145)
Disentangling food transformation narratives: a Q-method analysis on pathways to sustainable food systems and their implications
2025Meredith L. Mull, Mario Torralba · Frontiers in Nutrition · Global
This exploratory Q-methodology study investigated how university students in sustainability programs conceptualize sustainable food systems. Analysis revealed five distinct narratives, with consensus on food security and transparent governance. However, elements like urban agriculture, GMOs, and food traditions were consistently deprioritized by the participants. The findings emphasize incorporating plural perspectives and context-sensitive approaches in food system research and policy.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeFood educationPolicyLIBRAS NO ENSINO DE CIÊNCIAS POR MEIO DA AGRICULTURA URBANA EM ESPAÇOS NÃO FORMAIS
2025Thaís Falcão Cardoso, Ester Vitória Basilio Anchieta · Even3 Publicações eBooks · Global
This paper discusses the importance of Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) in science education, articulated with urban agriculture practices in non-formal spaces. The qualitative and bibliographic research proposes a methodology based on accessible school gardens, utilizing visual resources, bilingual materials, and inclusive technologies. Results indicate that the use of LIBRAS in these practices expands scientific learning, respect for diversity, and collective engagement.
Food educationCommunityWelfareAssessing the Potential of Revegetating Abandoned Agricultural Lands Using Nature-Based Typologies for Urban Thermal Comfort
2025zahra nobar, Akbar Rahimi, Alessio Russo · Land · Global
This study assessed the efficacy of nature-based solutions in revegetating abandoned urban agricultural lands to enhance outdoor thermal comfort, using ENVI-met 4.4.6 and Ray-Man 3.1 simulation models. Simulation results showed that species like Quercus spp. (broadleaf) and Cupressus arizonica (evergreen) substantially reduced the Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt) index by up to 26.76 °C, primarily due to their shading effects and large canopies. Combining these vegetation types with crops emerged as the most effective strategy to mitigate heat stress and optimize land-use.
Climate changeBiodiversityUrban–rural linkagePertanian Perkotaan, Solusi Inovatif untuk Ketahanan Pangan di Tengah Kota
2025Marni Putri Gea, Restu Jaya Zendrato, Septian Oktani Telaumbanua, Ayler Beniah Ndraha · Flora Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Pertanian dan Perkebunan · Global
This literature review indicates that urban agriculture, utilizing modern techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, and rooftop gardens, is an innovative solution for food security in urban areas. Urban agriculture reduces distribution costs, minimizes environmental impact, and offers social and economic benefits. The review concludes that urban agriculture contributes significantly to improving food security and provides a sustainable alternative for the global food system.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsCommunitySetting the Field: An Analytical Framework to Assess the Potential of Urban Agriculture
2025Valentina Manente, Silvio Caputo, Flavio Lupia, Giuseppe Pulighe, Jaime Hernández García · Land · Colombia (Bogotá)
This study developed and applied a GIS-based spatial analytical framework to assess the potential of urban agriculture in Bogotá, Colombia, considering varying productivity levels for four urban food garden types: Home, Community, Educational, and Commercial. Data on produce yield, resource use, and social benefits were collected from a sample of urban food gardens. Results indicated that 25% of Bogotá’s surface area possesses suitable physical and social conditions for food growing, with Home Gardens occupying the largest share of suitable land, suggesting that land availability is not a key limiting factor for urban agriculture expansion.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyMachine Learning–Based Climate-Adaptive Smart Gardening System for Sustainable Urban Agriculture
2025Zakhro Sodikova · International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science Engineering and Information Technology · Global
This research proposed and aimed to design and implement a Machine Learning-Based Climate-Adaptive Smart Gardening System for sustainable urban agriculture. The system uses environmental sensors to record soil moisture, air temperature, humidity, solar exposure, and light intensity in real-time. It employs machine learning models like Gradient Boosting, Random Trees, and LSTM to predict irrigation needs, plant stress, and environmental changes, adjusting gardening conditions to mitigate climate impacts.
Digital agricultureClimate changeDIYFour Archetypes for Future Food Systems
2025Paul Β. Thompson · · Global
This chapter outlines four archetypal characterizations for future food systems over the next half-century, influenced by climate change and resource scarcity. These archetypes include technological modernization, sustainable intensification, regional agrarianism, and urban agriculture, each driven by distinct ethical orientations and approaches to food production, processing, distribution, and consumption.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePolicyCatalogue on innovative governance practices and recommendations
2025Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Walthall, Beatrice, Parisi, Anton, Schröter, Barbara, Gallagher-Squires, Charlotte, Cuevas Garcia Dorado, Soledad, López García, Daniel · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
This catalogue, part of the FOODCITYBOOST project, provides a guide for integrating urban agriculture (UA) into city and spatial planning, focusing on governance and policy. It evaluates UA governance practices based on policy integration and multi-stakeholder approaches. The catalogue highlights "good practices" informed by research and empirical evidence, addressing challenges identified by FOODCITYBOOST living labs, and emphasizes that UA policies, instruments, and interventions vary widely by location, making common models challenging to identify due to context-specific factors.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityThe Rise of Urban Agriculture and Its Implications for Food Systems
2025Godswill Ntsomboh Ntsefong · IntechOpen eBooks · Global
This chapter examines the global growth and implications of urban agriculture. While urban agriculture enhances food security, it also introduces food safety risks from contaminated soils and infrastructure gaps. Challenges related to heavy metals, waste, and inadequate land planning are evaluated, and barriers such as land access and limited training for producers persist.
Contamination & food safetyFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthEconomicsPolicyClimate changeSustainability composite indicator for the assessment of resilient urban agriculture and urban development
2025Jairo Guzman-Molina, Gustavo Carrazana-Rosales, Daniel Karthe, W. C. Tabares Rodríguez, Serena Caucci · Environmental and Sustainability Indicators · Colombia (Bogotá)
To assess the sustainability of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture (UPA) in Bogotá, Colombia, a Composite Indicator (CI) integrating 43 variables from an in-depth survey of over 3,500 households was developed. The study revealed that UPA significantly contributes to Bogotá's environmental resilience, particularly in soil conservation and integrated water management. However, while UPA promises food security, its unstructured value chain limits its impact on economic sustainability.
Economic viabilityClimate changeEconomicsPolicyPENERAPAN PENANAMAN DENGAN METODE HIDROPONIK SISTEM WICK (SUMBU) KEPADA MAHASISWA UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PEMAHAMAN CARA MENANAM
2025Fadilla Siska Tiara, Eva Maria Sulastri · BUDIMAS JURNAL PENGABDIAN MASYARAKAT · Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Training on planting mustard greens using the hydroponic wick system was conducted for students of Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang and University Teknologi Mara at the AU2 Keramat Community Garden in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The training aimed to improve understanding and skills in hydroponics, raise awareness of vegetable consumption, and foster an entrepreneurial spirit. Pre- and post-tests showed significant improvement in participants' knowledge regarding hydroponics benefits, planting media, and wick system manufacturing techniques.
Food educationDIYCommunityDigital agriculturePerceived benefits and challenges of urban rooftop gardening in Dhaka city
2025Muhammad Ziaul Hoque, Md. Enamul Haque, Md. Roknuzzaman, Md. Safiul Islam Afrad, Md. Shamim Hossain, Md Farhad Hossain, Foyez Ahmed Prodhan · Annals of Bangladesh Agriculture · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
This study surveyed 63 rooftop gardeners in Uttara and Mirpur of Dhaka Metropolitan Area to assess their perceptions of urban rooftop gardening. Respondents were mostly old-aged retired professionals with postgraduate education and moderate experience. Key perceived benefits included safe and nutritional food, improved air quality, and enhanced family mental health. Major challenges identified were concerns about losing open spaces for children, difficulties in sourcing quality seeds, and a lack of training and technical guidance.
DIYHealthClimate changeFood educationResearch on Ways to Revitalize Urban Agriculture using Agricultural-ICT Technology Convergence
2025Young-Tak Kim, Ke Han, Woo-Hyun Yoo · Industrial Study of Innovation Management · Global
This study aimed to analyze the concepts and characteristics of agricultural-ICT convergence technology and urban agriculture, and to propose development directions and policy implications by reviewing successful cases and related policies in developed countries. The research results indicate that agricultural-ICT technology convergence creates significant synergy effects, and the combination of urban agriculture and IT technology is expected to promote the development of the next-generation 6th industry. Furthermore, this technology supports the scientific advancement of agriculture and livestock farming, and is widely utilized in activating new distribution channels centered on local food and direct transactions.
Digital agriculturePolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceThe purpose of the school garden is more than just growing plants
2025Jelka Strgar, Gregor Torkar, Simona Strgulc Krajšek · Journal of Biological Education · Slovenia
A study surveyed Slovenian lower and upper secondary school teachers regarding their interest in plants and attitudes towards ecosystem services provided by school gardens. Teachers showed high interest in plants and held positive attitudes towards school garden ecosystem services, including education, habitat and regulatory services, relaxation, and plant cultivation. A positive correlation was found between teachers' interest in plants and their attitudes towards these services, indicating Slovenian teachers recognize the importance of school gardens in education.
Food educationBiodiversityCommunityCodesigning More-than-Human Ecosystems with Social and Environmental Systems: The Gamification of NetWall and BioDiveIn
2025Marie Davidová, María Claudia Valverde Rojas, Hanane Behnam · Land · Global
This study explored the integration of gamification into social and environmental systems to enhance urban biodiversity and foster the co-creation of ecosystems. It focused on developing tangible ecosystemic interventions, such as habitat extensions and edible landscapes, and gamifying these interventions to engage communities. The interventions were codesigned using systems-oriented design methods, including gigamapping and prototyping, to produce scalable DIY solutions that empower communities to replicate these practices.
CommunityBiodiversityDIYFood educationUrban Gardens as a Strategy to Confront the Food Emergency Crisis in Argentina
2025Francisco Tomatis, Ana María Bonet de Viola, Ulises Reno, Ouiam Fatiha Boukharta, Luis Manuel Navas-Gracia · · Argentina
In Argentina, public policies like the Argentine Plan Against Hunger and the ProHuerta Program have stimulated urban agriculture to address the food emergency crisis in early 2024. Despite urban gardening being recognized as a crisis-addressing strategy, the existence and future forms of public policies supporting urban gardens remain uncertain amid recent national political changes. Several barriers to integration and consolidation of these programs are highlighted.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsWelfareCommunityInitiatives for Advancing Planetary Health Through Sustainable Food Systems: An Umbrella Review
2025Carmen Vargas, Danielle Brooke, Carolina Venegas Hargous, Rubén Fernández‐Rodríguez, Rebecca Bennett, Felice Jacka, Steven Allender · Obesity Reviews · Global
This umbrella review, covering 2015-2024 and including 20 systematic and scoping reviews, explored food system initiatives and their relationship with human health and sustainability outcomes. Most reviews focused on sustainable diets, food security, and urban agriculture. No clear trends emerged between intervention topics and outcomes, and only 15% of reviews reported on all three sustainability outcomes (economic, social, environmental) combined. The review identified a need for further holistic, multidisciplinary research on food system sustainability.
HealthClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsSmall Scale–Big Impact: Temporary Small-Scale Architecture as a Catalyst for Community-Driven Development of Green Urban Spaces
2025Diana Giurea, Vasile Gherheș, Claudiu Coman · Sustainability · Global
This paper explores temporary small-scale architecture as a catalyst for community-driven development of green urban spaces, using the Greenfeel Architecture wooden pavilion as a case study. The pavilion, built with reused materials, was designed to provide shelter and facilitate social interactions while protecting existing vegetation and enhancing biodiversity. Since its completion, it has hosted various outdoor activities and educational workshops, demonstrating the potential of temporary architecture for physical and socio-cultural sustainability in urban environments.
CommunityBiodiversityPollinatorsDIYDistribuição Espacial de Chumbo em Mangifera indica e Syzygium malaccense em uma Cidade de Médio Porte, Colômbia
2025Christian Valderrama, Hernan Zarate · Ambiente & sociedade · Colombia (Neiva)
This research characterized the presence and spatial distribution of lead (Pb) concentrations in Mangifera indica and Syzygium malaccense fruit trees on public roads in Neiva, Colombia. Using a census, fruit sampling, and spatial interpolation methods, lead levels were detected in all samples. Five samples exceeded the permissible limit of 0.1 mg/kg, with higher concentrations observed in industrial areas.
Contamination & food safetyHealthFood sovereignty & justiceUrban Greenery and Urban Agriculture
2025Ariva Sugandi Permana · · Global
This article describes urban greenery and urban agriculture as components of modern city planning, outlining their roles in environmental sustainability, food security, and public health. Urban greenery is presented as improving air quality and reducing the urban heat island effect, while urban agriculture is noted for enabling local food production and fostering community engagement. The text also discusses their benefits for mental health, carbon sequestration, and economic development, emphasizing the need for policies and regulations.
CommunityPolicyHealthClimate changeMultimodal Analysis of Emotional and Visual Responses to Urban Green Spaces in Virtual Environments
2025Chong Liu, Tzu-Yang Wang, Takaya Yuizono · IEEE Access · Global
A study with 60 participants examined emotional and visual responses to urban green spaces (UGSs) in immersive virtual environments using multimodal sensing. Participants experienced 360° simulations of urban parks, community gardens, and ecological wetlands, with data collected via electrodermal activity, pulse rate, eye-tracking, and self-reported emotions. Results indicated that landscape elements significantly influenced both visual behavior and emotional responses, with herb plants enhancing attention and positive emotions, flowering trees eliciting arousal while promoting relaxation, and artificial objects yielding limited emotional benefits.
CommunityHealthPotencialización de la sostenibilidad ecológica y el desarrollo del eje temático Competencias para la vida, propuesto por el Ministerio de Educación Pública, a través de un huerto
2025Murillo, Ivannia · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Global
This article highlights the importance of school gardens as experiential teaching resources for learning processes and their social impact through the participation of the educational community and families. It also reflects on the need for quality education and appropriate professional training to meet educational needs, emphasizing the role of life skills as promoted by the National Qualifications Framework and the Ministry of Public Education.
Food educationCommunityOrganic cycleApproaching the study and understanding of urban agriculture from a systemic perspective
2025Juan Camilo Fontalvo-Buelvas, Oswaldo Rahmses Castro-Martínez · Horticulture International Journal · Global
This essay aimed to analyze the contributions of systems thinking to the understanding and management of urban agriculture. Three analytical domains—physical, biophysical, and human-biophysical—were examined, and teleomatic, teleonomic, and teleological processes were discussed as explanatory frameworks for the internal dynamics of urban gardens. The essay concludes that a holistic systems perspective enables a deeper understanding of the structure, emergent properties, and functional dynamics of urban agriculture.
PolicyCommunityOrganic cycleClimate changeA Review of Roof Top Agro-Voltaic System Development: Integrating Renewable Energy and Urban Agriculture
2025M.Saeed Sheikh, A. G. Mohod, Prasad Chavan, R. T. Thokal, K. G. Dhande, PB Sanap · Advances in Research · Global
This global review examines the development of rooftop agro-voltaic systems (RAVs), which integrate photovoltaic panels with rooftop farming. While RAVs offer benefits like energy production, improved agricultural yields, and environmental conservation, challenges such as efficiency trade-offs, financial constraints, and regulatory gaps limit their widespread adoption. Pilot projects in India demonstrate dual benefits, but these limitations hinder broader implementation.
Governance failureClimate changeEconomicsPolicyDevelopment of urban organic farming
2025V. Movchan, N. Iliuk, O. Melezhyk, N. Zinchuk · Balanced nature using · Global
This article studies current trends, problems, and prospects for the development of urban agriculture, including organic farming, as a component of sustainable food systems and urban ecosystems. It analyzes the environmental, social, and economic benefits of urban organic farming, as well as key risks and barriers to implementing organic practices in urban areas. The study identified main factors affecting urban farming effectiveness and outlined opportunities for innovative technologies.
Organic cycleClimate changeEconomicsPolicy