Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
438 results(16 / 18)
Chemical and microbial properties of farmer’s field soils fertilized with municipal solid wastes without pretreatment in the peri-urban zone of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
2011Eckhard Hein, TW Kabore, A. Bilgo, SN Sall, Dominique Massé · International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences · Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)
This study evaluated the impact of untreated municipal solid waste (MSW) on soil properties in peri-urban agricultural fields near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Soils receiving MSW for 7 to 20 years showed up to a two-fold increase in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content, with older fields having higher increases. While microbial biomass was significantly higher in MSW-fertilized soils, microbial activity and catabolic diversity were not significantly different.
Peri-urban agricultureCompostOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceEffect of irrigation water on the incidence of Salmonella spp. on lettuces produced by urban agriculture and sold on the markets in Dakar, Senegal
2011L Ndiaye M, Y Dieng, S. Niang, Rak H, Mauro Tonolla, Raffaele Peduzzi · African Journal of Microbiology Research · Senegal (Dakar)
A survey in Dakar, Senegal, assessed the effect of irrigation water quality on Salmonella spp. incidence in lettuce. Microbiological analysis revealed that 35% of irrigation water was contaminated by Salmonella spp., with no significant difference between groundwater and wastewater. Lettuce from Dalifort and Grand-Yoff markets showed significantly higher contamination rates than those from Sham and Zinc markets. The study concluded that irrigation water and manure are potential sources of contamination, and lettuce may serve as a vector for pathogen transmission to consumers.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleLa valorisation des matières organiques de la ville. Le cas des petits maraîchers de la zone périurbaine de Dakar
2011Marie-Christine Zélem, Zelem, Marie-Christine · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · Senegal (Dakar)
This study identifies numerous constraints hindering the widespread adoption of organic waste utilization in agriculture in the peri-urban area of Dakar, Senegal. These constraints include the nature, availability, and accessibility of organic waste, poorly controlled urbanization, effects of seasonal variation, resistance to changes, and medical risks. The project, which combines agriculture with city waste management, faces these challenges.
Governance failureOrganic cyclePeri-urban agricultureCommunityHealthTechnological Innovation in Urban Agriculture: Examples from Protected and Semiprotected Cultivation
2011Sinan Koont · University Press of Florida eBooks · Cuba
This chapter examines technological innovations in protected and semi-protected urban agriculture cultivation in Cuba. Greenhouse cultivation was initially introduced for import substitution in tourism, with adaptations for tropical conditions and agroecological pest control. Semi-protected cultivation, using shade-providing screens, later replaced protected cultivation as a subprogram, and polycultures have been effectively reintroduced in semi-protected organóponicas. The program is rapidly expanding with government support.
PolicyOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceRiego con aguas residuales en la producción sostenible de granos para alimento animal
2011Lorenzo Montero, Reynaldo Cun, J. Pérez Pérez, Marta P Ricardo, Julián Herrera · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba (La Habana)
The effect of wastewater irrigation on sorghum and maize yields for animal feed production in urban agriculture was studied at an urban farm in San Miguel del Padrón municipality, La Habana province, Cuba. Two treatments, wastewater irrigation (T1) and no irrigation (T2), were compared, with a total net dose of 1775.4 m3·ha-1 of wastewater applied over 31 irrigations. Wastewater irrigation significantly increased grain yields for sorghum (4.29 t·ha-1) and maize (1.73 t·ha-1) compared to the no-irrigation treatment. Sorghum showed better water utilization efficiency than maize.
Organic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEcological Agriculture Technology in Urban Agriculture
2011Yan Lv, Rui Zhang · Advanced materials research · Global
Farming in the city is the most significant practice of urban agriculture, with important social and economic impact. It constructs a stable and sustainable eco-recycling system, utilizing daily waste for crop irrigation, livestock breeding, and energy production. This study discusses the ecological characteristics, scientific principles, and operation steps of these ecological technologies to efficiently present an artificial agro-ecosystem in limited space.
Organic cycleCompostClimate changeOptimizing Urban Material Flows and Waste Streams in Urban Development through Principles of Zero Waste and Sustainable Consumption
2011Steffen Lehmann · Sustainability · Global
This paper reports on best practices in urban design principles for material flow, recovery, and adaptive reuse to implement zero waste. It notes that urban farming is a valid strategy for local food production and composting organic waste. A key finding is that embedding zero-waste requires strong industry leadership, new policies, effective education curricula, and increased awareness.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityBiodiversityClimate changeAgronomic considerations for urban agriculture in southern cities
2010Nikita S. Eriksen‐Hamel, George Danso · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · Global
Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UA) significantly contributes to the total food requirements of cities, especially in southern cities of the developing world. This review describes agronomic issues unique to UA and identifies possible interventions to address them. Growth-limiting and growth-reducing factors in UA include water availability, nutrient supply, soil degradation, pests, and soil pollution. Addressing these constraints requires action at both field and municipal or regional levels.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareClimate changePolicyOrganic cycleNutrient distribution in three contrasting soils after anaerobic baffled reactor effluent application: A soil column study
2010I. Bame, J. C. Hughes, Louis Titshall, C.A. Buckley, R. J. Gilkes, N. Prakongkep · · Global
This soil column study investigated the effects of anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) effluent on chemical properties of three contrasting soils, relevant to peri-urban agriculture. Soil columns were leached with ABR effluent or distilled water using 16 pore volumes, then sectioned and analyzed for inorganic-N, P, and K. For all soils, nutrient content, particularly phosphorus, in the 0-2 cm layer was significantly higher than in the middle and bottom sections of the columns. Significant differences in phosphorus accumulation were observed between effluent-leached and water-leached soils.
Organic cyclePeri-urban agricultureUrban agriculture and sanitation services in Accra, Ghana: the overlooked contribution
2010Mary Lydecker, Pay Drechsel · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · Ghana (Accra)
This study examines the contributions of urban agriculture to municipal sanitation and health services in Accra, Ghana. It estimates that Accra generates 80,000,000L of wastewater daily, with urban vegetable farms using up to 11,250,000L. By mitigating health risks from wastewater irrigation, urban farms can significantly contribute to the city's sanitation needs and support buffer zone management, reducing solid waste dumping and improving flood control.
HealthFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cyclePolicyImpacts de l’utilisation des eaux polluées en agriculture urbaine sur la qualité de la nappe de Dakar (Sénégal)
2010Mamadou Ndiaye, H.‐R. Pfeifer, S. Niang, Y Dieng, Mauro Tonolla, Raffaele Peduzzi · VertigO · Senegal (Dakar)
In Dakar's urban agriculture, untreated wastewater is used for irrigation due to shallow groundwater salinization. A study conducted at Pikine and Patte d'Oie sites evaluated the chemical and microbiological quality of irrigation water. Findings showed that total nitrogen in irrigation water exceeded WHO guideline values, Salmonella spp. was isolated from 35% of irrigation water, and a wastewater sample tested positive for Vibrio cholerae. This research indicates that irrigation with polluted water and the use of organic fertilizers can degrade groundwater quality and pose health risks.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycle종설 : 음식사슬과 환경, 건강문제 -마이클 폴란의 『잡식동물의 딜레마』를 중심으로-
2010서향숙 · 의철학연구 · Global
This paper discusses the environmental and health issues arising from modern food culture, focusing on industrial and pastoral food chains as explored by Michael Pollan. It examines environmental pollution and GMO food issues within industrial food chains, and problems with semi-organic corporate food systems in pastoral chains. The study proposes urban agriculture, including school gardens, as a solution for a healthy food chain for future generations, integrating the concept of "food justice."
Food educationFood sovereignty & justiceHealthOrganic cycleBilan hydrique des toitures végétalisées: vers de meilleures compréhension et modélisation Water balance of green roofs: contributions to better understanding and simulation
2010Emmanuel Berthier, Bernard de Gouvello, Florian Archambault, Didier Gallis · · Global
This preliminary study aimed to better understand the water balance of vegetated or green roofs (TTV) and to develop a conceptual reservoir storage model. Two databases were used: CSTB's one-year data (limited to rain and runoff) and LROP's nine-day detailed data (including evapotranspiration and water storage). Detailed monitoring was shown to deepen the understanding of water balance, and the developed reservoir storage model appeared suitable for reproducing the TTV water balance.
Climate changeOrganic cycleCommunityCurrent organic waste recycling and the potential for local recycling through urban agriculture in Metro Manila
2010Yuji Hara, Takashi Furutani, Akinobu Murakami, Armando M. Palijon, Makoto Yokohari · Waste Management & Research The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy · Philippines (Metro Manila)
This research used solid waste management programs in three Quezon City barangays, Metro Manila, as a case study to assess organic waste recycling and local urban agriculture potential. It measured organic waste and compost production from barangay projects and identified potential compost use on local farmlands and vacant lots. The study found that securing compost buyers is currently difficult, leading to distribution to neighboring farm villages, but concluded that a more local compost recycling system within the barangays is feasible.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityMulti-Stakeholder Processes for Managing Wastewater Use in Agriculture
2009Alexandra Evans, Liqa Raschid-Sally, Olufunke Cofie · · Global
This chapter presents three case studies in which multi-stakeholder processes were used to improve wastewater management for urban agriculture. Although differences were observed, there were several cross-cutting lessons. A critical factor is the starting point, including an agreed definition of the problem to be addressed, negotiated goals, and a management structure acceptable to all stakeholders. When multi-stakeholder processes are externally initiated, it is essential that project priorities are commensurate with local priorities.
PolicyCommunityHealthOrganic cycle今天，你“拼客”了吗？
2009袁新华 · 环境 · Global
Amidst the trend of sustainable development, various environmentally friendly lifestyle attempts have spontaneously emerged worldwide. Examples include neighbors sharing laundry rooms and gardens to reduce resource consumption, exchanging old refrigerators for food or pianos via radio programs, and transforming abandoned land into community gardens. People who enjoy these sharing and collaborative behaviors are called "Pīn Kè".
CommunityClimate changeOrganic cycleHorizontal nutrient fluxes and food safety in urban and peri-urban vegetable and millet cultivation of Niamey, Niger
2009Rodrigue V.C. Diogo, Andreas Buerkert, Eva Schlecht · Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems · Niger (Niamey)
This 24-month study investigated nutrient efficiency and food safety in urban and peri-urban agriculture in Niamey, Niger. Nutrient inputs and offtakes were quantified for 10 vegetable gardens and 9 millet fields, and contamination of irrigation water and selected vegetables with fecal pathogens and heavy metals was determined. Above-threshold levels of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli were detected in lettuce irrigated with river water and fertilized with animal manure, and in lettuce irrigated with wastewater, indicating food safety concerns.
Contamination & food safetyOrganic cycleHealthPeri-urban agricultureTowards 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 cycleRiego 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 agricultureDIYEFECTO 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 cycleCompostBiodiversityDeterminants 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 educationAprovechamiento de residuos sólidos en un sistema hidro-orgánico de agricultura urbana Use of solid residues in a hydro-organic culture systems of urban agriculture
2008Consuelo Montes Rojas, Víctor Felipe Terán Gómez, Diego Fernando Ortiz Tovar · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Colombia (Popayán)
This research aimed to design a hydro-organic system for vegetable production in small areas to contribute to urban food security and solid waste utilization in Popayán, Colombia. An alternative system was designed using recycled materials and evaluated with three nutritional treatments using cilantro as a biological indicator. The system achieved productions of up to 627 g m-2, surpassing traditional agriculture (227 g), and the common nutritional solution was identified as the best nutritional source.
Organic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceDIYSocial-ecological memory for management of ecosystem services
2008Stephan Barthel, Carl Folke, Johan Colding · · Sweden (Stockholm)
This thesis investigated how social-ecological features influence ecosystem service (ES) generation through case studies in Stockholm, Sweden. Findings indicated that urban ES flows are products of co-evolutionary processes, requiring governance to consider historical rights and diverse actor groups. Informally managed allotment gardens showed higher pollinator abundance compared to other urban green spaces, and social-ecological memory among gardeners was found to retain and transmit practices linked to ES generation. The study concluded that sustaining urban ES depends on management practices by people and local communities of ecosystem practice.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityOrganic cycle