Research & reports

Md. Ashikuzzaman, Mohammad Shahidul Hasan Swapan, Atiq Zaman, Yongze Song · Sustainability · Bangladesh (Dhaka)

This study explored the connection between organizational rational choice in urban rooftop farm (URF) policy development and social innovation, using a literature review and a case study of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Despite the rising popularity of URFs in Dhaka, existing policies and strategies were found to lack clarity and governing mechanisms are absent. The findings suggest that a participatory and co-productive approach, involving community members, local governments, and NGOs, is optimal for URF policy formulation and successful governance.

Yaryna Onufriv, Halyna Lukashchuk · Środowisko Mieszkaniowe · Ukraine (Lviv)

In Lviv, Ukraine, urban gardening practices have a historical presence, with the "Nursery" project recently initiated by NGO 'Plato' at the historic Zalizna Voda Park nursery. Despite this, a portion of the historical greenhouses remains dilapidated. Students and teachers from Lviv Polytechnic National University developed a project to restore these greenhouses, aiming to create a modern ecological space. The development of urban gardening, involving the city community and internally displaced persons, is considered important for unification, psychological rehabilitation, and adaptation, requiring specific landscape architecture techniques and evidentiary studies.

Tibor Farkas, Róbert Barna, Gábor Koncz · European Countryside · Hungary

Allotment gardens in Hungary play a significant role in agriculture, society, environmental preservation, household economy, and sustainable development. The Hungarian government's allotment garden development program in 2018, 2019, and 2021 received 540 applications, and this study assessed their current status, characteristics, results, impacts, and future needs through an online questionnaire administered in 148 settlements. The most important future goal for applicants was found to be the development of various infrastructures, such as roads and ditches, and the creation of public utilities, including electricity and water supply.

Christina Frendo · Urban Geography · Canada (Montréal)

This study analyzed how urban agriculture contributes to green gentrification in Montréal. Based on interviews with planners, developers, and community actors, and discourse analysis of municipal policy documents, it showed that ecological initiatives are prioritized over housing, and sustainability fixes reconcile progressive rhetoric with growth imperatives, leading to policy trade-offs that undermine housing affordability. These findings reveal how progressive governments reproduce structural injustices through their ecological transition agendas within the context of a housing crisis.

Ahmad zanganeh, ُSara Abbasi, Tajulddin Karami · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Iran

In Zanjan City, Iran, recent rapid urban development has led to the conversion of agricultural lands and surrounding green spaces into gray urban infrastructures like roads, parking lots, and buildings, resulting in a significant reduction of green open spaces. This land transformation poses current challenges and threatens the city's future. This study explores the critical role of urban green infrastructure in enhancing Zanjan's sustainability and resilience, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic planning to address ecological, economic, and social challenges from unbalanced development.

Patricia Abrantes, Luís Moreno, Maria Lucinda Fonseca, Burcu Borhan Türeli, Christos Stergiadis, Gábor Szüdi, Martin Felix Gajdusek, Carolin V. Zorell · City and Environment Interactions · Europe

This study examined how governance influences inclusion and long-term viability in seven community gardens in Portugal, Türkiye, Austria, Hungary, and Greece. Using a qualitative comparative design with 65 semi-structured interviews and policy analysis, findings showed that community gardens with stronger relational and procedural governance demonstrate higher levels of inclusion, particularly for women, migrants, and low-income residents. However, weak vertical policy integration across local, national, and European levels in most cases limits their broader systemic impact.

Olufemi A. Omitaomu, Ali Mostafavi, Sukanya Randhawa, Haoran Niu · SIGSPATIAL Special · Global

Urban AI is an interdisciplinary field integrating artificial intelligence, spatial computing, and urban science to address urbanization challenges. The growth of urban data and digitization of city infrastructures create opportunities for data-driven machine learning in urban science. Urban AI focuses on innovative AI applications for urban problems, developing AI-ready urban data infrastructures, and practical urban applications across areas like urban planning, traffic forecasting, energy optimization, public safety, urban agriculture, and land use management.

Melisa Todingan, Sandra Pakasi, Valentine Lasut · Jurnal Agroekoteknologi Terapan · Indonesia (Manado City)

A spatial analysis method was used to identify and classify the potential of yard land for urban farming development in Sario Subdistrict, Manado City, Indonesia. By applying overlay techniques on datasets including residential buildings, land parcels, land use, and administrative boundaries, verified with Google Earth, 3,019 land units with a total potential area of 47.43 hectares were identified. These were categorized into high potential (>50 m²) at approximately 93.53%, moderate potential (10–50 m²) at approximately 6.37%, and marginal potential (<10 m²) at approximately 0.11%, indicating substantial opportunities for household-based agriculture.

Sini V. Pillai · Social Responsibility Journal · Global

This research reviewed global urban agriculture practices to propose an adaptable model for developing countries, addressing food security and livelihood generation. Findings indicate that developed countries prioritize self-sustainability and community, while developing countries focus on income and food security but face technological, policy, and socio-cultural barriers. The study suggests technology-supported infrastructure and adaptive policies are needed for successful implementation in developing nations.

Francis Mwaijande · African Journal of Empirical Research · Tanzania

This study, using a mixed-methods approach with 600 respondents from urban and peri-urban farmers and agri-food supply chain producers in Tanzania, confirmed urban agriculture's contribution to food availability, accessibility, stability, and utilization. However, it found that urban agriculture is not well-integrated into urban food and poverty reduction policies in Tanzania and is practiced without legitimate policy and legal frameworks. This policy gap indicates an inadequate policy enabling environment for urban agriculture to enhance food security.

Inger‐Lise Saglie · · Norway

This chapter investigates the motivations for urban agriculture policies in three Norwegian cities: Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim. Five categories of motivations were identified: urban "green" development (environmental friendliness, biodiversity), food production and alternative food systems (linking to peri-urban agriculture), provision of social meeting places and community building, municipal welfare services (work training, integration, health promotion), and active citizenship and co-creation of city development. While motivations were similar across cities, their emphasis varied.

María Antonia Fernández Nieto, Jose Rodriguez, Jorge Gallego Sánchez-Torija · ZARCH · Spain (Madrid)

This article examines how Madrid's municipal markets are adopting new strategies linked to sustainable food systems in response to competition from supermarkets and online commerce. It highlights how citizen movements and municipal policies, including urban gardens and agroecological cooperatives, are fostering circular economies, responsible consumption, and urban resilience. The research positions markets as social mediators that connect diverse actors and balance economic interests with collective benefits, serving as instruments for regenerative urbanism and food equity.

Zhongxue Zhou, Fangze Zhao, Bingjie Song · Ecological Indicators · China

This study proposed the concept of agricultural comprehensive ecological effects (ACEE), developed an evaluation framework, and applied it to the Xi'an metropolitan zone, China. A key finding was the observed decrease in the comprehensive ecological effects of agriculture when transitioning from grain planting to urban agriculture due to unsuitable agricultural practices in urbanizing areas. This decline occurs because modern agricultural practices in urbanizing areas are ecologically detrimental compared with natural ecosystems.

Marco Focacci, Isabella De Meo, Alessandro Paletto, Fabio Salbitano · Agroforestry Systems · Italy

A study analyzed urban plans, national laws, and regional legislation in Italy, along with interviews with decision-makers, to examine the occurrence of Urban and Peri-urban Agroforestry (UPAF). Findings showed that 4 out of 140 Italian cities intentionally included agroforestry in voluntary green plans, and 12 cities had incidental UPAF elements in compulsory documents. This indicates agroforestry is present but not widely incorporated, with grass-root organizations and knowledge hubs being crucial for its promotion.

James Mbugua · African Journal of Climate Change and Resource Sustainability · Global

Biochar is presented as a promising nature-based solution for urban resilience, applicable in soil remediation, stormwater management, and carbon sequestration within green infrastructure. However, its widespread adoption faces significant barriers, including inconsistent feedstock supply, high production costs, limited public awareness, and a lack of standardized quality and safety regulations. The study also identifies a critical need for policies that integrate biochar into urban planning frameworks and incentivize its production and application.

Nur Shuhamin Nazuri, Mohd Roslan Rosnon, Siti Shazwani Ahmad Suhaimi, Sara Shakilla Mohd Salim · PLANNING MALAYSIA · Malaysia (Klang Valley)

This study investigated the values driving community participation in urban agriculture (UA) in Klang Valley, Malaysia, and their contribution to social and economic empowerment. Researchers surveyed 180 UA program participants using multistage random sampling and applied Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The study concluded that implementation and evaluation are crucial for social and economic empowerment in UA programs, with linking social capital acting as a key mediator between effective planning and empowerment outcomes.

MAGDALENA DRĂGAN · Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning · Romania

This paper examines the potential for implementing decentralized bio-waste management in urban Romania, a country with low municipal waste management performance. It analyzed three EU decentralized composting systems to identify best practices and explored local bottom-up initiatives in Romania. The study concludes with policy recommendations for adapting these practices to local conditions and engaging with local initiatives to develop context-specific composting solutions.

Rumana Sultana · · Global

This chapter explores the relationship between ecological properties and cultural ecosystem services (CES) in urban settings, focusing on their role in climate change adaptation in the Global South. It examines various urban CES, including urban farming and rooftop gardening, and their diverse roles in adaptation, such as increasing environmental awareness and community engagement. A case study of Dhaka, Bangladesh, suggests that integrating CES into urban development planning is crucial for climate change adaptation.

Firdavs Berdikulov, Iroda Orifjonova, Bekhzod Eshboev, Jumanazar Xolmurzayev, Bakhtiyor Abdusayitov · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Uzbekistan (Samarkand)

This study examined agricultural growth in Samarkand, Uzbekistan's peri-urban regions from 2000 to 2024, using government data and predictive modeling. It found that urban populations surged while arable land declined, and the vegetable surplus, though currently meeting demand, began shrinking around 2015, suggesting a tipping point toward shortages. The research indicates that without proactive measures like smarter land allocation and advanced irrigation, Samarkand risks a structural food deficit within a decade.

Bohan Wang · Journal of Frontier in Economic and Management Research · China

This study analyzes the imbalance in benefit distribution between grain producing and consuming regions in China, using Marxist land rent theory. It identifies a systematic rent drain from producing regions and proposes an institutionalized compensation mechanism centered on urban agriculture, supported by horizontal fiscal transfer payments. This mechanism aims to enhance agricultural productivity, address economic disincentives for grain cultivation, and ensure fair economic returns for major grain-producing regions, thereby safeguarding national food security.

Ahmad Hanis Izani Abdul Hadi, M Nasir Shamsudin, Alias Radam, Yahya Awang · Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository (Universiti Putra Malaysia) · Malaysia (Klang Valley)

An exploratory study in Klang Valley, Malaysia, surveyed 875 urban dwellers to identify factors influencing their perceptions of urban agriculture (UA) practices. Using Exploratory Factor Analysis, the study found that perceptions are shaped by six key factors: social and health impact, quantity and quality, environmental impact, economic impact, dietary preferences, and land utilization.

Gail Whiteford, Michael Sy, Rod Charlie Delos Reyes · · Philippines

This chapter discusses the Participatory Occupational Justice Framework (POJF, a new theoretical model developed to guide occupational therapists in community-based settings. It describes how occupational therapy has expanded beyond biomedical contexts to include community gardens and other settings, aiming to address occupational injustices and ensure equitable access to opportunities. The chapter provides a case study illustrating the POJF's application in community-based and institution-based programs in the Philippines.

Ola Akeem Bayonle, Raheem Wasiu Mayowa · Bioresources and Environment · Nigeria

This study in Ilorin, Nigeria, examined the role of informal land agents in supporting urban agriculture using a cross-sectional survey of 73 informal agents and 303 urban farmers. It found that most agents were male, aged 20-39, and land was primarily acquired through direct contact with owners (72.6%), with location being the main price factor (78.2%). A strong positive correlation was identified between informal land delivery systems and access to agricultural land, indicating these agents bridge gaps in the formal system.

Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio, Nathalie Dagmang · The Journal of Peasant Studies · Philippines (Metro Manila)

This article examines two cases of radical urban agriculture in Metro Manila, Philippines, where urban poor communities strive for food sovereignty and assert rights over contested urban lands. It highlights that the spatiality of material constraints in cities acts as a mediating factor, influencing the formation of rural-urban alliances and the sustainability of urban resistance efforts. The study reveals challenges in establishing and maintaining these alliances due to urban material limitations.

· The MIT Press eBooks · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), China (Beijing)

This account describes the challenges in building support for Rio de Janeiro's Hortas Cariocas urban farming initiative in 2016. Negotiations among environmental protection officers, education officials, and school administrators generated "fiery discussions" regarding garden placement, teacher training, and incentives. The presence of a foreign professor was used to strengthen arguments for urban farming's benefits.