Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Mapping the consumer foodshed of the Kampala city region shows the importance of urban agriculture
2023Lisa‐Marie Hemerijckx, Gloria Nsangi Nakyagaba, Hakimu Sseviiri, Katarzyna Janusz, Michelle Eichinger, Shuaib Lwasa, Julian May, Peter H. Verburg, Anton Van Rompaey · npj Urban Sustainability · Uganda
This paper quantitatively analyzed the spatial extent of the food provisioning area for consumers in Kampala, Uganda, using a foodshed lens and primary survey data from households and food vendors. The study found that 50% of food consumed in Kampala originates within a 120 km radius, with 10% coming from within the city itself. Urban agricultural activities are currently twice as important as international imports for the city's food supply. High-income urban dwellers exhibit a more local foodshed due to their broad participation in urban agriculture, whereas low-income newcomers depend significantly on retailers sourcing food from rural Uganda.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityCyber-gardening the city
2023Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto · · Europe
This article introduces the Urban Algae Canopy, an innovative architectural system that redefines farming and horticulture within urbanism. It proposes agriculture as a tool for reprogramming Milan's public realm and challenges the separation between urban and rural conditions. The Urban Algae Folly aims to integrate technical and scientific research with societal needs through architectural design.
Digital agricultureClimate changeUrban–rural linkageBetween ambitions and actions: how citizens navigate the entrepreneurial process of co-producing sustainable urban food futures
2023Koen van der Gaast, J.E. Jansma, Sigrid Wertheim‐Heck · Agriculture and Human Values · Netherlands
This study explored how residents of Almere Oosterwold, Netherlands, envision and organize urban agriculture futures, where 50% of plots must be used for urban agriculture. Using futuring, it found that residents have diverse future perspectives and can formulate specific actions but struggle to commit to them, attributing this to temporal dissonance. The paper concludes that both planning and entrepreneurship are necessary for realizing urban food futures.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyRethinking How City Dwellers Get Their Food
2023Claudia Wiese, Bernd Pölling, Wolf Lorleberg · Frontiers for Young Minds · Global
This article discusses how cities, despite covering only 2-3% of land, consume 75% of global energy and produce 80% of CO2 emissions, making them dependent on distant food sources. It describes how urban agriculture can help cities address climate change and environmental problems, while simultaneously improving living environments for urban populations.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityUrban–rural linkageHeavy metal occurrence within urban agriculture practices in eastern zones of Nairobi city
2023Njenga John Ng’ang’a, Mukundi John Bosco, Masinde Peter Wasike, Kihurani Agnes Wanjiru · Journal of Agriculture Science and Technology · Kenya (Nairobi)
A study in Nairobi's eastern zone assessed heavy metal occurrence in urban farm inputs and food crops (tomatoes, arrowroots, kales). Cadmium, manganese, lead, and zinc concentrations were analyzed in soil, water, and crop samples. The study found that heavy metal contents, particularly cadmium, manganese, lead, and zinc, were above allowable limits in several crops, and based on FAO/WHO standards, were high for health concern.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageUrban Food Security and Resilience
2023Gareth Haysom, Jane Battersby · Palgrave studies in agricultural economics and food policy · Africa
Based on findings from cities in five African countries, this study argues for a re-framing of urban food system resilience. It contends that the urban system, specifically infrastructure, shapes the functioning of the food system and consumers' ability to use it, and that the agency of urban food system users needs inclusion in understandings of, and efforts to increase, food systems resilience.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkage“CROPPING THE MARGINS”: NEW EVIDENCE FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE AT MID-3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.E. TELL BRAK, SYRIA
2023Charlotte Diffey, Geoff Emberling, Amy Bogaard, Michael Charles · Iraq · Syria
The excavation of a large administrative building at Tell Brak, Syria, yielded a considerable quantity of charred cereals dated to the mid-third millennium B.C.E., providing insight into the nature of agriculture in Upper Mesopotamia. The material was studied using archaeobotanical analysis, crop stable isotope determinations, and functional weed ecology. This revealed cultivation strategies at Tell Brak and contributed to wider debates regarding trade and crop importation.
Urban–rural linkageEconomicsRESPON ARSITEKTUR TERHADAP DEGRADASI LAHAN PERTANIAN KAWASAN KEMBANGAN MELALUI PERTANIAN PERKOTAAN VERTIKAL
2023Fatin Nurlia Sari Dewi, James Rilatupa · Jurnal Sains Teknologi Urban Perancangan Arsitektur (Stupa) · Indonesia (Jakarta)
This study descriptively investigates the issue of agricultural land degradation in Kembangan District, West Jakarta, Indonesia. It notes that the conversion of agricultural land due to urban development can lead to the loss of regional food security and identity. The research concludes that vertical urban agriculture, adapted with architectural engineering technology, is one way to develop the agricultural industry to maintain food security amidst the land crisis.
Urban–rural linkagePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceSite History’s Role in Urban Agriculture: A Case Study in Kisumu, Kenya, and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
2023Nicolette Tamara Jonkman, Karsten Kalbitz, Huig Bergsma, Boris Jansen · Land · Africa
This case study investigates the relationship between prior land use, current management, and soil quality at six urban agriculture (UA) sites in Kisumu, Kenya, and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A soil survey determined the soil macronutrient and mineral composition. Results indicate that three UA sites predate surrounding urban development, and soil nutrient data suggest these sites were likely chosen for their soil.
Urban–rural linkageEconomicsCommunityOrganic cycleANALISIS POTENSI MASYARAKAT TERHADAP RENCANA KEGIATAN PERTANIAN PERKOTAAN DI KOTA MAGELANG Studi Kasus: Kecamatan Magelang Utara
2023Sri Purwanti · Jurnal Jendela Inovasi Daerah · Indonesia (Magelang)
This study used quantitative methods to assess the community's potential and competence for urban agricultural activities in Magelang Utara District, Magelang City, Indonesia. Field findings indicated that the community is capable and competent, evidenced by their participation in yard planting and waste management to support economical and accessible plant cultivation.
Urban–rural linkageCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsSmart Irrigation Systems in Agriculture: A Systematic Review
2023David Vallejo-Gómez, Marisol Osorio, Carlos A. Hincapié · Agronomy · Global
This research aims to conduct a systematic review of available literature on smart irrigation systems. It focuses on systems using artificial intelligence techniques for soil crops in urban and rural agriculture to identify those currently in use or adaptable to urban agriculture. A modified PRISMA 2020 method was applied, screening 170 articles, with 50 selected for detailed analysis.
Digital agricultureUrban–rural linkagePlanning for green infrastructure using multiple urban ecosystem service models and multicriteria analysis
2022Karen Lourdes, Perrine Hamel, Chris Gibbins, Ruzana Sanusi, Badrul Azhar, Alex M. Lechner · Landscape and Urban Planning · Malaysia
This study characterized the spatial distribution of multiple urban ecosystem services (UES) in a rapidly urbanizing catchment in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and developed a systematic approach to integrate UES into green infrastructure (GI) planning. Using InVEST models to spatially quantify and map six UES (heat mitigation, runoff retention, sediment retention, scenic quality, urban recreation, and agricultural production), the assessment revealed that densely built areas generally had low UES provision. A multicriteria analysis identified locations for five GI strategies: conservation of headwaters, reforestation for biodiversity, development and conservation of urban parks, and greening of built infrastructure.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changePolicyThe loss of peri-urban agricultural land and the state-local tensions in managing its demise: The case of Greater Western Sydney, Australia
2022Amy Lawton, Nicky Morrison · Land Use Policy · Australia (Greater Western Sydney)
This study examines the drivers of peri-urban agricultural land loss in Greater Western Sydney, Australia, with a focus on the role of government agencies. It found that competing housing priorities and private market interests continue to take precedence over protecting agricultural land. The research indicates that this trend will persist unless the current pro-urbanization narrative and associated political priorities are altered.
Governance failurePeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageGreen City or Urban Countryside?; An Analytic Review of the Urban Sprawl Phenomenon in the Algerian City N’Gaous
2022Imen Bendjemila, Salah Chaouche · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Algeria
Urban sprawl in N'Gaous, Algeria, expanded its land area by over ten times (from 33.7 to 379.7 hectares) and its population by over six times (from 4,887 to 33,515 persons) over 60 years. This rapid growth creates significant issues, particularly for peri-urban orchards, which are the primary economic activity. The study used an analytical approach with Geographic Information Systems to assess the agronomic potential of soils and quantify agricultural land consumed by construction, aiming to achieve an optimal agri-urban balance rather than merely avoiding urban expansion.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageEconomicsPolicyGlobal Trends in Urban Agriculture Research: A Pathway toward Urban Resilience and Sustainability
2022Dan Yan, Litao Liu, Xiaojie Liu, Ming Zhang · Land · Global
A bibliometric analysis of 605 papers from the Web of Science database (2001–2021) tracked global research trends in urban agriculture. The study found a substantial increase in publications, with the US, Germany, UK, Italy, and China being the most influential countries. Research focuses include food production, various functions of urban agriculture, and emerging topics like sustainability and the water-energy-food nexus. The analysis also noted that urban agriculture does not necessarily equate to a resource-conserving and environmentally friendly food system, suggesting a need for technology-based transitions for sustainable development.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changePolicyEconomicsFrom small-scale agriculture to urban agriculture: women, subsistence economy, and the question of the commons
2022Elisabeth Meyer-Renschhausen · Journal of Contemporary Central and Eastern Europe · Global
This article provides a historical overview of small-scale, subsistence farming, primarily by women, spanning two centuries from the early 19th century to the 21st century. It traces the evolution from the loss of commons in Prussia to urban farming in contemporary cities across Europe, America, and Africa. The discussion includes subsistence farming in towns, garden cities, post-war initiatives, and the significant role of unacknowledged family production in Eastern Europe.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyUrban–rural linkageExploring the need for innovation in greening urban environments: Reflecting on radical practice in Greater Manchester, UK
2022Adelina Court, Aileen Kelly, Michael Hardman · Cogent Social Sciences · United Kingdom (Greater Manchester)
This paper explores the need for innovation in urban green infrastructure, focusing on enabling urban food growing in cities. It reviews current policy tools and presents a case study of a multifunctional forest school in Salford, UK, which enables larger-scale farming in a deprived area. The study, conducted by a multidisciplinary team, also proposes a visual methodology framework for future replication.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceEdible Landscapes and Landscaping
2022Avi Friedman · · Canada (Montreal)
This chapter explores how food production can initiate change at the neighborhood level and how using native flora in landscaping decreases water consumption and benefits local biodiversity. The Benny Farm Project in Montreal, Canada, is presented as an example of a highly productive urban agriculture undertaking.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityUrban–rural linkageAnalyser l’agriculture urbaine occidentale à travers la notion de capital environnemental
2022Carmen Cantuarias-Villessuzanne, Mathilde Vignau · Nouvelles perspectives en sciences sociales · Global
This paper aims to analyze urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) projects in France through the notion of environmental capital. Interest in UPA has grown in Western countries since the late 19th century, and this study seeks to clarify its economic models and ultimately formalize a new mapping of contemporary UPA projects in France.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceChapter 8: Regional resourcefulness for food systems: the case of phosphorus in the metropolitan region of Amsterdam
2022Wim van Dijk, J.E. Jansma, J. Broeze, J.J.R. Groot · · Netherlands (Amsterdam)
This chapter focuses on regional resourcefulness for food systems, arguing that urban areas are vital for closing nutrient loops to prevent resource depletion. Two case studies in the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam (MRA) discuss phosphorus (P) flows, exploring the potential of a circular food system in Almere and quantifying actual P-flows across the MRA. The chapter concludes that a circular City Region Food System is technically feasible but requires a fundamental shift in the organization of food and waste systems.
Organic cycleUrban–rural linkageEconomicsClimate changeCommunity gardens as a response to the contradictions of sustainable urban policy: Insights from the Swiss cities of Zurich and Lausanne
2022Ingrid Jahrl, Olivier Ejderyan, Joëlle Salomon Cavin · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Switzerland
An analysis of policy documents in the Swiss cities of Lausanne and Zurich confirmed that community gardens better accommodate the tensions created by compact and green city discourses compared to other types of food gardening. Policies are oriented towards favoring community gardening through four frames, citing their modest, flexible, and multifunctional design, their role as a new benchmark, fostering diversity, and their cost-efficient management with active citizen participation.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageBusiness Models for Urban Farming in and Around Urban Protected Areas
2022Vesna Popović, Branko Mihailović · IGI Global eBooks · Serbia (Belgrade)
This study analyzed the business model of EkoPark Belgrade, an organic farm within Serbia's Avala Protected Area, which combines certified organic production and direct sales with on-farm services. Using the Canvas Business Model, the authors identified key success factors to help farmers in and around urban protected areas choose viable development strategies.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkageCommunityCultivating Vibrant Gardens in Urban Communities: Success Factors of Community Gardens in Beijing and Shanghai
2022Danning Lu · Journal for Undergraduate Ethnography · China
This research analyzed social and organizational factors influencing the success of community gardens in China, using four case studies of state-sponsored community gardens in Beijing and Shanghai. It found that success factors are multi-faceted and interactive, with resident-government relations being crucial across development stages. Resident involvement and vision are important in the design stage, while leadership, residents' self-governance preparedness, and external recognition are key in the maintenance stage.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageCommunity Perception of Animal-Based Urban Agriculture within City Greenspaces of the Global North: A Survey of Residents near Cornwall Park, New Zealand
2022Shannon Davis, Guanyu Chen · Sustainability · New Zealand (Auckland)
A survey of residents near Cornwall Park in Auckland, New Zealand, examined perceptions of integrating grazing animals into urban greenspaces. The study found that 99% of respondents felt positive about the inclusion of grazing animals as part of the public park. These findings support decision-making for policies enabling animal-based agriculture in public greenspaces in cities of the Global North.
CommunityUrban–rural linkagePolicyUrban Resilience: A Study of Leftover Spaces and Play in Dense City Fabric
2022Alice Covatta, Vedrana Ikalović · Sustainability · Japan (Tokyo)
This paper examines design strategies for transforming leftover urban spaces by integrating creative and playful programs, using Tokyo, Japan, as a case study. Through ethnographic observations and spatial analysis, the study demonstrates how play positively affects everyday life in public spaces and enables extraordinary uses of these spaces. The findings offer guidance for urban planners and designers on how people use playfulness to appropriate and utilize leftover spaces.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkage