Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
3274 results(17 / 131)
Inside and over urban buildings: will urban agriculture spark the next urban design revolution?
2025RENÉ DAVIDS · Cogent Arts and Humanities · Global
This paper argues for creating a connected network of farms within and on top of existing urban buildings to address increasing food demand and limited land resources. It highlights urban farming's benefits, including enhanced food security, public health, reduced transportation pollution, urban heat island mitigation, improved water retention, and biodiversity fostering. The paper notes that current research on urban agriculture's impact on city design is insufficient, and proposes this approach based on an examination of historical and contemporary urban projects.
Food sovereignty & justiceHealthClimate changeBiodiversityPolicyDevelopment and Prospects of Community Gardens through Temporary Use of National Land
2025Naomi Shimpo, Sakura Yamada · Toshi keikaku hokokushu/Toshi keikaku houkokushuu · Japan (Tokyo)
This paper reports on the establishment of "Harajuku Harappa Farm," a community garden initiated by local residents on approximately 1,500m² of unused national land in central Tokyo. The project overcame barriers to national land use through multi-stakeholder collaboration, featuring experimental, shared, and educational plots with an emphasis on composting and local resource circulation. This case suggests the potential for temporary use of public land for environmental education, community building, and circular resource management in urban areas from an urban planning perspective.
CommunityPolicyFood educationOrganic cycleMODULAR SCHOOL GARDEN: A PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPING GARDENS IN SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS WITH POTENTIAL FOR REPLICATION IN OTHER SPACES
2025Sirlei Rodrigues do Nascimento, Oduvaldo Vendrametto, Luiz Lima, Luigi Pavarini de Lima · Seven Editora eBooks · Brazil (São Paulo)
This exploratory action-research study adopted a methodology to assess the feasibility of implementing modular school gardens in Ribeirão Pires, SP, Brazil, involving the active participation of students, teachers, and the local community. Feedback from thirteen participating students indicated an increase in knowledge about sustainable practices and cultivation techniques. The results suggest that modular gardens facilitate practical knowledge about food production and demonstrate potential for replication in other educational contexts, emphasizing the importance of integrating them as a pedagogical strategy.
Food educationCommunityPolicyHealthEvaluating the role of green infrastructure in mitigating Urban Environmental and Health Challenges
2025Anuradha S. Bodhe, Sandip N. Ajmire · International Journal Of Recent Advances in Engineering & Technology · Global
This paper investigates the impact of green infrastructure on community health, focusing on the benefits derived from urban nature. As urbanization intensifies, the integration of green spaces such as parks, greenways, and community gardens has become increasingly important for promoting public health. This study examines how these natural environments contribute to physical health by encouraging active lifestyles, improving air quality, and reducing heat-related illnesses. Additionally, the mental health benefits of green infrastructure are explored through its role in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
CommunityHealthClimate changePolicyThe New Orleans Food System and COVID-19: A Case Study in Strengthening Food System Resiliency to Facilitate Healthy Eating
2025Brandi Stein, Megan Knapp, Elisa Muñoz, Donald Rose · Nutrients · United States (New Orleans)
This case study examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the New Orleans food system and the community's and local government's responses to strengthen its resiliency. Using a participant-observer approach, including a 2020 online survey of 56 local food organizations, the study identified key themes and efforts. These efforts included the "Greaux the Good" campaign for increased food assistance, policy changes for food vendor permitting, and the establishment of City Food Specialist and Urban Agriculture Liaison positions within local government. Additionally, innovative grassroots citizens' programs positively impacted food access.
CommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceHealthBiodiversity-based Land Management Strategies for Food Security in Suburban Areas
2025Farida Arinie Soelistianto · West Science Nature and Technology · Indonesia
This study investigated biodiversity-based land management strategies as a sustainable solution for urban food security challenges in Indonesia, using a qualitative approach and the Penta Helix model. Data from five informants representing academia, government, private sector, community, and media were analyzed. Findings highlighted the significant contributions of each stakeholder in promoting biodiversity, but also noted persistent challenges such as resource constraints, policy fragmentation, and cultural resistance. The study concluded that biodiversity-based strategies, supported by collaborative governance, are essential for achieving sustainable and food-secure urban environments in Indonesia.
BiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyChallenges and solutions for achieving carbon neutrality through urban green infrastructure in China’s future cities
2025Sitong Liu, Meili Feng, Linjun Xie, Faith Ka Shun Chan · Nature-Based Solutions · China
This study systematically reviewed 464 global publications, including 85 focused on China, to address gaps in understanding urban green infrastructure (UGI) for carbon neutrality. It categorized UGI's carbon mitigation mechanisms and aligned them with quantification methods across carbon sequestration, thermal regulation, and urban agriculture, highlighting strengths and limitations. The research identified critical factors influencing mitigation outcomes, assessed methodological trade-offs, and explored UGI-related carbon initiatives in China, offering policy recommendations.
Climate changePolicyUrban–rural linkageCommunityAddressing The Uncertain Future of Agriculture in Nepal: Agents of Food System Changes and Immediate Need for Intervention
2025Sudan Prasad Uprety, Tobin Hindle · Himalayan Biodiversity · Nepal
A study of 245 respondents from Chitwan, Dhading, and Rasuwa districts in Nepal identified major drivers of food system changes. These drivers included a lack of agricultural labor, insufficient government support, crop damage by wildlife, land abandonment, and shifts in occupation. Additionally, increased outmigration from rural to urban areas, climate change, and improved access to markets and processed foods were noted as significant factors influencing food systems in these districts.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceIntegrated Urban Farming System (IUFS): POTENSI DAN PELUANG MAKASSAR MENUJU KOTA EKOLOGIS
2025La Ode Muhammad Noval Alfrizi La Ode, Djusdil Akrim, Luisa Ángela, Jilan Tsamara, Ronatio Napitupulu, Chatarina T.P, Muhammad Aufa · JEBE Journal of Environment Behavior and Engineering · Indonesia (Makassar)
The Integrated Urban Farming System (IUFS) in Makassar City, Indonesia, utilizes mosque ablution water and community land for vertical farming and aquaponics. This system is estimated to produce up to 1 quintal of vegetables and 50 kg of catfish per cycle while saving approximately 15% of water. The project aims to strengthen local food security and promote Makassar's image as an ecological city through academic-community partnerships and micro-financing.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cyclePolicyMot en operasjonalisering av eudaimonisk velvære i offentlige rom
2025Beata Sirowy · · Global
This chapter discusses and attempts to operationalize the concept of human well-being in cities based on the Aristotelian view of human flourishing and Martha Nussbaum’s capability approach in the context of public space. This operationalization maps the central dimensions of eudaimonic well-being using Nussbaum's ten human capabilities and extends the consideration to virtues, which are largely absent in capability scholarship. The research argues for a clearer distinction between eudaimonic and hedonic well-being in urban research.
HealthCommunityPolicyProcesos de diseño y construcción para la reapropiación ciudadana de los vacíos urbanos. El Proyecto Machi Hata en Nagano, Japón
2025Kosuke Sakura, Ignacio Grávalos Lacambra, Manuel Alejandro Rufasto Ñañez, Patrizia Di Monte · Dearq · Japan (Nagano)
This article presents an active service-learning methodology as a pedagogical approach in architecture schools, focusing on community-led appropriation of public space. This methodology was implemented through the Machi Hata Project, which aimed to transform three abandoned areas near Zenkoji Temple in Nagano—Sukeroku Garden, La Rencontre Backyard, and A Goat Garden—into "civic gardens." The study documents the sequential processes of analysis, design, and community-led construction of these community gardens, highlighting their potential as both educational tools and catalysts for urban regeneration.
CommunityFood educationPolicyPlanung für Ernährung in unsicheren Zeiten
2025Julija Bakunowitsch, Jost Buscher · RaumPlanung · Global
Global crises increasingly threaten the seemingly secure food supply of cities. Urban agriculture is therefore gaining focus as a potential contribution to resilient food systems.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changePolicyCulinary Medicine
2025Michelle Loy, Rupa Mahadevan, Maria R. Mascarenhas, Lori Walsh · Pediatric Annals · Global
Culinary medicine, which uses food to treat illness and maintain health, is gaining support from health systems and organizations to develop policies promoting access to high-quality meals. It is now incorporated into medical education and shows potential to enhance patient care in various settings, including farms and community gardens.
HealthFood educationCommunityPolicyCapacity Building Model of Urban Farmer Groups through Participatory Mapping and Visual Dissemination
2025Endah Tisnawati, Ferida Yuamita, Anang Saptoto, Sagio Sagio, Yunita Firdha Kyswantoro, Desrina Ratriningsih · SPEKTA (Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat Teknologi dan Aplikasi) · Indonesia
This community service program aimed to strengthen the institutional capacity of urban farmer groups in Kemantren Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta. A methodology combining participatory mapping, exhibitions, and focus group discussions (FGDs) was employed. Results showed that participatory mapping increased collective awareness of available resources, while structured FGDs supported the formulation of institutional strategies, improving group cohesion, managerial transparency, and access to external support. The program demonstrates the crucial role of integrating participatory methods and public interaction in strengthening urban farming groups' capacity.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyRecreational Community Gardens: a Study on Their Role In Promoting Well-being and Social Cohesion Among Housing Estate Residents In Fct Abuja
2025Ebimorboere endoni, Ibrahim Umar, Patrick Chukwuemeke Uwajeh, Timothy Onosahwo Iyendo, olawepo ibidolapo · Nile Journal of Engineering and Applied Science · Nigeria
This research investigates the role of community recreational gardens in fostering social cohesion among residents in urban housing estates in FCT Abuja, Nigeria, using a mixed-methods approach including surveys, interviews, and observational studies. Key findings indicate that community recreational gardens serve as inclusive environments, promoting cross-generational interactions, cultural exchange, and the formation of social networks in housing estates.
CommunityHealthPolicyChallenges and Opportunities of Urban Agriculture in Major Towns Practicing Urban Agriculture in Ethiopia: A Review
2025Etefa Tilahun Ashine · International Journal of Agricultural Economics · Ethiopia
This review examines the challenges and opportunities of urban agriculture in Ethiopia, where urbanization and living costs are rising. Key challenges include limited access to land, irrigation water, and financial institutions, as well as high prices for fertilizers and pesticides, and climate variability affecting crop yields. Opportunities include strong market demand for products, employment creation for youth and women, and additional income generation for producers. The study concludes that stronger policy support and investment are needed to enhance urban agriculture's contribution.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsCommunityUrban–rural linkagePráticas agroecológicas em franjas urbanas do Sul Global
2025Victória Pansani Silveira Maia, Sílvia Aparecida Mikami Gonçalves Pina · Periódico Técnico e Científico Cidades Verdes · Global
This case study analyzed urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) experiences in India (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam) and an agroforestry system in Campinas, Brazil, using literature review, document analysis, and participant observation. The study identified common obstacles to agroecological practices, including land tenure insecurity, real estate pressures, lack of specific public policies, and uneven community engagement. It also highlighted potentialities such as care networks and food resilience, emphasizing the need for institutional support and public policies.
Governance failurePeri-urban agricultureCommunityPolicyClimate changeEconomicsRooftop Agriculture in the Urban Global South: The Experience of Johannesburg
2025Jayne M. Rogerson · Modern Geográfia · South Africa (Johannesburg)
This article examines the organization and current state of rooftop agriculture in Johannesburg, South Africa, drawing on existing material. Johannesburg hosts the largest cluster of rooftop farms, primarily established for social considerations, with fewer projects for commercial reasons or business image enhancement. The study investigates the challenges confronting these rooftop farming projects.
Governance failureCommunityEconomicsPolicyCultivating Bonds: On Urban Allotment Gardens and Their Relationship with Social Capital
2025Noelia Fernández-Salido, Alfonso Gallego‐Valadés, Carlos Serra-Castells, Jorge Garcés Ferrer · Agriculture · Spain (Valencia)
This qualitative study in Valencia, Spain, explored the role of urban allotment gardens in producing social capital. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants involved in urban garden projects. Findings indicate that urban gardens act as relational infrastructures, fostering intergenerational learning and inclusive participation. However, exclusionary attitudes and fragmented governance were found to limit their potential.
CommunityPolicyFood educationThe Affective Creation of Dissonance in Alternative Organizations: The case of a shared community garden
2025Nilo Coradini de Freitas, Hélène Picard, Marcos Barros · Organization Studies · Global
This ethnographic study of a shared community garden explores the role of affective dynamics in creating dissonance within alternative organizations. The study found that intensive affective experiences generate tensions in member interactions, leading to transitional reactions that require organizational responses. This highlights how affective embodiment processes shape supposedly rational procedures and dialogue in decision-making, impacting organizational democracy.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyNúcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas Regionais e Agrários: Investigações e Proposições Geográficas
2025Édipo Alves Lacerda · Espiral revista de geografías y ciencias sociales · Brazil
This book, organized by Gustavo Henrique Cepolini Ferreira et al., compiles texts from Unimontes researchers focused on critical geography and popular struggles for land and traditional territories in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. It discusses conflicts from agribusiness expansion, disputes over resources, climate change effects on peasant farming, and challenges faced by quilombolas, indigenous, and traditional communities. The book addresses structural racism and other aspects of rural development, highlighting negative impacts on these communities.
Equity & displacementUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justicePolicyClimate changeCommunityThe EArTh System: A Community Food Sovereignty Blueprint
2025F. A. Abd El Hamid · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · United Kingdom (Glasgow)
This paper presents the complete operational blueprint for the EArTh System, a community-led model designed to establish food sovereignty in post-industrial areas. The system integrates a decaying digital currency, democratic assemblies, and urban agriculture to create a parallel 'commons' for essential goods. Detailed as a pilot implementation for Glasgow East, UK, the document outlines its currency mechanics, legal structure, governance, and launch strategy.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyUrban Farming Practices and Constraints to Urban Agriculture in Bauchi Metropolis
2025Yusuf Kamaluddeen Ibrahim, Zabawi Abdul Ghani, Rasheed Osuolale Oladosu, O. D. Idris,, Tamwesigire Caleb · Journal of Innovative Research · Nigeria (Bauchi)
In Bauchi metropolis, Nigeria, urban farming practices and constraints were investigated among 285 urban farmers. Findings revealed that most farmers do not own land, instead borrowing or renting it. The major constraints to urban agriculture were reported as lack of tenure security, limited land area, and poor access to microcredit facilities.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityPolicyThe Role of Urban Farming in Enhancing Food Security and Sustainability in Lagos Metropolis: A Stakeholder Analysis
2025S Aliyu, Okhimamhe A. A, I. M. Sule · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science · Nigeria (Lagos)
This study explored the role of urban farming in enhancing food security and sustainability in the Lagos Metropolis through focus group discussions and quantitative surveys with various stakeholders, including policymakers, urban farmers, and community members. Findings suggest urban farming's potential to reduce food transportation distances, enhance local food production, and mitigate climate change impacts. However, challenges such as land demands and gender disparities persist, necessitating integrated policy approaches and targeted educational programs.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeCommunityPolicy„Да засадиш (в) града“
2025Меглена Златкова · Семинар_BG · Bulgaria (Plovdiv)
This article analyzes urban gardening as a practice of inhabiting in the Bulgarian post-socialist city, based on long-term anthropological research in the Trakia residential district of Plovdiv. It examines how inter-block gardens and peripheral "ranch" gardens are maintained, transformed, and inherited amidst changing urban space management. Urban gardening is interpreted as a sustainable mechanism for rooting in the city and understanding post-socialist forms of inhabiting public space.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkage