Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
8656 results(176 / 347)
Allotment gardening in Poland – new practices and changes in recreational space
2020Justyna Mokras-Grabowska · Miscellanea Geographica · Poland
Allotment gardening (AGs) in Europe, including Poland, is a tradition stemming from rapid urban industrialization, now emphasizing community, social, ecological, creative, and entertainment functions beyond economic and recreational roles. The Polish Allotment Association undertakes numerous initiatives, such as the "Open Social Programme of Allotment Gardens Development," to protect AGs from liquidation and promote their use for public and non-public purposes. This program redefines the perception of AGs in Poland and contributes to their infrastructural development.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsBiodiversityLIVING STRIP: FASILITAS TRANSIT DAN PASAR SEGAR KAWASAN KOTA
2020Hendri Librata, Suryono Herlambang · Jurnal Sains Teknologi Urban Perancangan Arsitektur (Stupa) · Indonesia
This study focuses on the unresolved dialogue between traditional markets and public transportation in the Angke Market environment, proposing an architectural design to meet the needs of urban millennial society. The design uses a mixed program combining transit functions, traditional fruit and vegetable markets, vertical urban farming, and millennial hangout places. This results in new programs like urban farming and hangout facilities that link transit and market programs and contextualize future needs.
CommunityUrban–rural linkageEconomicsDifferent Ways of Knowing and a Different Ways of Being: On a Path to Reawakening Legacy of the Maya Forest
2020Cynthia Ellis Topsey, Anabel Ford, Sherman Horn · Heritage · Global
This narrative describes an education outreach project in archaeology that incorporates local collaboration, focusing on ancient Maya heritage and the Maya forest garden. The project is centered on the El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna, with activities at the Cayo Welcome Center, Chak Ha Col forest garden, and Känan K’aax School Garden. It highlights that community partnerships require acknowledging tangible heritage, formal information outlets, education links, and cultural traditions.
Food educationCommunityBiodiversityUrban agriculture in the city of Daloa, Central-West Côte d'Ivoire: Crop species, market practices and economic fallout
2020Amon Anoh Denis-Esdras, Konan Kouadio Ezéchiel, Kouadio N’da Kouamé Cyriac, Soro Kafana, Seguena Fofana, Ouattara Pan Issa · International Journal of Science and Research Archive · Côte d'Ivoire (Daloa)
A survey using semi-structured interviews with 19 individuals at 8 market gardening sites in Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire, investigated urban agriculture practices. The study identified 11 crop species across 9 genera and 8 families, with carrot, cabbage, and lettuce among the most cultivated vegetables. The sector is primarily managed by functionally illiterate individuals with over five years of experience, and it provides a significant source of income for local populations.
EconomicsCommunityNew School maintains an established garden
2020Lexi Earl, Pat Thomson · · United Kingdom (midlands in England)
This chapter examines a school garden with farm elements at a primary school in a deprived market town in the midlands of England, established as part of an 'eco-school' initiative driven by the former head teacher. The garden included various spaces like a farm, raised beds, a pond, and a herb garden, used for science learning and natural exploration. However, the study notes that the impetus for outdoor learning diminished after the initiating head teacher departed, as school priorities shifted due to other pressures.
Governance failureFood educationCommunityBiodiversitySouth Eveleigh Community Rooftop Garden Methods
2020Linda Corkery, Sara Padgett Kjaersgaard, Lisa Thomson · · Australia
This case study describes the South Eveleigh Community Rooftop Garden, located on the unceded land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. Developed in collaboration with Indigenous practice partner Jiwah, the project is underpinned by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander principle of "give back," emphasizing the sharing of accumulated Indigenous knowledge with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
CommunityFood educationHortas escolares: construção de uma cultura saudável
2020Nunes Vital · Revista Meio Ambiente e Sustentabilidade · Global
This bibliographic research, conducted over four months, explored how school gardens can positively influence the development of a healthy food culture among children and adolescents. The study identified that school gardens, based on urban agriculture and agroecology principles, serve as an attractive tool for students, encouraging participation outside the classroom and offering benefits to all involved agents.
Food educationHealthCommunityPeri-Urban Agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Rabat, Morocco: Potentials and Constraints
2020Fatiha Hakimi, Mohamed Brech · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Morocco
This study assessed the practices, potentials, and constraints of peri-urban agriculture (PUA) in Rabat Metropolis, Morocco, using field observation, interviews, and surveys with 50 randomly selected farmers. While PUA contributes to economic development, employment, and food supply, the study found significant legal constraints, including the absence of regulating laws and the obligation for some farmers to pay housing taxes. Technical constraints such as insufficient workforce, high labor costs, difficult access to irrigation water, and lack of training also hinder PUA growth.
Governance failurePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsPolicyThe effect of self-efficacy on participation in urban agriculture practice for college students
2020Jaeho Im, YouJoung Kim, Jinhyun Bae, Seon-Ju Jang · Journal of Regional Studies · South Korea
This study investigated the effect of self-efficacy on college students' participation in urban agriculture in South Korea, using an online survey and statistical analysis targeting urban and architecture majors. The analysis revealed a significant difference in urban agriculture participation levels based on the degree of self-efficacy, showing that for every 1-point increase (on a 5-point scale) in self-efficacy, participation increased by approximately 2.06 times. The most influential variable was attitude towards urban agriculture, with the interaction between gender and experience also found to be highly influential.
Food educationCommunityEconomicsAdaptation
2020Peter Loxley · · Global
This chapter discusses "adaptation" as a scientific concept that helps children understand the diversity of wildlife they encounter in school gardens, local parks, and other outdoor learning areas. It also helps children understand why the destruction of green spaces can have devastating consequences for wildlife. The chapter includes three topics designed to guide teachers in helping children grasp the concept of adaptation.
Food educationBiodiversityDocumentation of Edible City Solutions in Follower Cities (D4.3)
2020Maximilian Manderscheid, Valentin Fiala, Bernhard Freyer · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
This report D4.3 describes the status quo analysis and documentation of Edible City Solutions (ECS). Over 300 ECS were identified in Berlin and Montevideo, and online research was conducted in Carthage and Lomé, after which a total of 84 ECS were documented in detail using a mixed-method approach (online survey, interviews, workshops, etc.). Most documented ECS take the form of urban gardening and focus on social benefits like providing education and fostering social cohesion, but the report does not detail specific challenges or limitations regarding governance.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsClimate changeMAPEAMENTO DE ESPAÇOS URBANOS VAZIOS PARA POSSÍVEL ELABORAÇÃO DE HORTAS COMUNITÁRIAS EM BARBACENA/MG: DESAFIOS E PROPOSIÇÕES
2020Leonardo Mendes da Silva, Vanessa Dutra, Delton Francelino, Natália Oliveira Dias · Enciclopédia Biosfera · Brazil (Barbacena)
Research was conducted in Barbacena, Minas Gerais, Brazil, to identify empty urban spaces and wastelands suitable for community gardens. The study, carried out by the Center for Studies in Urban Ecology, aimed to map these spaces for potential community garden proposals to public and private entities. Ten locations were selected based on specific criteria, and general perceptions were presented to facilitate understanding and dissemination, though the study did not intend to establish planting projects or direct community contact.
CommunityWelfareFood sovereignty & justicePolicyHolistic Pedagogies for Social Change: Reflections from an Urban Agroecology Farmer Training
2020Ana Galvis Martinez, Brooke A. Porter, Paul Rogé, Leah Atwood, Natalia Pinzón Jiménez · · United States (California)
The Bay Area Farmer Training (BAFT) program trained aspiring urban farming practitioners in agroecology, utilizing a pedagogy rooted in humanistic values, social justice, and decolonial and feminist frameworks. An analysis of BAFT from the perspectives of participants and founding educators led to recommendations for educators and program developers. These recommendations include training in restorative justice, cultivating cross-cultural dialogue, building trust, humanizing classrooms, preparing guest speakers, and designing values-centered curricula.
Food educationFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityHeavy Metal Uptake of Lettuce and Ryegrass from Urban Waste Composts
2020Remigio Paradelo, Antía Villada, María Teresa Barral · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · Global
A two-month pot experiment studied heavy metal transference from five metal-rich urban waste composts and a manure vermicompost to lettuce and Italian ryegrass under controlled conditions. Plant concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Cd increased with their concentrations in compost, while no such relation was observed for Pb. The study found that the ratio of element concentration in plant to compost was much higher for Zn, Cd, and Cu than for Pb, indicating lower bioavailability of Pb.
Contamination & food safetyCompostHealthOrganic cycleThe impact of care farms on quality of life, depression and anxiety among different population groups: A systematic review
2019Murray J., Wickramasekera N., Elings M., Bragg R., Brennan C., Elsey H. · Campbell Systematic Reviews, 15(4):e1061 · Global
A systematic review assessing how care farming (social farming) affects quality of life, depression and anxiety across different service-user groups. It finds that agriculture-based welfare support may improve mental health and social interaction, while highlighting the need for more robust evidence.
HealthWelfareCommunityPolicyRelationship between Community or Home Gardening and Health of the Elderly: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey in Japan
2019Machida D. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(8):1389 · Japan
A web-based cross-sectional survey of community-dwelling older adults in Japan examined links between community or home gardening and health-related indicators. Gardening with others was significantly associated with exercise habits, physical activity, vegetable intake and neighborly connections, and with higher subjective happiness and sense of purpose, supporting gardens as a means to counter isolation among the elderly.
HealthWelfareCommunityFood educationノウフクJAS（障害者が生産行程に携わった食品の日本農林規格）
2019· 農林水産省 · Japan
Materials on the 2019 Noufuku JAS standard certifying foods and ornamental plants produced with the involvement of people with disabilities, raising trust and brand value for agriculture-welfare products via third-party certification; first certifications issued November 2019.
WelfarePolicyOrganic cycleEconomicsHealthFarm Diversification and Sustainability of Multifunctional Peri-Urban Agriculture: Entrepreneurial Attributes of Advanced Diversification in Japan
2019Yoshida S., Yagi H., Kiminami A., Garrod G. · Sustainability 11(10):2887 · Japan
The study analyzes the sustainability of multifunctional peri-urban agriculture through the lens of farm diversification and farmers' entrepreneurial attributes. It identifies the characteristics of advanced, highly diversified farm businesses and discusses factors supporting the persistence of peri-urban agriculture in Japan.
EconomicsPolicyCommunity都市と緑・農が共生するまちづくり 優良取組事例集
2019国土交通省 都市局 公園緑地・景観課 · 国土交通省（MLIT）報告書 · Japan
A Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism casebook compiled to advance both compact urban structure and the 'coexistence of cities with green and agriculture'. It catalogues urban-farming and green-space initiatives — including resident-participation rooftop gardens, allotments and farming-led town-making by private developers and municipalities — and provides the policy backdrop for developer cases.
PolicyCommunityBiodiversityFood educationEdible City Solutions—One Step Further to Foster Social Resilience through Enhanced Socio-Cultural Ecosystem Services in Cities
2019Ina Säumel, Suhana E. Reddy, Thomas Wachtel · Sustainability, 11(4), 972 · Global
A foundational paper of the EU EdiCitNet project that positions citizen-led food production (Edible City Solutions) as urban infrastructure generating socio-cultural ecosystem services—social cohesion, education, health—alongside regulating services such as stormwater management and biodiversity. It offers a framework in which participatory productive green space underpins social resilience and sustainable food-system transitions.
CommunityHealthFood educationWelfare低未利用空間の暫定活用 事例集
2019国土交通省 · 国土交通省 都市局 · Japan
A national casebook organising interim uses of low-/under-used land (event space, gardens, greenery) until development advances, including cases like Kawasaki's planned-road 'Kisetsu-no-komichi' and Yokohama's soil-storage reuse.
PolicyCommunityEconomicsNutraceutical Uses of Traditional Leafy Vegetables and Transmission of Local Knowledge from Parents to Children in Southern Benin
2019Akakpo D. B., Achigan-Dako E. G. · Agronomy · Benin
Interviews with 360 respondents across three southern Benin villages on three traditional leafy vegetables, analyzing how use and knowledge transmission from parents to children vary by generation, gender, and village.
Heirloom & landraceFood educationCommunityHealthA Complete Survey of Glycoalkaloids Using LC-FTICR-MS and IRMPD in a Commercial Variety and a Local Landrace of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and their Anticholinesterase and Antioxidant Activities
2019Lelario F., De Maria S., Rivelli A.R., Russo D., Milella L., Bufo S.A., Scrano L. · Toxins 11(4):230 · Italy
Identified 19 glycoalkaloids in fruits of commercial eggplant 'Mirabella' and local landrace 'Melanzana Bianca di Senise' via LC-FTICR-MS/IRMPD, assessing anticholinesterase and antioxidant activities. Documents bioactive phytochemistry of a traditional eggplant landrace.
Heirloom & landraceBiodiversityHealthConstruction of a core collection of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) based on genome-wide SNP and SSR genotypes
2019Miyatake Koji, Shinmura Yoichi, Matsunaga Hiroshi, Fukuoka Hiroyuki, Saito Takeo · Breeding Science, 69(3): 498-502 · Japan
Analyzing 893 eggplant accessions in the NARO Genebank with genome-wide SNPs and SSRs, the authors built a core collection; Asian accessions formed the center of diversity, supporting efficient conservation and use of genetic resources.
Heirloom & landraceBiodiversityPolicy植物工場における野菜生産の意義とその多様性
2019Kashiwagi J. · 農業経営研究 (Journal of Farm Management Economics) · Japan
Using case studies of a manufacturer (Company G) and a food-service firm (Company T) running fully controlled artificial-light plant factories in Japan's Kanto region, analyzes how inexperienced firms raised productivity, exploring corporate urban vegetable production.
Economics