Research & reports

Brenda B. Lin, Peter Bichier, Heidi Liere, Monika Egerer, Stacy M. Philpott, Shalene Jha · Sustainability Science · United States (California)

A study of 18 urban community gardens in Central Coast, California, USA, used gardener surveys and field measurements to evaluate food production and its distribution. Gardeners produced an average of four pounds of food per week, saving an estimated $16 USD weekly. However, gardeners with greater food insecurity (larger families or lower incomes) were not the largest producers, indicating uneven benefit distribution despite high overall productivity.

Ive Mariana Guissoni Arantes, Cícero José Da Silva, Natália Gislene Silva Salvador, Anselmo Afonso Golynski, Ênio Eduardo Basílio, Danilo Silva de Oliveira, Valentine Virginia Matheus, Eduardo Cardoso da Silva Assunção · Caderno Pedagógico · Brazil (Morrinhos-Goiás)

The Horta Comunitária extension project in Morrinhos-Goiás, Brazil, produces vegetables to ensure food security for socially vulnerable families. Managed by teachers, staff, and students from Intituto Federal Goiano Campus – Morrinhos, the project has achieved significant results in training and providing healthy food.

Belinda Li, Tammara Soma, Raghava Payment, Srishti Kumar, Nicole Anderson, Flora Xu, Phonpoom Piensatienkul · Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation · Canada

This study reviewed and categorized 73 food asset maps in Canada based on their included food assets and design characteristics. Most maps included built environment assets like grocery stores and food banks, as well as agriculture-based natural food assets such as farms, community gardens, and orchards. However, representations of Indigenous-focused food assets and non-agriculture-based natural food assets like forests, water bodies, and foraging areas were generally lacking. This lack of Indigenous perspectives reinforces the values of a settler-colonial food system within food asset maps.

Finn Bell · Critical and Radical Social Work · United States (Ypsilanti)

This qualitative study explored how marginalized agrarian traditions can aid communities in surviving climate change, conducting in-depth interviews with 23 marginalized food growers and community leaders in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The study found that while growing food builds resilience to food insecurity and climate change, it is difficult due to land injustice. Policy implications include the need for housing justice, proactive planning for climate refuges, and reparations for land rematriation.

Delf Rothe · Political Geography · United States (New York City)

This paper critically examines the concept of "green resilience" through a case study of various green resilience projects in New York City, including survivor trees, memorial groves, and community gardens. The study argues that these spaces function as key forms of state rule and biopolitical power, identifying three tensions or contradictions of green resilience as a form of biopolitical government: visibility and invisibility, knowledge and ignorance, and control and emergence.

Deyvison Lopes de Siqueira, Albér Carlos Alves Santos, Bruno Jesus do Nascimento, Gustavo Henrique Cepolini Ferreira · Revista da ANPEGE · Brazil

This article reviews the role of urban agriculture in improving food and nutritional security for vulnerable populations in Brazil, where 33.1 million people lacked guaranteed daily food in 2022. It highlights urban gardens as an alternative to enhance access to healthy food. The study suggests that maps, data, and strengthened public policies can promote urban gardens as food cultivation spaces in urban and peri-urban areas, forming networks to combat hunger.

Joshua Zeunert · UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) · United States

To investigate the economic potential of urban agriculture in existing public green spaces, gross economic returns per hectare from horticultural crops were calculated from eight sources and fourteen growing approaches. Findings showed returns ranging from $22,249 to $360,000 USD per hectare annually, with several small urban agriculture businesses achieving gross returns of $150,000-$300,000 per hectare. The study concludes that urban agriculture in existing public green spaces offers opportunities to increase economic viability, alongside additional benefits like job creation, local food availability, education, training, health, and environmental improvements.

Brandon, Chrislyn · Scholar Commons (Santa Clara University) · United States (Santa Clara)

The City of Santa Clara faces significant challenges in ensuring equitable access to food for its residents amidst rising living costs and economic disparities. Enhancing support for residents' food security needs through increased knowledge sharing and resource provision in community areas is an efficient strategy to reduce hunger rates and create welcoming community spaces that support sustainability. This initiative addresses two key focus areas in Santa Clara's Climate Action Plan.

Gustavo Aceti de Avila, Giovanni Vonsowski Guarido, Luis Vitor Fornacciari, Arthur Almenara Rosendo, Fernando Teruhiko Hata, Carlos Alexandre Zanutto, Ednaldo Michellon, William Mário de Carvalho Nunes · Contribuciones a las Ciencias Sociales · Brazil

A participatory experiment using different colored Moericke-type flight interceptor traps was conducted in the Vila Esperança community garden in Maringá, Brazil, to identify the most effective colors for managing pests while being selective towards natural enemies. Dark blue, light blue, and yellow traps showed the best pest/natural enemy ratios (3.19, 3.01, and 1.01, respectively) and captured the most pest insects. These colors are recommended for use as they reduce pest insect populations while avoiding the capture of beneficial insects.

Moses Wanyakha, Nancy Grudens‐Schuck, Ann M. Oberhauser · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States (Iowa)

This study investigated resilience and vulnerabilities in fresh produce donation partnership programs to food pantries in Iowa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings revealed a significant decrease in labor hours during the pandemic years of 2020–2021, attributed to government policies and social distancing requirements. Volunteer shortages, donation inconsistency, and exclusionary community practices appeared to be inherent vulnerabilities of volunteer-based food donation programs.

Adriana Rezende Bighi, Regiane Carla Bolzan Carvalho, Camille Rezende Sartorio, Maurício Novaes Souza · Mérida Publishers eBooks · Brazil

This study examines the role of urban gardens in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, Brazil, exploring their economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Urban gardens mitigate environmental degradation, promote biodiversity, and have the potential to generate employment and income opportunities for local residents, while reducing food costs. Through the efficient use of local resources like idle land and organic waste, these gardens yield significant environmental benefits, including reduced pollution and improved air quality, and foster sustainable agricultural practices.

Matthew L. Richardson, John Taylor, Megan J. Thompson, Anusuya Rangarajan, Mamatha Hanumappa, Neith G. Little · PLoS ONE · United States (Northeastern United States)

This online survey of 394 urban growers, primarily in the Northeastern United States, profiled growers and assessed urban agriculture's state, identifying needs and challenges. Most growers were white (non-Hispanic), under 45, well-educated but without agriculture degrees. Urban agriculture was dominated by small non-profits and home/community gardens. A critical finding is that urban growers face diverse barriers, with the most common being land availability and long-term access in urban areas, and many reported low revenue or operating at a net loss.

Luiza Vigne Bennedetti, Silvia Ronchi, Maurí­cio Lamano Ferreira, Fabiano Lemes de Oliveira · Sustainability · Brazil (São Paulo)

This study assessed São Paulo's urban agriculture (UA) potential using an Ecosystem Services (ES)-based approach, combining ES spatial mapping and a producer survey at 49 UA sites. Results showed natural habitats and anthropic areas within urbanized land, especially in the south, with high habitat quality scores. Nine ES were identified: food supply, commercialization, income generation, waste mediation, lifecycle maintenance, soil formation, leisure/social, well-being, and education.

Daniele Silva de Almeida, Diana da Silva Ribeiro, Ellen De Oliveira Marques · Nexus · Brazil (Itacoatiara-AM)

This study discusses the experiences and learnings from creating a mandala community garden at the Chico Xavier social work institution in Itacoatiara-AM, Brazil. Motivated by a local need for agroecological awareness, the project involved dialogical classes, soil planning, mandala-shaped bed formation, and vegetable distribution. Results included sustainable planting, environmental and artistic awareness, and the promotion of environmental education in the Amazonian context.

L. Garcia Ferreira, M. E. F. CORREIA, M. C. UZEDA · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

This study evaluated the role of agroecological urban and peri-urban agriculture in preserving native bee communities in the western region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ten different bee species, nesting in soil and cavities, were identified. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) indicated that the percentage of agricultural, natural, and built-up land cover was insufficient to explain the species composition regarding their nesting habits. The findings suggest the importance of assessing the quality of agricultural environments, as their association with urban landscapes could support a greater richness of species with diverse nesting habits.

Joshua Garcia, Mariel Mondragon-Becerra, I. Rojas Martínez, Mallika Nocco, Cristina Lazcano · Applied Soil Ecology · United States (California)

A greenhouse trial was conducted in urban agricultural soil from the San Francisco Bay Area, USA, to investigate the effects of organic amendments derived from local municipal waste products on the soil microbiome, tomato productivity, and quality. Liquid food waste hydrolysate and mixed herbivore waste compost increased microbial abundance in the soil compared to mineral fertilizer. While mineral-fertilized tomato plants generally had higher productivity and yields, plants treated with the hydrolysate and mixed herbivore waste compost showed enhanced fruit soluble sugar content (°Brix).

Landon Yoder, Sarah P. Church, Kamebry Wagner · Society & Natural Resources · United States

This paper analyzed the role of watershed organizations in Iowa, USA, in addressing urban-agricultural conflicts stemming from fertilizer runoff and water quality impairment. Three focus group discussions with 14 watershed coordinators revealed that participant composition significantly impacts problem-solving. While joint urban-agricultural engagement strategies were limited, they showed promise in changing individual perspectives, suggesting that strategic targeting of participants is crucial for conflict resolution.

Nevin Cohen, Michael H. Stein, Annie Hancock, Alfonso Morales · Urban agriculture · United States

This paper examined two housing authority-led urban agriculture projects in New York City and Denver, Colorado, highlighting their multidimensional benefits such as skill-building and community cohesion. While these projects improved residents' daily experiences, the study noted that social problems persist despite new interactions. The analysis emphasized the need to consider both stated and implicit goals in urban agriculture ethics, acknowledging that attempts to harmonize competing claims are at the root of urban agriculture practices.

Sze Wan Chan, Matthew G. Chin, Rachel Suss, Kiran Yan Kui, Stanley Z. Lam, Elizabeth Dowd, Calliope Bosen, Steve Mei, Kathleen Barth, Michelle Hughes, Stella S. Yi · Health Promotion Practice · United States (New York City)

A community-supported agriculture (CSA) pilot program was implemented for 38 immigrant families in Brooklyn, New York, from June to October 2022 over a 20-week period, providing Chinese-specific produce and nutrition education. Participants reported eating more and a greater variety of vegetables, and had higher vegetable intake measured via skin carotenoid scores. This pilot program may inform the adaptation of nutrition interventions to reduce inequities in chronic diseases in immigrant communities.

Rosângela Míriam Lemos Oliveira Mendonça, Samantha de Oliveira Nery, Ediméia Maria Ribeiro de Mello · MIX Sustentável · Brazil

This paper presents a methodology applicable to sustainable community actions, developed from seven years of experience with low-income communities in a Brazilian community garden. The methodology is based on participatory action research, systemic design, agroecology, food sovereignty, and solidarity economy principles. The study demonstrates the importance of integrated work among the elements of the quintuple helix model (society, government, industry, academia, and environment), but it does not detail specific challenges or limitations regarding governance.

Áurea Espinosa Cerón, Chacón Zavala Ángel Leonardo · Journal of Agricultural Sciences Research (2764-0973) · Mexico

This paper proposes the portable urban garden (HUP) as an innovative solution to the lack of cultivable space in large cities like Mexico City. HUPs can be placed in various urban areas, such as schools and housing units, to facilitate citizen participation in cultivation. The paper presents calculations for HUP construction, material budgets, and assembly schemes.

Adriana de Paula Cavalcante Fraga, Ana Moraes Coelho, Jéssica Castro Chryssafidis, José Geraldo Barreto Monteiro de Andrade, Maíra Bombachini Silva, Maria Luiza Sevilha Seraphico de Assis Carvalho, Mariana Nicolletti, Nathan Debortoli, Samuel Santos de Souza Pinto · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Natal)

This case study of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Natal, Brazil, aimed to identify and characterize the benefits these initiatives provide to the territory and to overview three ecosystem services related to microclimate, soil, and water. Using a hybrid methodology combining biophysical modeling and listening to the voices of experienced protagonists, the study identified a significant potential for urban and peri-urban agriculture to contribute to urban development. This research deepens the understanding of the benefits urban agriculture can offer cities, including its potential to mitigate or solve typical urban problems.

Uilma dos Santos Ramos, Heron Ferreira Souza · Revista Macambira · Brazil

This study investigated the meanings of work relationships in the Ipiaú community garden in Bahia, Brazil, which was established in response to 1980s unemployment. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic content analysis, the research found that "freedom" emerged as a central meaning of work. The educational character of the work was reinforced through the experience of values and practices supporting an "Other Economy."

Jairus Rossi · Sustainability · United States

A study used survey responses from residents in five US South communities in 2019 and 2022 to evaluate how consumer perceptions of local food systems changed after COVID-19. Using a treatment effects model with propensity score matching, residents became more aware of most local market channels, such as specialty retail stores and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Some residents also showed a more positive perception of markets providing fresh vegetables to low-income residents and desired more investment in markets making local products available.

Nicole Cuya, Paul Estrada, Doris Esenarro, Violeta Vega, Jesica Vilchez Cairo, Diego C. Mancilla-Bravo · Buildings · Peru

This research aimed to create comfort for users of an educational center in Carabayllo, Peru, by applying sustainable design strategies. The study involved a literature review, flora and fauna analysis, passive design, and climatic analysis using digital tools. The resulting design proposes an educational center with year-round comfort through energy efficiency, eco-friendly materials, green roofs, dry toilets, biofilters, and xerophytic vegetation for orchards, promoting food production and improving public spaces.