Research & reports

Sandra Kurfürst · · Vietnam (Hanoi)

This chapter explores the production sites of vegetables perceived as clean and safe by Vietnamese consumers, specifically urban gardens in Hanoi and rural areas. It identifies a semantic shift in gardens from aesthetics to utility due to food anxiety and examines access to and social control over public and sacred spaces used for gardening. Urbanites also rely on personal rural-urban food supply networks for food safety, with the rural signifying safe foods based on its image as a place of intimate social relations and nature.

Zhenzhong Si, Theresa Schumilas, Steffanie Scott · · China

This chapter proposes a typology of alternative food networks (AFNs) in China, including community-supported agriculture farms, ecological farmers' markets, buying clubs, and garden plot rentals, illustrating each with specific cases. It then examines the socio-economic and political conditions shaping China's AFNs, arguing that Chinese AFNs are consumer-driven and that there is a potential inconsistency in values between AFN organizers and their customers. This consumer-driven feature is argued to shape the AFNs' alternativeness by foregrounding food safety requirements as a core attribute while giving less prominence to ecological and social values.

FX Andy Sutrisno, Bakti Setiawan · Jurnal Perencanaan Pembangunan The Indonesian Journal of Development Planning · Indonesia

This case study of Surakarta, Indonesia's sustainable agricultural land protection policy -- focusing on conservation within the urban environment -- used field observations, stakeholder interviews, and secondary data to analyze the local government's policy and how urban farmers and landowners perceive it. It found that the policy is not well understood by the farmers and landowners directly affected, that the local government itself views urban agricultural land mainly from an economic standpoint and is less supportive of conservation, and that farmers and landowners, while believing the policy is essential, reject it because designation requires relinquishing some land rights and the incentives offered are not economically sufficient to compensate them.

Hok Bun Ku, Yan Hairong · · China

China's food-security crisis, caused by unsustainable development, has diminished the country's farmland through large-scale land acquisitions, ecological restoration projects, agricultural structural adjustments, natural disasters, and pollution, among other factors. This chapter argues that local producers and consumers are not passively waiting for government policy changes but, organized by green social workers, are actively searching for alternatives to achieve self-sufficiency and food security through a new initiative called the "rural–urban alliance." Framed within the social economy perspective advocated by green social work as a way to rethink economic development and consider alternatives to capitalism, the rural–urban alliance and community-supported agriculture (CSA) are positioned as a potential new route for China's sustainable development that could change the pathway of economic development forms that cause inequality and undermine livelihoods. This is a proposed, forward-looking argument, however; the abstract does not report empirical evidence that CSA or the rural–urban alliance have actually mitigated the food-security crisis.

Kees Krul, Peter Ho · Sustainability · China

A study in urban China examined the role of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in addressing food safety and sustainability issues through surveys and interviews with key stakeholders. The CSA model demonstrated an innovative approach to dealing with these issues and future food demands. However, the movement's structural embeddedness is bound by several limitations and contradictions.

Muhammad Solihin · MINDA BAHARU · Indonesia (Batam)

This community service program in Sei Pelungut, Sagulung District, Batam City, Indonesia, aimed to promote urban farming and educate residents on hydroponic cultivation methods due to high vegetable prices. Using a descriptive qualitative method with observation and interviews, the program involved introducing hydroponic growing media, seedlings, planting techniques, and harvesting times. The community, particularly women from Kavling Flamboyan, showed high enthusiasm and participation in the activities.

Fika Mayrlina Anggrayni, Dini Ririn Andrias, Merryana Adriani · Media Gizi Indonesia · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This observational study, conducted in Surabaya, Indonesia, analyzed differences in food security and coping strategies between agriculture and fisheries urban farming households. Among 62 households, 64.7% of the agriculture group were food secured, while 75% of the fishery group were food insecure with severe hunger. There was no statistical difference in household food security between the agriculture and fisheries urban farming groups (p=0.255). However, a difference in coping strategy was found (p=0.021), with agriculture urban farming households being more food secure and rarely employing coping strategies compared to fishery urban farming households.

Nadia Belinda, Dian Rahmawati · Jurnal Teknik ITS · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This study in Semampir District, Surabaya City, Indonesia, aimed to develop urban farming based on community preferences. It identified potentials and problems using theoretical descriptive techniques, identified community preferences using confirmatory factor analysis, and formulated development directions using qualitative descriptive analysis. The study found that urban farming activities in Semampir District had not developed optimally due to the suboptimal role of the community and local institutions.

Piyapong Boossabong · Palgrave Macmillan US eBooks · Thailand (Bangkok)

This chapter examines how the policy network on urban agriculture in Bangkok, Thailand, developed collaborative governance mechanisms to cope with food distribution disruption caused by floods. It argues that deliberation between policy network members and flood victims determines meaningful collective actions that enhanced victims' resilience and promoted fair distribution, political and cultural recognition, and parity of participation.

Amara Roca Iglesias · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Asia

This research explores the possibility of introducing urban gardens into the former floodplains of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, integrating them into a planned river park. It investigates how urban agriculture could reduce the Kathmandu Valley's dependence on neighboring countries for food and enhance self-sufficiency. The study suggests changing current government policy to promote urban agriculture, shorten food supply chains, and foster social and citizen participation.

Suryani Suryani, Reni Nurjasmi, Siti M. Sholihah, Ayu Vandira Candra Kusuma · Jurnal Pelayanan dan Pengabdian Masyarakat (Pamas) · Indonesia

A community service program in Ceger Village, Indonesia, provided training and outreach on urban agricultural technology to 39 members of farmer groups and community representatives. The program aimed to raise awareness of urban farming's importance, optimize narrow urban land use, and facilitate knowledge of cultivation techniques. Participants responded positively, and the program offered solutions for leisure time and family food security.

Prem José Vazhacharickal · International Journal of Social Sciences · India

Street vending and urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) production systems, and their contribution to local services, are examined in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), India — a region with a population of 21 million where a high proportion of urban poor and rising in-migration make it vulnerable to food crisis. Based on primary and secondary data, street vending in UPA production is argued to complement rural supply chains and reduce ecological footprints, with a recommendation that these marketing systems be better planned and incorporated into city architecture to secure local food supply and employment.

Kadarso Kadarso, Rini Raharti · Jurnal Pertanian Agros · Indonesia

This study, aiming to identify promising urban farming commodities and develop agricultural production toward food self-sufficiency in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, used a combined qualitative and quantitative approach with Location Quotient, Dynamic Location Quotient, and SWOT analysis. Mergangsan, Ngampilan, Tegalrejo, Kotagede, Mantrijeron, Gondokusuman, Wirobrajan, Pakualaman, Umbulharjo and Kraton were identified as economic-base areas, while Gedongtengen, Gondomanan, Danurejan and Jetis were non-base areas. Mergangsan, Ngampilan, Kotagede, Danurejan, Gondokusuman and Jetis showed faster development potential, while Gedong Tengen, Gondomanan, Tegalrejo, Pakualaman, Mantrijeron, Wirobrajan, Umbulharjo and Kraton showed slower development potential. Based on the SWOT analysis, the study proposed strategies including leveraging economic-base strengths and strengthening agricultural extension officers (S-O), promoting farming and improving farm management (W-O), improving infrastructure quality and marketing efficiency (S-T), and expanding market share while noting the constraint that other non-agricultural businesses are more promising (W-T).

Zhenzhong Si, Steffanie Scott, Cameron McCordic · Scholars Commons (Wilfrid Laurier University) · China

This paper analyzed food purchasing patterns among 1,200 households in Nanjing, China, to understand the use of various food sources including supermarkets, wet markets, online markets, and urban agriculture. Findings indicate that while supermarkets are primary for staple grains, dairy, and processed foods, wet markets remain dominant for fresh produce and meat. The study highlights high food accessibility in Nanjing and the importance of diverse food sources beyond conventional retail.

Jae-Youl Lee · 서울도시연구 · South Korea (Seoul)

This ethnographic study examined urban agriculture practices at Nodeul Urban Agriculture Park in Seoul from March to September 2014, using participant observation and in-depth interviews. The research found that cultivation practices generate a virtuous cycle of affective agricultural production and emotional accomplishments, which are associated with practical achievements and socially conscious consumption. Emerging ethics, including rural concerns, also interact with this production-emotion cycle.

Mai Lan Phuong, Nguyen Phuong Le, Philippe Lebailly · Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development · Vietnam (Hanoi city)

A study in Trau Quy town, Hanoi, Vietnam, collected quantitative and qualitative data from 40 households through surveys, in-depth interviews, and group discussions. The research found that urban agriculture contributes to household income, food security, food safety, and creates job opportunities for family labor, especially for those unable to find off-farm jobs. Socially, urban agriculture supports livelihood security and the maintenance of traditional social networks for households affected by urbanization.

Galuh Syahbana Indraprahasta, Imas Agustina · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This study aimed to identify the potentials of urban agriculture development in Jakarta by learning from best practices in other countries. It employed qualitative descriptive analysis, considering physical, institutional, and socio-economic factors. It was concluded from many cases that urban agriculture in Jakarta has direct or indirect impacts on people's livelihoods.

Youjin Jang, 곽혜란 · 한국실과교육학회지 · South Korea

This study analyzed the agricultural content of the 2015 revised elementary practical arts curriculum in South Korea, comparing it with the 2009 curriculum, focusing on goals, content systems, achievement standards, and learning elements in the agriculture and life science domain. It found that while learning elements in the agricultural domain did not significantly change, the 2015 curriculum emphasized sustainable agriculture, particularly eco-friendly future agriculture and agricultural experiences in daily life, centered on the core concept of sustainability. The study suggests that future agricultural education should incorporate multi-dimensional sustainable agriculture, such as urban agriculture, local food, and eco-friendly agricultural certification, into new textbooks.

Natalie Hall · · China

This ethnographic research, based on two months of fieldwork in Beijing and Shanghai, investigated alternative food networks in China, including organic farms, farmers' markets, and garden plot rentals. The study argues that these networks exhibit complex and contradictory characteristics, not neatly aligning with either alternative or conventional food systems. The practice of alternativeness is presented as a pragmatic response to food safety uncertainty and declining social trust, rather than an escape from capitalism or a purely transformative agenda.

Jae-Youl Lee · 대한지리학회지 · South Korea (Seoul)

This article examines the concept of 'community' in Seoul's community garden program, comparing how ordinary citizens and civil society activists interpret and practice it. Empirical findings suggest a contestation over community, with ordinary citizens prioritizing place-based experiences and activists viewing community gardens as a governmental technology. A gap between ordinary practical achievements and civic activism poses a potential danger to urban community policy.

Yuanyuan Shi, Min Qingwen, Lu He, Fuller Anthony M · Journal of Resources and Ecology · China

This paper proposes "Agricultural Heritage Systems" as an entry point to balance urban and rural development in China, addressing threats posed by rapid urbanization. It focuses on public dietary change, agricultural industry development, institutional guarantees, ecological restoration, and cultural tourism in urban and peri-urban agricultural heritage sites, establishing a development model that balances urbanization and urban-supported agriculture. The paper argues this approach can preserve traditional culture, maintain organic farming, leverage landscape tourism, and utilize urban funds and technology to support rural enterprises.

Kazuaki Tsuchiya, Yuji Hara, Danai Thaitakoo · Landscape and Urban Planning · Thailand (Bangkok)

This 2015 study in peri-urban Bangkok, Thailand, used field interviews and GIS analysis to examine food-related behaviors and land use changes. It found that traditional wet markets remained important hubs, but there was little connection between farmers and nearby wet markets in the same district. This lack of connection constricted positive feedback between producers and consumers in peri-urban areas.

Soyoung 백소영Baek, Mooyoung 한무영Han · 한국생태환경건축학회 학술발표대회 논문집 · South Korea (Seoul)

A comparative study of a concave green roof and a normal roof was conducted on building #35 at Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea. The study aimed to validate the effects on urban flood mitigation, urban heat island reduction, and food production. The concave green roof demonstrated a 60% reduction in peak flow quantity, a 3-hour delay in peak time, and stored 6.7 tons of rainwater per 140 m². A temperature difference of 27 °C was observed, and the 420 m² green roof for urban agriculture is managed by over 30 households near the campus.

Yan Xiaohui · Digital Commons - Lingnan (Lingnan University) · China

This paper presents a lecture by Mr. Yan Xiaohui on Community and Ecological Agriculture, focusing on the experiences and reflections of Little Donkey Farm. The lecture discusses the farm's origins, current activities, and future vision for a shared community.

Zulfadhli Nasution · · Indonesia (Jakarta, Bandung, Bogor)

This study investigated the relationship between urban farming communities and food sovereignty in Jakarta, Bandung, and Bogor, Indonesia. The findings suggest that the discourse of food sovereignty has not been exposed to urban farming communities. This is attributed to urban farming having different historical roots and social and political characteristics compared to the food sovereignty movement.