Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
984 results(18 / 40)
Closing Water Cycles in the Built Environment through Nature-Based Solutions: The Contribution of Vertical Greening Systems and Green Roofs
2021David Pearlmutter, Bernhard Pucher, Cristina Sousa Coutinho Calheiros, Karin A. Hoffmann, Andreas Aicher, Pedro Pinho, Alessandro Stracqualursi, Alisa Koroļova, Alma Pobrić, Ana Galvão, Ayça Tokuç, Bilge Baş, Dimitra Theochari, Dragan Milošević, Emanuela Giancola, Gaetano Bertino, Joana Castellar, Julia Flaszynska, Makbulenur Onur, Mari Carmen Garcia Mateo, Maria Beatrice Andreucci, Maria Milousi, Mariana Fonseca, Sara Di Lonardo, Veronika Gežík, Ulrike Pitha, Thomas Nehls · Water · Global
This paper proposes a new paradigm for closing urban water cycles using nature-based solutions, specifically green roofs and vertical greening systems (VGS). Simulations of VGS evapotranspiration performance in six cities (Copenhagen, Berlin, Lisbon, Rome, Istanbul, Tel Aviv) showed that VGS could recycle 44% (Lisbon) to 100% (Berlin, Istanbul) of rainwater roof runoff, with greywater bridging dry month shortages. Additionally, 27–53% of building greywater could be managed on greened surfaces.
Organic cycleClimate changePeri-urban agricultureIntegrating Urban Agriculture and Stormwater Management in a Circular Economy to Enhance Ecosystem Services: Connecting the Dots
2021Tolessa Deksissa, Harris B. Trobman, Kamran Zendehdel, Hossain Azam · Sustainability · Global
This study reviews literature on integrating urban agriculture (UA) and stormwater green infrastructures (GIs) within a circular economy framework. It explores how cities can combine these developments to overcome barriers and enhance ecosystem services. The findings indicate that integrating UA with GIs can improve urban food production while simultaneously protecting urban water quality.
Climate changeOrganic cyclePolicyNature-Based Solutions for Agriculture in Circular Cities: Challenges, Gaps, and Opportunities
2021Alba Canet-Martí, Rocío Pineda‐Martos, Ranka Junge, Katrin Bohn, Teresa A. Paço, Cecília Delgado, Gitana Alenčikienė, Siv Lene Gangenes Skar, Gösta F. M. Baganz · Water · Global
This paper examines nature-based solutions (NBS) for urban agriculture (UA) in circular cities, focusing on input/output streams. It identifies that the understanding of I/O streams for different NBS is insufficient to fully leverage their potential for strengthening circularity in UA. The study pinpoints gaps that hinder UA's development as an opportunity within the Circular City framework, emphasizing the need for a broader understanding of food-related urban streams.
Limited or null effectOrganic cycleClimate changeOPTIMALISASI PEKARANGAN MELALUI PEMBERDAYAAN LIMBAH PLASTIK SEBAGAI MEDIA TANAM PADA KELOMPOK TANI RT 07 RW 01 KELURAHAN TAMBAK AJI KECAMATAN NGALIYAN KOTA SEMARANG
2021Sumanto Sumanto, Suryani Sri Lestari, Siti Mutmainah, Muhammad Rois, Siti Hasanah, Jati Handayani, Teguh Budi Santosa, Saniman Widodo, Prima Ayundyayasti, Nurseto Adhi · Prosiding Seminar Hasil Penelitian dan Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Semarang)
This community service activity aimed to empower a farmer group in Semarang City, Indonesia, by providing solutions for urban farming in narrow yards. The initiative focused on mentoring the group in utilizing plastic waste as planting media and developing their skills. The activity addressed the group's lack of expertise in plastic waste utilization and limited urban agriculture skills, seeking to increase the economic added value and benefits of urban farming.
CommunityDIYOrganic cycleEconomicsUrban Farming with Enhanced Rock Weathering As a Prospective Climate Stabilization Wedge
2021Fatima Haque, Rafael M. Santos, Yi Wai Chiang · Environmental Science & Technology · Global
This viewpoint article proposes incorporating enhanced rock weathering (ERW) into urban farming as an additional climate stabilization measure. Urban farming utilizes extensive urban surface areas for food production and atmospheric CO2 sequestration through air-to-soil contact. Combining this with ERW offers a further opportunity for this negative emissions technology to gain greater utilization.
Climate changeUrban–rural linkageOrganic cyclePollution in rainwater harvesting: A challenge for sustainability and resilience of urban agriculture
2021Yang Deng · Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters · Global
While rainwater harvesting (RWH) is considered a sustainable irrigation method for urban agriculture, contaminants in rainwater pose challenges to RWH practices due to potential threats to crop, soil, and human health. Based on literature data, principal pollutants such as particles, toxic metals like cadmium, copper, and zinc, synthetic organic chemicals like agrochemicals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and waterborne pathogens were identified as likely exceeding irrigation quality criteria. This study identifies challenges, knowledge gaps, and research needs for RWH irrigation, offering a basis for technical strategies.
Contamination & food safetyHealthClimate changeOrganic cyclePathogen and heavy metal contamination in urban agroecosystems of northern Ghana: Influence of biochar application and wastewater irrigation
2021Isaac Asirifi, Korbinian Kaetzl, Steffen Werner, Courage Kosi Setsoafia Saba, Felix K. Abagale, Philip Amoah, Bernd Marschner · Journal of Environmental Quality · Ghana
A field experiment in northern Ghana assessed health risks from pathogen and heavy metal contamination in urban agriculture, evaluating rice husk biochar, N-P-K fertilizer, and their combinations with untreated wastewater or tap water irrigation. While heavy metals in irrigation water and soil were below FAO/WHO standards, wastewater irrigation caused significant E. coli, fecal coliform, and helminth egg contamination on red amaranth vegetables and in soil. Biochar application did not affect bacterial contamination.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleKEMANDIRIAN PANGAN BERBASIS URBAN FARMING
2021Fenny Puspitaningrum, Desy Safitri, Nurul Istiqomah · Edukasi IPS · Indonesia
This qualitative study in Indonesia investigated why ROSAI members in Alam Indah studio housing, Depok, chose urban farming for food independence. Findings indicated ecological factors (suitable soil/water), economic factors (reducing expenditure while maintaining nutrition), and social factors (healthy living, neighborly harmony) as reasons. Their urban farming activities included organic farming, an organic market for excess crops, and farming training.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsOrganic cycleEvaluation of ecosystem services from peri-urban organic farms: a case study of Beijing
2021黄甘霖 HUA Yeyu 华野毓 · Acta Ecologica Sinica · China (Beijing)
Ecosystem services from peri-urban organic farms in Beijing, China, were evaluated as of 2019. It was found that there were 271 organic farms in the suburbs of Beijing, covering a planting area of 10,900 hectares, accounting for 5.1% of the arable land in Beijing. Provision services were valued at 1.612 billion Yuan, regulation services (soil carbon sequestration) at 21.4 million Yuan, and cultural services (picking, farmers' markets, education activities) at 118.9 million Yuan. Organic farms also reduced energy use and emissions compared to conventional farms of the same area.
Peri-urban agricultureOrganic cycleBiodiversityClimate changeEconomicsFood educationCommunityCover Crops in Vegetable Production and Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Countries
2021Michael Kwabena Osei, Mavis Akom, Joseph Adjebeng‐Danquah, Kenneth Fafa Egbadzor, Samuel Oppong Abebrese, Kwabena Asare Bediako, Richard Yaw Agyare · · Sub-Saharan Africa
This abstract discusses the decline in soil fertility and accelerated desertification in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, due to decades of cropping. It introduces cover crops as a method to manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity, and wildlife in agro-ecosystems. The abstract also notes the increasing proportion of Ghana's population living in urban communities and that vegetable cultivation is conventionally a trade for rural dwellers.
Organic cycleClimate changeUrban–rural linkageAssessing the Direct Resource Requirements of Urban Horticulture in the United Kingdom: A Citizen Science Approach
2021Miriam C. Dobson, Philip H. Warren, Jill L. Edmondson · Sustainability · United Kingdom
This nationwide citizen science project investigated resource demands of urban horticultural production in the United Kingdom using year-long diaries from 163 allotment gardeners. Findings showed an average allotment required 87 annual visits and 139 km of travel. Each kilogram of food produced used 0.4 hours of labor, 16.9 L of water, 0.2 L of topsoil, 2.2 L of manure, and 1.9 L of compost.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleEconomicsPolicyClimate changeS7ílhen tl’a Swa7ám (Food of the Ancestors)
2021T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss · Public · Global
T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss has dedicated her life to Indigenous plant remediation and restoration projects supporting wetland ecosystems, food forests, and their wild inhabitants. This work aims to restore what was taken from the natural world over the past 150 years, ensuring the survival of future ancestors. Interdisciplinary documentation, including true plant names in Indigenous languages, ensures future generations remain connected to the natural world.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityBiodiversityOrganic cycleCaracterização da Agricultura Urbana (AU) em Ibatiba (Espírito Santo)
2021Bárbara de Oliveira Falce, Breno Dalcolmo de Almeida Leão, Arnaldo Henrique de Oliveira Carvalho · Meio Ambiente (Brasil) · Brazil (Ibatiba)
This study characterized urban agriculture in Ibatiba, Brazil, by analyzing 22 production units across 10 neighborhoods through spatial distribution mapping and farmer interviews. Positive aspects included a wide variety of foods, considerable independence from external inputs for seeds, fertilizers, and animal feed, and efforts towards environmental education. However, concerns were noted regarding the continued use of pesticides and issues with water origin and utilization, such as spring water capture and limited irrigation.
DIYOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceGerminando redes
2021Laura Vanesa Martínez Gordillo · South Florida Journal of Development · Colombia (Bogotá)
This document reflects on a social and ecological project in Barrio La Concordia, Bogotá, Colombia, which uses vertical urban agriculture and graffiti on facades. The project, "Germinating Networks," encourages residents to adopt sustainable practices and reconnect with nature using reusable materials for hanging pots. It aims to foster cooperative relationships and cultural changes around organic food, influencing neighborhood identity.
CommunityDIYOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceA polinização por abelhas sob a perspectiva da Abordagem de Serviços Ecossistêmicos (ASE)
2021Fernanda Rodrigues Vieira, Daniel Caixeta Andrade, Francis Lee Ribeiro · Revista Ibero-Americana de Ciências Ambientais · Global
This systematic review analyzed 45 publications from Web of Science up to September 2020 to examine the benefits of bee pollination through the Ecosystem Services Approach. The review found a significant increase in publications over the last two decades, with 84.44% associating pollination with rural agricultural productivity, 8.88% with wild plant reproduction, and 6.66% with urban agriculture. Only 7 of the 45 studies conducted economic valuation of pollination.
PollinatorsBiodiversityOrganic cycleSosialisasi dan Edukasi Urban Farming System Melalui Pemanfaatan Limbah Organik
2021Agus Slamet, Maryam Nurlaila, Farid Nur Achmad · Abdimas Singkerru · Indonesia
A community service program in Lapandewa Village, Buton Selatan Regency, Indonesia, provided education and practical training on utilizing organic kitchen waste to make compost, liquid organic fertilizer (POC), and botanical pesticides. Targeting 20 participants, including housewives, farmers, and entrepreneurs, the activity aimed to support food self-sufficiency through urban farming and improve community welfare. Participants successfully learned to produce these items and sort seeds, fostering awareness of waste utilization and motivating a shift from chemical fertilizers and pesticides to organic alternatives.
Food educationCompostOrganic cycleCommunityManaging a Circular Food System in Sustainable Urban Farming. Experimental Research at the Turku University Campus (Finland)
2021Leena Erälinna, Barbara Szymoniuk · Sustainability · Finland
This article presents an experimental project in Turku, Finland, aimed at implementing a circular food system in sustainable urban farming. The project had two objectives: reducing food waste in Turku University Campus restaurants and supporting local nutrient recycling by composting food waste for urban farming. The resulting concept, based on two experimental studies, is globally replicable for managing local circular food systems.
Organic cycleCompostFood lossClimate changeINFLUÊNCIA DA BORRA DE CAFÉ FRESCA NA GERMINAÇÃO DE SEMENTES DE RÚCULA COMO ALTERNATIVA DE FERTILIZANTE NA AGRICULTURA URBANA
2021Luciano Majolo, Deibson Teixeira da Costa, Camila Firmino de Azevêdo · Editora Científica Digital eBooks · Global
This study analyzed the application of fresh coffee grounds as a substrate for arugula seed germination, using concentrations of 0% to 25%. All evaluated characteristics, including emergence percentage, seedling length, and mass, showed a decreasing variation with increasing coffee grounds. Fresh coffee grounds applied directly as fertilizer proved inefficient for arugula in the tested quantities.
Limited or null effectDIYOrganic cycleA risk management framework for Gentle Remediation Options (GRO)
2021Paul Drenning, Shaswati Chowdhury, Yevheniya Volchko, Lars Rosén, Yvonne Andersson‐Sköld, Jenny Norrman · The Science of The Total Environment · Sweden
This paper proposed a framework for risk management and communication of Gentle Remediation Options (GRO) to support phytomanagement strategies at contaminated sites. An extensive literature review mapped risk mitigation mechanisms, and the Swedish national soil guideline value model derived human health exposure pathways and ecological risks. Results indicated that most expected risk mitigation mechanisms are supported by literature, but knowledge gaps still exist. The framework was demonstrated to support the identification of GRO options for a case study site under two envisioned land uses: biofuel park and allotment garden.
Organic cycleBiodiversityClimate changeResources: Resource Conservation and Waste Management
2021David Satterthwaite · · Global
This chapter discusses innovations such as improvements in energy efficiency in housing, the trend of recognizing waste streams as resource streams, and innovations in urban agriculture and urban forestry that reduce cities' ecological footprints. A factor constraining government action on resource conservation and waste reduction is concern over employment costs. In most cities in the Global South, the potential for new employment in resource conservation is rather less due to lower resource use and higher levels of recycling, reclamation, and reuse.
Organic cycleClimate changeEconomicsBodemkwaliteitsindicatoren voor stadslandbouw en stedelijk groen : wetenschappelijke basis en praktijktoepassing
2021Erik van den Elsen, P.F.A.M. Römkens, S.J.E. Verzandvoort, G.W. Korthals, Dorothee Leenders -van Tol, J. Bloem · · Netherlands (Amsterdam)
This report selects relevant soil quality indicators for assessing soil quality in the Amsterdam metropolitan region, specifically for 'urban agriculture' and 'urban green' applications. It notes that while agricultural soil quality indicators exist, specific ones for urban environments were lacking. A case study in Amsterdam's 'Fruittuinen van West' area develops an example for using these indicators in urban agriculture.
Organic cycleCommunityBiodiversityRESPONS PESERTA PELATIHAN URBAN FARMING YANG RAMAH LINGKUNGAN SECARA ONLINE
2021Fiky Yulianto Wicaksono, Tati Nurmala · Dharmakarya · Indonesia
An online training and simulation on environmentally friendly urban farming, utilizing household waste, was conducted from January to February 2021. Participants were selected based on their existing practice or desire to practice urban farming at home. The results of this outreach indicated that the speakers' expertise enhanced participants' knowledge, and most participants understood the training material and practiced environmentally friendly urban farming.
Food educationCommunityDIYOrganic cyclePotential for Sustainable Urban and Peri-Urban Agricultural Practices in Nairobi County
2021Mary Njoki Mwaura, Sabina Mukoya-Wangia, Japheth Ododa Origa, O.L.E. Mbatia, Evans Chimoita · Journal of Agricultural Extension · Kenya
A study of 149 respondents in Nairobi County examined urban and peri-urban agricultural practices, finding composting and open field farming popular but not the most profitable. More profitable practices like cattle rearing and mushroom farming were unpopular due to expensive inputs and specialized skills. The study indicates that popular practices are less profitable, highlighting a need for transformation towards controlled environment agriculture with policy support.
Economic viabilityCompostOrganic cycleEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureDigital agricultureKajian Campuran Media Tanam Terhadap Hasil Seledri (Apium graveolens L.)
2021Mahmudah Hamawi, Use Etica · Prosiding Sains Nasional dan Teknologi · Indonesia (East Java)
This study aimed to examine the effect of growing media mixtures on celery yield. The research was conducted from May to June 2020 at the UNIDA Gontor Faculty of Science and Technology practice land in Ponorogo, East Java. A completely randomized design with one factor and five replications was used to compare four growing media mixtures (A=control, B=soil+compost+rice husk charcoal, C=soil+compost+wood charcoal, D=soil+compost+kitchen ash). Results showed that the soil and compost mixture produced the largest wet weight of celery leaves, which was not significantly different from the soil+compost+rice husk charcoal mixture, but significantly different from the soil+compost+kitchen ash mixture.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleIdentifying potential applications for residual biomass from urban agriculture through eco-ideation: Tomato stems from rooftop greenhouses
2021Ana Manríquez-Altamirano, Jorge Sierra-Pérez, Pere Muñoz, Xavier Gabarrell · Journal of Cleaner Production · Global
This study proposed an eco-design methodology to upcycle tomato stems, identified as the most promising agro-urban solid waste from rooftop greenhouse tomato crops, for local "do-it-yourself" use. Researchers characterized tomato stems physically, chemically, and mechanically, then conducted a creative session with specialists to identify applications. Resulting concepts included "Fences and trellises," "Packaging," and "Boards, panels and blocks," providing data on stem characterization for broader biomass utilization.
Organic cycleDIYClimate change