Research & reports

Yulia Andriani, Roza Yulida, Rosnita Rosnita, Fanny Septya, Meki Herlon · KnE Social Sciences · Indonesia

A survey in Pekanbaru City, Indonesia, identified the use of communication media and institutional support for urban farming among farmer women groups. Farmers demonstrated excellent information access and communication behavior, utilizing smartphones and printed media for farming information. They also received full support from local leaders and the Pekanbaru city government, including regular counseling and urban farming socialization.

Heristama Anugerah Putra, Ryan Putranda Kristianto, David Andrian, Daniel Gentario Hutabarat, Elisabeth Yolanda Kristin · Sarwahita · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This study in Surabaya, Indonesia, addresses the cultivation of grapes using the verticulture method as an urban farming concept. The project involved preparation, socialization, training, mentoring, and evaluation to enable residents to learn grape cultivation from seeding to fertilization, aiming for both consumption and sale of produce.

Nur Annisa, Tri Indriani, Irfan Irfan, Ahmad Anugrah Wahidin, Muhammad Kadir · Jurnal Pelayanan dan Pengabdian Masyarakat Indonesia · Indonesia

At Inkiya Farm in Bajubodoa village, Maros district, challenges in lettuce production using the NFT system included crop damage or failure due to natural disturbances, limited space, low drought resistance, and suboptimal growth. This activity introduced a Bell-Siphon ebb-flow hydroponic system as a cheaper, environmentally friendly, space-saving, and more optimal plant production solution. The activity provided partners' women members with at least 6 ebb-flow hydroponic units, installation, and training on building the system to increase production, reduce crop failure risk, and improve lettuce production.

Eka Triana Yuniarsih, Muslim Salam, Muhammad Hatta Jamil, Andi Tenriawaru · Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity · Indonesia (Makassar)

This study aimed to identify key factors influencing the adoption of technological innovation in urban farming (ITUF) in Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Primary data was collected through a structured survey of 334 randomly selected individuals from 14 sub-districts and analyzed using Binary Logistic Regression. The study revealed that eight variables, including farming knowledge and experience, education, and involvement in urban farming organizations, significantly influenced the adoption rate.

Nurmiftah Fauzi, Titi Stiawati, Arenawati Arenawati · Kebijakan Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi · Indonesia (Tangerang)

The Tangerang City Food Security Agency implemented a 1000-plant hydroponic assistance program as part of an urban farming initiative to strengthen food security. This qualitative phenomenological study used Rogers' innovation attributes theory to evaluate the program's relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Results indicated the program provided economic benefits and spiritual satisfaction, and was compatible with existing values and food needs, but found room for improvement in the complexity aspect.

悦来 刘, 安锌 周 · Landscape Architecture · China

To explore the healing value of community gardens from a public health perspective, a study was conducted on four projects. Through literature review and questionnaire surveys, it was shown that community gardens promote individual healing, group therapy, and the repair and reconstruction of social relationships. This effect is realized through a three-layer mechanism: natural output services and physical space creation, individual physiological and psychological healing, and social relationship repair through community network building.

Aji Saputra, Oekan S. Abdoellah, Gemilang Lara Utama · Jurnal Ilmu Lingkungan · Indonesia

A systematic literature review aiming to identify the methods used for sustainable urban agriculture in Indonesia and to assess the main opportunities and challenges of using it to achieve environmental, social, and economic goals. Using the PRISMA method, the review screened articles from the Scopus database and analysed 25 studies on the relationship between urban agriculture and sustainability. It reports that urban agriculture offers economic, social, and environmental benefits within sustainable urban environments, and concludes that realising its full potential requires coordinated efforts through policy development, community involvement, and overcoming existing obstacles.

Fauziyyah Nur Rachmadillah, Mochamad Yusuf · Jurnal Teknik ITS · Indonesia

In Kampung Ngemplak Sutan (Kampung Sayur Organik), Surakarta, Indonesia, sustainability of the local urban farming initiative was evaluated using primary data from observation, questionnaires and interviews plus secondary data, analyzed with Multidimensional Scaling and Rapid Appraisal for Sustainability (MDS/RAPS). The socio-cultural dimension scored highest at 75.44 ("very sustainable"), while the economic dimension scored lowest at 56.71 ("fairly sustainable"); the study also noted that urban farming there functions mainly as a side activity that receives limited attention and that community participation has been declining.

Siti Nurhidayati · Panthera Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Sains dan Terapan · Indonesia

In Mataram City and West Lombok Regency, Indonesia, researchers used observation and interviews with teachers and students to identify local learning resources available for high school biology teaching. They found potential resources including school gardens, city parks, urban forests, coastal areas and local agro-tourism sites, and reported that using these resources increased student interest and motivation and made lessons more contextual, while also noting continuing challenges in implementation.

Shuyue He, Ming Li, Yuhan Zheng, Xin Gao, Ruixia Wang · Cities · China

An ethnographic study of two guerrilla gardening cases in Nanjing, China (SuoJincun), examined how residents produce differentiated representational space in daily gardening practice. It found that gardening carries social value as material production, functions as a material carrier of place attachment and cultural identity, offers access to nature and culture for residents with limited mobility, and operates as a form of private appropriation and recycling of collective public space by residents.

Mahsa Tarashkar, Salman Qureshi, Zhifang Wang, Akbar Rahimi · Sustainable Futures · Asia

This study examined factors shaping preferences for front-yard greenhouse urban horticulture in Iran. It found that greenhouse design influences urban horticulture preferences, and that urban dwellers prioritize cultural ecosystem services over regulating and provisioning services when engaging in urban horticulture activities. Anticipated ecosystem services differed among socio-demographic groups, and different greenhouse elements evoked distinct perceptions of ecosystem services, though certain greenhouses were found to improve overall perception of ecosystem services due to strong correlations between different service types.

Sri Suwarni, Odilia Dea Christina, Harum Sitepu, Tessa Trimonica · BESIRU Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia

This 2024 community-service report documents an urban farming team's project, together with youth and elderly residents, converting unused yard land (pekarangan) in Kalisegoro village, Gunungpati district, Semarang, Indonesia, into a "Herbal Smart Garden." The activity began with training on types of medicinal plants, followed by hands-on instruction in seedling propagation using polybag media, soil preparation, and planting. Information on the plants' medicinal uses and processing is shared through an information system or e-catalog of the medicinal plants grown in the garden. The formerly idle land was put to use as a source of medicinal plants for minor ailments and for supporting residents' immunity.

Nuryanti Nuryanti, Muhamad Bai’ul Hak, Adhitya Bagus Singandaru · Elastisitas - Jurnal Ekonomi Pembangunan · Indonesia

Using an integrated literature approach combining a literature review with a systematic review, this paper examines the innovations in Governor Regulation No. 6 of 2022, which sets out the Roadmap of the Halal Industrial Park in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. It finds that the Roadmap functions as a clean, clearly defined green-economy location for scaling up and increasing the productivity of small and medium industries (SMI), that it secures a sustainable supply of raw materials for industry through integrated urban farming, that it guarantees SMI empowerment from the production process through market segmentation, and that it encourages SMIs to meet national and international product standards.

Nanda Andini, Muhammad Fikry, Rahma Yunita, Bayu Dwi Prasetya Bahari, Muhammad Firmansyah Zukhruf · Jurnal Dehasen Mengabdi · Indonesia

This project delivered a participatory-learning education program teaching backyard vegetable cultivation at the Bina Remaja Harapan Social Shelter in Bengkulu, Indonesia -- a residence and learning center for children mostly abandoned by their parents -- where yard land, despite sufficient space, was not being optimally used. Using selected crops such as eggplant, mustard greens, spinach, water spinach, tomatoes and chilies, the program improved the shelter children's practical understanding of planting techniques, maintenance and the benefits of urban agriculture, and showed the crops could be produced at affordable cost.

Lorenta In Haryanto, Tri Yuni Hendrawati, Darto Darto, Febri Yani, Firgi Adha Listanto, Dimas Yoga Pradipta Pratama · Abdimas Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Universitas Merdeka Malang · Indonesia

A community-service report on introducing solar-powered water pumps for hydroponic systems with the farmer group Hidroponik Generik (HG) in Pesanggrahan, Indonesia, from April to October 2024, including training and assistance in vertical hydroponic technology and solar power generation. An 800 Wp solar panel supplied 1,600 Wh daily, powering pumps for 12-13 hours and cutting electricity usage by 66%, reducing monthly expenses by 10%. Combined with the vertical hydroponic installation, farm income increased by 15%, and participants' understanding of solar technology improved by 45%.

Hojun Choi, Min Kim, Jinhyung Chon · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea

A study structurally analyzed the socio-ecological system of honeybees, as pollinators, using systems thinking, in order to propose green space planning strategies to revitalize urban beekeeping. It analyzed the ecological structure of bees' foraging and pollination activities and the social-ecological structure of urban beekeeping through individual causal loop diagrams, then synthesized these into an integrated causal loop diagram. The resulting proposed strategies were citizen participation programs, local government investment, and the creation of urban parks and green spaces on idle land.

Karuniawan Puji Wicaksono, Setyono Yudo Tyasmoro, Akbar Saitama, Paramyta Nila Permatasari · International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology · Indonesia

A study in Kedungkandang District, Malang City, Indonesia (May-September 2022) assessed agrotourism potential across four sub-districts using direct-observation survey and SWOT analysis, in an area with average temperatures of 22.7-25.1°C and humidity of 79-86%. Identified strengths included government-owned land available for agrotourism use, existing paddy-based agrotourism integrated with sheep farming and fisheries, a nearby Masked Village aerial-photography tourist site, multiple potential locations for agrotourism-based edutourism, and community enthusiasm. The study concludes that agrotourism development in Tlogowaru sub-district should be organized around two functions: lodging and trade, and agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery education.

Chengxiang Zi, D. Winterbottom, Juanjuan Liu · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · China

Focusing on a well-preserved village of the Dong ethnic group in southwest China that maintains traditional livelihoods and a local food system, a study used field surveys, interviews and participatory mapping to propose an edible green infrastructure (EGI) model for traditional villages. The model comprises the "rice-fish-duck" cycle as the core of traditional livelihoods, a hierarchical ecological structure of "households-groups-village," and corresponding management models. By theoretically analyzing the EGI of traditional villages shaped over China's millennia-old agricultural civilization, the study aims to inform sustainable food-system and natural-resource-management knowledge, applying it to the construction of bio-districts in rural China.

Aji Saputra, Oekan S. Abdoellah, Gemilang Lara Utama · Local Environment · Indonesia

A commentary on the current state of urban agriculture implementation in large Indonesian cities, the initiatives underway and the mechanisms for pursuing stated goals. It identifies land scarcity, inadequate urban agricultural infrastructure, financial constraints, and regulatory and administrative problems as the major obstacles to implementation. It also states that urban agriculture improves quality of urban life by providing fresh, healthy food and fostering community engagement, and cites Singapore, New York and Ghana as examples showing the importance of policy support, innovation and community involvement.

Djoni Haryadi Setiabudi, Resmana Lim · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bangsa · Indonesia

A community-service report on implementing an IoT-based fertigation system at the Alam Sari PPPK Petra urban farm in Indonesia, aimed at automating fertilizer application, irrigation and nutrient-concentration control for hydroponic crops. Following on-site observation to define maintenance and installation needs, the team designed, built and tested the hardware and software. Two IoT devices — a fertigation unit and a nutrient-concentration controller — were installed, easing hydroponic maintenance work for farm staff and serving as a teaching tool on information technology for visiting students.

Angga Mahardika Syahrul Putra, Jafron Wasiq Hidayat, Kasiyati · Prosiding SNAST · Indonesia

Against the backdrop of Yogyakarta City, Indonesia (32.85 sq km) having only 23.52% green open space coverage versus the legally required 30%, this study used a literature review method (journal articles, proceedings, government documents, regulations, and spatial data) to analyze the form and role of the city's Lorong Sayur ("vegetable alley") program. It found Lorong Sayur to be a form of vertical urban agriculture using land along alleys and neighborhood roads, with an ecological effect of minimizing non-organic waste and contributions to changing residents' lifestyles and improving socio-economic life.

M Abror, A. Miftakhurrohmat, Andriani Eko Prihatiningrum, Ade Eviyanti · Journal of Social Comunity Services (JSCS) · Indonesia

This community-outreach program in Candi District, Indonesia, targeted the Muhammadiyah Student Association (IPM), a youth organization, aiming to improve members' understanding and skills in vertical culture cultivation as a way to optimize narrow urban land for agriculture, delivered through structured socialization, training, and mentoring. Participants gained the ability to design and implement vertical culture systems, agricultural productivity improved in both quantity and quality of harvests, and the program evaluation showed a significant increase in participant knowledge.

Priya Singh, Ramakrishna Bora, Asha Devi · International Journal of Bioscience and Biochemistry · India

This study evaluated the effectiveness of integrated nutrient management (INM) in enhancing brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) growth, yield, and soil fertility in urban agricultural settings in Jorhat, India. Given declining soil fertility and over-reliance on chemical fertilizers, INM — combining chemical fertilizers, organic manures, and biofertilizers — was tested as a sustainable alternative using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments (control, chemical fertilizers, organic manures, INM), each replicated three times. Growth parameters (plant height, Leaf Area Index, number of branches) were measured, and fruit yield and quality were recorded at harvest; soil fertility indicators (pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) were analyzed at the start and end of the study. INM significantly enhanced growth, producing the highest plant height (112 cm), LAI (3.7), and number of branches (6.5). INM-treated plants produced 33% higher fruit yield (25.4 tons/ha) than the chemical fertilizer treatment and 66% higher than the control. Soil fertility improved in INM plots, with increases in soil pH (6.8), organic carbon (1.8%), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels.

Wida Oktavia Suciyani, Marwansyah, Husna Candranurani Oktavia Oktavia, Jaka Sastrawan Ramlan Kusumah, Rima Midiyanti, Gilang Ramadhan · Dharma Raflesia Jurnal Ilmiah Pengembangan dan Penerapan IPTEKS · Indonesia (Bandung)

This community service program in the Sukamantri 2 area of Bandung, Indonesia, addressed a shortage of green open space (RTH) in a densely populated residential area by developing a participatory community garden on idle land. The program was implemented in four phases: (1) planning analysis for suitable plant types, (2) land preparation and provision of garden facilities, (3) construction of the community garden, and (4) monitoring and evaluation of program sustainability. Thirty participants took part, including 10 from the Bandung Polytechnic (Polban) community service team and 20 from the partner community. The program resulted in the establishment of a community garden as a use of idle land within the dense settlement.

Aliifa Jenica Athaya Natama, Kadhung Prayoga, Siwi Gayatri · Agrisocionomics Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian · Indonesia

A study of the Dahlia Farmers' Group in Semarang, Indonesia, using multiple linear regression to examine the role of social capital in urban farming success (survey conducted December 2023-January 2024). Norms — establishing standard operating procedures for members — played an important role in supporting success, while trust and networks proved less influential, since urban farming success depends more on management and knowledge than on interpersonal relationships. The study recommends the group strengthen norms through digital networks, mentorship, social activities, external partnerships and a reward system.