Research & reports

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.

Christopher Schliephake · Ecozon European Journal of Literature Culture and Environment · South Korea

An essay examines historical and socio-cultural shifts in urban landscapes and their cultural imagery since industrialization, then discusses bottom-up and top-down models of urban agriculture as two alternative attempts to re-embed cities within natural material cycles. It goes on to analyze the cultural urban ecology depicted in South Korean director Hae-jun Lee's film Cast Away on the Moon (2009), raising questions about what place nature holds in cities and whether working the soil can lead to regeneration.

Dong-Gwan Lee, Se-Hwan Cho · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea

A survey of residents in nine autonomous districts of Seoul, South Korea, that had grounds to support urban agriculture activation examined the causal relationship between lifestyle type and preferred urban agriculture activities. The "health-seeking" lifestyle type was significantly associated with downtown-type urban agriculture, such as participating in education programs, planting ornamental crops, and attending urban agriculture expos. The "leisure-activity" type was significantly associated with housing-utilization urban agriculture, such as indoor and apartment-veranda gardening. The "health-seeking" type was also significantly associated with school-education-type and farm/park-type urban agriculture, while the "family-oriented" type was significantly associated with school-education-type urban agriculture. The study positions these findings as baseline data for future urban agriculture activation policy.

Pulliat G. · Articulo – Journal of Urban Research · Vietnam (Hanoi)

Based on qualitative fieldwork with underprivileged households in Hanoi, this paper argues that small-scale urban and peri-urban agriculture provides affordable, safe, and diverse food for low-income residents, while current urbanization policies generate spatial injustice by restricting access to agricultural land.

赤峰市委党校课题组, 盖文学 · 松州学刊 · China (Chifeng)

This study examined the development of Chifeng city's central urban area in China, acknowledging significant achievements since 1995 but also identifying issues such as weak industrial support, water supply crises, and talent shortages. To address these, the study proposed seven specific strategies, including developing suburban urban agriculture by establishing industry-academia-research bases, aiming to build a regional central city with a million inhabitants.

宋志军, 刘黎明 · Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni · China

Chinese urban agriculture has developed against a backdrop of multifunctionality, urbanization, industrialization, and non-agriculturalization. Since the reform and opening-up, the development of non-agricultural functions has complemented and advanced the broad modernization of urban agriculture, while simultaneously inhibiting, delaying, and destroying narrow modernization. This has led to a "reverse modernization" phenomenon in the spatial pattern of urban agriculture, characterized by changes spatially "opposite" to narrow agricultural modernization. China's current urban agriculture exhibits an overall spatial state of "reverse modernization" with various agricultural forms interspersed.

Jingjing Zhang, Jingshuang Liu, Rui Yu, Qiang Liu, Yang Wang · Human and Ecological Risk Assessment An International Journal · China (Jilin City)

This study analyzed 50 surface soil samples from urban vegetable fields in Jilin City, China, for thirteen organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Based on soil quality standards, DDTs and chlordanes were categorized as light pollution, while HCHs showed no pollution for most samples. The study concluded that despite the presence of various OCPs residues, the soils are still safe and suitable for agricultural production.

欧阳炜, Liu Jie · 蔬菜 · China (Urumqi)

This study stated that urban agriculture is an emerging industry integrating primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, playing a promotional role in socio-economic development, agricultural modernization, increasing farmers' income, and healthy urban development. For the sustainable development of modern urban agriculture in Urumqi City, it was suggested that agriculture should be based as the foundation for social stability and economic development, drawing on domestic and international experiences to establish a practical, innovative, scientific, and reasonable operating model integrated with regional economic development plans.

Qing Guo · · China (Dalian)

This paper, based on the China urban agriculture development report 2013 and a SWOT analysis, studied the development of urban modern agriculture in Dalian. The study found that the agricultural industrial structure, shopping basket program, agricultural management system, land circulation, and agricultural information technology have restricted the development of Dalian's urban modern agriculture.

Kyung-chan Min, Jee-young Kim, yong-hoon Son · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · South Korea

A study in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea, investigated 45 spontaneous agricultural lands, primarily around Mt. Gwanak, which often present risks like disaster, pollution, and landscape degradation. Using GIS, satellite images, field surveys, and interviews, the study classified these lands into six types. Three types were well-managed, while three types were in poor condition, indicating governance challenges. The research discusses the causes of these conditions and explores the potential for these lands to become community open spaces.

Gunwon Lee, Yunnam Jeong, Seongkyun Ji, Seiyong Kim · Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society · South Korea

This study aimed to improve Biotope Area Ratio (BAR) systems to address the increasing demand for urban agriculture, particularly in residential complexes where architectural and urban planning responses are lacking. It found that existing BAR systems are limited for crop cultivation because they only consider vegetation. The research proposes expanding BAR systems to include plant growth capacity factors, such as daylight, planting interval, area, and soil depth, to better accommodate urban agriculture demands.

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.

P. S. Yuniar, Widiatmaka Widiatmaka, A. M. Fuah · Jurnal Ilmu Produksi dan Teknologi Hasil Peternakan · Indonesia (South Tangerang)

This research analyzed the advisability and potential for beef cattle development in South Tangerang, Indonesia. Data was collected through interviews with stakeholders, observations of livestock locations, and secondary sources. The study used Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and SWOT analysis to formulate development strategies, finding that waste management, biogas technology, farmer cooperative capacity building, and government land-use support are important for sustainability, farmer income, and food security.

Delfina Grinspan · School for International Training Digital Collections (School for International Training) · India (Bangalore)

This study investigated whether urban food growing practices in Bangalore, India's second fastest-growing city, contribute to the emergence of a more localized food system. Data was collected on input use, distribution arrangements for urban gardening products, and linkages among actors in urban and peri-urban agriculture. The study found that Bangalore's urban food growing practices conform to localized food system patterns, but this effect is incomplete due to challenges in localizing irrigation water sourcing and a lack of connectivity with the municipal government.

Yang Zhenyu, Ma Li, Junfen Liang, Wei Fang, Hong Shaopeng, Weijun Lin · Tropical Agricultural Engineering · China (Pearl River Delta)

This paper constructed an index system for urban agriculture industry competitiveness in the Pearl River Delta and used grey correlation analysis to compare 9 cities. The results showed Foshan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, and Guangzhou in descending order of competitiveness. Foshan, Huizhou, and Zhuhai were at the top, indicating strong overall agricultural industrial competitiveness.

Mima Kurniasih · Jurnal Administrasi Publik Public Administration Journal · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This study described and analyzed the implementation of an Urban Farming program in Made Village, Sambikerep District, Surabaya City, Indonesia, and assessed its contribution to food security for poor communities. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the research found that the Urban Farming program's implementation was successful, improving food security through increased food stock and reduced food expenses. However, further improvement is needed, particularly regarding stakeholder participation.

J.I.H. Oh, Hae-Sun Park · 한국생활환경학회지 · South Korea

This study investigated urban agricultural complex building planning to activate local communities in South Korea, focusing on the social functions of urban agriculture. Analysis revealed that domestic community gardens lack experiential, educational, food/beverage, and sales spaces compared to foreign cases. The study concluded that sustainable community gardens require long-term networks and diverse programs, along with specific spaces and programs for various generations to vitalize local characteristics.

Kristina Satterlee · Digital Commons @ Connecticut College (Connecticut College) · India (Mumbai); United States (New York City)

This comparative study of urban agriculture in Mumbai, India, and New York City, USA, utilized in-depth interviews with urban farmers and secondary research. The research revealed that farms and gardens in lower-income areas in both cities had access to significantly fewer resources than their counterparts in wealthier areas. Additionally, both movements struggled to form networks across socioeconomic divides.

徐晶, 吴聪 · 中国土地 · China (Wuhan)

This paper analyzes the practice and problems of "multi-plan integration" in Wuhu Street, Huangpi District, Wuhan City, a rapidly urbanizing area dominated by modern urban agriculture. Wuhu Street faces issues such as the disorderly sprawl of construction land and low land use efficiency. The study proposes targeted policy recommendations based on these findings.

胡卿 · 江西农业 · China (Nanchang)

In recent years, Nanchang City, China, has actively promoted the transformation of conventional agriculture into modern urban agriculture, focusing on developing urban modern agriculture. In 2014, the city added one "Beautiful China Farmland," one national-level leisure agriculture demonstration site, nine national leisure agriculture star enterprises, and six provincial-level leisure agriculture demonstration sites.

Min Wang · · China (Xi'an)

This study analyzed the dynamic change and spatial difference of urban agricultural multi-functionality in Xi'an metropolitan zone, China, from 2000 to 2013. Using a comprehensive evaluation method and coupling coordinative degree model, it found that production, economic, and social functions generally rose, while ecological function declined. The overall multi-functional coupling coordination degree increased only slightly, and remained low across all regions, showing a core-periphery distribution.

Zulfadhli Nasution · · Indonesia (Jakarta)

A case study in Jakarta, Bandung, and Bogor, Indonesia, examined the engagement between urban farming communities and food sovereignty. Findings indicate that the food sovereignty discourse has not significantly exposed urban farming communities due to differing historical backgrounds and social/political views between urban farming and rural peasantry-based movements. The study suggests prerequisites for strengthening food sovereignty among urban food advocates, including building consumer consciousness and urban-rural solidarity.

I Ketut Sardiana · Bumi Lestari Journal of Environment · Indonesia

A field survey using subak (traditional Balinese irrigation) units as sampling points, with soil properties analyzed by standard laboratory methods, evaluated land suitability for horticultural and medicinal crops in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, to support agricultural planning that protects the subak system amid land conversion to tourism development. Land was found "very suitable" (S1) for rice, and "suitable" (S) for vegetables, fruit and medicinal plants with two limiting factors — poor drainage and fine soil texture — leading to recommendations for drainage improvement, organic matter addition, and zoned land-use planning by season and location (rice in the rainy season, flowers in the north, fruit and vegetables in the central area, and vegetables and secondary crops in the south).

Intan Zainab Bauw, Suharko · · Indonesia

A 2015 qualitative case study of "Bandung Berkebun," an urban farming community in Bandung, Indonesia, examines its resource mobilization process using resource mobilization theory from social movement studies (the McCarthy and Zald, and Edwards frameworks). Based on direct interviews, participant observation, and secondary data, it finds that Bandung Berkebun accessed resources through self-aggregation and self-production, drawing on human resources in the form of creative activists, cultural resources in the form of innovative ideas and concepts, and social-organizational resources in the form of strong networks. However, while the group achieved considerable community-sustainability outcomes, the study notes that in terms of realizing the movement's longer-term vision, its resource mobilization process remained mere mobilization, not yet fully directed toward ensuring that vision's realization.

蔡万涛, 李云伏 · 农业科技管理 · China

This paper reviews the achievements in scientific and technological innovation and service delivery at the Ministry of Agriculture's Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (North China), part of China's national agricultural science and technology innovation system, since its establishment. It systematically summarizes the laboratory's development experience across macro-level coordination, organizational cooperation, resource sharing, collaborative innovation, team building and research integrity, presenting it as a reference for the development of modern urban agriculture in China.