Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2091 results(19 / 84)
Cultivating Virtue: Neo-Aristotelian Concepts in Public Space Development
2024Beata Sirowy, Kelvin Knight · The Geojournal library · Global
This chapter proposes Aristotelian concepts of eudaimonia (human well-being), virtues, and civic friendship as guiding principles for urban development, particularly in the design of urban public space. It argues that urban public space development should consider citizens' participative practices, rather than solely administratively conceived functions. Urban agriculture is presented as an example of a practice in urban public space that cultivates ethical virtues, sociality, and productive skills, contributing to the common good.
CommunityPolicyFood educationPromoting Green Transformations through Smart Engagement: An Assessment of 100 Citizen-Led Urban Greening Projects
2024Eleni Oikonomaki, Ilektra Papadaki, Christina Kakderi · Land · Global
This paper examined 100 citizen-led urban greening projects globally, categorizing them by greenery type, stakeholders, implementation mode, and smart technology use. Fully citizen-led initiatives often focused on urban farms and food growing, while scaling projects frequently received support from public authorities or NGOs. Websites and social media facilitated participation and knowledge sharing, but advanced digital technologies for real-time monitoring and evidence-based decision-making were rarely integrated.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyDigital agricultureAgricultural City – its Formal Shape in the Light of Historic Theoretical Designs and Emerging Technologies
2024Marta Rudnicka-Bogusz · Civil And Environmental Engineering Reports · Global
This study presents three lesser-known theories of W. Czerny, L. Zimowski, and O. Hansen regarding the “agricultural city,” alongside theories by L. Migge and F.L. Wright. It focuses on the role of agriculture within the city framework and its implications for future urban built structures. Urban farming is positioned as a multifunctional tool contributing to food security, ecological sustainability, community resilience, and social cohesion within the concept of a regenerative city.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityClimate changePolicyPregerminative treatments of uspí (Couepia polyandra Kunth): a fruit tree to grow in school gardens
2024José Libio Álvarez-Arellano, Martha Isela Baños-Dorantes, Erika Guadalupe Ceballos Falcón, Ana Laura Luna Jiménez, Román Jiménez-Vera, Nicolás González Cortés · Journal of Agricultural Sciences Research (2764-0973) · Global
Pregerminative treatments of uspi (Couepia polyandra Kunth) seeds were evaluated at the nursery of the Multidisciplinary Academic Division of Los Ros to produce seedlings for school green areas. No significant difference was found among five treatments (unhydrated seeds and seeds hydrated for 24 hours with biozyme or whey), each with 50 seeds. The highest germination percentage was 63%, with seedlings reaching 7.5 cm in height, 6.2 cm in main root length, 15.94 secondary roots, and three leaves.
Food educationDIYCommunityEntre juegos, aprendizaje y pantallas: Estudio de caso en infantes de Jardines comunitarios, Argentina.
2024Stella Maris Moreira, Diego Tomas Araujo Poume, A Milagros Ferreyra · Episteme Revista de Estudios Socioterritoriales · Argentina
This research, initiated by an NGO managing community gardens in Lomas de Zamora, Argentina, investigated parents' social representations of play and screen use among young children. A situational diagnosis was conducted using a mixed-methods approach, analyzing reports from 59 interviews and over 95 surveys with parents and/or guardians. The study aimed to understand the impact of screens, particularly cell phones, on children's play.
CommunityFood educationUrban Agriculture and Green Urban Planning
2024Janmejoy Gupta · · Global
This study discusses the role of urban agriculture in urban greening and sustainability. Examining the Rajendranagar Mandal peri-urban area in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, through a primary survey, it was found that neither the local government nor the majority of building occupants were encouraging any kind of urban agriculture in unused land along road medians or water bodies.
PolicyClimate changeUrban–rural linkageCommunityBenefits of Non-Commercial Urban Agricultural Practices—A Systematic Literature Review
2024Ouiam Fatiha Boukharta, Iona Yuelu Huang, Laura H. Vickers, Luis Manuel Navas-Gracia, Leticia Chico-Santamarta · Agronomy · Global
This systematic literature review investigated the benefits of non-commercial urban agriculture (NCUA) forms and their contribution to food production. It collected 1355 articles from qualified search engines, ultimately analyzing 40 articles. The findings indicate that implementing NCUA practices yields multifaceted social, economic, and environmental benefits, including improving people's health, reducing food expenditure, and creating sustainable cities. The review also noted that awareness of urban agriculture and the recognition of its benefits differ between developed and developing countries.
HealthEconomicsCommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceDrivers of Urban Agriculture and their Influence on the Socio-Economic Status of the Urban Farmers in Uganda, A Case Study of Kampala and Mbarara Cities
2024Ninsheka Leonard, Edward Ssemakula, Tiyo Christopher, Kalibwani Rebecca, Mulongo Marius · International Journal of Life Science and Agriculture Research · Uganda
A study in Kampala and Mbarara Cities, Uganda, investigated the influence of urban agriculture drivers on the socio-economic status of urban farmers, using a sample of 384 respondents. This cross-sectional research employed a multistage cluster sampling technique and multiple data collection methods. A strong association was found between urban agriculture drivers and the socio-economic status of farmers, with five items significantly influencing household socio-economic status: access to capital, access to agriculture extension services, access to financial grants, access to markets, and value addition.
EconomicsCommunityWelfareThe Importance of Social Programming in Urban Agriculture: A Practitioner’s Experiences from Norway
2024Helene Gallis, Kimberly Weger, Adam Curtis · The Geojournal library · Norway (Oslo)
This memoir presents the experiences of urban agriculture pioneer Helene Gallis and Nabolagshager in Oslo, Norway. It argues for a systematic application of placemaking principles in urban agriculture to enhance social well-being, enabling diverse community members to participate in co-creating urban agriculture in public spaces. The projects highlight the transformative impact of using placemaking principles for more accessible, inclusive, and democratic cultivated public spaces.
CommunityWelfareFostering sustainable agriculture: An exploration of localised food systems through community supported agriculture
2024Ming-Jie Tay, Tuan Hock Ng, Ying-San Lim · Environmental and Sustainability Indicators · Malaysia
To explore farmers' motivations for participating in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs in Malaysia, 15 farmers were interviewed one-on-one at their farms using snowball sampling, with each session lasting 1-2 hours. The findings indicated that CSA not only provides economic benefits for farmers but also promotes eco-friendly food production and distribution, while enhancing social equity within local communities. The three qualitative indicators inherent to CSA serve as essential pillars advocating for the expansion of CSA initiatives and a supportive policy environment for sustainable food production systems.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePolicySustainable urban horticulture—Providing more than just food
2024Jill L. Edmondson · Cell Reports Sustainability · Global
Growing fruits and vegetables in cities is recognized as a potential contributor to local food security and can provide additional benefits for urban dwellers. However, it is crucial to ensure equity in access to land for all urban communities and to support the development of necessary skills and knowledge for successful cultivation.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justiceHealthCommunityFood educationPlanning [for Urban Agriculture] as Public Nurturance
2024Samina Raja, Marcia Caton Campbell, Alexandra Judelsohn · Urban agriculture · Global
This chapter highlights urban agriculture's role in promoting equity in cities, proposing "planning as public nurturance." This approach is a value-explicit process centered on an ethic of care, protecting marginalized groups' interests, and building their capacity for co-design and participation. It requires consistent evaluation of progress toward equitable outcomes and attention to structural inequities.
PolicyCommunityEconomicsEl huerto del Tierno Galván
2024A López · Gaditana-Logía · Global
This article describes the school garden at Tierno Galván as an important part of the school, fostering collaborative work among pupils, parents, teachers, and staff. It highlights the garden as an educational experience that develops values, promotes love for nature, and serves as a neutral space for learning. The garden is presented as a community effort contributing to students' personal growth.
Food educationCommunityTransdisciplinary teaching and learning in a master’s program in urban agriculture
2024Sigrid Gjøtterud, Rasa Holen, Trine Hvoslef-Eide · International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education · Global
This action research study explored transdisciplinary teaching and learning in an urban agriculture master's program using qualitative methods. Students demonstrated high inter- and intrapersonal competencies and cross-disciplinary idea development. However, a critical finding was that the potential for collaboration with external partners (case owners) was not fully exploited and requires further development.
Limited or null effectFood educationCommunityPropostas para o fortalecimento da agroecologia e do desenvolvimento sustentável diante da emergência climática.
2024M. P. PADOVAN, A. FEIDEN, O. M. KOMORI, E. A. Guimarães Costa, R. da S. CAMPOS · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Global
At the Agroecol 2024 event, nine proposals were developed to strengthen agroecology and sustainable development in the face of the climate emergency. These proposals include strengthening agroecology in family farming, indigenous peoples, traditional communities, urban and peri-urban agriculture, promoting diversified production and short commercialization circuits, training processes in biodiverse agroecological systems, strengthening public research, and providing qualified technical assistance and credit tailored to farmers' needs.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPeri-urban agricultureAgricultura urbana agroecológica: producción y aportes alimentarios de tres huertas comunitarias
2024Alan Bentancor Cabrera, Inés Gazzano, Beatriz Bellenda Carneiro · REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE AGROECOLOGIA · Uruguay (Montevideo)
This study investigated food production, nutritional contributions, necessary labor time, and satisfaction levels in three agroecological urban community gardens (HUAC) in Montevideo, Uruguay. It integrated secondary information, interviews with qualified informants, and analysis of field records. Results indicated that these HUACs produce significant volumes of quality food capable of covering individuals' nutritional requirements, potentially satisfying between 34% and 74% of recommended intake, and gardeners perceive HUACs as contributing around 42% of the food they consume.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceFood educationHealthCooking as Somaesthetic and Political Education
2024Nicola Perullo · · Global
This chapter proposes understanding cooking as participatory education from a relational philosophy perspective, cultivating an integral and ecological sensibility. It explores the socio-political implications of cooking, drawing on John Dewey's pioneering vision of cooking and taste as aesthetic activities, linking it to somaesthetics and Dōgen's Sōtō Buddhist school. Contemporary examples, including edible school gardens, support the notion that education with and through food develops a somaesthetic sensibility to oppose and redress fragmented social systems.
Food educationCommunityKigali – a case study of urban agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa
2024Ada Górna · · Rwanda (Kigali)
This chapter examines urban agriculture in Kigali, Rwanda, discussing its distribution, structural, production, and organizational features within the city. Crop fields are primarily found in marshy valleys and on hill slopes, with their area and structure varying by location. Terrain and residents' nutritional needs, including the use of wasteland for food production, are important factors influencing agricultural distribution.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageMotivations, Supporting Factors and Challenges for Urban Agriculture in Public Space: Experiences from Oslo
2024Katinka H. Evensen, Vebjørn Egner Stafseng · The Geojournal library · Norway (Oslo)
This study explored ways of integrating urban agriculture in public spaces through case studies of eight urban agriculture projects in Oslo from 2018 to 2020. Interviews with project initiators and managers highlighted motivations emphasizing the creation of social meeting places and learning arenas for cultivation and ecological knowledge. Urban agriculture was also used as a tool in local urban space development to improve well-being by activating unused spaces and integrating cultivation into green space management, suggesting that deliberate design could increase the perceived publicness of spaces.
CommunityFood educationHealthPolicyThe Intention of Community Garden Participation: A Case Study inCommunity Garden of Taman Tasik Ilmu, Kota Seriemas
2024Nurzawani Azuwa · INTI JOURNAL. · Malaysia
This study aimed to explore the intention behind community garden participation at Taman Tasik Ilmu. Data was collected using an online questionnaire from 40 participants, gathering information on demographics, gardening knowledge, reasons for participation, and opinions on facilities and garden management. Descriptive analysis indicated that the primary motivation for participants to join the community garden program was to fill their free time.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsDetermination of selected phenolic compounds from Malaysian urban farmingcommunity
2024M.N.H. Daud, Mohd Lip Jabit, Noorzalianee Ghazali, J.C.L. Ying · Food Research · Malaysia
This study aimed to evaluate scientific information on major phenolic compounds, including quercetin, protocatechuic acid, and gallic acid, from vegetables cultivated in Malaysian urban farming communities. Leafy and non-leafy vegetables were collected, and phenolic compounds were detected using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Based on the data, most collected vegetables contained the targeted major phenolic compounds, with leaf mustard showing the highest content of quercetin, protocatechuic acid, and gallic acid.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthGuerrilla Gardening in a Time of Ecological and Social Crisis: An Exploratory Endeavor to Feel Connected with a Lost Piece of Forest
2024Margaretha Häggström, Mårten Häggström · The Trumpeter · Sweden
This four-year exploratory study in a clearcut in western Sweden investigated the feasibility of cultivating crops in a nutrient-poor, shadowless environment to support biodiversity. The study found that while it was possible to grow potatoes, peas, and some summer flowers without special efforts, it was difficult to grow other vegetables and root vegetables. The project suggests that planting activities in clearcuts may impact people's sense of human-nature identity and respect for the natural environment.
Limited or null effectDIYBiodiversityFood educationCommunityEnhancing Urban Climate Resistance Through the Application of Selected Strategies and Technologies
2024Caroline Hachem-Vermette · Discover Cities · Global
This study outlines a comprehensive set of resilience strategies aimed at enhancing urban resilience across four key domains: water, food, shelter, and energy. A three-pronged evaluation framework is introduced to assess these strategies, presenting a systematic method to rank them based on six criteria: cost, infrastructure impact, scalability, regulatory and zoning challenges, community acceptance, and maintenance needs. For instance, community gardens and rainwater harvesting systems are highly scalable and accepted, while green roofs require more investment and maintenance.
Climate changeCommunityPolicyGreen horizons: Exploring the potential of vertical green walls
2024T Jeyasurya, C. Subesh Ranjith Kumar, P. Irene Vethamoni, K. Sivasubramanian, M. Djanaguiraman · Plant Science Today · Global
This review explores the concept, suitable plant choices, and benefits of green walls in urban settings, identifying them as a solution to environmental challenges from urbanization. Green walls offer environmental, social, and economic benefits such as improved air quality, noise reduction, energy conservation, and biodiversity enhancement, while also promoting urban agriculture and community engagement. Implementation requires careful consideration of structural integrity, irrigation, and maintenance.
BiodiversityClimate changeCommunityUrban–rural linkageFrom Prescription to Adaptation in the Future Productive City: Classroom-Inspired Principles for Design and Planning of Urban Agriculture
2024Deni Ruggeri · The Geojournal library · Global
This chapter reflects on educational experiences connected to the “Cultivating Public Space” project. Students conceptualized urban agriculture not merely as a collection of physical objects, but as holistic, multifunctional landscapes designed to cultivate biophilia, food justice, public health, and community identity. This approach aimed to celebrate the uniqueness of each locale and co-create new visions of adaptation and transformation.
Food educationCommunityPolicyHealth