Research & reports

Aregawi Beyene, Azeb Gebreegziabher, Zenebe Abraha, Tsahaynesh Hagos, Yohansu Girmay · European Journal of Horticultural Science · Africa

This study examined factors affecting urban households' participation in home gardening in Mekelle city, Tigray Region, Ethiopia, where home gardens served as a means of survival, particularly in urban areas, during the region's war and siege. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions with 264 multistage-sampled households (171 users, 93 non-users) were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a probit model, showing government motivation and access to land, income, education, extension services and inputs significantly influence home gardening participation. Users were significantly older, had larger families, and had higher incomes and education than non-users, with markedly greater access to land and agricultural inputs, underscoring the role of socioeconomic factors in participation.

Márliton Santos, Martele Brito Santos, Josilene Martins Inez · REVISTA PONTO DE VISTA · Global

A systematic review following the PRISMA protocol, covering articles published between 2014 and 2024 in the CAPES and SciELO databases, analyzed the effect of school-based urban agriculture projects on students' emotional health. The review found that participation in school gardens was associated with a significant reduction in stress and anxiety levels and promoted the development of social skills. Pedagogical practices linked to urban agriculture were reported to foster a collaborative environment and improve emotional well-being, and the presence of green areas in schools was also found beneficial for academic performance and mental health.

Anna Stage (17743305), Marie Caroline Vermund (11075551), Mads Bølling (6661577), Camilla Roed Otte (21175813), Alberte Laura Oest Müllertz (21175816), Peter Bentsen (3527732), Glen Nielsen (10468844), Peter Elsborg (8894495) · Figshare · Denmark

A study protocol describes FoodACT, a multimethod, quasi-experimental investigation of the existing Danish school garden program Gardens to Bellies (GtB) and its effects on children's food literacy (FL), climate change literacy (CCL), school motivation (SM) and physical activity (PA), preregistered on ClinicalTrials.gov (#NCT05839080). The study covers six GtB locations across Region Zealand and Region of Southern Denmark, recruiting approximately 1,600 fourth-grade GtB pupils as the intervention group and approximately 1,600 fourth-grade pupils from non-GtB schools as controls. Pupils grow, prepare and cook food across eight garden sessions; FL, CCL and SM are measured via pre- and post-intervention surveys, PA via accelerometry, and acute SM via text-message surveys, alongside semi-structured and focus-group interviews with garden facilitators and pupils on implementation and mechanisms.

Rafitri Novitasari, Agustina Shinta Hartati Wahyuningtyas, Heptari Elita Dewi, Riyanti Isaskar · JOURNAL ON SOCIAL ECONOMIC OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRIBUSINESS · Indonesia

A study in Malang City, Indonesia, where population growth has reduced agricultural land even as unused agricultural land is being converted to urban farming, analyzed factors (knowledge, attitude, perception) influencing interest in farming. Using purposive sampling, data were collected from 70 respondents via interviews and documentation and processed with descriptive statistical analysis and SEM-PLS. The results showed that knowledge of and attitude toward urban agriculture did not have a significant effect on people's interest in urban farming, while perception of urban agriculture had a positive influence on interest, associated with residents' recognition of its economic, social and environmental benefits.

Listya Utami Karmawan, Rory Anthony Hutagalung, Yanti Yanti, Irwin Suryaatmadja, Michelle Nadine Hardjawidjaja, Yasinta Ratna Esti Wulandari · Journal of Saintech Transfer · Indonesia

The abstract describes a project with the Villa Ciomas RW 10 Farmer Group (PokTan Vici 10) in Ciomas Rahayu Village, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, which practices urban farming on a small plot beside the Cisindangbarang River and already had a small fishpond but lacked aquaponics equipment. A community service team aimed to enhance the urban farming facility by installing aquaponics equipment, running workshops on basic hydroponics and aquaponics knowledge, exploring business potential, and providing hands-on cultivation practice, with monitoring and guidance throughout. The hydroponic/aquaponics installation succeeded, though nutrient supply from the fishponds alone was initially suboptimal, requiring supplemental hydroponic nutrients; hydroponic techniques were also introduced for vegetable cultivation. A pre/post-training questionnaire analysis showed the program significantly improved participants' knowledge and aquaponic skills (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p<0.05). The aquaponics equipment was installed successfully, and participants gained foundational knowledge and skills enabling them to manage aquaponics systems independently through to harvest; the community plans to explore business opportunities selling hydroponic/aquaponic products.

Lucía Caisso, Marina Eliana Espoturno, Ana Guadalupe Montenegro · CONICET Digital (CONICET) · Argentina

In rural primary schools of west-central Santa Fe province, Argentina, an anthropological study examined the relationship between education and environment. It reconstructs the social, productive and environmental context shaped by intensive agribusiness (agronegocio) and analyzes how this context affects school gardens, an activity rural teachers frame as part of Environmental Education. The analysis reveals tensions between the pedagogical mandate to develop school gardens, their reframing as Environmental Education, and the socio-environmental problems present in these settings, aiming to identify the limits and potentials of this pedagogical work around environmental issues.

Qiurita Fortuna, Marmi Marmi, Achmadi Achmadi · Pubmedia Jurnal Penelitian Tindakan Kelas Indonesia · Indonesia

An action research study conducted with students in the Food Crops and Horticultural Agribusiness (ATPH) program, grade 10, at SMKN 1 Gondang vocational high school in Nganjuk Regency, East Java, Indonesia, applied problem-based learning (PBL) to teaching urban farming across three cycles — a pre-cycle using discovery learning, then two cycles of PBL — assessing cognitive, affective and psychomotor outcomes. Introducing PBL increased the proportion of students exceeding the minimum mastery criterion (KKM) by 53% of the class total, raised the class average by 12%, and increased learning motivation as reflected in a rise in students actively engaged in the affective and psychomotor components measured.

Motohiro Kawanishi · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · Japan

A survey of the flora growing in the gardens of seven elementary schools on Okinoerabujima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, catalogued the vascular plants present as basic reference material for educational use. A total of 480 vascular plant species were recorded, of which 211 were native to Okinoerabujima Island, 100 were exotic, and 157 were cultivated. The school gardens hosted a large number of plants characterized by a high proportion of native species, including rare plants such as endangered herbaceous species. The survey sites were found to have high potential for use in teaching about the island's nature.

Bharti Gautam, Neha Negi, J. Mohan, Babita Bharti, Amit Kumar, Ridhima Arya · International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research · Global

A review paper surveying sustainable urban agriculture and gardening practices against a backdrop of rapid urbanization linked to climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. It covers composting, rainwater harvesting, rooftop gardening, hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming, and discusses the role of integrated pest management, smart irrigation systems, and urban agroforestry. The review states that integrating nature-based solutions — urban farms, vertical gardens, and green roofs — into the urban landscape can lessen environmental problems such as poor air quality, flooding, and the urban heat island effect, and that urban horticulture plays an important role in food security, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability.

Hellen Chrystianne Lucio Barros, Danielle Fernandes de Araújo Oliveira, Iris Alves Feitoza Albuquerque · Ambiente & Educação · Brazil

A study, based on interviews with six teachers at a state school in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, that has a community school garden project among its open spaces, examining possible relationships between green environments at school and the promotion of learning, well-being, and environmental care. The analysis found that teachers perceive the school garden as a pedagogical resource that facilitates learning, promotes well-being associated with students' mental health, and allows for discussion of environmental care and healthy eating, viewing it as a potential resource for learning in the field of socio-environmental education.

Mecca Howe, Jennifer Meta Robinson · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States

This case study examined psychosocial impacts among 13-to-17-year-old participants in the Felege Hiywot Center's 2023 STEAM Farm Camp in an underserved urban US neighborhood with limited access to affordable, nutritious food, where teens designed and maintained garden plots, prepared shared meals, and did science projects. Using survey and facilitated-journaling data, the study found that gardening produced positive feelings and was experienced as stress relief and a source of accomplishment, that teens built friendships and mentorships, and that participation was associated with metacognitive skill development including self-awareness and reflection.

Christopher Tate, Shariq Mumtaz Hashmi, Niamh O’Kane, Ruth F. Hunter · Cities · Global

This systematic review searched four bibliographic databases and identified eleven studies on horticultural therapy (HT) interventions drawing on urban agriculture practices for people with pre-existing diagnoses of depression, anxiety, or acute stress disorder. Six studies reported improvements in depressive symptoms, three found HT mitigated stress, and two reported a positive influence on anxiety, but more than two-thirds of the included studies carried moderate (n=6) or high (n=2) risk of bias with substantial methodological heterogeneity, and the small number of studies limits the generalisability of the findings; the review concludes that further research is needed to establish a robust causal link between HT interventions and improved mental health outcomes in this population.

João Manoel da Silva, Maria Celia de Paula Rocha, Mariana de Aquino Freitas, Érika Sabrina Felix Azevedo, Rafael Balbino Cardoso, Vitória R. R. de A. R. Ramalho · Revista de Gestão e Secretariado (Management and Administrative Professional Review) · Brazil

This project diagnosed the socioeducational profile, prior knowledge, and training needs of residents in several municipalities of the Alagoas semi-arid region (sertão alagoano) of Brazil, using an electronic questionnaire and a quali-quantitative analysis of responses, followed by thematic training cycles on "Cultivation in Small Spaces," "What to Plant," and "Ecological Management" to spread agroecological practices in urban, peri-urban, and backyard-garden settings. Results showed most participants already had some cultivation space and strong interest in sustainable practices such as composting and organic fertilization, though some showed technical limitations; women and young people predominated among respondents, and all participants expressed interest in further training, prioritizing digital materials such as explanatory videos and educational booklets.

Janine Opitz, Monika Egerer · Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems · Germany

An online survey of 111 responding projects from Germany's urban community gardening network examined the presence and diversity of nut tree species and the motivations and challenges for adopting and expanding them. Nut trees existed in almost half of the responding projects, but in small numbers with low yields, hindered by limited space, local laws and regulations, and interaction with other garden species, and only 50% of projects planned to incorporate more nut tree species in the future.

Hanik Endang Nihayati, Retno Indarwati, Elida Ulfiana · Jurnal Masyarakat · Indonesia

Aimed at creating urban green space and food production through urban farming — framed as an innovative strategy for food security amid rapid urbanization — this Indonesian initiative built urban greening through collaboration among community groups, the PKK women's welfare movement, and village (kelurahan) government officials. It was carried out as a five-stage, one-year mentoring program (socialization, trial, implementation, evaluation, and harvest festival) starting in April 2018. The urban farming program, which involved community members, particularly women, was found to improve quality of life by providing access to quality vegetables in the city center and creating a greener environment. The program is described as providing real benefits to the community, the village government, academics, and higher-education institutions, and as needing to be expanded to other regions with active involvement of women to broaden its impact.

Dhaipule Amritha, B. Nirmala, Ch. Srilatha, K. Supriya · Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · India

This study examines the motivations driving urban gardening, the challenges gardeners face, and how pricing, usability, and support services shape consumer preferences among residents of Hyderabad, India. Using purposive sampling, 80 respondents completed a structured questionnaire with 5-point semantic differential scales, analyzed via mean ranking and multiple linear regression. Most respondents were female, educated, middle-aged, and married, living in nuclear families, with both working professionals and homemakers participating in gardening. Adverse weather and pest problems were the most commonly reported challenges; among package features, material quality was rated most important, followed by price and ease of use. Pricing, usability, and support services significantly influenced consumer preferences (p < 0.01).

Emmanouel Arizanis, Dimitrios Kyriazis, Vassilis Barkoukis · Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning · Europe

This study tested the effectiveness of a specially designed school garden project aimed at improving intrinsic motivation (enjoyment, satisfaction/effort), social skills (responsibility, cooperation), and behavior (attitude, intention) as components of environmental behavior, among 152 fourth- and sixth-grade primary school pupils in Greece (M = 10.89 years, SD = 0.99), assigned to intervention and control groups. Pupils were tested before the intervention, at its end, and two months afterward. Over an eight-week intervention of two hours per week aligned with the Greek school curriculum, the intervention group attended the school garden project while the control group attended unrelated projects. The analysis found the program had a long-lasting effect on pupils' environmental behavior.

Nurul Zakiyah, Andien Putri Amelia, Dini Nurhandini, Lhaeira Hilda Arsheillah, Eka Yunita Putri, Dimas Aditya Riski, Bisyru Maulana Ali, Muhammad Surya Alkautsar · Academic Zeal for Community Innovation Research and Engagement · Indonesia

A community outreach program in Astanalanggar Village, Indonesia (2025) delivered participatory-action-research based education on yard-based urban farming, combined with cultivation of family medicinal plants (TOGA) and training in roselle processing, targeting the Arum Sari Women Farmers' Group and PKK members. The program used field observation, group discussion, education sessions, technical mentoring and planting activities. Reported outcomes were increased community participation and behavioral change toward using yard land and processing local plants for food, health, and household economic value.

Marlina Marlina, Muhammad Hafizh, Putra Jaya Gea, Yovi Avianto · Abdimas Galuh · Indonesia

A community outreach program at the KWT Sumber Rejeki women farmers' group production garden in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, held on November 26, 2024 (Abdimas Galuh, 2025), delivered counseling and hands-on training on preparing and applying a natural bactericide made from aloe vera waste to address bacterial wilt disease in chili cultivation. Reported outcomes were increased member knowledge and skill regarding bactericide definitions, benefits, natural ingredients, production technique, and application method, with high participant engagement. The program's authors note that the effectiveness of the aloe vera bactericide in actually suppressing Ralstonia solanacearum growth had not yet been evaluated and recommend this, along with testing on other horticultural crops, as follow-up work.

William D. Schanbacher, Joe Bohn, Erica Hall · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States

A reflective essay (2025) recounts a pilot, public-facing virtual course, "Introduction to Food Policy," delivered in summer 2022 by the University of South Florida Food Sovereignty Initiative and the Florida Food Policy Council, building on prior Florida work in urban agriculture, agroecology, and food sovereignty. Over six weeks, the course featured weekly presentations from food-system specialists on: understanding food policy, researching food policy, environmental food policy, food policy advocacy, civic engagement in food policy formulation, and regional food policy, and was open to students, community members, and policymakers. The authors, drawn from Florida Food Policy Council leadership and Food Sovereignty Initiative faculty, share observations on developing and delivering the course along with participant comments from a post-course survey and an outside evaluation by the North American Food Systems Network.

Gaynell M. Simpson, Wendy Lustbader · Innovation in Aging · Global

This symposium overview highlights cultural assets long relied upon by African American and Latina communities, focused on the formal and informal mutual aid of grandparent caregivers, which it describes as often overlooked or underutilized despite being a vital source of support. It states that historically, underserved grandparents have drawn on mutual aid practices such as neighbors relying on one another, sharing produce from community gardens, exchanging skills and abilities, and standing together with extended families when other societal resources were inaccessible. Four presenters address these themes: Carole Cox presents a virtual empowerment program on skill building, social connection, and empowerment; Nancy Mendoza offers recommendations on how the cultural assets of Latino grandparent caregivers can support their caregiving; Tina Peterson examines mutual aid among African American grandmothers raising grandchildren and how support networks compensate for gaps in formal and informal services; and Gaynell Simpson addresses the need for intergenerational programs and macro-level advocacy to address structural inequalities affecting grandparent caregivers and their families.

Jeremias Pineda, Armando M. Guidote · International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education · Global

A quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest study tested whether agriCHEMture, a home-based, urban-gardening-themed e-learning laboratory material, improved General Chemistry achievement among remote-learning high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifty-one senior high school General Chemistry students received the agriCHEMture intervention between a pretest and posttest, and paired-samples t-tests (p < 0.001) showed post-test scores significantly higher than pretest scores, indicating a significant increase in chemistry achievement.

Ratna Suminar, Nyang Vania Ayuningtyas Harini, Gian Sapta Andrialin · Journal of Agriculture and Animal Science · Indonesia

Against a backdrop of low vegetable consumption in Indonesia and rising demand for environmentally friendly urban farming solutions, a systematic literature review of sources published between 2016 and 2024 — accredited journals, reference books and research reports — examined the nutrient and bioactive-compound content of microgreens, their health benefits, and their potential for cultivation at scales including the household. It found that microgreens are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, have a short harvest period and low land requirements, that technologies such as LED lighting, growing media and seed quality strongly affect cultivation success, and that challenges remain in distribution and product shelf life.

Sarah Corcoran, Rachael Condley, Rachel A Liebe, Tuba Khan, Jillian Joyce, Deana Hildebrand, Ashlea Braun · Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition · United States (California)

At a hybrid food and resource center with an attached community garden in California, USA, a longitudinal, sequential explanatory mixed-methods study of 30 patrons (mean age 45.9, 73.3% women) combined quantitative measures (survey and skin carotenoids) with qualitative semi-structured interviews to examine barriers to and facilitators of fruit and vegetable intake. Skin carotenoid levels, a biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake, were largely unchanged before and after (P = .51); among the 26 participants interviewed, facilitators cited included perceptions of quality and alignment with health goals, while barriers included mental health and competing priorities, leading to the conclusion that programs aiming to improve fruit and vegetable intake should prioritize non-diet determinants.

Zahara Abdul Manaf, Louise Tee, Nurul Mirza Mohamad Shah, Siti Hajar Mohammad, Abdul Arieffarid Abdul Wahid · Journal of Health Population and Nutrition · Malaysia

This quasi-experimental study involved 72 ten-year-old children at a primary school in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, recruited by convenience sampling. The intervention group received a two-month program combining a talk on fruits and vegetables, educational gardening, cooking activities, and an educational board game, while the control group received only a dietitian's talk on fruits and vegetables. Height and weight were measured to calculate BMI, and changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices around fruit and vegetable consumption were measured with a self-administered structured questionnaire. Knowledge and awareness improved significantly among girls in the intervention group (p = 0.010) but not among boys (p = 0.272), and knowledge improved significantly among overweight and obese participants (p = 0.033) but not among those with normal or underweight BMI (p = 0.215). Attitude (p = 0.980) and practice (p = 0.233) toward fruit and vegetable consumption showed no statistically significant improvement after the intervention.