Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
9074 results(199 / 363)
A Study on the Possibility of Transfer of Development Rights in Urban Agricultural Land
2019Yusuke Aoki, Norihiro Nakai, Mamiko Numata · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Japan
This study investigated the possibility of applying development rights transfer to preserve urban agricultural land in a depopulating society, focusing on transferring development rights from urban agricultural land to city centers. The research calculated transfer rates using land price ratios and the land residual method, then applied these rates to hypothetical projects. It was found that in areas like Marunouchi and Ginza, a single project could transfer all development rights for Setagaya Ward's agricultural green spaces, while other areas required a combination of multiple projects.
PolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkagel’Horta De València: Past and present dynamics in landscape change and planning
2019Carme Melo Escrihuela · International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning · Spain (Valencia)
The evolution in the preservation, management, and planning of l'Horta de València, a historical Mediterranean huerta in Valencia, Spain, was assessed. It is argued that negative changes and impacts in l'Horta are not simply the outcome of global dynamics but result from the region's planning trajectory and landscape management approach. This approach has been shaped by a lack of territorial and supra-municipal perspective and the primacy of culture, identity, and heritage aspects over the landscape's productive dimension.
Governance failurePeri-urban agriculturePolicyUrban–rural linkageReconocimiento y caracterización de la Flora Arvense encontradas en Huertas urbanas asistidas por EL Jardín Botánico de Bogotá José Celestino Mutis
2019Uvianeth Castañeda Maldonado · · Colombia (Bogotá)
The recognition and characterization of arvense flora (weeds) found in urban gardens assisted by the Bogotá Botanical Garden in Bogotá, Colombia, were conducted. A catalog of arvense recognition for the Capital District was developed, representing 36 species of weeds belonging to 15 families of the Magnoliopsida class. This catalog includes photographic records, field observations, and information on pollinator presence, serving as an important consultation tool for the district's flora.
CommunityBiodiversityPollinatorsThe plurality of urban agriculture models
2019Mathilde Martin-Moreau, David Ménascé · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
The global resurgence of urban agriculture since the early 2000s manifests in diverse forms, ranging from high-tech controlled environments to low-tech intensive organic micro-market farming. These models are implemented in both developed and emerging economies, adapting to various local contexts like community gardens, rooftops, and vertical farms.
CommunityDIYAquaponics: a positive impact circular economy approach TO feeding cities
2019Steven Beckers · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Belgium (Brussels)
The Abattoir Farm in Brussels, Belgium, established in 2015 on the roof of Foodmet, is BIGH's first full-scale production site. This project utilizes an aquaponic production system, linking fish-farming tanks to greenhouses for growing plants, recreating a natural ecosystem in an artificial environment. The system produces minimal waste, requires limited energy inputs, and delivers positive environmental impacts, while providing city consumers with year-round access to quality, locally sourced products such as tomatoes, fish, herbs, and berries.
EconomicsCommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceTHE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND URBAN AGRICULTURE
2019Cvijetin Živanović, Miroslav Nedeljković · AKADEMSKI PREGLED · Global
This paper focuses on agricultural urbanism, using urban agriculture as a sustainable approach to food production, preparation, processing, and distribution in cities. Analytical methods like analysis, abstraction, and specialization, along with synthetic methods including synthesis, concretization, and generalization, were employed. The results indicate that, in most cases, industrialization and its growing social problems are the primary causes of disturbed human behavior, broken community ties, disrupted traditions, and increased crime and fear among people.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageClimate changeUsing Edible Plant and Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA) to Strengthen the Thermal Performance of Extensive Green Roofs in Subtropical Urban Areas
2019Yi-Yu Huang, Tien-Jih Ma · Energies · Global
This study conducted a four-stage field experiment on a dormitory's flat rooftop in a subtropical climate during summer to measure the surface temperature and heat amplitude reduction of extensive green roofs using edible plants (Ipomoea batata) and lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA). Roofs with Ipomoea batata showed a significantly higher passive-cooling effect than those without, and roofs with 10%–40% LECA exhibited a slightly higher cooling effect than those with conventional garden soil. The combined effects of LECA and Ipomoea batata significantly reduced the bare rooftop's average temperature by an additional 10.19 °C.
Climate changeHealthSustainable Urban Design in Singapore
2019· International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE) · Singapore
Singapore has achieved significant progress in sustainable urban design, contributing less than 0.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions and being recognized as Asia's greenest metropolis. The country has applied 21st-century technological innovations to enhance sustainability in areas such as transportation, energy, building, water, and urban farming.
PolicyClimate changeUrban–rural linkageCurrent Status and Future Perspectives of Research about Urban Farming in Tokyo
2019Mitsuhito HOSAKA, Takeshi Sato · JOURNAL OF RURAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION · Japan
This paper reviewed research trends on urban farming in Tokyo, focusing on public benefits of Tokyo's agriculture and farmland, agricultural business management, and the effects of urban farmland policies like the Amendment of Productive Green Land Act. The research identified the necessity for sustainable academic research, improved databases for quantitative analysis, and economic evaluation of intensive agricultural production technology.
PolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageCommunitySmarthoods: Aquaponics Integrated Microgrids
2019Florijn de Graaf, Simon Goddek · · Global
This research proposes integrating a neighborhood microgrid with a decoupled multi-loop aquaponics facility to enhance self-sufficiency and flexibility. This "Smarthood" concept, connecting Food–Water–Energy flows, significantly improves microgrid performance. The integration achieved 95.38% power and 100% heat self-sufficiency due to the flexibility of thermal mass, pumps, and lighting systems.
Digital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsLa multifunzionalità dell'agricoltura urbana: il caso di Nishi-Tokyo = The multifunctionality of urban agriculture: the case study of Nishi-Tokyo
2019Francesco Letteriello · · Japan (Nishi-Tokyo)
This research focuses on the role of urban agriculture within the UN New Urban Agenda, noting that 54% of the world's population lived in urban areas in 2015, projected to rise to 66% by 2050, leading to urban overcrowding. Nishi-Tokyo's municipality is interested in revising its Master Plan to protect "Productive Green Zones" which will lose their status in 2022. The study aims to analyze the importance of multifunctionality in urban agriculture as a driver for resilient cities, comparing urban agriculture in Italy and Japan, and deepening the context of Nishi-Tokyo through literature, interviews, and field analysis.
Urban–rural linkagePolicyClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCarolina Campus Community Garden: Institutionalizing the Campus Community Garden as a Model for Sustainable Food and Gardening Education in the UNC Community
2019Anne Cabell, Veronica Conti, Trent E. Johnson, Shelly Yu, Chris Akiba · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · United States
The Carolina Campus Community Garden (CCCG) aims to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for UNC's lowest-paid employees and serve as a learning community for gardening education. Currently, CCCG lacks a permanent land plot and sufficient ongoing funding, necessitating institutionalization within UNC to secure a permanent location, sustained funding, and increased utilization. A Capstone student team conducted formative research, including a literature review, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, focus groups with housekeepers, and surveys with students and administrators, to understand community needs and beliefs.
CommunityFood educationWelfarePolicy[IN1255] Attracting Native Bees to Your Florida Landscape
2019Rachel E. Mallinger, Anne Yasalonis, Gary W. Knox, Wayne Hobbs · EDIS · United States (Florida)
This 7-page fact sheet aims to conserve approximately 315 species of native wild bees in Florida. Published by the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department, it shows how gardeners and land managers can aid bee conservation efforts by planting flowers in home or community gardens.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityDIYAgricultura Urbana y Periurbana. Reconfiguraciones territoriales y potencialidades en torno a los sistemas alimentarios urbanos
2019Héctor Ávila Sánchez · Investigaciones Geográficas Boletín del Instituto de Geografía · Global
This study analyzed the impact and potential of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA) on urban food systems, focusing on cities in Western Europe, North America, and Latin America. It concluded that while UPA practices have increased, their presence in urban food systems remains limited, and their consideration in territorial public policies is still marginal. In developed countries, its impact has been primarily therapeutic, landscape-related, and for heritage preservation, while in poorer countries, it has contributed to self-sufficiency for low-income urban populations, public space recovery, social fabric strengthening, and community development.
Limited or null effectUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsMulti‐scalar drivers of biodiversity: local management mediates wild bee community response to regional urbanization
2019Kimberly M. Ballare, John L. Neff, Rebecca Ruppel, Shalene Jha · Ecological Applications · United States
This study assessed bee community composition at 20 grassland and 20 agriculture sites across two US metroplexes over three time periods, identifying 172 species from nearly 13,000 specimens. It found that regional land use differentially impacted bee abundance and diversity depending on local habitat management. Local bare ground and floral richness were significantly related to multiple metrics of bee diversity.
BiodiversityPollinatorsUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agriculture: lessons learnt from Jakarta and Addis Ababa
2019Stephan Pauleit, Didit Okta Pribadi, Hany Abo El Wafa · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (Jakarta)
The continued existence of agriculture in and near urban areas, such as in Jakarta and Addis Ababa, is an important means to strengthen city resilience. However, its importance is still poorly, or at best intermittently, acknowledged by politicians and urban planners, who are inspired by visions of "modern" cities where agriculture is considered a negligible activity.
Governance failurePeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsClimate changeDiseño de un modelo de agricultura urbana para el desarrollo de huertos familiares
2019Cindy Carolina Ortiz Franco, kleber Bajaña Avarado · · Ecuador
A study was conducted in the Atahualpa parish, Santa Elena province, Ecuador, on the design of an urban agriculture model for family garden development. The investigation was carried out through documentary research, comprising stages of diagnosis via surveys and interviews with council managers, approach, theoretical proposal based on survey results, methodological procedure, analysis, and conclusions on project viability. The diagnosis determined that farmers are interested in participating in the implementation of the urban agriculture proposal designed for the Atahualpa parish to improve food security and nutrition in families.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsOrganic cycleWild Bee Conservation within Urban Gardens and Nurseries: Effects of Local and Landscape Management
2019Monika Egerer, Jacob M. Cecala, Hamutahl Cohen · Sustainability · United States (California)
This study compared the effects of local and landscape features on wild bee species abundance and richness in 19 gardens and 11 nurseries in California, USA. Local features such as floral richness and ground cover, and landscape features like impervious land cover, were assessed. In gardens, floral richness, local habitat size, and urban land cover impacted wild bee species richness, while in nurseries, floral richness and the proportion of native plant species impacted wild bee abundance and richness.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityBuilding on the inherent strengths of green space environments: Promoting trust, democracy, and resilience among ethnically diverse groups
2019August John Hoffman · Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community · Global
This quasi-experimental study examined the psychosocial and ecological impact of community service activities utilizing green space environments, such as community gardens, labyrinths, and urban forestry programs, on individual perceptions of community service learning programs and associated democratic processes. Sixteen volunteers subjectively reported their experiences, including appreciating living things, experiencing kinship with plants and animals, and a sense of belonging to nature, through engagement with various green spaces. Participants were interviewed on how these experiences shaped their views on the importance of nature and green spaces in urban settings and influenced their personal perceptions of belongingness and connectedness to both their communities and nature.
CommunityHealthAGRICULTURE IN URBAN ECOSYSTEMS: A STEP TO CITIES SUSTAINABILITY1
2019THAYZA DE OLIVEIRA BATITUCCI, Erika Cortines, Fábio Souto Almeida, Ângela Alves de Almeida · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
This study analyzed the interactions of agricultural activities and the urban ecosystem through a literature review and a case study of an Urban Agriculture program in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It found that urban agriculture provides considerable ecosystem services, generates income, increases biodiversity conservation, and fosters social inclusion. The research concludes that urban agriculture functions as a mechanism for achieving equilibrium among the components of the urban ecosystem.
Climate changeEconomicsBiodiversityCommunitySeasonal Occurrences and Species Composition of <i>Orius</i> spp.（Hemiptera: Anthocoridae）in an Okra Field of Kawasaki City
2019M. Tsuruta, Kyo Itoyama · Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology · Japan (Kawasaki City)
This study investigated the seasonal occurrences and species composition of Orius spp. in an okra field in Kawasaki City, Japan. Orius spp. were found on okra plants from early-summer to early-autumn, with peak occurrences advancing with earlier flowering times. The initial occurrence was not associated with the seasonal prevalence of thrips on okra plants, suggesting that the main factors influencing Orius spp. occurrence are prey-independent.
BiodiversityPollinatorsUrban–rural linkageAn Assesment of the Preferences of Urban Residents for Green Space
2019Isaiah O. Aridou, Nicholas Robert Alescio, Rachael E. Mair · Digital WPI · United States
This project assessed urban residents' preferences for green space in their communities to inform the Massachusetts Statewide Land Conservation Plan. Through eight case studies and surveys and interviews with urban residents, the study identified parks, community gardens, and walking paths as the top preferences. Recommendations included considering parking availability, utilizing NGO connections, and conducting more data collection for green space development.
CommunityPolicyHealthRetaining Members of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in California for Economic Sustainability: What Characteristics Affect Retention Rates?
2019Ryan E. Galt, Julia Van Soelen Kim, Kate Munden-Dixon, Libby Christensen, Katharine A. Bradley · Sustainability · United States (California)
A survey of 111 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in California, United States, analyzed factors influencing CSA member retention rates. The study used bivariate correlations and ordinary least squares (OLS) multiple regression models to examine variables across five domains: CSA management, farmer, farm, economic characteristics, and region. Findings led to recommendations for CSA farmers and supporting organizations, including increasing season length and crop diversity, incorporating fruit into shares, aligning practices with organic standards, reducing inter-CSA competition, and adjusting marketing regions in saturated areas.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsCommunityWarranting the Need for Community Gardens: Improving Food Security and Community Health in Urban Areas
2019Rachel Helling · · Global
This study is a Teaching and Learning Department capstone project that warrants the need for community gardens in low-income communities.
CommunityHealthWelfareDiversidad de especies arbóreas en escenarios de la agricultura urbana en el municipio de Pinar del Río
2019Lisandra Hernández Guanche, Yoerlandy Santana Baños, Armando Acosta Hernández, Armando del Busto Concepción · Revista Cubana de Ciencias Forestales: CFORES · Cuba
A study was conducted in the Vial Colon organoponics system in Pinar del Rio municipality, Cuba, to determine the diversity of arboreal species. Inventories were performed in each organoponics system to count individuals per species, followed by taxonomic identification and calculations of absolute frequency and abundance. The research identified 37 arboreal species belonging to 26 botanical families, with Fabaceae being the most represented and Persea americana Mill. and Moringa oleifera Lam. being the most abundant.
BiodiversityCommunity