Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1961 results(2 / 79)
Optimization of the Urban Food-Energy-Water Nexus: A Micro-Supply Chain and Circular Economy Approach
2026Marwen Elkamel, Luis Rabelo · Sustainability · United States (South Florida)
This paper presents a mathematical programming model to optimize the design and sustainability performance of the urban food–energy–water (FEW) nexus. The model incorporates a micro supply chain and addresses the supply-demand balance within existing and future FEW systems using cost and carbon footprint indicators. It is applied to an urban agriculture network in South Florida, integrating renewable energy technologies, combined heat and power units, reclaimed wastewater and stormwater, and electric vehicles. The optimization process identified effective infrastructure investment, resource allocation, and technology configurations to support circular economy and sustainability.
EconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleAprender com a Terra: a horta como prática pedagógica em Educação Ambiental e Alimentar na Educação Infantil
2026Vívian Ariane de Oliveira Costa, Raíssa Aline Pereira, Mariana Azevedo Rabelo, Paula Montenegro Euzébio, Angela Liberali Pinheiro, Gabriella Ribeiro · Revista Brasileira de Educação Ambiental (RevBEA) · Brazil
This article reports on a school garden implemented in Early Childhood Education at Cirandinha School, in partnership with the Poços de Caldas Botanical Garden Foundation, after in-person classes resumed post-COVID-19. Using a qualitative and descriptive approach, the experiment aimed to promote critical environmental education and healthy habits. Results indicated active participation by children, increased autonomy, and environmental awareness, showing the garden as an integrative resource linking school, family, and community.
Food educationCommunityHealthBiodiversityA University–School Partnership Model for Sustainability Teacher Training: Integrating School Gardens into Basic Education
2026Yadeneyro de la Cruz Elizondo, Reyna Nirvana Montiel Rodríguez, Rosa María Arias Mota, Nancy Domínguez González, María de los Ángeles Chamorro Zárate · Sustainability · Mexico (Veracruz)
In Veracruz, Mexico, a university-school partnership model for teacher training in integrating school gardens into basic education was evaluated. A mixed-methods design involved a diagnostic survey of 71 teachers and subsequent training workshops for 34 teachers. Results showed high teacher motivation despite limited institutional infrastructure, and training strengthened pedagogical capacities. However, the integration of school gardens into formal curricula remains limited due to structural constraints and insufficient teacher preparation.
Governance failureFood educationCommunityPolicyToward digital community economies: California’s alternative food networks navigating market digitalization
2026Sasha Pesci, Ryan E. Galt · Agriculture and Human Values · United States (California)
This paper, based on 28 semi-structured interviews with direct market farmers in California, explores their experiences with market digitalization. It finds that while some farmers perceive online tools as eroding social and environmental connections, others view them as supportive of these connections, highlighting tensions in market digitalization for Alternative Food Networks.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureEconomicsCSA & TeikeiCommunityHuertos urbanos comunitarios y su contribución al escalamiento agroecológico en una ciudad intermedia: un estudio de caso en Jovel, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México
2026Jesús De la Rocha Illanes · Revista de Estudios Urbanos y Territoriales IBU · Mexico (San Cristóbal de Las Casas)
A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study was conducted on four community urban gardens in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, to understand how agroecological scaling occurs and what practices comprise it. The research found that agroecological scaling in these gardens is essentially horizontal and deep, occurring at a microsocial level, person-to-person, and intergenerationally; however, the vertical facet of this process appears to be weakened. Agroecological practices include collective/collaborative composting of organic matter, ecotechnology engineering, links with local socioeconomic and solidarity networks, digital presence, reintegration of agricultural ceremonies/rituals in the urban context, and collective actions against eviction attempts.
CommunityOrganic cycleBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceEnvironmental Repossession and Indigenous Resurgence
2026Ratan Sarkar · Ethics & the Environment · Canada
This volume examines how Indigenous communities across Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Hawaiʻi reclaim their relationships with land in the face of colonial dispossession and environmental degradation, introducing the concept of "environmental repossession." Through case studies such as resistance to the Thirty Meter Telescope and Māori urban gardening initiatives, the book demonstrates how repossession manifests through protest, ceremony, pedagogy, and everyday acts of care. The collaboratively written text positions repossession as a mode of resurgence, self-determination, and healing.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceColoradoBuildingWorkshop
2026Erik Rick Sommerfeld · · United States (Colorado)
This chapter frames the work of ColoradoBuildingWorkshop as a form of critical regionalism addressing issues in the western United States, including human waste, bird patterns, housing shortages, and urban farming in food deserts. The article argues that design-build work influences students and communities, pushes professional boundaries, and expands dialogue around place-form design, architectural education, theory, and community service. It concludes that design-build programs can inspire professional firms and challenge academic institutions to demonstrate the value of higher education.
CommunityWelfareFlorianópolis e municípios vizinhos: do rural ao urbano ao rural no urbano
2026Nazareno José de Campos · Revista Campo-Território · Brazil (Florianópolis)
This article examined the strong urbanization process in Florianópolis and neighboring municipalities in Brazil. Using various bibliographies, information, empirical analysis, cartographic instruments, and practical activities such as visits to production areas, it showed that despite the transformation of rural areas into urban spaces, rural elements persist within urban areas, supplying regional and national markets for agricultural and livestock products. Despite extensive urbanization, the rural presence remains within the urban fabric, characterizing what is known as urban and peri-urban agriculture.
Urban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsRiverbend Ranch Mixed-Use Development Project
2026Anthony James Sousa · DigitalCommons - CalPoly (California State Polytechnic University) · United States (California)
This senior project proposes a mixed-use development in Visalia, California, aiming to increase housing density and incorporate urban agricultural uses. The project includes site analysis, site plan development, and a literature review on urban agriculture's role in planning. It seeks to set a precedent for future development in Visalia by reconnecting urban and rural relationships.
Urban–rural linkagePolicyCommunityFlorida–Friendly Edible Landscaping Educational Campaign
2026Tiare Silvasy · Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society · United States (Florida)
An educational campaign was conducted in Florida to teach people how to grow food in an environmentally friendly way, specifically tailored for edible crops. The campaign covered topics such as efficient irrigation, planting the right variety at the right time, advanced soil building techniques, and integrated pest management strategies. Science-based information was made available online through multiple formats, including EDIS publications, an infographic, blogs, PowerPoint presentations, and YouTube webinar recordings. This campaign reached thousands of people and provided information to encourage environmentally friendly decisions in edible landscapes.
DIYFood educationOrganic cycleClimate changeDynamics of urban greening in public squares: sustainable planning and the provision of ecosystem services in urban centers
2026Jéssica de Oliveira, Micael Silva de Freitas, Frederico Augusto Guimarães Guilherme, Jonathan Souza Oliveira, Laura Beatriz Oliveira, E. V. E. J. Amaral, Eder Marcos da Silva, Wendy Carniello Ferreira, Anderson Ribeiro Diniz, Carlos Rogério Andrade, Deivid Lopes Machado · Urban Ecosystems · Brazil (Jataí)
The temporal dynamics of urban greening in public squares in Jataí, Goiás state, Brazil, were evaluated through two surveys in 2010 and 2024. A complete floristic census of 14 public squares found no difference in total abundance but a significant increase in species richness from 79 to 121. However, urban greening management prioritized exotic and deciduous species, detrimentally affecting ecosystem attributes essential for sustainable planning, such as permanent shading and the valuation of regional flora.
BiodiversityClimate changePolicyThe Multifunctionality of Community Gardens: A Case Study in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey, México
2026Carlos Alberto Garza Alonso, María de Jesús Ordóñez Díaz, Flor Esthela Sánchez Cortés, José Carmen García Flores · Journal of Ethnobiology · Mexico
This study analyzed the multifunctionality of 40 community gardens in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area, Nuevo León, México, using literature review, participant observation, interviews, questionnaires, and systematic tours. It recorded 80 species, predominantly used for food and medicine, and found that people possess significant traditional ecological knowledge applied in garden management. The study concluded that community gardens positively contribute to sustainability, food production, self-consumption, and social fabric.
CommunityBiodiversityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceGrowing Greens in Cities for Healthy Lives and Spaces: The Case of Community Gardens in Chicago, Illinois Imparted to Philippine Situation
2026R P Mula, Molly Doane, Gabrielle Powell, Myer G. Mula · Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension Economics & Sociology · United States (Chicago)
This study visited, documented, and described 15 community gardens in Chicago, Illinois, and interviewed their leaders. It found the utmost importance of saving traditional crop seeds (heirlooms) for diversity, climate change mitigation, and health, as these are grown organically. Insights include reorienting mindsets, crafting garden requirement manuals, consolidating the value chain, and educating health workers on promoting community gardening.
CommunityHealthEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceHeirloom & landraceClimate changeUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureEvaluación del índice de multifuncionalidad en la agricultura urbana y periurbana en San Miguel Tocuila, Texcoco
2026Alfredo Pérez Guerrero, María Josefina Jiménez-Moreno, Florentino López-Sánchez · Revista Chapingo Serie Agricultura Tropical · Mexico
This research analyzed the multifunctionality of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in Tocuila, Texcoco, Mexico, by applying the Multifunctionality Index of Agricultural Production Systems (IMSPA) to 50 agricultural systems through surveys. Indicators were weighted using the Delphi technique with experts and ejidatarios. Results showed that 50% of systems had medium-high multifunctionality (level IV), 48% had medium multifunctionality (level III), and only 2% had high multifunctionality (level V). The majority of agricultural systems exhibited an intermediate level of multifunctionality, with relevant but limited capacities to generate simultaneous benefits across productive, environmental, and social dimensions.
Urban–rural linkageEconomicsCommunityBiodiversityACESSIBILIDADE NOS COLETIVOS POPULARES: CAPACITAÇÃO EM LIBRAS EM UMA HORTA COMUNITÁRIA DO INTERIOR DO RIO DE JANEIRO
2026Júlia de Sousa Peçanha Ramos, William Guimarães de Lima, Larissa Alvarenga Viana, Ester Vitória Basílio Anchieta · Even3 Publicações eBooks · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
This collection compiles scientific articles produced by UFRJ – Campus Macaé students as part of their Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) discipline. The publication aims to stimulate the development of research competencies, critical thinking, and knowledge production, valuing the interdisciplinary training of students. The selected works address themes related to deafness, Libras, accessibility, inclusion, and Deaf Studies, from different perspectives and methodologies.
CommunityWelfareUrban and Community Food Forests and Forest Gardens
2026Catherine Bukowski, Kate MacFarland, Katherine Favor · · United States
This Agroforestry Note describes urban and community food forests and edible forest gardens in the United States, which integrate trees, shrubs, and perennial plants with community-driven design. These systems, rooted in traditional ecological knowledge, are found in public parks, vacant lots, and other public-facing spaces, including privately held properties open to the public. They are designed to maximize resources and address community needs, creating ecologically productive and socially engaging spaces.
CommunityBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justicePlural pathways to food systems change
2026Alissa Overend, Sheena Rossiter, Josie Moises · Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation · Canada (Alberta)
This research provides a comparative content analysis of 141 alternative food networks (AFNs) in Alberta, Canada, contributing to discussions on food systems change. It examines the programming and initiatives of these AFNs to analyze their potential for instilling food systems change. The study argues for a nuanced understanding of AFNs, focusing on their hybridity, complexity, and diversity, rather than binary classifications.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityCSA & TeikeiFORMAL MATHEMATICS AND ETHNOMATHEMATICS IN THE PRODUCTION OF URBAN COMMUNITY GARDENS
2026João Paulo Moreira dos Santos, Luis Carlos Rodrigues da Mata, Maria Clara da Cunha Carvalho, Gabrielly Rodrigues de Araújo, Robério Soares dos Santos, Maria Eduarda Santiago de Araujo, Iraneide Da Cunha Santiago, Edinalva Pereira Campos, José Gustavo Santiago Santos · Journal of Interdisciplinary Debates · Brazil (José de Freitas)
This qualitative case study in José de Freitas, Brazil, analyzed mathematical rationalities in urban community gardens, using participant observation, interviews, and field notes. It found that farmers use ethnomathematical knowledge for spatial organization, soil management, and commercialization. However, these practices showed limitations when confronted with institutional demands for standardization, highlighting a need for critical articulation with formal mathematics.
Methodological critiqueCommunityDIYEconomicsAvaliação parasitológica e microbiológica de hortaliças submetidas à sanitização com hipoclorito de sódio
2026Threice Natália Ribeiro Pexe, Julia Yumi Muraoka, Fabiana Cristina Donofrio, Cibele Bonacorsi · Scientific Electronic Archives · Brazil (Sinop)
Parasitological and microbiological evaluation was conducted on 40 vegetable samples (watercress, lettuce, chicory, kale, escarole, arugula, parsley) randomly selected from supermarkets, open-air markets, and a community garden in Sinop, Brazil. Before treatment, 12 out of 40 (30.0%) vegetable samples were contaminated with enteroparasites, and all 40 showed microbial growth, with 3 (7.5%) containing Escherichia coli. After sanitization with sodium hypochlorite, parasitic forms were absent, but high initial contamination was confirmed.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunitySystemic operative framework to support the integration of urban agriculture and socio-ecological resilience in informal settlements: A dynamic urban metabolism approach to food security
2026Alejandra Acevedo-De-los-Ríos, Anna Dyson, Damien Claeys, Úrsula Cárdenas‐Mamani · Ecological Modelling · Peru (Lima)
This study developed a four-stage diagnostic-to-simulation framework to integrate urban agriculture (UA) and socio-ecological resilience in informal settlements, calibrated for Ciudad de Gosen, Lima, Peru (6300 inhabitants). Simulation results indicate that rooftop and unbuilt-land cultivation can meet household vegetable and fruit demand, biodigestion can supply 17–52% of energy needs, and greywater reuse can sustain approximately 77% of irrigation. Governance reforms and land tenure security were identified as primary accelerators for UA adoption and improved food security.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyClimate changeModificações na Paisagem: Impactos sociais e climáticos
2026Henrique Freitas Ferreira Reis, Ana Lorena Demarques Moura, Maria Rita Scotti Muzzi, Eleonora Sad de Assis · RCMOS - Revista Científica Multidisciplinar O Saber · Brazil (Belo Horizonte)
This work analyzed the relationship between urban densification and microclimatic impacts, focusing on the Confisco neighborhood in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, which is susceptible to heatwaves, landslides, and food insecurity by 2030. A systematic literature review of 33 sources evaluated the feasibility of implementing green roofs as a nature-based solution to mitigate climate extremes and promote food security through urban gardens. Results indicate green infrastructure reduces surface temperatures by up to 10.46°C and retains up to 90% of stormwater runoff, while socially strengthening psychosocial resilience and food sovereignty among low-income families.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceHealthCommunityGreen St. Louis Machine
2026Emilia A. Belciak, Taylor Sinclair Bowman · IntechOpen eBooks · United States (St. Louis)
This chapter presents the Green St. Louis Machine program as a case study of community-centered sustainability education in St. Louis, integrating urban agriculture, food justice, and STEAM learning. The authors conducted a qualitative document analysis of various sustainability frameworks and the program's website. The program uses hands-on cultivation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement to teach students about sustainable systems, ecological resilience, social wellbeing, and economic opportunity.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban agriculture as regenerative infrastructure on a university campus in Brazil: challenges, opportunities and design requirements
2026Anelise Anapolski, Ana Passuello, Miguel Aloysio Sattler · International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education · Brazil
This study investigated urban agriculture (UA) as regenerative infrastructure on a university campus in Brazil, assessing challenges and opportunities before project implementation and proposing design requirements for future projects. Data collected from 120 questionnaires and 9 interviews revealed key challenges including maintenance, stakeholder engagement, risk of discontinuity, and lack of institutional support. The academic setting offers opportunities through integration with teaching, research, and outreach, and the campus community positively associates UA with innovation.
Governance failurePolicyFood educationCommunityUrban–rural linkageThe potential roles of vertical urban agriculture to promote the right to food in Brazil
2026Felipe Jardim, Eduardo Alberto Manjarrés Trelles, Caren Freitas de Lima · Revista de Direito da Cidade · Brazil
This study investigated the role of vertical urban agriculture in promoting the right to food in Brazil, considering the food system crisis as a problem affecting the right to the city. An inductive method with a qualitative approach, including literature review, documental research, and case studies from Japan, Singapore, Germany, the USA, and Brazil, revealed that vertical urban agriculture has "cons" when appropriated as a profitable system with restricted access products, and "pros" such as occupying vacant urban land and being produced by or supporting poor families.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsDigital agricultureValerie Dumser
2026Valerie Dumser, Emma Kudelka · Digital Commons at Illinois Wesleyan University (Illinois Wesleyan University) · United States (Bloomington)
This oral history interview explores the history and evolution of the West Bloomington Revitalization Project (WBRP), co-founder Valerie Dumser's experiences living in and serving the West Side community, and the longstanding partnership between Illinois Wesleyan University and the WBRP. Dumser founded the WBRP Community Garden and has remained actively involved in the organization's growth and development.
CommunityFood educationPolicy