Research & reports

Francisco Dela Cruz, Corazon Magno, Reynaldo Soriano · International Journal of Horticulture and Food Science · Global

This research modeled phenolic compound distribution in eight flaxseed genotypes cultivated in the Sobat River Floodplain during the 2023 season. Total phenolic content ranged from 8.4 to 16.7 mg gallic acid equivalents per g dry weight, with the seed coat contributing 64.2% of free phenolics. Urban gardening trials showed composting-amended substrates increased total phenolics by 13.8%. A predictive model explained 72.3% of total phenolic variance, and supply chain simulations indicated 8.6% phenolic losses over 60 days.

Luiz Fernando de Sousa Antunes, André Felipe de Sousa Vaz, Giulia da Costa Rodrigues dos Santos, Talita dos Santos Ferreira, Renata Rodrigues dos Santos, Renata Alves, Jaqueline Carvalho de Almeida, M. A. de A. Leal, Maria Elizabeth Fernandes Correia · ACS Omega · Global

This study investigated millicompost as a sustainable peat-alternative substrate for bell pepper seedling production, combining it with regional agro-wastes like coconut coir, gliricidia shavings, and elephant grass. Seven novel growing media formulations were tested. Substrates S4 (33% millicompost + 33% gliricidia + 33% coconut fiber) and S8 (50% millicompost + 50% gliricidia) produced seedlings of similar quality to pure millicompost and commercial substrate.

Andrea liliana Moreno rios, Daniela Paola Lugo Sierra · Latin American Developments in Energy Engineering · Colombia (Barranquilla)

This study proposes the use of Technosols, artificial soils developed from domestic solid waste, to promote urban agriculture in Barranquilla, Colombia. Technosols improve soil quality by reusing organic and inorganic materials, fostering revegetation and biodiversity in urban areas. The development process ensures the final product has no toxic effects and a suitable structure for plant growth, offering a sustainable solution for waste management and urban environmental improvement.

Noémie Régeard · L’Espace Politique · Congo

This article explores the circularity of organic matter streams in Nkayi, an intermediate city in Congo, through interviews and observations. The qualitative inquiry reveals the coexistence of institutional household waste streams, supported by a development project, and informal organic matter streams, identified through intra- and peri-urban agricultural practices. These streams are subject to various socio-territorial, political, and economic tensions.

Novi Mailidarni Novi, Othman Sulaiman, Juliawati, Ahmad Jauhari, Tasliati Djafar, Syarifuddin Syarifuddin · WISDOM Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat Wisdom · Global

This community service program addresses limited yard space and chemical dependency in urban households by empowering residents, particularly women and youth, to practice sustainable urban farming and convert organic waste into ecoenzyme. The program provides education and training on ecoenzyme production and its use as fertilizer, pesticide, and cleaning solution, aiming to reduce chemical usage, minimize waste, and foster environmental awareness.

Tinawaen Tambol, Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, Moussa Soulé · Scientific Reports · Niger

This study investigated peri-urban farming systems in West African Sahel cities. A mixed-method research design, including field and household surveys of 142 peri-urban smallholder farmers, was employed. Results showed that biopesticides/crop and pest management were the most used Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies (CSAT) in dry-season farming (p = .002). Other technologies included fertilizer micro-dose, organic manure and compost application, flood-tolerant improved varieties, and green energy-based irrigation.

Md. Habibullah Siddiki, Jakaria Chowdhury Onik, Mamunur Rashid, Md. Abubakar Siddik · Journal of Agroforestry and Environment · Global

This study examined the effects of different organic amendments on BRRI Hybrid Summer Tomato 4 grown in sandy soil on a rooftop. Treatments included sand with compost, coco peat, household ash, or rice husk. Compost (T1) was superior for plant height, fruit number, and yield, while household ash (T3) resulted in the highest plant tissue phosphorus and potassium. The findings suggest that organic materials like ash and compost can increase tomato yields in rooftop gardens and mitigate sandy soil limitations.

Diksha Pathania, Indu Kumari, Neha Salaria, Suresh Kumar, Rajesh Kumar · Waste Management · Global

This chapter provides an overview of vermicomposting, a sustainable and eco-friendly waste management practice that uses earthworms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. Vermicomposting has been gaining popularity as a way to reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal and promote sustainable agriculture. This method is suitable for various applications, including urban agriculture, landscaping, and horticulture, and can offer both environmental and economic benefits.

Taslima Arzu, Md. Ariful Kabir Sujan, S.M. Symon Bappy, Rupam Mitra, Suparna Das Toma, Vulon Prosad · Plant Science Archives · Bangladesh

This study surveyed 62 household and rooftop garden owners in Pabna City, Bangladesh, to examine the benefits of rooftop gardening. Findings indicate that rooftop gardens reduced household waste by an average of 887.1g and met 41% of fertilizer demand by using biodegradable waste. Participants reported improved psychological well-being (83.9%) and increased vigor (77.4%), with anxiety and depression reduced or neutral. Rooftop gardening generated an average yearly income of 14,750 BDT, with a net income of 1293.5 BDT, and provided 387.5 kg of fruits and vegetables for household consumption, proving to be a profitable activity.

Zi Jian Oh, Ainul Hayat Abdul Razak · International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences · Malaysia

An exploratory study in five Malaysian vocational colleges investigated the Sustainability Tracker 360, a digital dashboard for monitoring food waste management and urban farming. Composting systems converted 43.35 kg of food waste into 12.95 kg of organic fertilizer (29.9% conversion rate), supporting 150 potted plants. Digital monitoring strengthened accountability, fostered long-term engagement, and deepened sustainability awareness among participants.

Miguel de Celis, Laura L. de Sosa, Giuseppe Picca, Noelia González‐Polo, Cristina Gómez Ruano, Luciano Beneduce, Claudio Zaccone, Marco Panettieri · Environmental Microbiome · Global

The influence of different organic substrates on tomato growth and its associated microbial community was studied in an open-air rooftop farming setup. Combinations of peat with compost derived from seaweed biomass or coffee byproducts (50% of volume), and how biochar-blending altered these compositions, were evaluated. Substrate properties were mainly defined by the compost feedstocks, and biochar blending had a minor influence on substrate composition, though it enhanced tomato yield. Compost feedstock had a greater impact on microbial communities, and the abundance of bacteria and fungi associated with composted seaweed biomass was positively associated with tomato yield.

Yanick Borel Kamga Valerie Njitat Tsama* · Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) · Cameroon (Nkongsamba)

This study assessed the impact of untreated waste from the municipal slaughterhouse in Nkongsamba, Cameroon, on vegetation by conducting floristic inventories at upstream, near, and downstream sites. Twenty-five 100 m2 plots were established at each site, revealing a total of 105 species from 79 genera and 41 families. The downstream site exhibited the highest species richness with 81 species, 70 genera, and 35 families, but these results showed a dominance of ruderal taxa and pollution bio-indicators like Commelina benghalensis and Tithonia diversifolia, reflecting ecological disturbance of the plant environment.

Wang, Junrong · Digital Commons - RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) · Global

This project uses landscape architecture to reduce carbon emissions from restaurants by implementing compost gardens that shorten compost transportation routes. These gardens, placed on roofs and at ground-level, create new local food sources to replace distant shipments and provide materials for organic pesticides, reducing carbon-intensive VOC emissions. The compost gardens are integrated into existing parking lots and vacant lots, forming a community garden network.

Rafael López Núñez, Paula Madejón, José Molina-Vega, Sabina Rossini-Oliva · Horticulturae · Global

This study investigated soil variability in two sections of an urban allotment garden subjected to long-term manure fertilization for 12 or 16 years, with application rates up to 10–12 kg m−2 yr−1. Prolonged manure incorporation enhanced soil fertility, increasing organic carbon, total-N, available-K, and total/available-P, and caused shifts in mineral composition with increases in Ca, inorganic C, Sr, and S. No accumulation of potentially toxic elements was observed, but pronounced spatial heterogeneity emerged among plots, with coefficients of variation up to 58% for S and 47% for Zn.

Shahida Mohd Sharif, Izyan Ayuni Mohamad Selamat, Norsidah Ujang · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Malaysia

This study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach supported by field observations to examine the lived experiences of long-term gardeners at the PPR Intan Baiduri public housing estate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, exploring how grassroots gardening supports resilience, health and informal governance. It found that gardening provides retirees and low-income residents with routine, emotional wellbeing and opportunities for informal economic participation, that community gardens function as micro-level bioresource systems by repurposing reserve land, composting household waste and drawing on institutional collaborations with agencies such as DBKL and TNB, and that participants collectively organize planting cycles and maintain shared infrastructure while navigating labor constraints and fluctuating participation.

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.

ER Ramesh Chand, Ridhima Arya, Ravi Pratap Singh, Devi Singh, Vedant Singh · International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research · Global

A review article surveys evidence on rooftop vegetable farming's ability to absorb carbon and noise, lower air temperatures on and around roofs, and reduce urban heat-island effects, alongside using composted kitchen waste as a substitute for mineral fertilizers. It cites prior research showing compost can raise soil moisture content, decrease soil erosion, and help manage pests, weeds, and diseases, in place of mineral insecticides and fertilizers currently used in some urban rooftop gardens. The review notes rooftop gardening is a relatively new concept in Bangladesh and is intended to support further study of the practice there.

Sarah Kakadellis, Herman D. Delgado, Russell Teall, R. Gándara León, Christopher W. Simmons, Edward S. Spang · Journal of Agriculture and Food Research · Global

This greenhouse experiment tested liquid food waste-derived digestate (FWDD) as a biofertilizer for community learning gardens, growing tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) under four treatments: potting medium alone, medium with synthetic mineral fertilizer, medium with compost, and medium with a compost-FWDD blend. The mineral-fertilizer control produced the highest total fruit yield, but total edible fruit yield and total fruit weight were similar between the control and the compost-FWDD blend, which produced the largest average fruit weight; compost and compost-FWDD treatments produced lighter, tarter—though not more acidic—tomatoes, and no detrimental soil effects from FWDD were observed, though the authors note further research is needed to assess social perceptions and life cycle impacts.

Edwards F., Mercer H. · Local Environment (Taylor & Francis), 29(10) · Global

An ethnographic study of ShareWaste, an online community-composting platform in Sydney and Canberra that connects food-waste donors directly with households hosting compost heaps to divert waste from landfill. Drawing on environmental humanities and discard studies, it explores the relationships among people, soil, compost, and food waste and the community-building these practices foster.

· Agronomy · Global

Assesses the reproducibility of the composting process and the quality of composts obtained under a decentralized municipal solid waste composting scenario.

· Discover Animals · Global

Selects and evaluates the optimal medium for the earthworm Eisenia fetida in sustainable waste recycling.

Terrile R., Martinez N., Brunotto F., Rizzi M., Scarpeci T., Tornaghi C. · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Rosario, Argentina

Analyses and characterises urban waste-based composts used on two city farms in Rosario, evaluating their use for soil fertility management in agroecological horticultural production.

Moomtahina Rahman, Md. Alauddin, G. M. Mohsin, Md. Amirul Alam, M. K. Rahman · The Journal of Phytology · Global

An experiment investigated the combined impacts of composted poultry manure (CPM) and inorganic fertilizers on tomato growth and yield under rooftop growing conditions. The experiment used a completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replications. NPK fertilizers alone and CPM combined with NPK fertilizers greatly improved tomato plant growth and fruit yield, with maximum yields (68 t ha-1) and economic benefits achieved with 4 t ha-1 CPM and 100% recommended doses of NPK fertilizers.

Muniya Naik M, Chandra Mohan K, K Janardhana, C. Aruna, Rama Mohan M, R. Uday Kiran · International Journal of Biological and Environmental Investigations · Global

This paper investigates the production, economics, and sustainability of vermicompost, an organic fertilizer made by vermicomposting organic waste with earthworms. Vermicomposting is presented as a sustainable waste management and organic agriculture option that can be economically profitable, depending on consumer awareness, distribution, and production scale. It contributes to sustainability by reducing landfill waste and promoting soil health.

Delphine Manka’abusi, Nongma Armel Zongo, Désiré Jean‐Pascal Lompo, Christoph Steiner, Bernd Marschner, Andreas Buerkert · European Journal of Agronomy · Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)

This four-year study in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, investigated the medium-term effects of repeated biochar, ECOSAN, and inorganic fertilization on urban vegetable production. Repeated biochar application at 20 t ha−1 increased soil organic carbon (SOC) by 51% under farmers' practice, while mineral fertilization alone decreased SOC by 32% and caused soil acidification. Biochar increased cabbage yield by 32% four years after application but had no effect on amaranth, and repeated application only benefited the first crop after reapplication.