Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Ekosistem Restorasyonu ve Doğa Temelli Çözümlerle Gıda Sistemlerinin Güçlendirilmesi
2026Çiğdem Coşkun Hepcan · · Global
This study examines how ecosystem restoration and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) can transform food systems. It highlights that ecosystem degradation threatens essential services, and NbS offer an integrated approach to restoring degraded ecosystems by enhancing soil fertility, improving water retention, and reducing pollution. Integrating NbS into various ecosystems provides a holistic strategy for strengthening ecological integrity and food system resilience, contributing to climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and disaster risk reduction.
BiodiversityClimate changeOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justicePredation risk of gregarious and aposematic insect larvae in an urban-agricultural landscape
2026Ramdhia A. Baluno, Guiamelah O. Mamangkas, Asraf K. Lidasan, Angelo Rellama Agduma, Bona Abigail Hilario‐Husain, Kier C. Dela Cruz, Krizler C. Tanalgo · Ecoscience · Philippines
This study investigated the relationship between prey aggregation, body coloration, and habitat structure with the likelihood of predation by visually oriented vertebrates in an urban-agricultural area in the Philippines, using an artificial caterpillar model. Of the 1026 observed prey items, 204 were attacked, primarily by mammals (75%), then birds (17%), and reptiles (8%). Contrary to the initial hypothesis, prey coloration did not influence predation risk; instead, prey aggregation was the primary determinant of attack likelihood. Habitat structure variables also influenced predation.
BiodiversityIntegración de huertos escolares como estrategia didáctica para fortalecer el aprendizaje sobre ecosistemas y sostenibilidad en estudiantes de Educación Básica.
2026Gema Paola Loor Bravo, Carmen Fernanda Sandoval Lloacana, Viky Beatriz Batallas Huera, Verónica Leonor Loja Caló, Nuve del Cisne Matute Maldonado · Perspectiva XXI · Global
A quasi-experimental mixed-methods study investigated the integration of school gardens as a pedagogical resource in basic education. The intervention, using project-based learning and scientific inquiry, aimed to enhance learning about ecosystems and sustainability. Findings indicated that students improved ecological knowledge, systems thinking, and environmental problem-solving skills, while also strengthening autonomy, environmental responsibility, and socio-emotional abilities.
Food educationCommunityClimate changeBiodiversityCrop Diversification in Kaluvankulam: Replacing Paddy with Flower Crops under Pollution Stress
2026Pari Diwahar, Chandran. S, Paramasivan SatheeshKumar · International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology · India (Madurai District, Tamil Nadu)
This study in Kaluvankulam, Madurai District, India, assessed the adaptability of treated municipal wastewater for marigold irrigation, where paddy yields have declined. Analysis of treated wastewater showed oil and grease and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels exceeded permissible irrigation standards. Soil analysis revealed elevated phosphorus, potassium, and iron concentrations, indicating nutrient accumulation.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureClimate changeBiodiversityURBAN SUSTAINABILITY, GREEN SPACES, AND ECO-CITY PLANNING
2026Meenakshi Bisht, Amisha Bisht, Sanjay Kumar, Subhash Chandra · · Global
This chapter explores the interrelationship between urban sustainability, green spaces, and eco-city planning, highlighting key concepts, strategies, benefits, challenges, and policy frameworks. Urban sustainability aims to balance economic prosperity, environmental protection, and social well-being, while green spaces enhance environmental quality and mitigate climate change impacts. Eco-city planning integrates ecological principles and sustainable technologies to create environmentally responsible and climate-resilient cities.
CommunityBiodiversityClimate changeHealthPolicyHuertos 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 & justice<b>HORTA ESCOLAR COMO INSTRUMENTO DE EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL: UMA ANÁLISE DOS FUNDAMENTOS PEDAGÓGICOS E DIMENSÕES FORMATIVAS</b>
2026Thiago Correia · INTERNATIONAL INTEGRALIZE SCIENTIFIC · Global
This qualitative bibliographic research investigates the school garden as a pedagogical tool for ecological knowledge and critical individual formation within environmental education. It analyzes theoretical-methodological foundations, discussing school gardens as spaces for non-formal and experiential learning, their interface with the curriculum, and contributions to ecological sensitivity. The research indicates that school gardens serve as fertile pedagogical territories for interdisciplinarity, care, and transforming human-nature relationships.
Food educationCommunityBiodiversityVertebrate Diversity in School Gardens
2026Ina Schanz, Martin Remmele · International explorations in outdoor and environmental education · Global
This chapter addresses the initiation of scientific skills while experiencing vertebrates in school gardens and provides concrete suggestions for proactive action to protect the vertebrate fauna. School gardens offer important refuges for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish in urban environments, thus promoting the development of species literacy. Species literacy is considered a key predictor for the development of positive attitudes towards nature and nature conservation in the sense of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 “Life on Land”. Learners develop scientific skills by identifying birds through observation, recording amphibian development at a pond, or experimenting with nesting aids. They can also take a protective role by improving habitats for reptiles when planting hedges or creating cairns.
BiodiversityFood educationCommunityPlant and Pollinator Diversity and Protection in School Gardens
2026Stefan Jarau · International explorations in outdoor and environmental education · Global
This chapter introduces the co-evolution of flowering plants and pollinating animals, highlighting their adaptations and the challenges of observing these interactions in human-made environments. It suggests that school gardens can serve as important sites for biodiversity conservation by providing habitats for diverse flowering plants and pollinators. Additionally, school gardens can engage students, fostering their interest and motivation to study natural wonders, and the chapter offers suggestions for promoting plant and pollinator diversity and using these interactions for educational purposes.
Food educationBiodiversityPollinatorsDetermination of Flowering Plants in High Schools in Giresun City Center
2026İsmail Suat Başoğlu, Bahadır KOZ · Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · Turkey (Giresun City Center)
This research evaluated the diversity of flowering plants, physical properties of garden areas, and green space in 18 high schools in Giresun City Center. A total of 45 flowering plant species were identified in the school gardens, but the overall presence of endemic and rare species was found to be low. These findings indicate that high school gardens in Giresun City Center require improvement in terms of existing green areas and plant diversity.
Limited or null effectBiodiversityFood educationDynamics 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 changePolicyUSE OF CHABAZITIC ZEOLITE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF SUCCULENT PLANTS BENEFICIAL TO BEE FAUNA
2026Domenico Prisa, Martino Campanile · EPRA International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Economic Research · Global
This controlled pot experiment evaluated chabazitic zeolite as a soil amendment for Crassula cv. Frosty, monitoring plant growth, physiological indicators, and nectar characteristics over a growing cycle. Zeolite-amended substrates significantly improved water retention, nutrient availability, vegetative growth, chlorophyll content, and water use efficiency. Zeolite-treated plants showed significantly greater flowering intensity, increased nectar volume, and higher sugar concentration, leading to higher bee visitation rates.
PollinatorsBiodiversityThe 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 gardens of belonging in the city: insights from Copenhagen
2026Anne Madsbjerg, Gertrud Jørgensen, Trine Agervig Carstensen · Local Environment · Denmark (Copenhagen)
Two years of anthropological fieldwork in an urban community garden in central Copenhagen, Denmark, investigated permaculture-inspired practices. The study explored how gardeners enact the ethical principles of permaculture (People Care, Earth Care, and Fair Share) and how these practices relate to experiences of belonging. Findings indicated that small, situated acts of care, emerging through mutual attention, co-creation, and improvisation, fostered connections among gardeners, the garden's ecology, and wider systems of resource governance. Experiences of belonging were contingent, fluctuating, and sometimes fragile, and the study emphasized the limits and vulnerabilities of such connections.
CommunityBiodiversityHealthUrban Food Forests: From Theory to Empirical Research
2026Francesco Ferrini, Antonella Gori, Ermes Lo Piccolo · Urban Science · Global
Urban Food Forests (UFFs) are perennial, polyculture systems integrating urban agriculture, forestry, and agroforestry. However, inconsistent definitions, limited design guidelines, and the scarcity of applied research hinder their implementation. Only by addressing these challenges can UFFs be better integrated into urban planning, enhancing their ecological and socio-economic contributions to sustainable and resilient cities.
BiodiversityCommunityHealthPolicyEvaluación 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 linkageEconomicsCommunityBiodiversityUrban 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 & justiceUrban agriculture as an interface for policy–practice integration: a landscape-informed, multi-layer framework across Havana, New York city and Chongming Island
2026Yu Huan, Steffen Nijhuis, Nico Tillie · Landscape and Urban Planning · Global
This study developed a landscape-informed coupling framework and content-analysis pipeline to evaluate urban agriculture policy-practice alignment in Havana, New York City, and Chongming Island. A PRISMA-ScR literature synthesis (n=3145) informed a five-domain, 40-keyword evaluation matrix applied to policy documents. Findings indicate human-centered approaches effectively address social equity and food provisioning but have limited spatial integration, while nature-based approaches advance ecological targets but underperform on participation. The landscape-informed model achieved more balanced alignment across domains, though inter-layer connectivity gaps remain.
PolicyCommunityBiodiversityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceBeyond the Plot: Systematic Literature Review of Landscape Approach and Systems Thinking Towards Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Farming
2026Pooja Boddupalli, Steffen Nijhuis, N. M. J. D. Tillie · Sustainability · Global
This systematic literature review investigated how landscape-based approaches (LbAs) and systems thinking (ST) have been concurrently applied to analyze and design urban agriculture and farming (UAF) initiatives. Screening 92 records, the study identified 12 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025, reflecting the nascent state of this interdisciplinary approach. The findings revealed limited integration of spatial analysis with systems thinking across scales in current scholarship.
Methodological critiqueFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeBiodiversityPolicyImpact of greenhouse practices on infective capacity of arbuscular mycorrhiza in peri-urban horticulture
2026Carolina Rothen, Julián Gabriel Riso, Betina I. Stephan, Josefina Bompadre, Laura Fernández Bidondo · Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · Argentina (Buenos Aires)
This study analyzed arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in greenhouse soil from lettuce plants under agroecological, organic, and conventional management in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While agroecological management increased AM spore counts and infective propagules, effective mycorrhization of lettuce roots was low across all systems. Intensive greenhouse practices suppressed successful crop colonization, indicating a reduced AM inoculum infective potential.
Limited or null effectPeri-urban agricultureOrganic cycleBiodiversityHeal
2026Carolyn Schuyler, Dorothy Ibes · · Global
This chapter explores ecotherapy as a therapeutic intervention to promote mental wellness, emphasizing emotional regulation and neuroplasticity. It presents evidence-based practices such as grounding exercises, sensory immersion, nature art, visualization techniques, and biophilic design strategies that may activate the parasympathetic nervous system and support brain health. The content integrates research on nature connectedness with practical applications for classroom settings, clinical treatment plans, workplace wellness programs, and neighborhood initiatives. Activities require minimal equipment and adapt to solo or group formats.
HealthCommunityBiodiversityDesigning for ecological aesthetics in urban agriculture: Operationalising ecodesign principles across multilayer city landscapes
2026Xiaoxuan Ren, Tetiana Bulhakova · Art and Design · Global
This study developed a theoretical and practical framework integrating ecological aesthetics into urban agriculture design. Using a mixed-methods approach combining literature review and analysis of existing urban agricultural spaces, a structured ecodesign framework synthesizing aesthetics, ecological function, and resilience was established. It was found that sensory qualities like color, texture, and rhythm, along with cultural meaning, can enhance biodiversity support, food production, and climate regulation without compromising ecological integrity.
BiodiversityClimate changeCommunityPolicyDo fences divide perception? A study of community garden benefits among users and non-users in Czech cities
2026Jan Macháč, Lenka Dubová, Marek Hekrle, Sára Laníková · Cities · Czech Republic
A study investigated differences in perceptions of community garden (CG) benefits among non-users in two Czech cities (Ústí nad Labem and Prague) via on-site surveys and CG users across Czechia via online surveys. Non-users prioritized environmental benefits like air quality improvement and crop production, alongside recreational functions. In contrast, CG users placed the highest importance on cultural and social benefits, specifically recreation, social interaction, and aesthetic enhancement, while giving lower priority to provisioning functions.
CommunityBiodiversityHealthPolicyÓvoda 4500 m²-en : Az Atelier Apeiron Múzeum-Erdei Óvodája, Sencsen, Kína
2026Imre Ferenc Szűcs · Metszet · China (Shenzhen)
Atelier Apeiron's 4,500-square-metre Museum Forest Kindergarten in Shenzhen, China, is presented as a high-density urban design case study. The project addresses strict site constraints through vertical organization, stacking 15 classrooms across three levels to optimize climate, light, and airflow. This vertical structure, which utilizes rooftop gardens, serves as a comparative example for European architects evaluating urban constraints.
BiodiversityClimate changeFood educationWings over the city: avian and butterfly diversity across a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance
2026Della Rocca Francesca, Musiani Marco, Taioli Domitilla, Nardelli Edoardo, Milanesi Pietro · Biodiversity and Conservation · Italy (Bologna)
In Bologna, Italy, data on bird and butterfly communities were analyzed across an anthropogenic disturbance gradient encompassing urban, agricultural, and semi-natural contexts. The study found the highest species richness and diversity in peri-urban areas with natural and semi-natural habitats, while dense built-up areas supported fewer, mostly generalist species. Agricultural areas favored birds but not butterflies, and continuous urban cover, discontinuous high-density urban areas, distance to streets, and wood coverage were identified as main drivers of diversity.
BiodiversityPollinators