Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
2406 results(2 / 97)
Exploring the economic viability and marketability of aeroponics systems: An urban agriculture study in Navotas City
2026Hanna Kye Pohanes, Samantha Andrea Farinas, Maricar Cangayao, Jasmin Mae dela Peña, Chinie King Ho, Jonalyn Palconit, Jholan Hazel Tabance, Divina Gracia Cabaddu, Ryan dela Peña · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Philippines (Navotas City)
This qualitative study in Navotas City explored the economic viability and marketability of aeroponics systems in urban agriculture. Findings indicate aeroponics requires high initial investment and faces challenges such as produce failing to meet specific weight standards for sale, high energy consumption, and high setup costs. While offering benefits like efficient resource use and high yields, further improvements in system efficiency and operational methods are needed for it to become a viable and scalable business model.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceРоль органічного сільського господарства у забезпеченні продовольчої безпеки
2026О. І. Дребот, О. В. Мельников · The Scientific Issues of Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University Series pedagogy · Global
This article examines the contribution of organic agriculture to food security, identifying its role in maintaining soil fertility, supporting biodiversity, and increasing agricultural system resilience to climate change. The study also notes limitations, including lower yields, higher certification costs, and limited economic accessibility of organic products. It concludes that organic agriculture is an important element of an integrated food security model.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeOrganic cyclePrefigurative politics
2026Emma Paisley · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · Global
This chapter explores prefigurative politics as a transformative framework in food studies, focusing on enacting future societal values in present-day activism and pedagogy. It examines how grassroots initiatives like agroecology, food sovereignty, and community supported agriculture embody principles of equity, sustainability, and cooperation, challenging dominant capitalist food systems.
Food sovereignty & justiceCSA & TeikeiPolicyFood educationCULTIVO PROTEGIDO E HIDROPONIA NA AGRICULTURA BRASILEIRA: ambientes controlados, automação e produção sustentável em pequenas áreas
2026Carlos Luiz Vieira · · Brazil
This study analyzes protected cultivation and hydroponics in Brazil as technologies enabling full control of environmental variables and eliminating dependence on climate seasonality. These technologies demonstrate 80-95% reductions in water consumption, 300-500% increases in productivity compared to open fields, and complete elimination of agrochemical residues. However, the study also points out implementation challenges for these technologies, concluding they are fundamental for food security in contexts of accelerated urbanization, water scarcity, and global climate change.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agricultureFermented plant juice for sustainable lettuce production in urban farming
2026Quirante Zandra Anciano · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Philippines (Zamboanga Peninsula)
An experimental study in the Zamboanga Peninsula investigated the economic feasibility of hydroponic lettuce production using Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ). Estrosa and Olmetie lettuce varieties showed optimal performance, with undetectable nitrate levels in Estrosa and Green Wave, and all varieties remaining within international safety limits for nitrate. Cadmium was not detected.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureOrganic cycleUrban expansion and food security implications: A three-decade analysis of land use change in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (1993-2023)
2026Adili Y. Zella · African Journal of Social Issues · Tanzania
This study analyzed land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between 1993 and 2023 using multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery. The analysis revealed that built-up areas expanded by 1,433%, from 124.20 ha in 1993 to 1,905.14 ha in 2023. Concurrently, cultivated land decreased by 96.6%, from 172.90 ha to 5.88 ha, representing a loss of 167.02 ha. The near-complete elimination of cultivated land in Kinondoni District indicates a critical threat to local food production capacity and urban food security.
Environmental trade-offsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageClimate changePolicyCommunity-Based Urban Agriculture as a Strategy for Sustainable Food Security: Evidence of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2026Retno Wulandari, F. LAYLAVOIX F., Dela Mustika · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)
This study in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, examined the role of women farmer groups in optimizing urban home yard utilization for food security through a community-based urban farming approach. Using a quantitative descriptive analysis with 48 respondents, findings indicated that women farmer groups play a moderate role as learning hubs, cooperative platforms, and production units. Key factors influencing their role include age, farming experience, participation levels, leadership, agricultural extension support, and government involvement.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareFeeding the city: The role of rural–urban migrants in enhancing food security in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
2026Agnes G. Kapinga, Baraka F. Lenga · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
A qualitative case study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using semi-structured interviews with 31 migrant farmers and seven key informants, revealed that migrant farmers contribute to urban food security through diverse crop cultivation and livestock keeping, enhancing food production and income generation. However, migrant farmers face major constraints including insecure land tenure, flooding, water scarcity, high input costs, and limited institutional support. City authorities institutionalize the marginalization of migrant farmers by treating urban agriculture as an informal and temporary activity, despite their critical contributions.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityUrban–rural linkagePolicyFood security approach: community experience in urban agriculture, El Mirador community, Usme Locality (Bogotá, 2021)
2026Sonia Patricia Lizarazo Hernández, Lamprea Zona Martha, Cardona Castaño Juan Camilo · Huellas · Colombia (Bogotá)
This research aimed to document the community's experience with urban agriculture from a food security perspective in the El Mirador community, Usme locality, Bogotá, Colombia, in 2021. Workshops, field visits, and collaborative activities were conducted in community-created gardens, and information was analyzed using a participatory approach. Participants highlighted that food security offers economic and well-being opportunities for families, and urban agriculture has become a mechanism for integration and coexistence.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsWelfareHarvesting Hope
2026Mya O. Price · · United States
This chapter traces the historical dispossession of Black farmers from enslavement through Jim Crow, discriminatory federal policy, and contemporary land loss. It synthesizes historical analysis, policy critique, and community-based case studies to show how Black farmers are reclaiming land, rebuilding local food systems, and advancing food sovereignty through cooperatives, urban agriculture, and advocacy.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkagePenguatan Kemandirian Pangan Rumah Tangga Melalui Hidroponik Vertikal Dan Pemasaran Digital Berbasis E-Commerce
2026Fitri Ayu, Benriwati Maharmi, Desi Yasri, Jesaja Ginting, Ermawati, Jean Riko Kurniawan Putra, Nurhasnah · Jurdimas (Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat) Royal · Indonesia
A community service program in Berkah Family Village Housing, Kubang Jaya Village, Indonesia, used a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach to enhance urban household food self-sufficiency. The program provided training in vertical hydroponics, organic waste processing, and e-commerce, increasing participants' knowledge and skills in these areas significantly. A single hydroponic tower yielded 7.2–14 kg per cycle with substantial income potential, and 20 households learned to process kitchen waste into liquid fertilizer.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityDigital agricultureCompostA scoping review of the impact of urbanization on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa
2026Alemseged Gerezgiher Hailu, daniel girmay, samuel ataklti · Discover Food · Sub-Saharan Africa
This scoping review analyzed 155 sources (2009–2024) on urbanization's impact on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Findings showed rapid urban expansion converted 30% of peri-urban agricultural land in some regions, increasing dependence on imported staples, and low-income households spend 60–80% of income on food. A policy gap was identified, with only 12% of countries having supportive policies and 19% of cities designating land for farming.
Environmental trade-offsFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureClimate changeHealthUrban Agriculture: Setting the Agenda on Plant-pollinator Interactions Among Food Plants, Research Funding, and Policy Actions
2026Willams Oliveira, Marcelo Tabarelli, Leonardo Galetto, Carlos A. Peres, Ariadna Valentina Lopes · Human Ecology · Global
This review provides an overview of published research on plant-pollinator interactions among food plants in urban agriculture worldwide, offering a critical summary of the spatiotemporal distribution of knowledge, urban plant-pollinator profiles, and research funding for urban agriculture and ecosystem services. It highlights the potential of urban agriculture to create pollinator-friendly spaces that support local pollinator conservation and concludes that pollination services are a promising nature-based solution to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
BiodiversityPollinatorsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeTransforming the capitalist food regime: A historical materialist perspective on community-supported agriculture
2026Bernd Bonfert · Capital & Class · Global
This article analyzes the transformative potential of Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) through a historical materialist lens. CSA is found to be potentially capable of decommodifying and democratizing food production, de-alienating labor and socio-ecological relations, enhancing environmental sustainability, addressing social inequalities, and scaling effectively. However, these potential achievements face significant limitations and mutual trade-offs that individual CSAs likely cannot resolve, requiring collaboration at scale.
Economic viabilityCSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsThe Local Food System and Its Potential for Empowering Black Farmers and Growers
2026Mya O. Price · · United States
This chapter examines how local food systems can empower Black farmers and growers through direct-to-consumer and community-based markets, analyzing tools like farmers’ markets and urban agriculture. While case examples show Black-led initiatives, persistent barriers include limited capital, discriminatory pricing and lending, bureaucratic gaps, and uneven USDA support despite civil rights settlements. The study details these challenges.
Equity & displacementCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePolicyWhen Business as Usual Fails: The Case of Urban Agriculture in Detroit
2026Jocelyn M. Leitzinger, Robert David · · United States (Detroit)
A case study of Detroit's urban agriculture market indicates that "business-as-usual" development strategies, which prioritize large-scale investment projects, often fail to achieve their economic development potential. These strategies are noted to potentially exacerbate social or environmental issues, particularly within "moral markets" led by Black activists. The paper explores the mechanisms of such failures and offers recommendations for policymakers and entrepreneurs.
Economic viabilityCommunityEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceCalling plants to the rescue - mitigating the detrimental effects of warfare with phytotechnology
2026Henrik Haller, Elisabeth Simelton, Oskar Englund · npj Science of Plants · Global
This study summarizes three plant-based strategies for mitigating the environmental impacts of armed conflicts. These strategies include increased food security through urban gardening, gardening for meaning-making amidst conflict and supporting social cohesion and mental health, and post-war phytoremediation.
Food sovereignty & justiceHealthCommunityCity soils, city souls: Urban Agriculture Contribution (New European Bauhaus Online Satellite Event 2026)
2026Pierre Chopin, Anton Parisi, Paola Clerino, Agnès Fargue‐Lelièvre, Carnel Megbleto, Lia van Wesenbeeck, Anna Kirstgen, Paris Pencharz, Charlotte Liborio-Cornet, Marta Sylla, Tomasz Kowalczyk, Gati András, Nadira Berbić, Iva Bedenko, Michele D'Ostuni, Penny Zafiraki, Odysseas Sekkas, Tina Katika, C. Kennard · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Europe
This presentation compiles insights, case studies, and strategic models from the "City Soils, City Souls: Urban Agriculture Contribution" workshop, an official New European Bauhaus satellite event. It merges findings from the Horizon Europe FOODCITYBOOST project and other EU initiatives to outline data-driven, community-led strategies for combating urban sprawl, revitalizing peri-urban land, and building circular food systems in European cities.
CommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agricultureUrban Agriculture Policy and Household Food Security in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria
2026N. I. Odeh, A. T. OGAH, O. C. Odeh · Journal of African Resilience and Advancement Research · Nigeria
This study in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria, examined the urban agriculture (UA) policy framework and household food security using mixed methods, including interviews and a household survey. Findings revealed the absence of a dedicated UA policy, with UA regulated indirectly by general agricultural and land-use policies. Only 20.7% of households were food secure, while 79.3% experienced some level of food insecurity.
Governance failurePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceHealthEconomicsENTRE O DISCURSO E A PRÁTICA
2026Alan da Silva Vinhaes, Tamires Regina Rocha · Revista Tocantinense de Geografia · Brazil (Jundiaí)
This article analyzes the Urban Garden Program in Jundiaí, Brazil, to understand the contradictions between institutional discourse, normative framework, and observed territorial practice. Despite a favorable legal framework, the program's effectiveness is limited by low territorial coverage, a reduced number of active gardens, and reliance on punctual initiatives. The study concludes that long-term public policies with continuous institutional support are needed for urban agriculture to become a permanent component of urban planning.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyCommunityAdvancing urban horticulture through vertical farming: A global review of technologies and sustainability
2026Khushal Balram Muradi, V Siva Teja, Harshavardhan Mohan Totawar, Laxmi PS, Choudhari Balaji Keshavrao, Yogesh V Wayal, N Sravya, Jagmal P Khatana, Sruthi T, Deshmukh Sarita Babarao · International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research · Global
This study conducted a global review of vertical farming technologies and sustainability. Vertical farming shows significant savings in land and water consumption compared to traditional agriculture, yielding high production and quality for leafy greens, herbs, and some fruiting species. However, high energy demand remains a significant barrier to its sustainability and economic feasibility. Key research gaps include crop improvement for controlled settings, energy-efficient system design, renewable energy integration, and standardized frameworks for sustainability evaluation.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePemberdayaan Kelompok Tani Urban Farming Melalui Integrasi Teknologi Budikdamber Untuk Mendukung Ketahanan Pangan
2026Imtihan, Lisa Mayasari, Sanny Edinov · Jurdimas (Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat) Royal · Indonesia (Padang)
This community service program empowered the Sumber Harapan Farmers Group in Padang City, Indonesia, by applying BUDIKDAMBER (Fish Cultivation in Buckets) technology. The program, which included socialization, training, and mentoring, equipped the group with skills in integrating catfish cultivation with vegetable crops. Knowledge and skills of the farmers group increased from 20% to 87.31%, demonstrating the technology's effectiveness in enhancing participation and food security.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceFood educationPenguatan Kapasitas Ekonomi Hijau dan Kewirausahaan Sosial melalui Pendampingan Komunitas Binaan di Kota Medan
2026Annisa Ilmi Faried, Rahmad Sembiring, Ahmad Fadlan, Aulia Syahputri Sinaga · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat. · Indonesia (Medan)
This community service activity aimed to strengthen green economic capacity and social entrepreneurship among 42 micro-enterprise partners across four clusters (culinary, crafts/recycling, urban farming, digital creative services) in Medan City over six months. The participatory mentoring approach, including training and technical assistance, resulted in an increase in average monthly turnover for all business clusters. Partner competency scores also improved across six dimensions, with the highest increases in green economy understanding and waste management/recycling.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePreliminary Evaluation of the Morphophysiological Performance of Three Indonesian Garlic Varieties under Urban Lowland Conditions
2026Erna Siaga, Benyamin Lakitan, Fitra Fadhilah Rizar, Susilawati · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Indonesia
This study evaluated the growth of three Indonesian garlic varieties (Lumbu Sembalun, Lumbu Kuning, Lumbu Hijau) intercropped with yard-long beans as a living shade crop at Sriwijaya University's Greenhouse from July to November 2025. Lumbu Hijau and Lumbu Kuning showed superior growth characteristics, including higher germination and more vigorous early vegetative growth, compared to Lumbu Sembalun. Specifically, Lumbu Hijau exhibited significantly greater shoot length, leaf number, relative chlorophyll content, bulb diameter, and total fresh biomass four weeks after planting.
DIYClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceConstraints to Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Food Production in Port-Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State
2026Okorogba, Victory A., Amadi, N.S. · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Nigeria (Port Harcourt)
A descriptive survey in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria, identified constraints to urban agriculture for sustainable food production. The study, involving 46 female and 30 male urban farmers, found that poor infrastructural resources, poor environmental conditions, and limited intellectual skills of urban farmers hinder the achievement of sustainable urban agriculture.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomics