Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
3144 results(2 / 126)
TOMAT in advance
2026Nele Buyst · Environmental Philosophy · Global
This article conceptually analyzes TOMAT, a community garden project organized by an educational institution, arguing for it as an "infrastructure of reciprocity." It focuses on how TOMAT enacts the (eco)feminist concept of "interdependency" and challenges the dominant relation to land as property, replacing it with a relation of belonging.
CommunityFood educationPolicyUrban Farming Initiatives in the United Arab Emirates:
2026Anamika Mishra, Rim Meziani, Ayah Alkhatib, Sara Ayman Laila · International Review for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development · United Arab Emirates
This paper reviews the current state of urban farming initiatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to initiate a discussion on urban farming spatial practices in Gulf cities. It classifies global farming initiatives into four categories and documents UAE's institutional and policy frameworks for food security. The study analyzes a database of UAE farming initiatives using this classification, identifying trends and opportunities for integrating urban farming into the city.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPersepsi Petani Terhadap Manfaat Urban Farming di Kecamatan Umbulharjo Kota Yogyakarta
2026Eska Stefani, Artita Devi Maharani, Nanang Kusuma Mawardi · AGRIBIOS · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)
In Umbulharjo District, Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, urban farming has been implemented as an alternative to improve food security and economic welfare. However, its implementation faces challenges such as land limitations, lack of access to modern agricultural technology, and low public understanding of its benefits. A descriptive quantitative study using a Likert scale (1-4) found that respondents strongly agreed that urban farming provides social benefits and agreed on its economic and environmental benefits.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsPolicyLandscapes and Wellbeing: Reflections on Two Decades of Research and Practice in Europe
2026Simon Bell · The International Journal of Healthy Space · Europe
This paper reflects on the evolution of research into the links between landscape and human health and wellbeing in Europe since 2000. It charts how the field developed through major initiatives like COST Actions and European research framework projects, coalescing into an established evidence base connecting green and blue spaces with human health, wellbeing, and policy action. The author offers a personal perspective on the trajectory of this research over the past two decades, based on direct involvement and lessons learned.
CommunityHealthPolicyFood Sharing in Lisbon
2026Jennifer Lyons, Anna Davies · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Portugal (Lisbon)
This report, part of the CULTIVATE project, assesses the sustainability impacts of Food Sharing Initiatives (FSIs) in Lisbon. It combines insights from CULTIVATE's Food Sharing Map with sustainability impact assessment (SIA) data submitted by FSIs, estimating impacts across social, environmental, economic, and governance pillars. The report notes that the presented indicators are a subset of total impacts and estimations will become more accurate as more FSIs submit SIA data.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicySocio-economic and urban form characteristics driving urban agriculture development: A spatial analysis across 11 large European cities
2026Paris Pencharz, Peter H. Verburg, Pierre Chopin · Landscape and Urban Planning · Europe
This study investigated the conditions enabling urban agriculture (UA) at a 1 km² scale across 11 large European cities. The intercity model suggested that UA is more likely found in greener, central neighborhoods with lower property prices and lower proportions of locally born residents. However, there is not a consistent set of factors implying UA presence, suggesting other social and policy factors might be at play.
Equity & displacementEconomicsCommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkagePrefigurative 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 educationAgrotechnology and Sustainable Agricultural Innovation
2026A. R. (Alin) Adawiah, S. (Sumini) Sumini, R. A. (Rahil) Rifqah, M. (Muhammad) Syafi’ie, S. (Sari) Susanti, P. (Poppy) Khairunnisa, S. Anggraini, S. (Samsul) Bahri, P. A. (Pajri) Yudha, M. (Meli) Roslianti · Neliti · Global
This book provides an overview of agrotechnology and sustainable agricultural innovation, covering topics such as environmentally friendly agricultural production systems, cultivation innovation, post-harvest technology, agricultural mechanization and automation, precision agriculture, biotechnology, organic agriculture, urban farming, climate change adaptation, and policies. It states that the agricultural sector is a vital pillar for providing food and supporting economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability.
Digital agricultureOrganic cycleClimate changePolicyHow Local Governments Link Green Economy and Eco-Edu Tourism?
2026Joli Apriansyah, Evi Satispi, Mawar Mawar, Kurniasih Mufidayati, Lusi Andriyani · Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Humaniora · Indonesia (South Jakarta)
In Kelurahan Cikoko, South Jakarta, a qualitative case study investigated how eco-edu tourism operationalizes the green economy agenda along the Ciliwung River. The initiative transformed neglected riverbanks into public eco-edu spaces with urban farming plots and environmental programs, strengthening community participation and generating micro-economic benefits. Identified constraints included coordination burdens, limited financing, and vulnerability to shifting political priorities.
CommunityFood educationPolicyOrganic cycleExploring Urban Sky Gardens’ Spatial Patterns, Influencing Factors and Optimizing Strategies in Lanzhou, China
2026Pengzhen Du, Qiyu Chen, Jinyu Xin, Shibo Ma · Sustainability · China (Lanzhou)
This study established a GIS database of 508 sky gardens in Lanzhou, China, through image maps and on-site investigations, analyzing their spatial patterns and influencing factors. Sky gardens in Lanzhou showed spatial heterogeneity, with 82% being rooftop gardens, mostly on residential, mid- and low-rise buildings, often lacking public accessibility and having low vegetation coverage. Sky garden area was negatively correlated with building height and ground-level green area, and positively associated with plot ratio, building density, and population density. The study concluded that rooftop and podium utilization is relatively low, and sky garden development exhibits spatial clustering.
BiodiversityPolicyParticipatory Design Model for Community-Based Rooftop Urban Farming
2026Muhammad Mutammam Musthofa, Ronalmanto Ronalmanto, Listhia Dwi Orisavianti, Indrika Dwi Febianti · Jurnal Teknologi Terapan G-Tech · Global
This study proposes an optimized Participatory Design Model for community-based rooftop urban farming to enhance technical sustainability and community ownership. Using a qualitative approach within a Participatory Action Research framework, data from Focus Group Discussions informed a design model emphasizing reduced maintenance and enhanced social utility. Key strategies include selecting simple planting systems, specifically a combination of hydroponic and soil-based media, and incorporating design elements that facilitate community engagement.
CommunityPolicyUrban 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 changePolicyUrban Modern Agriculture Development in Major Chinese Cities: A Multidimensional Evaluation and Contextual Typology
2026Yan Gao, Shaowen Zheng, Yating Cao, Zhengwei Cao · Land · China
This study developed a multidimensional evaluation framework to assess urban modern agriculture (UMA) development across 36 large- and medium-sized cities in China from 2019 to 2023. Findings indicate UMA development has a relatively stable hierarchical structure, with leading cities maintaining advantages while most remain in middle and lower tiers with limited upward mobility. Four contextual city types were identified: balanced development, economically efficient, resource-constrained, and agricultural-potential cities, reflecting differences in socioeconomic and environmental capacities.
PolicyEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageFeeding 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 linkagePolicyHarvesting 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 linkageExtraction of Open Spaces and Identification of Suitable Rooftops for Urban Agriculture: Contribution of Geospatial Technologies for Sustainable Planning
2026Asmaa Moussaoui, Ouijdane Lahyan, Hajar Sbiki, Imane Sebari, Kenza Ait El Kadi · The international archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences · Global
This project aimed to extract vacant spaces and rooftops suitable for urban agriculture using geospatial technologies. For vacant space extraction, three classifiers were tested, with the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier achieving the highest accuracy at 75% precision. For rooftop extraction, object-based classification using SVM, the Footprint Building Extraction-USA deep learning model, and Mapflow's building model were tested, with the latter two achieving F-Factor values above 77%.
PolicyUrban–rural linkageDigital agricultureUrban 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 changeThe 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 & justicePolicyDesigning Integrated Urban Agriculture Systems for Spatial Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability in Dense Urban Neighborhoods
2026Endah Tisnawati, Nabila Aufelisa · International Journal Of Science Technology & Management · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)
This study reframes community-based urban agriculture as an integrated socio-spatial and environmental infrastructure in dense urban areas, using a case study in Kemantren Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Data from field mapping and spatial analysis identified 22 urban agriculture sites, with a density of approximately 0.055 sites/ha, in an area with only 14.5% green open space. Findings indicate that urban agriculture functions as a micro-scale environmental infrastructure by integrating spatial efficiency, production systems, environmental functions, and community-based operational mechanisms, achieving environmental performance through the functional intensification of fragmented spaces.
CommunityUrban–rural linkageClimate changePolicy“Regain the park from the Bad People”. Symbolic boundaries and urban exclusion in Ecatepec
2026Miguel Ángel Monteverde-Ávalos · Alteridades · Mexico (Ecatepec)
An ethnography of a dispute over a small community garden in a working-class neighborhood in Ecatepec, Mexico, revealed that internal socialization processes establish thresholds of respectability, leading to classifications that reproduce differential access to public space. The study found that these classifications result in the unequal distribution of spatial resources and contribute to the reproduction of an exclusionary urban order.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyHealthA scoping review of temperate food forestry research: key themes, methodological considerations and research priorities
2026Anna M. Roodhof, Lieke Moereels, Isabelle van der Zanden, Giulia Bongiorno, Alejandra Hernández Guzmán, Jeroen Kruit, Madelon Lohbeck, Sietze J. Norder, Suzy Rebisz, Bastiaan Rooduijn, Jordy van Eijk, Heitor Mancini Teixeira · Agroforestry Systems · Global
This scoping review aims to facilitate future food forestry research by organizing existing empirical research and research agendas on food forestry in temperate regions. The study integrated fragmented literature, primarily due to inconsistent terminology, around nine key research themes. Overall, three clusters of research gaps were identified, centering on questions pertaining to food production, multifunctionality, and knowledge legitimization processes in food forests.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityOrganic cycleWhen 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 & justiceSustainability Concerns in Food Production, Livestock, Urbanization, and Environmental Quality in SCO Economies: Assessing the Impact of Energy Consumption
2026Abdul Rehman · Sustainable Development · Asia
This study investigated the effects of food production, urbanization, livestock production, and energy use on environmental quality in Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member economies. Using the PCS-ARDL approach, it found that food production and energy consumption positively impact environmental quality, while urbanization and livestock production negatively affect it. The results suggest a need for cohesive policies to balance these factors.
PolicyClimate changeUrban–rural linkageInsurgent Geographies and the Problem of Violence: Lessons From Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone
2026Alexei Anisin · Peace & Change · United States (Seattle)
This study analyzed the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle, which emerged in June 2020 and lasted 24 days, functioning as an urban hub for mutual aid and urban farming. The research, using randomly sampled Fire Department reports, found that CHAZ had significantly higher emergency response rates and incident variability compared to adjacent areas. The zone was dismantled due to outbreaks of violence, including five shootings, two deaths, sexual assaults, and arson, indicating a failure to address communal safety.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyHealthUrban 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 & justiceHealthEconomics