Research & reports

Kwiringira J., Mohling E.W.P., Mathias A., Ariho P., Mugisha J., Zakumumpa H., Rujumba J., Tumwebaze I.K. · Agriculture & Food Security 13:53 · Uganda

This study analyzes urban agriculture in Kampala as a dynamic, evolved livelihood strategy attracting both the urban poor and other groups, contributing to job creation, poverty alleviation, and household food security.

Parot J., Wahlen S., Schryro J., Weckenbrock P. · Agriculture and Human Values, 41(2):685-699 · Global

Typologizes food justice in community supported agriculture into 'charitable' and 'emancipatory' support actions, analyzing differences in the motivations and effects of participating in urban-rural food networks and discussing CSA's social-transformation potential.

Johansson J., Roitto M., Steiner B., Alakukku L. · Cleaner and Responsible Consumption (Elsevier) · Finland

This Finnish study evaluates the co-creation of urban agriculture in residential settings with housing companies, finding that flexible modular planning and availability of key site actors are critical success factors for participatory urban farming initiatives.

Chari F., Ngcamu B.S. · Local Environment · Zimbabwe (Bulawayo)

This survey-based study of community garden farmers in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe assessed the effectiveness of community gardens in promoting social inclusion for vulnerable urban residents, finding that garden participation enhanced social networks, food security, and livelihoods among marginalized groups.

Maphosa M., Moyo P. · Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · Zimbabwe (Bulawayo)

This study evaluated climate vulnerability in Bulawayo's urban food system and found that the city's 2007 urban agriculture policy lacks climate change provisions, institutional coordination is weak, and extension services are severely understaffed, though NGO-led innovations and national conservation agriculture programs offer promising pathways for resilience.

Anja Egerer · People and Nature · Global

Research defending the value of urban community gardens, examining citizen participation in biodiversity conservation and the role of gardeners as central actors in nature conservation projects.

Qian J., Pearce J. M. · Designs · Global

Applies the distributed-manufacturing open-source design paradigm to develop four low-cost open-source grow-structure designs targeting root vegetables and bush fruit. The designs are intended for adoption by remote communities with limited or no outdoor growing environment.

· Journal of Development Effectiveness · Lesotho

Examines enhancing food security through keyhole gardening, a circular raised-bed structure with a central compost basket. This self-built growing structure was developed by humanitarian organizations to promote household food production in drought-prone settings.

· Agronomy · Global

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

· Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · Global

Investigates how cultural ecosystem service experiences in urban community gardens relate to management practices and agrobiodiversity, finding experiences vary among gardeners and correlate with local ecological knowledge.

· Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · Global

Comprehensive analysis of urban agriculture's potential, challenges, and socio-economic impacts. Examines successful citizen-driven models and barriers to scaling.

· Food Education Research · Multiple

Empirical study examining how community garden participation impacts children's food education and eating habits. Analyzes spillover effects on family food choices.

Turner · Geographical Research · Global South

Explores motivations, practices, and political contexts of rooftop gardening in the Global South, examining how socioeconomic conditions and policy environments shape urban agricultural initiatives.

de Jong · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global

Examines how urban farms' business models transition over time, incorporating long-term sustainability into core strategies. Analyzes progression from startup to enterprise settings.

· Latin American Perspectives · Cuba

Discusses urban agriculture in Cuba through the lenses of food security and food sovereignty.

Emilia C. Zamora-Moncayo, Bernarda Herrera, June Larrieta, Aimée DuBois, Georgina Miguel Esponda · Qualitative Health Research · Ecuador

A participatory case study of Huertomanías, an urban garden initiative founded in Ecuador in 2015 that provides work, income and social inclusion to people with severe mental health problems. Twelve participants took part in cognitive mapping, a photovoice project and interviews. Thematic analysis identified four domains of impact within the garden — autonomy (financial and personal), interpersonal and environmental relations, mental health, and family dynamics — plus external factors (family support, public policy and healthcare services) that shape recovery. The context is that employment access for this group is largely disregarded in Ecuadorian policy planning because of labour-market discrimination. As a qualitative study with 12 participants, it does not measure symptom change or job retention.

Dong Wang, Peiyuan Xu, Bo-Wen An, Qiuping Guo · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · Global

This paper introduces a conceptual framework for urban green infrastructure (UGI) to integrate ecological principles, urban planning, and adaptive management for resilient urban landscapes. UGI aims to enhance ecological connectivity, restore ecosystem functions, and provide habitats, emphasizing multifunctionality, connectivity, diversity, and accessibility. Global case studies demonstrate UGI's effectiveness in biodiversity conservation and its contribution to sustainable urban development through ecosystem services. Challenges for UGI include funding constraints, institutional fragmentation, and equity issues, requiring innovative financing, community involvement, and policy innovations.

Amal Ibourk, Lauren Wagner, Deb Morrison, Syrena Young, Justin Milledge · Science and Children · Global

This article describes a fifth-grade climate change action project involving building a community garden, aligned with science standards. Students learned about monarch butterfly migration, life cycles, and greenhouse gases by planting milkweed. The article offers educators ideas and suggestions for implementing such a project within a school community.

Clara Pantoja Bohórquez, Karen Johanna Martínez Grisales, Jessica Paola Rincón Vivas, Linda Vanessa Boada Arias · Convergencia Revista de Ciencias Sociales · Colombia (Bogotá)

This qualitative multiple case study in Bogotá, Colombia, explores the role of women in seven community urban farming initiatives and their collective resistance practices. It found that women pursue food sovereignty, transform relationships with nature, and re-signify public space. Women play a significant role in community self-management, with high recognition of their knowledge and practices, and their networks of affection and intergenerational exchange strengthen female autonomy and leadership.

Karen Haas, Sharon P. Simson, Nancy C. Stevenson · · Global

Horticulture is a leisure pursuit for hundreds of thousands of older adults who enjoy tending flower and vegetable gardens or indoor plant collections. For an increasing number of older adults, gardening is an essential therapeutic activity that helps in maintaining health, aids in rehabilitation from chronic diseases and impairments, or slows the effects of dementia.

Can Xu · Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences · Global

This study demonstrates advancements in sustainable urban planning through an an AI-driven decision support system. Experimental results show solar panel efficiency at 25%, rainwater harvesting capacity at 600 liters per square meter, and 3 square meters of community garden space per resident. The system also provided 1.5 bike-sharing stations per 1000 residents, exceeding market averages in several areas.

Deborah Carter · · Global

This chapter explores community-led gardens as transformative, innovative literacy learning environments for refugee learners and their families. It reviews literature on refugees' utilization of community-led gardening, highlighting concepts of cultural reflection and inspiration, cultural cohesion and sense of belonging, and adaptation and resilience. The author shares experiences creating a community-led garden for refugees and describes language literacy pedagogical activities that utilize a community garden for learner-centered, experiential learning and communicative language teaching.

Yichen Jiang, He Fang, Shihui Li, Hang Lu, Rouran Zhang · Land · Global

This paper compares urban agriculture (UA) patterns in Europe and China using bibliometric analysis of Web of Science and 2230 CNKI publications, alongside field research on nine European practices and UA development in Hangzhou, China. The study recommends that China consider European approaches for realizing social and cultural benefits in future UA practices. It also suggests integrating UA projects into urban green space planning and rationalizing construction types.

Kamal Prasad Acharya, Kalpana Gyawali, Indra Raj Upadhyaya · Interdisciplinary Research in Education · Nepal

This article explores the contribution of garden-based activities to developing 21st-century skills in public schools in Nepal. Using participatory action research in three intervention schools, the study found that school gardening, involving flower and vegetable cultivation, enhances critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Students also viewed gardening as a valuable learning platform that encourages creative thinking, environmental sustainability, and lifelong learning competence.

Laura S. Tuominen, Heikki Helanterä, Patrik Karell, Lauri Rapeli, Timo Vuorisalo, Jon E. Brommer · npj Urban Sustainability · Finland (Turku)

This before-after study in Turku, Finland, examined the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban box gardening from 2019 to 2021. While box gardening's importance for resilience increased and gardeners remained motivated, participants reported receiving fewer benefits from gardening during the pandemic. This suggests a negative influence of the pandemic on well-being, extending to urban gardening outcomes.