Research & reports

한주형, 장동민 · · Global

This study aimed to propose sustainable development directions for urban agriculture by analyzing its theories, paradigms, and types. It classified urban agriculture definitions into five types, identified four similar concepts, and defined sustainable urban agriculture theory using four keywords: eco-environmentalism, human socialism, high-tech, and capital economy. The study also derived 16 development types for urban agriculture, suggesting its evolution into a "new 6th industry" through a feedback linkage from primary to fifth industries.

Shi Jia-li · · China (Tianjin)

This paper studies the important roles of leisure agriculture in the development of Tianjin's modern urban agriculture. It emphatically analyzes the major problems of science and technology during the promotion of leisure agriculture and puts forward the significances of science and technology support in leisure agriculture.

Eng. Ir. Ahmad Rusdiansyah, M.Eng., Cscp · · Global

This research developed an integrated scheduling model for seedling and planting in urban agricultural products, considering seedling time, land availability, land productivity, selling price, and cost aspects. The model was tested with scenarios including increased demand, changes in land yield, changes in agricultural land area, and changes in harvest prices. Scenario test results indicated that agricultural land area and land yield were the most sensitive factors.

Ranka Junge, Andreas Graber · Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften digital collection (Zurich University of Applied Sciences) · Global

This paper discusses the need for practical tools and a stronger scientific base for sustainable urban farming, noting that visionary schemes often lack current practical application with available technologies. It identifies requirements for urban food production, including high quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness, and suggests innovations in planting, pest control, irrigation, and integration with existing building infrastructures. Aquaponics is presented as having the potential to contribute to all these aspects.

Christine Brown-Paul, Sam Ross · Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses · Indonesia (Jakarta)

In Jakarta, Indonesia, urban farming and hydroponics are increasingly used to feed the growing population and ensure food security. This article highlights hydroponic strawberry production in Bandung and features a large hydroponic grower that supplies Jakarta supermarkets and operates an educational facility for future hydroponic professionals.

Mark Bilandzic, Marcus Foth · QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) · Australia

The Urban Informatics Research Lab at Queensland University of Technology focuses on interdisciplinary topics at the intersection of social, spatial, and technical research domains, including urban planning, civic innovation, and urban agriculture. The lab's approach involves user-centered design research to understand, conceptualize, develop, and evaluate sociotechnical practices and digital technology opportunities in urban environments.

Brian S. Butler, Diane M. Travis, Catherine M. Ridings, Zach G. Zacharia · Journal of the Association for Information Systems · Global

This study uses data from a national survey of local food producers to show how different institutional logics can result in varied IT use profiles and complex outcomes in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. It highlights challenges for IT in supporting local food systems where multiple logics coexist.

Tad Hirsch · The MIT Press eBooks · Global

This chapter explores a new approach to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and urban agriculture. It includes sections on understanding urban agriculture, moving from urban form to urban experience, from cultivation to food provisioning, an expanded definition, a framework, and a case study of Sunroot Gardens.

Leandro Pessoa Lucena, Francisco José Kliemann Neto, Fernanda Mariano Massuia, Leonardo Donizete Fanti · RAI revista de administração e inovação · Canada

Against the backdrop of demographic projections that global population will reach 9.4 billion within the next 50 years, requiring an additional area of fertile land roughly the size of Brazil that does not exist on the planet, this study evaluated the economic viability of a Canadian vertical farm model as a sustainable urban-rural food production alternative. Using the NCIC method via a participant-observer approach, the study reported the model as economically viable and sustainable, as well as innovative in flattening production chains.

Chinenye Agbaje, Ogechi Nwachukwu · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Nigeria (Lagos)

This study investigated the efficacy of smart irrigation schemes to address water management challenges in urban rooftop gardens in Lagos, Nigeria. Employing a mixed-method approach with quantitative data analysis and qualitative interviews, it found that smart irrigation systems reduced water consumption by an average of 25% compared to traditional methods, with a 95% confidence level. The research provided robust evidence for the efficacy of smart irrigation schemes in urban rooftop gardens, offering policy recommendations for sustainable water management policies.

Qin Shu-ying · Journal of Academic Library and Information Science · China

This paper analyzes the concepts of urban agriculture and information resources construction, discussing the characteristics of urban agriculture and the current state of information resources construction in China. It introduces methods for understanding user needs and proposes different approaches to resource construction for various users. Principles and specific methods for information resources construction in urban agriculture are designed, with measures such as increasing information collectors and improving personnel quality being suggested.

Ran Li · Anhui Nongye Daxue xuebao · China

A dimensional cropping-raising pattern and a self-contained facility were designed for urban agriculture in northern China, where urbanization causes soil shortage, disease, and pollution, exacerbated by an unpleasant climate. This facility features a ground-underground structure combining a greenhouse and a barton, designed to minimize pollution, eliminate heating supply needs, and double land utilization efficiency compared to normal facilities.

Xiao Di Li, Wei Hu, Xiao Yang · Applied Mechanics and Materials · Global

This research aims to create intelligent ecological residential buildings with small, limited agricultural rooms for city residents, fulfilling their psychological desire for nature, eco-protection, work-life balance, and a residential agronomic garden. Through logical reasoning, it was found that rapid social, political, technological, and economic development sufficiently supports the realization of intelligent eco-building ideas for urban agriculture. This is expected to initiate social concerns and further research on urban intelligent ecological agricultural buildings.

吕艳 · 农业工程技术：温室园艺 · China (Beijing)

The 3rd International Urban Agricultural Science and Technology Festival was held in Tongzhou, Beijing, from September 12 to 13, 2013. Over 300 representatives from national agencies, local governments, agricultural research institutions, domestic and international agricultural enterprises, and foreign embassies in China attended the event at the Tongzhou Beijing International Urban Agricultural Science and Technology Park. China Agricultural University hosted this conference.

Heng Shi, Ya Jun Shi, Guang Cai Xu · Applied Mechanics and Materials · China (Beijing)

This study proposes a non-weight agricultural information index model based on the analytic hierarchy process, developed in the context of Beijing's agricultural information development. It suggests that agricultural information promotes the economic growth of urban agriculture, particularly peri-urban agriculture, by facilitating the transition from traditional to modern agriculture.

Akosua Owusu-Bonsu, Yaa Afua, Kofi Agyeiwa, Bright Emmanuel Owusu · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · India (Mumbai)

This study investigated market access and economic benefits of greenhouse hydroponics among urban farmers in Mumbai's coastal slums and Ghana's agricultural hubs. Using a mixed-methods approach, data showed that hydroponic greenhouse production led to a 45% increase in vegetable yields compared to traditional farming methods, with over 70% of producers reporting higher income from market sales. Market access was significantly improved through partnerships with local NGOs and government initiatives.

Corey James Majeika, Raymond P Stockwell, Shawn A Czerniak · Digital WPI · Global

This study conducted 13 in-depth interviews with farmers to assess their perceptions of Freight Farms, a company growing leafy greens and basil in adapted shipping containers. Most farmers doubted the economic feasibility of Freight Farms, questioned its technologies, and noted the lack of organic certification.

周祥 · 农业工程技术：温室园艺 · China

This article describes Yunnan province's recent push to "vigorously develop plateau-characteristic agriculture" and how the province's specialty agriculture has progressed from scattered small-scale operations to scaled development and the emergence of specialty industrial belts, raising demands on agricultural facilities. It profiles Yunnan Xinli Greenhouse Engineering Co., Ltd., stating the company has worked since its founding on agricultural-facility development in southwest China, providing engineering solutions for modern agriculture, urban agriculture, and plateau-characteristic agriculture; no independent data or evaluation results are given beyond this company profile.

康庆丽, Jian‐Hua Xu · 四川劳动保障 · China

This practice report from Pixian county, China, describes the construction of a "1+3" modern agricultural talent workstation service model, aimed at linking experts, enterprises and farmers to create a combined effect exceeding the sum of the parts. Built around a central talent workstation supported by three agricultural service divisions, the model is presented as having achieved results through resource concentration and focus on distinctive features, but no quantitative outcome measures are given.

Sarah Yixin Zhang, Zhang Zhi-xing · Journal of the Association for Information Systems · China

This study investigates how Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pioneers in China use microblogging technology to engage members and develop their communities. CSA is a sustainable agriculture model where members support farms and share risks, making trust-building crucial. Microblogging platforms provide farmers with a channel to communicate updates, address member problems, and facilitate interactions among CSA members, especially when frequent farm visits are not possible. The study analyzed microblog posts from China's first CSA farm.

Lan Bin · Computer Knowledge and Technology · Global

This paper adhered to the principle that information technology serves agriculture, refining the capacities that computer majors in urban agricultural information technology should possess. Consequently, a curriculum system and an urban agriculture information technology training base, focused on capacity cultivation, were constructed. This achieved the task of cultivating compound and applied talents in agricultural information, satisfying the needs of urban agriculture construction.

이행우, 김용성, 이재일 · · South Korea

This study noted that vertical farms face problems with economic viability and a lack of resident awareness. It derived types of vertical farms applicable to residential spaces and inferred assessment items for a questionnaire survey to develop u-services. Based on issues from the survey, u-services needed in vertical farm buildings were proposed, including u-notification of crop conditions, remote/automatic control u-services, harvest information u-service, recipe information u-service, indoor air quality monitoring u-service, indoor environment adjusting u-service, and farm environment control u-service.

许厚祺, 刘爱民 · 中国农业综合开发 · China (Tianjin)

This article describes Tianjin City's comprehensive agricultural development since 1994, focusing on expanding scale benefits and improving technological levels. Tianjin, located in northeastern North China Plain, has actively developed coastal urban modern agriculture, creating a unique path for agricultural development.

Guan Hai-ling · Science Technology and Industry · China (Taiyuan)

This paper examines the achievements and current status of urban agricultural development, technology, and innovation in Taiyuan. It proposes countermeasures for urban agricultural scientific and technological innovation in a low-carbon economy, including establishing a training system, supporting research institutions, increasing investment, and strengthening external exchanges and cooperation.

Yan E Duan · Advanced materials research · Global

This paper explains the concept, model, and architecture of the Internet of Things (IOT) as a network technology enabling object communication via RFID and sensors. It then details the specific application of IOT in urban agriculture, presenting an application framework model for agricultural production and product supply systems.