Research & reports

배민기 · 충북 FOCUS · South Korea

A 2012 policy report reviews the state of neighborhood parks and green space in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, and argues for strategic planning to expand and improve them. Noting that since 2005 the quantity of park and green space has increased but its variety remains limited and its distribution regionally uneven, it recommends actively expanding park-type urban agriculture (housing-based, neighborhood-based, downtown, farm-and-park, and school-education urban agriculture parks), expanding roadside green strips and street greening, closing service gaps in park and green space provision, rooftop greening tied to building characteristics, soft measures such as box gardens, seedling distribution, and urban ecosystem education programs, and using green-space-use contracts, "green owner" systems, ordinance development, and budget allocation.

孟兴 · 中国乡镇企业 · China

A news report describes the Binhai Eco-Agriculture Science Park in the Tanggu new town of Tianjin's Binhai New Area, China, where a large glass roof had been completed and interior fitting and climate-control testing were underway ahead of its planned opening for the October 1, 2012 National Day holiday as a 100,000-square-meter urban agriculture park. The park is described as offering dining amid tropical plants, water play in what is called the world's largest indoor hot spring, and organic fruit and vegetable picking and agricultural learning in large greenhouses.

임주호, 이경환, 윤인숙, 윤은주 · · South Korea

This study estimated new-town residents' willingness to pay for urban garden plots on public land, using a 1.5-bound dichotomous-choice contingent valuation method (CVM) survey of residents in Bundang and Dongtan, South Korea. 72.6% of respondents said they would use urban garden plots if part of a park or green space were developed and leased as an urban farm, indicating latent demand; willingness to pay was estimated at about 236,000 won per year for one plot (16.5 m2 basis), exceeding rental costs at existing weekend farms near the capital region. Gender, age and occupation significantly affected willingness to pay, while other socioeconomic characteristics, possible visit frequency and desired stay duration were not significant.

李焕荣, 孙英键 · 教育教学论坛 · China

A 2012 discussion paper in the journal Jiaoyu Jiaoxue Luntan examines how to train veterinary medicine professionals for an urban agriculture context, using Beijing as the example. It reviews the ecological function of urban agriculture and trends in industrial-structure optimization, characteristics of suburban agricultural areas, Beijing's five-year livestock development plan centered on shifting breeding structures to meet urbanization needs, the state and problems of Beijing's pet industry, requirements for veterinary professionals, and features of the 2011 "12th Five-Year Plan" training scheme, concluding with an outlook on future training for urban-oriented veterinary talent.

吕艳 · 农业工程技术：温室园艺 · China (Beijing)

This article reports the closing, on October 21, 2012, of the second International Urban Agriculture Science and Technology Festival, held for one month at the Beijing International Urban Agriculture Science and Technology Park in Tongzhou District, Beijing, China. The festival was co-organized by the Tongzhou District People's Government and China Agricultural University, with cooperation from several government bodies and institutions including the Ministry of Agriculture's Foreign Economic Cooperation Center and the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, and public-interest support from the China Guanghua Science and Technology Foundation. The item covers only the event's organizers and timeline; it gives no attendance figures or specific outcomes.

Bo-Gyung Jang, Yoon-Ji Choi, Cheng-Chu Cho · 농촌지도와 개발 · South Korea

This study surveyed 40 trainees of the urban agriculture instructor course at the Gyeonggi Provincial Agricultural Research & Extension Services, South Korea, on October 7, 2011, analyzing the importance and performance of the urban agriculture education program using an IPA (importance-performance analysis) model. Based on the findings, it proposes reforms to the instructor course: teaching should be practice-oriented rather than theoretical so trainees can apply learning in actual urban agriculture, teaching materials should be practical rather than purely theoretical, and since theoretical content is already covered in materials, instruction should emphasize hands-on practice.

De Ren Fu, Yao Zhi Huang · Advanced materials research · China (Taihu Lake)

Urban agricultural landscape is a composite functional system combining modern agriculture, rural culture, tourism and leisure, environmental education, and farming experience, dependent on agricultural production. With urban and rural development, urbanization, and agricultural modernization, metropolitan agricultural landscapes face significant impacts and challenges. This paper analyzes the relationship between rural and urban development and metropolitan agricultural landscapes, then proposes a strategy for the metropolitan agricultural landscape in Taihu Lake.

박은지, 이연숙, 안창헌 · 한국생태환경건축학회 학술발표대회 논문집 · South Korea

This study investigated the planning process of resident-participatory community gardens in South Korea and confirmed their effects. A process was developed to facilitate the embodiment, proposition, and discussion of community garden planning ideas based on local demands. This process was utilized in resident workshops for actual community garden planning, and its effects on residents' views and planning changes were confirmed.

박은지, 이연숙, 안창헌 · · United States, South Korea

This study aimed to identify the social and economic effects of community gardens by analyzing detailed cases in the U.S. based on social capital theory. In the U.S., community gardens are utilized for plant cultivation and horticulture, as well as complex activities like education, play, leisure, and rest, creating sustainable community values. While Korean community gardens often operate as urban farms or parks, the study suggests that managing them with spatial characteristics and programs that foster communities by gathering residents is desirable for community contribution and sustainability.

권용덕, 윤인국 · 정책포커스 · South Korea

A study investigated the status of eco-friendly agriculture in Gyeongnam, South Korea, from 2009 to 2010. Gyeongnam's eco-friendly production base was low at 6.2% of the national total (12,043ha), with a high proportion of low-pesticide produce (62.9%). Direct sales were prevalent, but wholesale distribution was very low at 3.0% of total transactions, and exports were concentrated in processed foods and heavily reliant on the Japanese market. The study identified issues such as weakened producer bargaining power, slow development of local food systems due to policy gaps, inadequate wholesale distribution, and an export structure that does not significantly benefit farmers, and proposed revitalization strategies.

장보경, 최윤지, 황정임 · 농촌지도와 개발 · South Korea

This study aimed to identify the needs assessment for urban agricultural programs. Urban citizens expressed a need for educational programs addressing "shortage of farming technology education" and desired "farming technology" education more than other areas. They requested urban agricultural programs with both theory and practice, preferring an 80:20 ratio of practice to theory for "farming technology" based programs. Citizens most preferred a 3 to 6-month education period, with over 95% indicating a desire to join such a program if developed.

MA Cui-hua · Hebei Nongye Daxue xuebao · China

This paper introduces and explains typical landscape design using Hebei Agricultural University as an example, focusing on school buildings, school gardens, and campus comedy. It explores the role of campus landscape in beautifying the campus environment, establishing the college image, inheriting university spirit, and fulfilling an educational function.

박은지, 이연숙 · 한국주거학회 학술발표대회 논문집 · South Korea

A study on the initial planning stage of resident-participation community gardens, using a case in Jeonju City, South Korea. Based on a literature and theoretical review together with case studies, it identifies five modes of resident participation in community garden planning and applies them to a community garden construction project in a deteriorated area of Jeonju. The study provides improvement guidelines for the initial planning stage of resident-participation community gardens.

Zai Xue-ming · Ningxia Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Science and Technology · China

A Chinese agricultural college describes building a horticulture curriculum combining higher education with vocational training to prepare "double-certificate" talent for urban modern agriculture, including on- and off-campus practice bases linked to teacher research projects, agricultural services, and student innovation training programs. The report states that students' innovation and entrepreneurship abilities improved significantly, without giving measured data or a comparison group.

이응직, 이형숙, 윤은주, 칼루 엑페게어, 고성철 · · South Korea

A South Korean study examined the functions and roles of a Green Community Rediscovery Center (GCRC) in terms of community integration, designed a GCRC incorporating various green roof types, and investigated applying a renewable energy system (e.g., PV) to building greenery. Four functional modules were proposed: an ecopark and community gardens with environmental education programs, a green housing model with education programs, a Discover Science Center, and a green business model with education programs. In design terms, three main functions were presented: community garden functions; establishment of a green business model, community composting system, and urban farming system; and the role of community gardens in social interaction within the GCRC. Air temperature on the green roof (using Sedum sarmentosum as cover) was about 3°C lower than on a non-green roof, indicating potential efficiency gains for PV systems. The study concludes that the proposed GCRC would raise neighborhood satisfaction and quality of life and contribute to social integration and community regeneration.

금성근 · BDI 정책포커스 · South Korea (Busan)

This policy focus paper states that urban agriculture in Busan, South Korea, is in its initial stages and requires significant activation efforts from local governments. It identifies key roles for local governments in promotion, resource discovery, program support, organizational networking, and policy development. To activate urban agriculture in Busan, the paper recommends establishing institutional and policy support, strengthening education, providing experiential opportunities, fostering partnerships among public, private, and academic sectors, and linking with local industries for regional revitalization.

허북구, 박윤점, 오대민, 박종수, 윤숙영, 조자용 · · South Korea

This study developed marketing techniques for mugwort seedlings for urban agriculture and horticultural therapy in South Korea. Researchers examined mugwort amounts needed for various uses, harvest times and yields by seedling type and container size, and seedling quality under marketing conditions. Findings showed that one-year-old rhizomes had the shortest harvest time (25 days) and highest yield (13.2g per plant) at first harvest, and seedling quality did not decrease after 3 days of cold marketing.

Yun Li · Guangdong nongye kexue · China

This report describes the planning of a Modern Agro-ecological Park in Gaoming District, Foshan city, Guangdong province, China. The park is designed as a modern standardization zone for eco-agricultural production and demonstration, a resort zone for eco-agricultural tourism and leisure, a base for green food production, modern urban agriculture and export-oriented agriculture, a base for modern agricultural logistics and information, and a base for eco-agricultural popular science education and agricultural exhibitions (a two-zones, four-bases scheme). Based on the current state and future needs of agricultural development in Gaoming, the plan adopts a development model of a garden section, four subdivisions and one ecological protection belt, with a layout concept center comprising three counterpart units, aiming to build a comprehensive modern agriculture development area combining production and living, ecological protection, scientific research and development, tourism and recreation, culture and education, and information and logistics services. The park's stated goal is to drive the development of modern agriculture in Gaoming District and the wider Pearl River Delta region.

Tian Yu-min · Vocational and Technical Education · China

This policy discussion argues that to achieve the goal of developing modern coastal urban agriculture in Tianjin, China, agricultural colleges should make full use of talent, expertise, academic disciplines, and science and technology; form a rational, scientific teaching philosophy; innovate talent-training models; adjust specialty structures to match talent demand; reform education and teaching patterns; establish a system for popularizing agricultural science; build a system guiding graduates toward rural areas; and encourage graduates to work or start enterprises at the grassroots level in rural areas.

김영, 김은자, 이상영, 이승주 · · South Korea

A South Korean study (2008) surveyed allotment (weekend farm) garden participants on their cultivation status and demand for herb crops, alongside interviews with garden plot proprietors, and reviewed program trends run by organizations serving allotment gardens. Participants cultivated roughly ten crop species on average, with seed and seedling purchases mainly dependent on the landowner and crop selection made jointly by spouses; 5.7% of participants were currently or had previously cultivated herbs, while 62% had not because they did not know how. Reported herb uses were medicine/beauty (22.0%), spices (22.0%), and enjoyment (29.0%), with future interest at 34.0%, 39.0%, and 31.7% respectively; 78.3% of participants said they had considered or would consider growing herbs if the landowner supplied plants, and expressed interest in guidance on planting, management, and post-harvest use. The study found that introducing new crops was more feasible among participants with more than four years of farming experience and relatively advanced cultivation skills, and concluded that crop and soil-management choices, seedling provisioning, education tailored to participants' skill levels, and rental arrangements were essential to sustaining and expanding allotment garden participation.

于德林, 高丽红, 武俊峰, 刘凡 · 北方果树 · China

This article discusses leisure agriculture, which originated from urban agriculture. Leisure agriculture is guided by ecology, aesthetics, economics, and sustainable development theories, developing and allocating agricultural resources. It creates tourist destinations with good ecological environments and special atmospheres, focusing on themes such as sightseeing, scientific and technological demonstrations, popular science education, and ecological environmental protection. This transforms traditional extensive agriculture into modern agriculture that integrates refinement, systematicness, intensification, and education.

刘剑 · 中国果业信息 · China

On December 29, 2006, the first winter strawberry festival was held in the strawberry-garden square of Hejiang town, Shuangliu county, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. At the event, a director from the China Industrial Food Association's southwest regional office awarded Shuangliu county a plaque naming it 'China's Hometown of Winter Strawberries,' and the director of the Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Agricultural Economics awarded Hejiang town a plaque designating it a 'Modern Urban Agriculture Development Theory and Practice Base.'

胡新光, 徐培培, 黄美英, 冯莉 · 杭州：生活品质 · China (Hangzhou)

In Hangzhou, China, urban agricultural parks have emerged, characterized by a strong emphasis on technological advancement and industry development. These parks prioritize the introduction of scientific talent, collaboration with experts, adoption of new varieties and technologies, and scientific management with technical training for farmers. This abstract introduces these common characteristics as part of a series on typical urban agricultural park constructions, without providing specific findings or data for Tonglu Wanqiang Farm.

朱良华 · 浙江现代农业 · China (Ningbo)

Ningbo's Yinzhou District invested 190 million yuan over two years to implement over 40 "Hundred Gardens" projects, focusing on rural leisure, tourism, agricultural technology, and farm stay experiences. These projects, centered on agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, aim to provide citizens with new agricultural industries for leisure and experience. By 2005, 27 projects were completed, attracting 800,000 visitors and generating over 12 million yuan in revenue.

Hui Zhi-jua · Journal of Huaibei Professional and Technical College · China

Urbanization is described here not only as a process in which population aggregates in cities, the farming economy transforms into an urban economy, and rural areas become urban areas, but also as a transition in people's behavioral and living styles. "Village-in-the-urban" is presented as a logical result of the expansion of towns and cities in China, where constant collision and conflict, along with interaction and fusion, occur between original rural culture and urban culture, and between native and foreign culture. From a sociological perspective, this paper analyzes the conflict and fusion characterizing villages-in-the-urban.