Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1022 results(21 / 41)
Closed-Loop Crop Cascade to Optimize Nutrient Flows and Grow Low-Impact Vegetables in Cities
2020Martí Rufí-Salís, Felipe Parada, Verónica Arcas‐Pilz, Anna Petit‐Boix, Gara Villalba, Xavier Gabarrell · Frontiers in Plant Science · Spain (Barcelona)
This study investigated a closed-loop crop cascade system in a Barcelona rooftop greenhouse, using tomato leachates to irrigate five successive lettuce cycles. The results showed that low yields (below 130 g per lettuce plant) were obtained when the cascade system was used during the early stage of the donor crop, as the nutrient amount, especially nitrogen, was insufficient for the receiving lettuce crop. Additionally, electrical conductivity values became too high (near 3 dS/m) at the end of the donor crop cycle, indicating limitations in maintaining optimal conditions throughout.
Limited or null effectOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeElaboración de compostaje con los residuos orgánicos del comedor para el huerto escolar ecológico
2020Ornela María Muñoz Millet, Antonio Yepes Jiménez · · Spain
A school in Spain implemented composting of organic waste from its canteen for use in an ecological school garden, with support from the AGROA school composting program and the Aguilas City Council. The entire educational community participates, from canteen staff separating waste, to the janitor transporting it, and teachers and students organizing it for compost and using it as fertilizer. This practice serves as a didactic resource for developing environmental attitudes and sustainable habits.
CompostFood educationCommunityOrganic cycleClimate changeCo-designing cities
2020Andrea Baier, Christa Müller · · Germany
This chapter discusses the results of semi-structured face-to-face interviews conducted in 2016 with activists in three urban community gardens in Bremen, Cologne, and Kassel, Germany. The study focused on the relationship between urban projects and municipal administrations. It showed that initiatives taken by grassroots activists to form collaborations with administrative actors are limited, though the traditional role of citizens can be extended in new local partnerships.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsNourishing self-planned socioecological transformations
2020Silvio Cristiano, Marco Auriemma, P Cacciari, Manola Cervesato, Domenico Maffeo, Paola Malgaretto, Francesco Nordio · · Italy
This case study describes an ongoing community-supported agriculture (CSA) project in the urban-rural sprawl between Venice and Treviso, Italy. Farmers and consumers co-design and co-manage food provisioning and crop planning, sharing risks, avoiding food waste, and addressing financial barriers. The project aims to meet community food requirements while addressing economic, environmental, and social aspects, presenting feasible paths for sustainable transition.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleHet natuurlijk kapitaal van de Lutkemeerpolder
2020Jeroen Schütt, Bas Amelung · · Europe
This research, conducted by the Science Shop of Wageningen University and Research, estimated the monetary value of ecosystem services in the Lutkemeerpolder, Amsterdam, which is slated for conversion into a business park. The study identified food production, air purification, recreation, and the effect of greenery on housing prices as key services, valuing them at 1.5 to 8.6 million euros per year. These ecosystem service values were not considered in the original decision-making twenty years ago, leading to a recommendation to reconsider the development plan.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityEconomicsBiodiversityCultivating food or cultivating citizens? On the governance and potential of community gardens in Amsterdam
2020Luca Sára Bródy, Mandy de Wilde · Local Environment · Netherlands (Amsterdam)
Based on a qualitative study of 19 community gardening projects in Amsterdam, this research argues that community gardens function as “controlled space.” Various institutional governance actors, including local government, welfare organizations, green NGOs, and housing associations, exert varied levels of influence and control over the gardens. These relations both impair and enable the civic participation of gardeners, the inclusive potential of gardens, and an alternative, local food provision and distribution.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsVisions of the Urban Green
2020Maria Vasile, Cristina Grasseni · Anthrovision · Italy
This study investigated urban gardening in Turin, Italy, using ethnography, historical analysis, and photography. In post-industrial, multicultural Turin, the hegemonic power of aesthetic assumptions about the urban green illuminated the dialectic of gentrification vis-à-vis socioeconomic and cultural diversity. It highlighted that the homogeneity of an aesthetic regime contrasts with the diverse 'skilled visions' of social actors, leading to restraining effects on participatory governance.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyEcosystem Services of Urban Agriculture: Perceptions of Project Leaders, Stakeholders and the General Public
2020Esther Sanyé‐Mengual, Kathrin Specht, Jan Vávra, Martina Artmann, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto · Sustainability · Italy (Bologna)
This study compared perceptions of urban agriculture (UA) ecosystem services (ESs) among different societal groups in Bologna, Italy, namely UA project leaders, stakeholders, and the general public, with 406 individuals evaluating 25 ESs via a standardized Likert-scale survey. Statistical analysis indicated that the general public and UA stakeholders agreed on the high relevance of socio-cultural ESs, while provisioning ESs were considered less significant. This study reveals a lower perception of provisioning ESs from urban agriculture.
Limited or null effectCommunityBiodiversityPeri-urban agriculturePolicyShoots and leaves: exploring the impacts and fragile sustainability of sustainable place-making projects working with marginalised people
2020Sam Ramsden · Voluntary Sector Review · United Kingdom
This article explored an externally funded charity-led project in a deprived area of the UK, implementing urban agriculture, community gardening, and household energy activities. The project successfully engaged marginalized people, who strongly voiced outcomes including reduced isolation, improved mental health, and increased resilience and self-reliance. Environmental outcomes were less tangible but included improvements to the local environment and reduced energy usage. However, after the funding finished, marginalized participants were vulnerable to outcomes not being sustained in the long term.
Limited or null effectCommunityWelfareHealthEconomicsLegal regulations and the development of German and Polish allotment gardens in the context of the production function
2020Ewa Kacprzak, Barbara Maćkiewicz, Magdalena Szczepańska · Ruch Prawniczy Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny · Germany, Poland
This study compared legal regulations for allotment gardening in Germany and Poland. Through analysis of legal acts, field research, and structured interviews, it was found that some provisions of legal acts in both countries are not strictly adhered to by users. In Poland, unclear provisions regarding crop cultivation have led to the replacement of the farming function by recreational and residential uses.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyAn inter- and transdisciplinary, multiscale and mixed methods pathway to study Smart Agriculture in Italy
2020Rosalia Filippini, Sylvie Lardon, Stefano Corsi · · Italy
This chapter designs an inter- and transdisciplinary, multiscale, and mixed-method framework for analyzing Smart Agriculture (SA) in urban-rural relationships across Italian case studies. It proposes SA as an experimental field for cooperation among decision-makers, civil society, and academia to improve urban-rural links in metropolitan regions. The promotion of peri-urban agriculture and rural-urban links is central to this approach.
Digital agricultureUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agriculturePolicySimplified performance assessment methodology for addressing soil quality of nature-based solutions
2020Ryad Bouzouidja, Béatrice Bechet, Jitka Hanzlíková, Michal Sněhota, Cécile Le Guern, Hervé Capiaux, Liliane Jean‐Soro, Rémy Claverie, Sophie Joimel, Christophe Schwartz, René Guénon, Flóra Szkordilisz, Barnabas Körmöndi, Marjorie Musy, Patrice Cannavo, Thierry Lebeau · Journal of Soils and Sediments · Europe
A simplified methodology for assessing soil quality in nature-based solutions (NBS) was tested in Nantes, Nancy, and Bustehrad, focusing on former market gardening areas (FMG), green roofs (GR), and urban allotment gardens (UAG). While FMG and UAGs showed soil fertility equivalent to cultivated soils, FMG soil quality was significantly impacted by pesticide residues and trace metals from former agricultural practices. Data indicated that 12 of 14 FMG plots were classified as altered or very altered soils regarding molecular biomass.
Organic cycleCommunityWorking Co-operatively for Sustainable and Just Food System Transformation
2020Poppy Nicol, Alice Taherzadeh · Sustainability · United Kingdom (Wales)
This article explores the potential of cooperative working methods to scale out sustainable and just food systems in Wales. Based on interviews with stakeholders in Wales and international case studies, it identifies opportunities and challenges. Findings suggest that cooperative and community-based approaches, including CSA and food hubs, have the potential for sustainable food production and distribution, emphasizing the importance of capacity building and community participation.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsGarden Thinking in Cities of Tomorrow
2020Udo Weilacher · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Europe
This chapter discusses the historical perception of gardens and gardening in urban contexts, noting that from the mid-19th century, ornamental gardens were often questioned by architects and urban planners. Leading 20th-century European landscape architects criticized gardening as neither artistic nor scientific. However, in the 21st century, gardens, particularly urban gardening, have seen a renaissance as a living component of the 'network metropolis', suggesting that the fundamental principles of garden thinking remain relevant.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageAllotment gardening in Poland – new practices and changes in recreational space
2020Justyna Mokras-Grabowska · Miscellanea Geographica · Poland
Allotment gardening (AGs) in Europe, including Poland, is a tradition stemming from rapid urban industrialization, now emphasizing community, social, ecological, creative, and entertainment functions beyond economic and recreational roles. The Polish Allotment Association undertakes numerous initiatives, such as the "Open Social Programme of Allotment Gardens Development," to protect AGs from liquidation and promote their use for public and non-public purposes. This program redefines the perception of AGs in Poland and contributes to their infrastructural development.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsBiodiversityNew School maintains an established garden
2020Lexi Earl, Pat Thomson · · United Kingdom (midlands in England)
This chapter examines a school garden with farm elements at a primary school in a deprived market town in the midlands of England, established as part of an 'eco-school' initiative driven by the former head teacher. The garden included various spaces like a farm, raised beds, a pond, and a herb garden, used for science learning and natural exploration. However, the study notes that the impetus for outdoor learning diminished after the initiating head teacher departed, as school priorities shifted due to other pressures.
Governance failureFood educationCommunityBiodiversityStudy of the Improvement on Energy Efficiency for a Building in the Mediterranean Area by the Installation of a Green Roof System
2020Elisa Peñalvo López, Francisco Javier Cárcel Carrasco, David Alfonso-Solar, Iván Valencia-Salazar, Elías Hurtado-Pérez · Energies · Spain
This paper investigated the effect of a green roof on a public building's energy consumption in a Mediterranean location in Spain through experimental campaigns. Results showed a substantial 30% improvement in cooling energy demand for a standard summer day and a 15% reduction in heating energy demand for a winter day. Annual simulation analysis, calibrated with experimental data, indicated an overall 19% improvement in energy efficiency but also a 6% increase in peak power during winter.
Climate changeBiodiversityFrom Community Garden to Community Action: Volunteering with Belville Community Garden to address the COVID-19 Crisis
2020John H. McKendrick, Jed Graham · ResearchOnline · United Kingdom
This report presents the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit's (SPIRU) review of the volunteer work undertaken with Belville Community Garden Trust during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 (mid-March onwards).
CommunityWelfareA Complete Survey of Glycoalkaloids Using LC-FTICR-MS and IRMPD in a Commercial Variety and a Local Landrace of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and their Anticholinesterase and Antioxidant Activities
2019Lelario F., De Maria S., Rivelli A.R., Russo D., Milella L., Bufo S.A., Scrano L. · Toxins 11(4):230 · Italy
Identified 19 glycoalkaloids in fruits of commercial eggplant 'Mirabella' and local landrace 'Melanzana Bianca di Senise' via LC-FTICR-MS/IRMPD, assessing anticholinesterase and antioxidant activities. Documents bioactive phytochemistry of a traditional eggplant landrace.
Heirloom & landraceBiodiversityHealthA systems approach reveals urban pollinator hotspots and conservation opportunities
2019Baldock K.C.R., Goddard M.A., Hicks D.M., Kunin W.E., Mitschunas N., Morse H., Osgathorpe L.M., Potts S.G., Robertson K.M., Scott A.V., Staniczenko P.P.A., Stone G.N., Vaughan I.P., Memmott J. · Nature Ecology & Evolution, 3(3):363-373 · United Kingdom
A large, well-replicated study of floral resources and pollinators across 360 sites in four British cities, comparing pollinator abundance among urban land uses. It shows that residential gardens, allotments and community gardens are urban pollinator hotspots, demonstrating that citizen-tended plots are central to urban biodiversity conservation, and models the benefit of interventions such as adding flowerbeds.
PollinatorsBiodiversityCommunityPolicyCity adjustments as the main factor of success of urban and peri-urban farms—empirical evidence from the Ruhr metropolis
2019· NJAS: Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences · Germany (Ruhr)
Empirical study of urban and peri-urban farms in Germany's Ruhr metropolis, finding that farms' adjustments to urban conditions—diversification and multifunctional business models—are the main factor in their economic success.
EconomicsPolicyInstitutions for Collective Gardening: A Comparative Analysis of 51 Urban Community Gardens in Anglophone and German-Speaking Countries
2019· International Journal of the Commons · Germany (German-speaking countries)
A comparative institutional analysis of 51 urban community gardens across Anglophone and German-speaking countries, examining the rules and arrangements that sustain collective gardening.
CommunityPolicyUrban Gardening in Germany: Cultivating a Sustainable Lifestyle for the Societal Transition to a Bioeconomy
2019· Sustainability · Germany
Surveyed urban gardening projects across Germany, finding that community spirit, neighbourhood and solidarity are central values in the majority of projects contributing to a sustainable lifestyle.
CommunityPolicyUrban Commons for the Edible City—First Insights for Future Sustainable Urban Food Systems from Berlin, Germany
2019· Sustainability · Germany (Berlin)
Examines urban commons for the edible city, offering first insights for future sustainable urban food systems based on Berlin.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityUrban food policies in German city regions: An overview of key players and policy instruments
2019Doernberg A., Horn P., Zasada I., Piorr A. · Food Policy · Germany
Analyzes key actors and policy instruments in urban food policy across German city regions, finding integrated food strategies still rare and informational/procurement instruments most common.
PolicyCommunityEconomics