Research & reports

Any Setianingrum, Randhy Nugroho, Lily Deviastri, Intan Tri Annisa, Ariel Nian Gani, Muhammad Rofi'i, Ely Nurhayati, Ade Hilman Juhaeni, Supartoto Supartoto · Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia

A model was formulated to increase the competitiveness of YARSI University's fostered partners (CheekMe Mie Sehat, Kuliner Warteg Kalkul Bahari, and Kelompok Tani Mustika community) who faced business stagnation. Activities, including training and non-training, were conducted from November to December 2024. Based on pre-test and post-test analysis, participation in these activities and interventions led to an increase in the competitiveness of the fostered partners.

Styo Budi Utomo, Dean, Syifa, Nurul · Jurnal ABDIMAS Tri Dharma Manajemen · Indonesia

This research aimed to formulate an effective strategy for building the economic independence of the community in Pamulang Timur Village, Indonesia. A participatory method and SWOT analysis were used to identify local potential, problems, and solutions. The results showed that Pamulang Timur Village has several economic potentials, including the trade sector, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and urban agriculture.

Thi Tuyet To, Thi Ngoc Anh Tran · Advances in Modern Agriculture · Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City)

This review paper discussed leveraging and combining resources for sustainable urban agriculture development in major Vietnamese cities, such as Ho Chi Minh City. It synthesized, analyzed, and evaluated the individual effects and collaborative interactions of diverse resources with urban development, presenting the main benefits and challenges in optimizing resource utilization. Strategies for establishing a sustainable, adaptable, and efficient urban agricultural system were also suggested.

Sudan Prasad Uprety, Tobin Hindle · Himalayan Biodiversity · Nepal

A study of 245 respondents from Chitwan, Dhading, and Rasuwa districts in Nepal identified major drivers of food system changes. These drivers included a lack of agricultural labor, insufficient government support, crop damage by wildlife, land abandonment, and shifts in occupation. Additionally, increased outmigration from rural to urban areas, climate change, and improved access to markets and processed foods were noted as significant factors influencing food systems in these districts.

Natania Nysa Pertiwi, Nany Yuliastuti · Ruang · Indonesia

This quantitative study assessed the performance of agrotourism activities in Kampung Jambu Kristal, Semarang City, Indonesia, using questionnaires, field observations, and document analysis from 33 agrotourism managers. While overall performance was rated "fairly good" (total score 1616), infrastructure (score 1.74) and community economic benefits (score 1.98) were found to be in the "poor" category. Improvements are needed in physical aspects and economic benefits to enhance sustainability and community welfare.

Prof. Dr. Rohit Gawade · INTERANTIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT · India

To address the lack of transparency and financial losses for farmers in Indian agricultural markets, a web-based E-Mandi system was proposed to directly connect farmers with retailers and customers. This system enables real-time vegetable listings, fair pricing, and secure transactions, ensuring improved income for farmers. E-Mandi also offers role-based access for farmers, admins, and buyers, making it suitable for both rural and urban agricultural ecosystems.

Jairo Guzman-Molina, Ramoudane Orou Sannou, Serena Caucci · Journal of Urban Management · Global

This review explores the socioecological drivers and challenges of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture (UPA) using multiple framework assessments: sustainability, resilience, cultural ecosystem services, and Nexus, following PRISMA guidelines. Global case studies demonstrated practical UPA applications, and a SWOT analysis categorized indicators from the four frameworks. Findings underscored the vital role of advanced technology, knowledge sharing, and resource management in UPA's performance, and that UPA enhances education, urban aesthetics, and health. Challenges included a lack of materials, disempowerment, inadequate institutional support, and resource mismanagement leading to food contamination in cases like Kampala.

Tatiane Sueli Coutinho · Revista Ciência em Extensão · Brazil

The Ervaterapia project conducted 14 workshops (10 at IFC, 4 with CRAS) in Brazil, focusing on producing handmade soaps with medicinal herbs from a community garden. These 3-hour workshops aimed to raise awareness about medicinal herbs as a health promotion alternative to allopathic medicines and to foster an alternative income source through natural soap sales. The project successfully brought the community and the educational institution closer, promoting regional social and economic development.

Yujun Wei, Xiaokun Wei, Zhonghua Ye, Jie Fan · Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · Global

This study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the intersection between Food Security and Urbanization (FSU) research. Using statistical, co-word, and social network analysis, it mapped the intellectual landscape and global collaboration networks. Findings revealed dominant contributions from the United States and China, and a key observation was the disconnect between urbanization and food security studies, underscoring the need for a more integrated approach. The study also showed that urbanization's impact on food security differs across developed and developing countries.

Siti Hajar, Siti Via Syahrani Putri, Hanif Fatihah Tsari, Muhammad Iqbal, Arjuna Arjuna, Nur Saudah Al Arifa D · Prosiding Seminar Nasional Pembangunan dan Pendidikan Vokasi Pertanian · Indonesia

This study analyzed the empowerment strategies of the Surya Hijau Farmer Group in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using SWOT analysis. The group, which practices urban farming with vertical planting, demonstrated strong internal cooperation but faced challenges including caterpillar pest attacks, difficulty obtaining quality growing media, and water scarcity. A critical finding was that the group's income was affected by fluctuating harvest prices, posing a significant threat to their economic viability.

Muhammad Hasan, Tuti Supatminingsih, Thamrin Tahir, Feliks Arfid Guampe, Andrian Dolfriandra Huruta, Carol Yirong Lu · Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity · Global

This qualitative case study, using in-depth interviews with urban agricultural SMEs, explored entrepreneurial literacy based on sustainable agricultural knowledge. It investigated the application of this knowledge in entrepreneurial activities within the agricultural sector, using a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) investigation.

Lídia Cabral, Ronald Ranta, Suleyman M. Demi, Ísis Domingues, Julian May, Claire Néel, Grace Nkomo, Luciana Marques Vieira, Marie Walser · · Global

An international research collaboration examined grass-roots food provisioning innovations in five urban locations across the UK, Canada, France, Brazil, and South Africa. These initiatives, which include social supermarkets and school gardens, faced challenges such as dependence on surplus food, logistical problems, funding limitations, and the need for ongoing volunteer support. The study found that these innovations struggle with economic viability due to funding and volunteer reliance.

Ngetleh Ngesang, Marietta Yilen · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science · Cameroon (Bamenda)

This study investigated the contributions of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) innovations to resource use efficiency (RUE) in Bamenda City, Cameroon. Data was collected from 402 UPA farmers in Bamenda City using questionnaires, and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method was employed. Empirical findings showed that the practice of innovative UPA has an overall positive and significant effect on RUE, with the effect being higher when farmers use inorganic rather than organic fertilizers.

Etefa Tilahun Ashine · International Journal of Agricultural Economics · Ethiopia

This review examines the challenges and opportunities of urban agriculture in Ethiopia, where urbanization and living costs are rising. Key challenges include limited access to land, irrigation water, and financial institutions, as well as high prices for fertilizers and pesticides, and climate variability affecting crop yields. Opportunities include strong market demand for products, employment creation for youth and women, and additional income generation for producers. The study concludes that stronger policy support and investment are needed to enhance urban agriculture's contribution.

Dailey Fischer, Roberta Romano, Mariana Monteiro Kugler Batista, Mario Prokopiuk, Valério Alécio Turnes, Carlos Alberto Cioce Sampaio · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (Curitiba)

An exploratory survey (N=401, n=144) was conducted to assess food waste patterns among consumers involved in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives in the Central Urban Core of Curitiba, Brazil. The results showed that participation in CSAs does not significantly influence consumer behavior regarding food waste. This indicates a need for sustainable consumption education and context-specific solutions.

Victória Pansani Silveira Maia, Sílvia Aparecida Mikami Gonçalves Pina · Periódico Técnico e Científico Cidades Verdes · Global

This case study analyzed urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) experiences in India (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam) and an agroforestry system in Campinas, Brazil, using literature review, document analysis, and participant observation. The study identified common obstacles to agroecological practices, including land tenure insecurity, real estate pressures, lack of specific public policies, and uneven community engagement. It also highlighted potentialities such as care networks and food resilience, emphasizing the need for institutional support and public policies.

Jayne M. Rogerson · Modern Geográfia · South Africa (Johannesburg)

This article examines the organization and current state of rooftop agriculture in Johannesburg, South Africa, drawing on existing material. Johannesburg hosts the largest cluster of rooftop farms, primarily established for social considerations, with fewer projects for commercial reasons or business image enhancement. The study investigates the challenges confronting these rooftop farming projects.

Davit Markosyan, Vardan Aleksanyan, Sargis Gevorgyan · AgriScience and Technology · Armenia

This study investigated the relationship between food security and waste management in Armenia's agri-food system, analyzing data from 2005 to 2022. Findings indicate that increased imports, use, and exports of food commodities are linked to higher food loss. Recommendations include improving infrastructure for food imports, enhancing supply chain efficiency, investing in better storage, and applying circular economy principles like community-supported agriculture (CSA) to reduce waste.

Sutiyono Sutiyono, Luluk Edahwati, Atika Andini · JURNAL AKADEMIK PENGABDIAN MASYARAKAT · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A community service program in Medokan Ayu, Surabaya, Indonesia, developed technology for producing organic soap from used cooking oil and local herbal extracts for the Kosagrha Lestari Farmers Group. Training and mentoring enabled the group to produce good quality, safe soap, which reduced environmental pollution and enhanced their entrepreneurial skills.

Yusuf Kamaluddeen Ibrahim, Zabawi Abdul Ghani, Rasheed Osuolale Oladosu, O. D. Idris,, Tamwesigire Caleb · Journal of Innovative Research · Nigeria (Bauchi)

In Bauchi metropolis, Nigeria, urban farming practices and constraints were investigated among 285 urban farmers. Findings revealed that most farmers do not own land, instead borrowing or renting it. The major constraints to urban agriculture were reported as lack of tenure security, limited land area, and poor access to microcredit facilities.

Nur Muttaqien Zuhri, Andwiani Sinarasri, Firdaus Firdaus, Ari Dwi Astono, Ali Khamdi, Ida Kristiana, Dina Fadhilatun Niswah, Indra Perdana · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Indonesia (Semarang)

This study analyzed the entrepreneurial traits of millennial farmers and the effectiveness of urban agriculture in Semarang City, Indonesia. Eighty-six millennial farmers from urban agriculture in Mijen District were randomly sampled, with entrepreneurial characteristics assessed using a Likert scale and urban agriculture effectiveness measured by income and profit. Millennial farmers' entrepreneurial traits were significant, scoring 86%, and urban agriculture in Semarang City generated an average income of IDR 4,861,701 and a profit of IDR 3,481,433 during the 2023 planting season. A positive correlation was found between farmers' entrepreneurial skills and urban agriculture performance.

Dodi Wirawan Irawanto, Adi Setiawan, Noorsy Zidna Nabiela · RESONA Jurnal Ilmiah Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia

This community service activity in a village in Malang Regency, Indonesia, aimed to enhance the community's financial planning and digital marketing skills, and to provide understanding and experience in urban farming methods. Using lectures, training, and mentoring, the activity successfully improved participants' abilities in urban farming cultivation.

S. Pickles, Anita Stefoska‐Needham, Karen Charlton · Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems · Global

This scoping review was undertaken to identify factors affecting the economic sustainability and associated viability of soil-based commercial farms located in urban and peri-urban settings within OECD member countries. Following the PRISMA ScR methodology, 170 eligible articles were identified from four scientific databases. This review found that many soil-based urban farms in OECD countries struggle to achieve economic sustainability or organizational viability.

Loan Le, Bui Phuong Nhung · Journal of Ecosystem Science and Eco-Governance · Vietnam (Hanoi)

This research assessed the willingness of 115 residents in Dang Xa Urban Area, Hanoi, Vietnam, to pay for smartphone-based plant care advisory services. Employing the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) combined with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study found that residents' awareness of these services is still quite limited. The average willingness to pay (WTP) was approximately 37.83 thousand VND/month, with service pricing, gender, household income, the number of people over 60 years old in the household, and occupation identified as influencing factors.

Junyi Hua, H. Allen Klaiber, Douglas H. Wrenn · Journal of Environmental Quality · United States (Chesapeake Bay)

This study developed a micro-level Ricardian model to assess how long-run climate patterns affect agricultural land values across the urban-rural gradient in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Analysis using an 8-km gridded dataset combining farmland prices, high-resolution climate data, and urban land cover showed that seasonal temperature and precipitation nonlinearly affect land values, and urbanization significantly moderates precipitation effects. A climate simulation suggested heterogeneous impacts across urban grids.