Research & reports

YUKUN, HE, HE, YUZHONG, Kiyoyama, Yohei, Ishida, Shigeyuki, Hama-cha Co-Creation Team · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Japan (Kyoto)

This paper documents a 2024–2025 field practice concerning Hama-cha, a traditional tencha in Kyoto, which faces threats from labor aging and persistent operational difficulties. Researchers encountered challenges in accessing tacit knowledge and identifying clear solutions for labor shortages, despite both farmers and researchers recognizing the problem. The study highlights the ongoing operational difficulties and lack of clear solutions for the economic viability of this traditional urban agriculture practice.

Vázquez-García, Amparo, Elizondo, Cecilia · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · Mexico

Home gardens in San Felipe Ecatepec, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexico, are systems with diverse plant species and areas ranging from 600m² to 2500m². This study aimed to identify forms of resistance against neoliberal policies and urban sprawl, finding that home gardens provide healthy, fresh food, create useful spaces, and preserve agrobiodiversity. These gardens are considered spaces of resistance based on traditional knowledge, helping to bolster food sovereignty. The research was conducted during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anditya Gilang Rizky Pradana, Muhammad Fariz Yoga Pranata, Bela Tri Wijayanti, Febry Nurhidayati, Aulia Adillah, Dewi Nawang Suprihatin, Dadi Suryadi, Dimar Hantari, Rehino Yanu Seto · Adi Widya Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Sukoharjo)

This community service program in Cemani Village, Grogol, Sukoharjo, aimed to empower women through Women Farmers Groups (KWT) and PKK activists, focusing on food security via urban farming. Activities included socializing superior seed planting, training in horticulture cultivation techniques, and distributing seeds. The program also introduced agrotourism to increase income through harvests and educational tourism. Results showed an increased understanding of sustainable cultivation techniques, but program sustainability requires further training, infrastructure development, routine monitoring, and collaboration among village government, universities, and BUMDes.

Abella Alemany, Agèric, Casals Missio, Joan, Macarulla Martí, Marcel, Pintó Espín, Laia, González Atero, Ramiro, Arcas, Verónica, Gassó Domingo, Santiago, Gabarrell Durany, Xavier · UPCommons institutional repository (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) · Global

Urban agriculture is gaining prominence globally for promoting environmental sustainability, food security, and social cohesion in cities. While urban cultivation is not new, a recent innovative approach involves integrating agriculture into urban infrastructure, particularly utilizing building rooftops as underutilized spaces with significant potential.

Amandita 'Ainur Rohmah, Falik Wardana, A. Riyan Rahman Hakiki, Sidharta Adyatma · PAKIS (Publikasi Berkala Pendidikan Ilmu Sosial) · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)

A qualitative approach using a literature review was employed to identify the role and contribution of urban agriculture in Yogyakarta City and analyze innovations and social strategies for achieving food stability. The literature review indicates successful implementation of urban agriculture in Yogyakarta City through two flagship programs, Kampung Sayur and Lele Cendol, and that various community innovations allow for the development of an integrated urban farming system.

Blessing Nyamasoka‐Magonziwa, Esther Simango, Hatirarami Nezomba · Frontiers in Agronomy · Zimbabwe (Chitungwiza)

This study evaluated climate-smart crop production practices by urban farmers in Chitungwiza District, Zimbabwe, and their effects on household diets. Mixed methods research, including focus group discussions with four farmer groups and interviews with 107 households in 2022, classified only 23% of farmers as climate-smart. While climate-smart crop production positively influenced household diets, with climate-smart households having a significantly higher Household Dietary Diversity Score (3.3 vs. 2.9; p=0.02), there were no significant differences in maize yield between climate-smart and non-climate-smart farmers (2.10 t/ha vs. 2.27 t/ha, respectively, in the 2020/2021 season).

S. GopalaSundara Raj, Halavath Tharunkumar, R. P. Srivastava, Mukesh Kumar Singh, Manindra Nath Upadhyay · Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology · Global

This study explores the economic and environmental benefits of green cultivation, encompassing organic farming, community-supported agriculture, and sustainable land use. Economically, it offers increased profitability, improved market opportunities, and enhanced food security, while environmentally, it supports biodiversity, improves soil health, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Case studies from Spain and Egypt demonstrate the effectiveness of these sustainable farming methods.

Jelena Salmi, Anna Krzywoszynska · Environmental Science & Policy · Finland

A discourse analysis of 103 governance and grey literature documents in Finland examined the politics of soil biodiversity indicators. The study found that eDNA is the preferred scientific basis for soil biodiversity governance in Finland due to alignment between scientific and policy groups. However, land workers' organizations criticize eDNA methods, arguing they risk obscuring local specificity and creating environmental and social injustice, potentially alienating land management groups.

Kurnia Dewi, Yusuf Hariyoko, Hasan Ismail · Presidensial · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A qualitative descriptive study investigated stakeholder synergy in urban farming programs in Surabaya, Indonesia. Data was collected through interviews, documentation, and observation involving the DKPP, agricultural extension officers, farmer groups, and the local community. Strong commitment, competence, awareness, and continuity were identified as driving factors for successful implementation, but challenges include declining active farmer groups and limited facilities.

Nurul Chairiyah, Nur Indah Mansyur, Eko Harry Pudjiwati, Nurjannah Nurjannah, Arbain Arbain · ABDINE Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia

This report describes a community service program conducted in Tarakan City, Indonesia, in January 2025, that trained women in hydroponic cultivation (Nutrient Film Technique) of lettuce and mustard greens (sawi) to address food-land loss from urbanization and population growth. Twenty women from the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) group participated, and their average technical-skill score rose by 38 points. Harvested produce was used 50% for household consumption, 30% sold, and 20% shared with neighbors, with economic effects of roughly Rp300,000 per month in household expenditure savings and Rp200,000 per month in additional income.

Jorge Palmero-Barrachina, Petr Blažek, Santiago Sabaté, Teresa Sauras‐Yera, Samuel Allasia-Grau, Daniel Nadal‐Sala, Sven Kallen, Tiago de Santana, Emil Cienciala · Frontiers in Forests and Global Change · Europe

This study presents a methodology for estimating potential biomass and carbon accumulation over a 40-year timespan for European afforestation activities, developed for the Life Terra project (LIFE19 CCM/NL/001200). It synthesized data from allometric equations, yield tables, national forest inventories, and national greenhouse gas inventory reports across four European biogeographic regions — Alpine, Atlantic, Continental, and Mediterranean — with the analysis focused mainly on timber plantations due to data availability and reliability constraints. Initial planting densities varied substantially across regions (1,869-7,702 trees/ha) and declined exponentially over time; by year 40, individual tree biomass estimates ranged from 0.08 to 0.20 t/tree with survival rates of 22.0-49.7%, giving stand-level biomass estimates of 54.7-232.6 t/ha. The estimates generally aligned with country-specific literature and IPCC default values but showed considerable site-to-site variation, and the study notes remaining uncertainties related to survival/mortality rates and climate change impacts.

Ganda Adoum Malato, Nguinambaye Mberdoum Memti, Alhadj Markhous Nazal, TAMTIAL Ngariban, Touroumgaye Goalbaye · Journal of Experimental Agriculture International · Africa

A field survey of 121 randomly selected market gardeners in the city of Sarh, Chad, characterized market gardening practices there, covering grower profiles, farm characteristics, cultivation practices and vegetable products. Most gardeners were married men (70.25% married, 86.78% men) with an average age of 31, only 11.57% illiterate, farming plots averaging 333 m² (range 42-1,492 m²), 56.20% of which were inherited; 66.67% irrigated with river water, 83.5% used organic fertilizer and 82.64% used chemical fertilizer, 53.72% applied pesticides while 46.28% used biopesticides, and leafy vegetables made up 45% of cultivated products.

Human Sciences Research Council · Figshare · South Africa

A 2025 study from South Africa's Western Cape used propensity score matching on data from 220 households — those participating in Department of Agriculture-funded backyard garden projects plus a control group — to assess urban agriculture's contribution to household food security. Households engaged in urban agriculture benefited from greater dietary diversity and income from selling produce, but the study found no significant positive contribution of urban agriculture to food security.

Caroline Pacífico de Assis, André Manoel Correia dos Santos, Andrea Bittencourt de Santana Teixeira · OBSERVATÓRIO DE LA ECONOMÍA LATINOAMERICANA · Brazil (São Paulo)

A quali-quantitative online survey of 136 residents of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, assessed demographic profile, information sources, consumption forms, and perceptions of the nutritional value, functionality, and toxicological risk of edible flowers from unconventional food plants (PANC), including nasturtium, marigold, sunflower, and butterfly pea (clitoria). Results showed only partial knowledge and restricted consumption, with barriers related to lack of information, limited access, and cultural unfamiliarity; hibiscus and sunflower were the most recognized species, while nasturtium and clitoria had low visibility despite their bioactive compounds and nutritional value. Most participants expressed willingness to consume and promote the use of these flowers.

Ida Ayu Kartika Maharani, Putu Widiadnyana, Ni Putu Dilia Dewi · WIDYABHAKTI Jurnal Ilmiah Populer · Indonesia

A community service program among members of the GBI Swiss Ministry congregation in Denpasar, Indonesia, addressed limited land availability and a lack of knowledge of urban farming technology through training in Budikdamber, a simple aquaponics-based system for cultivating catfish in buckets. The program proceeded through needs assessment, technical outreach, cultivation training, and distribution of Budikdamber kits equipped with automatic feeders and digital guide posters, and it produced high participant enthusiasm and improved practical understanding of seed and seedling management and integrated food production systems.

Nicole Paganini · · Africa

Drawing on critical theorists including Fanon and Mbembe, the chapter examines how crises expose systemic inequalities and power imbalances rooted in colonial legacies, and how gardening becomes a means of agency, resistance, and the restoration of dignity in response to food injustice, through four African city case studies: Cape Town's land crisis, Maputo's post-war hunger crisis, Nairobi's COVID-19 crisis, and Ouagadougou's migration crisis. Noting that women are globally the primary actors in farming and food-related activities, it treats the question of women and land tenure as relevant, examining urban agriculture through a decolonial lens and framing crisis gardening as both a means of sustenance and a catalyst for community resilience and social cohesion in times of turmoil.

Cristiane Cruz Barros, Luciano Pires de Andrade, Horasa Maria Lima da Silva Andrade · Vivências · Brazil

Families participating in the Integrated Community Gardens Project near the Pernambuco Supply and Logistics Center (CEASA/PE) in Brazil were studied in a case study assessing the impact of urban agriculture on food and nutrition security (SAN) and eating behavior. Secondary data and primary data from semi-structured interviews were collected across 8 sections ('alcas') of the project, and community gardens were found effective at promoting and securing the principles of food and nutrition security and strengthening healthy eating habits among participants.

Jasna Grabić, Milica Vranešević, Pavel Benka, Srđan Šeremešić, M. Meseldzija · Sustainability · Europe

In Vojvodina Province, northern Serbia — a rural region where 70% of the territory has been converted to arable land — researchers used QGIS to map areas suitable for implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS), drawing on CORINE Land Cover, OpenStreetMap, data from the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province, and the EUNIS platform. The area suitable for NbS totaled 1,183,228 ha, or 55.74% of the province, with organic and regenerative agriculture projected to increase by up to 5%. Grazing was identified and mapped as a desirable grassland management option, potentially practicable on nearly 10% of the territory.

N H Alias, Nor Hafizah Mohamed Harith, Thenmolli Vadeveloo · Journal of Administrative Science · Malaysia

This qualitative study used thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 10 residents of low-income neighborhoods in Selangor, Malaysia, to examine food access and the sustainability of food security. Five themes emerged: economic constraints, geographical and infrastructure barriers, food price and market fluctuation, limited involvement in urban agriculture, and coping strategies for food insecurity. Financial difficulty was found to be the most significant barrier to food access, forcing households toward less healthy but more affordable food, and while households' coping strategies were resourceful, they were unsustainable, underscoring the need for long-term policy intervention.

Meistian Herizon, Didi Ardiansyah, Radeni Ilyan Putra, Reflis Reflis, Satria Putra Utama · ABDISOSHUM Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bidang Sosial dan Humaniora · Indonesia

Using a qualitative literature review, this paper examines how contemporary homesteading — characterized by self-sufficient food production, efficient resource management and sustainable living practices — can function as a framework for community service activities in Indonesia. It finds that homesteading contributes to household economic resilience, physical and mental health, environmental conservation and stronger social networks, but also faces implementation obstacles including limited land availability, lack of technical skills, regulatory constraints and social resistance.

Mustangin Mustangin, Aisyah Trees Sandy, Norhidayat Norhidayat, Fahrul Hidayat, Anita Febriyani, Andin Dwi Kinanti · Darma Diksani Jurnal Pengabdian Ilmu Pendidikan Sosial dan Humaniora · Indonesia

This community outreach program at PKBM Bunda, a non-formal education center in Samarinda, Indonesia, introduced basic aquaponics concepts to learners in an equivalency education program. Conducted in three stages — preparation, implementation and evaluation — the implementation stage combined icebreaking, lecture, video materials, group discussion and Q&A, with pre- and post-tests measuring change in understanding. The evaluation found that participants' understanding of aquaponics concepts improved, indicating that the learning methods used were effective for building foundational knowledge.

Temi Indriati Miranda, Nurlia Listiani, Nugroho Purwono, Dwiyanti Kusumaningrum, Nirma Yossa, Diah Setiari Suhodo · Journal of Urban Management · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This study examines how informal actors along Jakarta's East Flood Canal (KBT), Indonesia, perceive and adapt to unclear governance conditions, based on two months of ethnographic fieldwork including 15 semi-structured interviews and field observations. It finds that informal practices such as street vending and urban farming are crucial to livelihoods and the urban ecosystem, creating green space, supporting food security and strengthening local identity, but that these actors constantly face eviction threats and exclusion from government support and protection due to inconsistent law enforcement, while still showing resilience through adaptive strategies and social innovation such as optimizing spatial use and building community networks.

Ni Nyoman Serma Adi, Aditya Wirayudha, Dini Layali Apriliani, Elisa Kurnia Putri, Fitri Khaerunnisa, Ni Luh Putu Susi Ardiningsih, Nige Auliya Marga Utami, Putri Ayu, Ade Irma Cahyani, Dyah Rahayu · Suluh Pendidikan · Indonesia

An applied study using a SMART-based participatory training design examined urban farming as a way to improve food security in Desa Dauh Peken, Indonesia, a densely populated village with limited farmland vulnerable to food price fluctuations and supply disruption. Hands-on participatory training—covering cultivation on limited land, environmentally friendly farming methods, and implementation support—was delivered to 21 members of the village's Women Farmers Group (KWT). In evaluation, 61.9% of respondents reported satisfaction with the educational outcomes, and 71.4% reported the training achieved its food-security goal and had a strong environmental/sustainability impact.

V J Valli Sri · International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology · Japan

A paper proposes a soilless rooftop urban farming model for Japan, a space-constrained country, using climate-resilient Ragi (finger millet) and Pearl Millet grown in grow bags, combined with rainwater harvesting, QR-code traceability, and biofortified microgreens. The model incorporates recent epigenetic findings linking environmental stress to heritable gene expression to improve stress tolerance without genetic modification, and is described as youth-friendly, scalable, and aligned with organic farming principles.

Fernanda Tomiello, Sidney Gonçalves Vieira · Ciência Geográfica · Brazil

A Brazilian paper draws on Henri Lefebvre's ideas about the use and appropriation of space to examine the tension between domination, embodied in private property, and appropriation oriented toward collective, just use. Arguing for overcoming constraints that limit the appropriation of space and prioritizing human needs over market logic, the study analyzes the deterioration of green areas in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, finding that the city's Green Area Index (IAV) falls below the recommended level, and proposes practices such as urban agriculture as alternatives that challenge capitalist logic and promote the appropriation of space as a right for all.