Research & reports

Charleen Kepner · Anthós · Global

This essay analyzes case studies and academic research to explore urban agriculture and community gardens as sources of education and food production. It examines previous research showing that small-scale efforts can make lasting impacts in communities and contributes to discussions on alternatives to current farming practices. The essay suggests that policymakers and urban planners should support and expand community gardens as a feasible food production strategy.

Christine Aubry, Nicolas Rouget, Giulia Giacchè, Joëlle Salomon Cavin · Territoire en mouvement · Global

At the IGU Congress in Paris in July 2022, two parallel sessions were held on urban agriculture. One was titled "Urban agriculture in the South and North: shaping practices and generating the urban fabric," and the other was "Towards an agrarisation of the city? The integration of agricultural practices into the generation of neighbourhoods." For both sessions, urban agriculture (UA) was designated according to a specific definition.

Arild Eriksen, Deni Ruggeri, Esben Slaatrem Titland · ˜The œGeojournal library · Norway (Oslo)

This essay discusses the motivations for co-creating urban agriculture in public spaces from the perspective of an architect and urban farmer/beekeeper practicing bottom-up, participatory design in Oslo. It critiques the current aesthetics of impermanence and temporality in urban agriculture and questions the idea that the joy and freedom it brings should be enhanced by future development and policy. The essay presents a rich collection of stories about regeneration, change, and collective action and cultivation, rather than a replicable model.

Ioanneta Dimouli, Dimitra Koumparou, Spyros K. Golfínopoulos · Geographies · Greece (Acharnes)

This case study in Acharnes, Greece, examined a local initiative that transforms schoolyards into community gardens, involving teachers, pupils, parents, grandparents, and neighbors. The research collected data from 85 participants, including parents, guardians, and school staff, using a questionnaire to explore their perceptions, with a focus on interactions with non-human beings like pollinators. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and Kendall’s tau correlation, and the survey results revealed that these new urban green areas were "embraced" by both the school and the local community.

Godwin K. Naazie, Isaac Agyemang, Anthony Mwinilanaa Tampah-Naah · Discover Sustainability · Ghana (Wa)

This study investigated the characteristics of urban agriculture and farmers' climate change adaptation in Wa township, Ghana. Mixed methods, including surveys of 362 urban households and 12 key informant interviews, were employed. Urban agriculture was found to be characterized by the production of animals like chickens, sheep, and goats, and crops such as maize, yam, beans, cabbage, and pumpkin, with land acquired through purchase or from relatives and friends. A strong relationship between residential class and urban farming type, and a moderate relationship between residential class and land acquisition type, were observed.

Szilvia Nyers · Szociális Szemle · Hungary

The Budapest Bike Maffia, a grassroots initiative in Hungary's capital, uses social gardening as a tool to foster sustainable relationships between vulnerable groups and their environment. This initiative aims to rebuild social relations, promote economic well-being, and encourage adaptation to environmental challenges within an urban context. Through urban agriculture, they cultivate trust and a network of relationships among society members.

Yannick Useni Sikuzani, Bernard Kisangani Kalonda, Médard Mpanda Mukenza, Jonas Yona Mleci, Alex Mpibwe Kalenga, François Malaisse, Jan Bogaert · Ecologies · DR Congo (Lubumbashi)

This study analyzed the spatial structure, plant diversity, propagation strategies, and ecological functions of domestic gardens across three distinct neighborhoods—planned, unplanned, and residential—in Lubumbashi, DR Congo. The study identified 232 taxa across 68 families, with exotic species predominating in all neighborhoods (80%), especially in unplanned areas (82.25%). This dominance of exotic species highlights a potential for ecological imbalances and emphasizes the strong human influence on domestic gardens in Lubumbashi.

С. С. Волков, Mihail Tarantin · Moscow Economic Journal · Russia (Perm)

This study retrospectively analyzed the formation of the microdistrict system in Perm, Russia. The analysis examined each microdistrict using indicators such as the year of incorporation into city limits, historical development prerequisites, and current status within the city structure. The study resulted in the construction of a map of Perm microdistricts in their conditional historical boundaries and an analysis of spatial and temporal transformations of the urban structure.

Juan Camilo Fontalvo-Buelvas, María Teresa Pulido Silva, Miguel Ángel Escalona Aguilar · Bitácora Urbano Territorial · Global

A bibliographic review identified that the main deficiencies in urban agriculture are inadequate management practices, a lack of organization, and absent or inefficient public policies. The study suggests that agroecology as a management system, policies for land access and sustainable financing, and dissemination processes are key leverage points for driving urban agriculture towards sustainability.

Irada Ismayilova, Sabine Timpf · AGILE GIScience Series · Global

Allotment gardens, a type of Urban Green Space (UGS), offer environmental, social, and health benefits but are often not recognized as a distinct category in land use maps due to their specific characteristics. This research proposes an identification approach utilizing semantic features such as the presence, density, and height of garden huts, proximity to water bodies and railroads, and the presence of pathways. The three-step workflow, combining a Random Forest classifier, hut extraction, and density-based clustering, accurately identified 78% of allotments in Augsburg and 88% in Wuerzburg.

Diana Carolina Martínez Quiroga, Juan Carlos Barrientos Fuentes, Cristian Fernando Camargo Muñoz · Agronomía Colombiana · Colombia (Bogotá)

This research identified and analyzed determinants of urban agricultural product commercialization, using the Mhuysqa indigenous community of Bosa, Bogotá, as a case study. Data were collected through documentary research, garden observations, surveys of 33 gardeners, and interviews with four experts. Results show that urban agriculture in the cabildo is multifunctional, but the surplus available for sale is low, at less than 30%. Key determinants for commercialization include establishing and fulfilling objectives, supply volume/quality/frequency, technical production capacities, product presentation, collection/transport costs, payment methods, and having fixed buyers.

S. Akbarnezhad Nesheli, Alenka Temeljotov Salaj · IFAC-PapersOnLine · Global

This study explores urban farming, examining stakeholders, challenges, typologies, methodologies, and societal impacts. It identifies three strategic orientations for urban farming products: Sustainable Food Production, Education and Social Commitment, and Urban Qualities. The research also scrutinizes innovative methods like hydroponics and diverse spatial configurations, highlighting the complex relationship between high-yield urban agriculture and its environmental and economic aspects.

Lauren Guilmette · · Global

This essay explores the concept of "atmospheric intervention" in the context of building a community garden. Prompted by a community leader's observation of an unresolved, haunted energy in the atmosphere, the author engages with theories of atmospheres and affective commons. The essay questions the ethics of intervening to steward such an atmosphere.

Fernanda Olivares, John Clunes, Susana Valle, Dorota Dec · Agro Sur · Chile (Valdivia)

This study evaluated the quality of irrigation water in urban gardens in Valdivia, Chile, against Chilean standards NCh 1333 and NCh 409. Measured parameters included pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and iron concentration. All urban gardens met the established standards, with the exception of the Collico garden, which showed an elevated iron concentration.

Phillip James Tabb, Lahra Tatriele · · Global

Chapter 6 presents specific physical design strategies at the landscape design scale for wellness planning, based on Halbert Dunn’s concept of high-level wellness. These strategies provide principles for human health, benefits to the natural environment, and implementation opportunities within the urban built environment. The chapter covers diverse applications from parks and greenspaces to healing gardens and edible landscapes, offering concrete approaches and design principles illustrated through precedents.

Anna Grichting Solder · · Qatar

This chapter presents insights on urban agriculture and the food-water-energy-waste nexus in the Middle East and drylands, drawing from seven years of experience in teaching, research, and stakeholder engagement at Qatar University. The arid climate, scarcity of freshwater and fertile land, and the need to reduce non-renewable energy use necessitate designing circular, integrated systems for maximum resource efficiency. The Living Laboratory at Qatar University and urban agriculture plans developed with students, researchers, and communities illustrate these integrative and regenerative approaches for resilient landscapes in Qatar and the Gulf region.

Beata Sirowy, Kelvin Knight · ˜The œGeojournal library · Global

This chapter proposes Aristotelian concepts of eudaimonia (human well-being), virtues, and civic friendship as guiding principles for urban development, particularly in the design of urban public space. It argues that urban public space development should consider citizens' participative practices, rather than solely administratively conceived functions. Urban agriculture is presented as an example of a practice in urban public space that cultivates ethical virtues, sociality, and productive skills, contributing to the common good.

Eleni Oikonomaki, Ilektra Papadaki, Christina Kakderi · Land · Global

This paper examined 100 citizen-led urban greening projects globally, categorizing them by greenery type, stakeholders, implementation mode, and smart technology use. Fully citizen-led initiatives often focused on urban farms and food growing, while scaling projects frequently received support from public authorities or NGOs. Websites and social media facilitated participation and knowledge sharing, but advanced digital technologies for real-time monitoring and evidence-based decision-making were rarely integrated.

Marta Rudnicka-Bogusz · Civil And Environmental Engineering Reports · Global

This study presents three lesser-known theories of W. Czerny, L. Zimowski, and O. Hansen regarding the “agricultural city,” alongside theories by L. Migge and F.L. Wright. It focuses on the role of agriculture within the city framework and its implications for future urban built structures. Urban farming is positioned as a multifunctional tool contributing to food security, ecological sustainability, community resilience, and social cohesion within the concept of a regenerative city.

José Libio Álvarez-Arellano, Martha Isela Baños-Dorantes, Erika Guadalupe Ceballos Falcón, Ana Laura Luna Jiménez, Román Jiménez-Vera, Nicolás González Cortés · Journal of Agricultural Sciences Research (2764-0973) · Global

Pregerminative treatments of uspi (Couepia polyandra Kunth) seeds were evaluated at the nursery of the Multidisciplinary Academic Division of Los Ros to produce seedlings for school green areas. No significant difference was found among five treatments (unhydrated seeds and seeds hydrated for 24 hours with biozyme or whey), each with 50 seeds. The highest germination percentage was 63%, with seedlings reaching 7.5 cm in height, 6.2 cm in main root length, 15.94 secondary roots, and three leaves.

Stella Maris Moreira, Diego Tomas Araujo Poume, A Milagros Ferreyra · Episteme Revista de Estudios Socioterritoriales · Argentina

This research, initiated by an NGO managing community gardens in Lomas de Zamora, Argentina, investigated parents' social representations of play and screen use among young children. A situational diagnosis was conducted using a mixed-methods approach, analyzing reports from 59 interviews and over 95 surveys with parents and/or guardians. The study aimed to understand the impact of screens, particularly cell phones, on children's play.

Janmejoy Gupta · · Global

This study discusses the role of urban agriculture in urban greening and sustainability. Examining the Rajendranagar Mandal peri-urban area in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, through a primary survey, it was found that neither the local government nor the majority of building occupants were encouraging any kind of urban agriculture in unused land along road medians or water bodies.

Ouiam Fatiha Boukharta, Iona Yuelu Huang, Laura H. Vickers, Luis Manuel Navas-Gracia, Leticia Chico-Santamarta · Agronomy · Global

This systematic literature review investigated the benefits of non-commercial urban agriculture (NCUA) forms and their contribution to food production. It collected 1355 articles from qualified search engines, ultimately analyzing 40 articles. The findings indicate that implementing NCUA practices yields multifaceted social, economic, and environmental benefits, including improving people's health, reducing food expenditure, and creating sustainable cities. The review also noted that awareness of urban agriculture and the recognition of its benefits differ between developed and developing countries.

Ninsheka Leonard, Edward Ssemakula, Tiyo Christopher, Kalibwani Rebecca, Mulongo Marius · International Journal of Life Science and Agriculture Research · Uganda

A study in Kampala and Mbarara Cities, Uganda, investigated the influence of urban agriculture drivers on the socio-economic status of urban farmers, using a sample of 384 respondents. This cross-sectional research employed a multistage cluster sampling technique and multiple data collection methods. A strong association was found between urban agriculture drivers and the socio-economic status of farmers, with five items significantly influencing household socio-economic status: access to capital, access to agriculture extension services, access to financial grants, access to markets, and value addition.

Helene Gallis, Kimberly Weger, Adam Curtis · ˜The œGeojournal library · Norway (Oslo)

This memoir presents the experiences of urban agriculture pioneer Helene Gallis and Nabolagshager in Oslo, Norway. It argues for a systematic application of placemaking principles in urban agriculture to enhance social well-being, enabling diverse community members to participate in co-creating urban agriculture in public spaces. The projects highlight the transformative impact of using placemaking principles for more accessible, inclusive, and democratic cultivated public spaces.