Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2091 results(23 / 84)
Unraveling the role of informal mutual aid networks in maintaining urban farms in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
2023Maurice Kesonga Nsele, Thomas Dogot, Kevin Maréchal · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Democratic Republic of Congo (Lubumbashi)
Survey data from 88 randomly chosen farmers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, was analyzed to understand the role of informal mutual aid networks in maintaining urban farms. Results showed that 79.5% of surveyed farmers utilized mutual aid to ensure their vegetable production cycle, involving resource sharing (15.1 interactions per farmer) and agricultural know-how sharing (11.6 interactions per farmer). Gender, age, experience, religious affiliation, farmer status in the household, neighborhood relations, kinship, and religious affiliation were significant factors for mutual aid.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban agricultural activities, a food system resilience strategy during COVID-19 in Haiti
2023Bénédique Paul · Food systems · Haiti
This exploratory research in Haiti investigated whether urban agriculture served as an appropriate and innovative food system resilience strategy for the urban population during the COVID-19 crisis. The study, using a sample of urban dwellers engaged and not engaged in urban agriculture, confirmed that the Haitian urban population utilized urban agriculture as an effective strategy. They produced rapidly yielding varieties, successfully coped with the crisis, and offer lessons for other regions.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthEconomicsSuitability assessment and recommendations for Urban agricultural development: A case study in Cai Rang District, Can Tho City, Viet Nam
2023Phạm Thanh Vũ, Võ Quang Minh · Plant Science Today · Viet Nam
A study in Cai Rang District, Can Tho City, Viet Nam, assessed aspects and designed adaptive models for urban agriculture using data collection, farmer surveys, statistical analysis, and FAO land suitability assessment. It found that growing green vegetables, fruits, decorative plants, orchids, and raising cattle is the most effective model. This model creates jobs, boosts income, supplies clean food, provides greenery, recycles waste, and reduces pollution, supporting sustainable agricultural options for the area.
EconomicsCommunityOrganic cycleHealthConstraint and autonomy in the Swiss “local contract farming” movement
2023Jérémie Forney, Julien Vuilleumier, Marion Fresia · · Switzerland
This study on the local contract farming (LCF) movement in Switzerland is based on an ethnography of three LCF networks. The research focuses on the contract that formalizes the "promise of difference" and the redefinition of food quality and value. It acknowledges both the potential for transformation of LCF ventures and their clear limitations, aiming to foster discussions beyond simple statements of success or failure.
Economic viabilityCSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceDancing through the vege patch
2023Gregory Lorenzutti, Julie Ann Minaai, Brenton Surgenor · Choreographic Practices · Australia (Melbourne)
"Dancing through the vege patch" is an artist essay by choreographer Gregory Lorenzutti, reflecting on "Theatrum Botanicum," an interdisciplinary project combining dance and holistic urban farming commissioned by the Victoria College of the Arts, University of Melbourne in 2022. Lorenzutti offers insights into the relationship between knowledge production, place-based dance pedagogy, and interdisciplinary practice in tertiary education. The essay reveals how creative methodologies can invigorate practice and deepen the connection between body, space, and place.
Food educationCommunityAGRICULTURA URBANA E ESTÉTICA AMBIENTAL: UM MAPEAMENTO DE AUTORES INSPIRADO POR J. DOUGLAS PORTEOUS.
2023Claudia Rochael Oliveira, Eneida Maria Souza Mendonça · Geografia (Rio Claro) · Global
This article aimed to map authors discussing environmental aesthetics in urban agriculture research, inspired by Porteous's work. Using a bibliographic survey and visual representations, the study found no publications intersecting urban agriculture and environmental aesthetics. Research on urban agriculture and landscape was notably greater than on urban agriculture and aesthetics, and studies applying aesthetic theory to urban agriculture were very limited, especially in high-tech contexts like vertical farms.
Methodological critiqueUrban–rural linkageCommunityBiodiversityGardens for the People
2023Clive R. Hollin · · Global
This research shifts focus from individual gardening to collective gardening activities shared by groups of people, examining communal gardens that benefit groups such as hospital residents, school pupils, or prison inmates. These "gardens for the people" take various forms, including allotments primarily for food production, school gardens for academic and social purposes, prison gardens for prisoner well-being and rehabilitation, gardens tended by immigrant populations, and guerrilla gardening.
CommunityFood educationWelfareA Bibliometric Analysis of Current Knowledge Structure and Research Progress Related to Urban Community Garden Systems
2023Hua Zheng, Min Guo, Qian Wang, Qinghai Zhang, Noriko Akita · Land · Global
This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 487 papers on community gardens from the Web of Science database to understand their knowledge structure and research development. Research papers in this area significantly increased from 2012, with the United States contributing the most and high-income countries accounting for 93.22% of studies. "Health" was the most frequent keyword, and "ecosystem services" gained popularity, with three major research themes identified: "ecosystem services and disservices," "multidimensional association," and "sustainable garden systems."
CommunityHealthBiodiversityPolicyThe Work that Work does: How intrinsic and instrumental values are transformed into relational values through active work participation in Swiss community supported agriculture
2023Stefan Geissberger, Mollie Chapman · People and Nature · Switzerland
This paper explored how active labor participation in Swiss solidarity agriculture cooperatives influences members' values and behavior. Qualitative interviews with 21 members of three cooperatives revealed that participation and work practices fostered new relational connections to food, farmers, and nature, transforming intrinsic and instrumental values into relational values. The study concludes that values, particularly relational values, can form and change through lived experiences.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthStimulating and developing sustainable urban local economies: The role of urban agriculture
2023James Kwame Mensah · Development Southern Africa · Ghana
This research examined the role of urban agriculture in the urban local economy in Ghana, addressing a lack of empirical evidence from a Local Economic Development (LED) perspective. Data was gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews with urban agriculturalists and local authorities in two assemblies in the Greater Accra region. The findings suggest that with proper support, urban agriculture can improve the local economy by providing employment, income, and enhanced livelihood and food security.
EconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityBibliometric Mapping of School Garden Studies: A Thematic Trends Analysis
2023Dante Castillo, Alejandro Vega-Muñoz, Guido Salazar-Sepúlveda, Nicolás Contreras-Barraza, Mario Torres-Alcayaga · Horticulturae · Global
This study analyzed thematic trends in school garden research over the past few decades using a bibliometric methodology on 392 articles and review articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. It investigated research trends and found a critical mass of scientific research on school gardens. The analysis revealed thematic trends in discussion journals, terminology, classic papers, and novel authors, suggesting a refocusing on the effects of school gardens beyond educational aspects.
Food educationCommunityHealthLa huerta escolar: un escenario de aprendizaje y desarrollo del pensamiento crítico
2023Fernando Arturo Romero Ospina · Ciencia e Interculturalidad · Global
This text emphasizes the importance of school gardens as a setting for promoting critical thinking in multi-grade schools. It uses a qualitative approach to describe critical thinking and its promotion through creation, interpretation, and experimentation based on the See-Think-Ask thinking routine. The study infers that school gardens are valuable for students to share knowledge, work on various school subjects, and for teachers to reflect on pedagogical processes.
Food educationCommunityStrategi Desain Integrasi Rumah Susun dan Fasilitas Pertanian Perkotaan berbasis Self-sufficiency
2023Abhinaya Ramadhikka, Ofita Purwani, Sri Yuliani · Arsitektura · Global
This paper focuses on implementing energy and food self-sufficiency in residential buildings by integrating urban agricultural facilities. It aims to fill a literature gap by discussing self-sufficiency specifically in residential buildings with urban agriculture on a microscale. The study formulates how to apply the self-sufficiency concept by calculating residents' food and energy needs and outlining how to achieve them.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityAGRICULTURE URBAINE : POURVOYEUSE DE DENRÉES ALIMENTAIRES ET SOURCES DE NUISANCES SANITAIRES AU QUARTIER SODEPRA À KORHOGO (NORD DE LA CÔTE D’IVOIRE)
2023Moussa Coulibaly · International Journal for Advanced Studies and Research in Africa · Côte d'Ivoire (Korhogo)
This study in Logokaha, Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire, aimed to show the impact of urban agriculture on food production and the health of farmers. Despite contributing to the empowerment of farmers, urban agriculture exposes them to health hazards. The methodology involved documentary research and field surveys.
Contamination & food safetyHealthFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEffect of an Integrated School Garden and Home Garden Intervention on Anemia Among School-Aged Children in Nepal: Evidence From a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
2023Ghassan Baliki, Dorothee Weiffen, Pepijn Schreinemachers, Akina Shrestha, Rachana Manandhar Shrestha, Monika Schreiner, Tilman Brück · Food and Nutrition Bulletin · Nepal
A cluster randomized controlled trial in rural Nepal (n=680 school children aged 9-13 across 30 schools) investigated whether an integrated school and home garden intervention improved hemoglobin levels and reduced anemia. The intervention did not lead to a direct significant reduction in anemia, as nutritional improvements were not strong enough to impact hemoglobin levels. However, the program indirectly improved hemoglobin levels for children under 12 by increasing good food and hygiene practices at home, particularly for girls, young children, and those with literate caregivers.
Limited or null effectFood educationHealthCommunity7P Marketing Mix in Processed Farm Products by Urban Farming Businesses
2023Nurdiana, Muhammad Hasan, Miranda, Muhammad Ihsan Said Ahmad, Citra Ayni Kamaruddin, Thamrin Tahir · International Journal of Social Science and Business · Global
This qualitative study analyzed the implementation of the 7P marketing mix for processed agricultural products by the Orchid Women Farmer Group, using observations, interviews, and FGDs with 4 informants. The 7P marketing mix was generally implemented, with supporting factors including self-confidence, cooperation, and encouragement from agricultural extension workers. Inhibiting factors were identified as lack of literacy and limited time, which affect the implementation process.
Economic viabilityEconomicsCommunityUrban agriculture, local economic development and climate change: conceptual linkages
2023James Kwame Mensah · International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development · Global
This study examined how the concepts of urban agriculture (UA), local economic development (LED), and climate change can be treated in unison. Based on a review of credible published papers on UA, LED, climate change, and nature-based solutions (NBS), a conceptual framework was developed to show their linkages. The paper established that UA could boost LED, build resilient urban settlements, and promote social inclusiveness, but it also comes with social challenges.
EconomicsClimate changeCommunityPolicyIntegrating Urban Agriculture into Neighborhood Planning for Sustainable Development: People’s Perceptions of the Potentials of the Al-Bastanah in Al-Za'faraniya, Iraq
2023· International Society for the Study of Vernacular Settlements · Iraq (Baghdad)
This case study explored the potential of urban agriculture in the Al-Bastanah neighborhood of Al-Za'faraniya, Baghdad. It investigated how urban agriculture can be integrated into neighborhood planning processes.
PolicyCommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceA campus-based community clinic and food-shelf join efforts to reduce food insecurity using a One Health approach toward building a vibrant living system
2023Clara Godoy-Henderson, Ellen Hiestand, Emma Schluter, Erica Olsen, Jennifer Tacheny, Ambria Crusan, Mary O. Hearst · Journal of American College Health ·
This report describes a One Health approach addressing food insecurity among college students and Latine adult patients at a campus-based community health clinic. Organic community gardens on and near campus, pollinated by campus beehives, contribute local produce to a campus food shelf. This system aims to increase food security and nutritional health for both populations through multidisciplinary collaboration.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityAGRICULTURE URBAINE: POURVOYEUSE DE DENREES ALIMENTAIRES ET SOURCES DE NUISANCES SANITAIRES AU QUARTIER SODEPRA A KORHOGO (NORD DE LA COTE DIVOIRE)
2023COULIBALY Moussa · International Journal of Advanced Research · Côte d'Ivoire (Korhogo)
This study in Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire, surveyed 81 farmers to assess the impact of urban agriculture on food production and farmer health. It found that urban agriculture, predominantly practiced by women (85.19%) with no formal education (71.61%), involves the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with non-adherence to application intervals. A significant portion of farmers (59.26%) discard chemical packaging in the environment. Despite contributing to empowerment, this practice exposes farmers to health problems including fatigue (53.09%), injuries (25.92%), skin burns (11.11%), dry coughs/colds (32.10%), and diarrheal diseases (19.75%).
Contamination & food safetyHealthFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityCITIZENS' ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION TOWARD ROOFTOP GARDENING IN CITY AREA
2023Sadika Parvin, Md. Shahidul Islam · Khulna University Studies · Bangladesh
This descriptive quantitative study assessed the social acceptance of rooftop gardens among city dwellers in Bangladesh, surveying 475 participants online. While approximately three-quarters of respondents showed positive attitudes towards rooftop gardening, about one-third had negative attitudes, indicating unwillingness, with similar trends observed for behavioral perceptions. The study revealed that one-third of respondents still held negative attitudes and just over one-third had negative behavioral perceptions towards rooftop gardening.
Limited or null effectCommunityClimate changeUrban–rural linkageURBAN FARMING SEBAGAI USAHA MENJAGA KETAHANAN PANGAN BERKONSEP SAYURAN HIJAU
2023Eva Rosdiana, Nurul Sjamsijah, Sri Rahayu, Dian Hartati · J-ABDI Jurnal Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat · Global
This community engagement activity aimed to promote urban farming as a solution for urban food security and environmental issues. The method involved socializing the benefits and implementation of urban farming to community groups, followed by assisting them in creating a model urban farm. The activity targeted outcomes such as scientific publication and increased community adoption of technology.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityClimate changeHealthEnvironmental place-making by the ‘out of place’
2023Pauline Marsh, Suzanne Mallick, Dave Kendal, Renae Riviere · · Australia (Hobart)
In Hobart, Australia, a conservation program for culturally and linguistically diverse adult migrants was implemented. This study used mixed methods to examine how a structured program of plant nursery and field-based community conservation activities helped overcome participants' sense of feeling "out of place." Positive impacts were found on indirect health and wellbeing factors such as work skills, language acquisition, and social connection, and participants' self-esteem, happiness, and social connection were also cultivated.
CommunityHealthWelfareFood educationCash for assets during acute food insecurity: an observational study in South Sudan
2023Shannon Doocy, Emily Lyles, Robert Kenyi Morjan, Kayla Pfieffer-Mundt, Courtland Robinson, Kevin Savage · Agriculture & Food Security · South Sudan
A prospective cohort study in South Sudan (2019–2021) examined the impact of cash assistance for work in community gardens on food security among 1213 cash-receiving, 582 non-intervention, and 300 later cash-receiving households. The study found no significant differences in changes over time in household hunger, coping strategies, or meal frequency between participants and the comparison group. Cash transfers did not appear to have lasting benefits on food security and livelihoods coping strategy use.
Limited or null effectWelfareCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceFactors Affecting Farmers’ Perception of Greywater Irrigation in Urban Agriculture in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka
2023Chethika Gunasiri Wadumestrige Dona, Geetha Mohan, Kensuke Fukushi · Journal of Water and Environment Technology · Sri Lanka (Colombo)
This study aimed to identify the perception levels of urban farmers in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka, towards greywater irrigation and the factors influencing these perceptions. The results revealed that urban farmers in the Colombo District are willing to reuse greywater for farming activities. Farm management factors such as irrigation source, farm size, and farmers’ preference for different crop types significantly influenced their perception of greywater irrigation.
CommunityEconomics