Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1177 results(24 / 48)
Digging up the past: urban agriculture narratives in Melbourne and São Paulo
2020Adrián H. Hearn, Thaís Mauad, Chris Williams, Luís Fernando Amato‐Lourenço, Guilherme Reis Ranieri · Journal of Urbanism International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability · Australia (Melbourne)
This article analyzed the phenomenon of urban agriculture promotion by real estate developers and community associations in Melbourne and São Paulo. Developers of upmarket condominiums advertise urban agriculture as a purchasable commodity, but the gentrifying effects of these developments deepen rather than alleviate social and environmental ills. In contrast, community projects in four case studies emphasized urban agriculture's ability to confront the long-term neglect of land, employment, and environment.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceEffectiveness of Urban Farming Program in Providing Multiple Benefits to the Urban Community in Malaysia
2020Nazanin Nafisi, Osman Mohd Tahir, Sara Nafisi, Nazri Ishak · Journal of Architectural Environment & Structural Engineering Research · Malaysia
To investigate the effectiveness of urban farming programs in Malaysia, this study focused on small-scale agriculture projects like community gardens and community-level programs such as community supported agriculture and farmers markets. The study found that urban agriculture enhances community resilience and wellbeing. It highlighted the necessity for Malaysian urban authorities to provide appropriate identification and support to city dwellers and promote urban farming practices.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsHealthUrban Agriculture: The Saviour of Rapid Urbanization
2020Amit Umesh Paschapur, Chaitra G. Bhat · · Global
This article focuses on the history, types, major cultivated crops, advantages, success stories, and future scope of urban agriculture. Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing, and marketing food in and around urban localities, also encompassing animal husbandry, aquaculture, beekeeping, and horticulture. It contributes to providing fresh food, generating employment, recycling urban wastes, creating greenbelts, and strengthening cities' resilience to climate change.
Food sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsCommunityAnalyzing values-based modes of production and consumption: Community-supported agriculture in the Austrian Third Food Regime
2020Christina Plank, Robert Häfner, Rike Stotten · Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie · Austria
This paper analyzes Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Austria, examining its values-based production and consumption within the "third food regime" using an interdisciplinary framework. The study found that CSA is currently a niche in Austria, where solidarity, community attachment, and respect for nature are central ideals for members. However, CSA initiatives face institutional, social, and material challenges in daily practices that require attention for their long-term viability.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEffect of changing urban farming landscape on financing livelihoods and food security of urban farmers’ households in Ghana
2020Mr. Isaiah ACQUAH, Dr.Sc. Joseph Ato FORSON, Dr.Sc. Theresa Yaaba BAAH-ENNUMH · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Ghana
This qualitative exploratory study in Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana, investigated the effect of urban growth and concretization on urban farming households' livelihoods and food security. The study, using interviews and spatial imagery, found that urban farms face challenges due to inadequate land use planning and support, leading to a loss of farmlands. Significant challenges identified include limited farming space, limited resources, continuous increase in buildings, and inadequate education for urban farmers.
Governance failureUrban–rural linkageEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePolicyاستخدام حدائق السطح کأحد تطبيقات شبکات البنية التحتية الخضراء لتحقيق استدامة المدن الجديدة
2020Zeinab Abd Elkader, Ahmed Haroun · Fayoum University Journal of Engineering · Egypt
The legislative and executive challenges of roof gardens in new cities in Egypt were clarified. Theoretical studies, including an applied study in Sheikh Zayed City, were presented. The research suggests that while roof gardens offer environmental, social, and economic benefits, challenges exist for their widespread application.
Governance failureClimate changePolicyCommunityEconomicsThe morphological impact of municipal planning instruments on urban agriculture. The case of Lisbon’s Greater Area
2020Ana Mélice Dias, Teresa Marat-Mendes · Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) · Portugal (Lisbon)
In Lisbon's Greater Area, Portugal, the morphological impact of municipal planning instruments (Municipal Master Plans) on urban agriculture was investigated. It was concluded that current planning regulations prioritize leisure and aesthetic solutions for urban agriculture uses, rather than design solutions that address economic growth or ecological diversity.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsCommunityEconomic Aspects of Urban Agriculture
2020Zornitsa Stoyanova, Galina Koleva · · Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, the economic aspects of urban agriculture were evaluated using a literature review and qualitative research methods. The study's purpose was to assess the economic aspects of urban agriculture to propose conclusions about its economic benefits for people and society in Bulgaria. No specific findings are presented.
EconomicsCommunityVárosi közösségi kertek Magyarországon
2020Fanni Bársony · Tér és Társadalom · Hungary
This study examines urban community gardens in Hungary through fieldwork and group interviews. It investigates how these gardens function as urban commons, focusing on community characteristics, resource relationships, and sharing practices. The research concludes that for urban commons, it is insufficient to focus solely on the shared resource and access conditions; the commons must be examined in relation to the operating community.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsUrban agriculture in the city of Daloa, Central-West Côte d'Ivoire: Crop species, market practices and economic fallout
2020Amon Anoh Denis-Esdras, Konan Kouadio Ezéchiel, Kouadio N’da Kouamé Cyriac, Soro Kafana, Seguena Fofana, Ouattara Pan Issa · International Journal of Science and Research Archive · Côte d'Ivoire (Daloa)
A survey using semi-structured interviews with 19 individuals at 8 market gardening sites in Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire, investigated urban agriculture practices. The study identified 11 crop species across 9 genera and 8 families, with carrot, cabbage, and lettuce among the most cultivated vegetables. The sector is primarily managed by functionally illiterate individuals with over five years of experience, and it provides a significant source of income for local populations.
EconomicsCommunityPeri-Urban Agriculture in the Metropolitan Area of Rabat, Morocco: Potentials and Constraints
2020Fatiha Hakimi, Mohamed Brech · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Morocco
This study assessed the practices, potentials, and constraints of peri-urban agriculture (PUA) in Rabat Metropolis, Morocco, using field observation, interviews, and surveys with 50 randomly selected farmers. While PUA contributes to economic development, employment, and food supply, the study found significant legal constraints, including the absence of regulating laws and the obligation for some farmers to pay housing taxes. Technical constraints such as insufficient workforce, high labor costs, difficult access to irrigation water, and lack of training also hinder PUA growth.
Governance failurePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsPolicyDocumentation of Edible City Solutions in Follower Cities (D4.3)
2020Maximilian Manderscheid, Valentin Fiala, Bernhard Freyer · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
This report D4.3 describes the status quo analysis and documentation of Edible City Solutions (ECS). Over 300 ECS were identified in Berlin and Montevideo, and online research was conducted in Carthage and Lomé, after which a total of 84 ECS were documented in detail using a mixed-method approach (online survey, interviews, workshops, etc.). Most documented ECS take the form of urban gardening and focus on social benefits like providing education and fostering social cohesion, but the report does not detail specific challenges or limitations regarding governance.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsClimate changeImpact of urban farming technology on urban community in Malaysia
2020Rasmuna Mazwan Muhammad, Nik Rozana Nik Mohamed Masdek, Mohd Tarmizi Haimid, Siti Zahrah Ponari, Zulhazmi Sayuti · · Malaysia
This study in Malaysia investigated the effectiveness of urban farming in reducing household expenses among the urban poor, who spend 50-70% of their income on food. Using questionnaires, FGDs, and interviews, it found that urban farming, particularly aquaponics, led to a significant average reduction of RM66 per month in household expenses. The study concluded that urban farming benefits the community by supplying nutritious vegetables, improving housing aesthetics, and reducing costs.
CommunityEconomicsWelfareDigital agriculturePersonal Trust and System Trust in the Sharing Economy: A Comparison of Community- and Platform-Based Models
2020Sabine Gruber · Frontiers in Psychology · Global
This study compares two models, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Airbnb, to illustrate how trust is formed differently in the sharing economy. In CSA, trust is built through personal relationships and face-to-face communication, while Airbnb promotes trust through its system and technological innovations. A conceptual analysis, adopting Niklas Luhmann's distinction between personal and system trust, describes two different modes of trust formation.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsProductivity, resource efficiency and financial savings: An investigation of the current capabilities and potential of South Australian home food gardens
2020Georgia Csortan, James Ward, Philip Roetman · PLoS ONE · Australia
The productivity, resource efficiency, and potential financial savings of home food gardens in South Australia were investigated. Thirty-four citizen science participants measured and recorded garden inputs and outputs, revealing that smaller gardens were more intensive than larger ones, requiring higher inputs but also yielding higher outputs per unit area. Labor requirements were significantly lower than previously estimated, and it was calculated that 65% of the gardens should break even within five years or less and save money.
DIYEconomicsCommunityAlquimias da Terra: uma experiência de usos das ervas medicinais na faxina ecológica
2020Janaina Henrique dos Santos, Clara Fagundes, Beatriz Barbalho, Nicole Massa · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Global
This report details an experience in ecological, medicinal, and biodegradable cleaning using medicinal herbs, developed by two female urban farmers. The farmers, after training, produced cleaning products for personal use and then for commercialization, aligning with agroecological urban agriculture principles. This initiative promotes income generation and women's autonomy through the use of medicinal plants and agroecological cleaning products.
DIYCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceEstimating effects on emissions of sharing
2020Borgar Aamaas, Robbie M. Andrew · Duo Research Archive (University of Oslo) · Global
This report, part of the SHAR(e)ON project, estimates the effects on emissions of four sharing schemes: community supported agriculture, sharing in local communities, sharing of cabins, and car sharing. The estimates are presented as scenarios or illustrations, not as likely outcomes for emissions.
CSA & TeikeiClimate changeEconomicsThe Concept of Urban Agriculture – Historical Development and Tendencies
2020Madara Dobele, Andra Zvirbule · Rural Sustainability Research · Global
This study aimed to identify the historical development stages of the concept of urban agriculture and its main research tendencies. Using monographic and descriptive analysis, it revealed that the concept has evolved from an initial stage associated with technical solutions for urban planning to provide food, to current diverse directions including the analysis of agriculture's role in urban areas and its place in sustainable development. Researchers adapting definitions to local characteristics creates a risk of limited possibilities for quantitative comparisons between studies.
PolicyEconomicsCommunityVers un systeme alimentaire post-croissance
2020Marie-Soleil L’Allier · Revue Possibles · Global
In recent years, citizen-led agricultural and food innovations, such as urban agriculture, community gardens, collective greenhouses, and food cooperatives, have proliferated. These initiatives operate on a logic distinct from the globalized food system, forming the seeds of a post-growth society that does not depend on economic growth. This study raises the question of how to ensure these social innovations, while holding significant transformative potential, can effectively outline an ecological transition for our food system.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsClimate changeA Homegrown Solution
2020Andrew Coulter · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
This article argues that the medical establishment should consider prescribing diets with a higher ratio of unprocessed plant-based foods to address urban healthcare crises, chronic diseases, and health inequalities. Research indicates that vegetarian diets are associated with decreased mortality, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. Additionally, plant-based diets offer more affordable protein sources compared to meat and seafood.
HealthEconomicsWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceScaling out access to land for urban agriculture. Governance hybridities in the Brussels-Capital Region
2019Manganelli A., Moulaert F. · Land Use Policy · Belgium (Brussels)
This paper applies a Hybrid Governance Approach to analyze the Boeren Bruxsel Paysans coalition in the Brussels-Capital Region, revealing how scaling out land access for urban agriculture produces governance tensions across local, regional, and institutional scales.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsUrban and Peri-Urban Agriculture, the Dairy Farms of Cairo, Egypt: Existence, Transformations and Possible Futures of Family Farms
2019Daburon A., Alary V., Ali A., El-Srogi M., Tourrand J.F. · Diversity of Family Farming Around the World (Springer) · Egypt (Cairo)
Examines family farms engaged in dairy and market gardening in and around Cairo (population ~20 million), analyzing their role in the city's food supply chain and the transformations they undergo under urbanization pressure. Based on collaborative fieldwork by CIRAD, Ain Shams University, and the Animal Production Research Institute.
EconomicsCommunityPolicyThe sustainability of a nutrition-sensitive agriculture intervention: a case study from urban Senegal
2019Nordhagen S., Thiam K., Sow S. · Food Security · Senegal (Dakar)
A post-project survey in Dakar found that microgardens were largely abandoned (5% continued use) while poultry activities persisted strongly (75%) due to income-generation potential, suggesting urban nutrition interventions must align with economic incentives to achieve lasting adoption.
HealthEconomicsCommunityFood educationOyster Mushroom Cultivation as an Economic and Nutritive Alternative for Rural Low-Income Women in Villapinzón (Colombia)
2019· Springer (book chapter) · Villapinzón, Colombia
Examines low-cost oyster mushroom cultivation as an income- and nutrition-generating alternative for rural low-income women in Villapinzon, Colombia. Highlights mushroom growing as an accessible, low-capital livelihood option.
DIYWelfareEconomicsAffordable remote monitoring of plant growth in facilities using Raspberry Pi computers
2019· Applications in Plant Sciences · Global
GMpi, a low-cost growth-environment monitoring system built from a Raspberry Pi, open-source software, inexpensive environmental sensors and a camera that automates readings, imaging and out-of-range alerts, and is customizable and scalable.
DIYEconomics