Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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660 results(24 / 27)
Tecendo redes agroecológicas de agricultura urbana e periurbana em assentamentos e pré-assentamentos no Distrito Federal e entorno
2009Luciana Morais de Freitas · REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE AGROECOLOGIA · Brazil
This project in the Federal District and surrounding areas of Brazil aimed to improve and expand food production and promote agroecological practices in settlements and pre-settlements. Implemented in partnership with MDS and Via Campesina, the urban and peri-urban agriculture initiative has enhanced production conditions in these settlements. It also strengthens the productive chain by training producers in agroecological practices.
Peri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityConverting City Waste into compost pilot Nairobi (LNV-BO-10-006-115) : report phase one: inventory and assessment
2009P. Kirai, J. Gachugi, Anne Scheinberg · Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) · Kenya (Nairobi)
The 'Converting City Waste in Compost Project' aims to develop a viable system for collecting, processing, distributing, and marketing organic city waste for urban and peri-urban agriculture in East Africa, particularly Nairobi. Phase one of this project involved an inventory and analysis of organic waste sources, quantifying and characterizing non-domestic organic waste streams in Nairobi City. This study presents the findings of phase one, providing a basis for evaluating the potential to divert Nairobi's organic waste for compost and biogas production.
CompostOrganic cyclePeri-urban agricultureStudy on Urban Eco-agricultural Model in Huangshi
2009Wang Wen-zhen · Journal of Huangshi Institute of Technology · China (Huangshi)
Due to economic development, Huangshi, China, located along the Yangtze River, has shifted its agriculture from a production-centered peri-urban pattern to a multi-functional urban pattern encompassing production, ecology, and landscape. Integrating urban agriculture with Huangshi's notable location along the Yangtze River is believed to give its modern agriculture distinct features and a promising future.
Peri-urban agricultureCommunityBiodiversityNitrogen and carbon losses from dung storage in urban gardens of Niamey, Niger
2009Martina Předotová, Eva Schlecht, Andreas Buerkert · Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems · Niger (Niamey)
An experiment quantified nitrogen and carbon losses from animal manure stored in urban vegetable gardens in Niamey, Niger. During a 3.5-month dry season experiment, cumulative gaseous nitrogen losses were highest (0.11 g kg−1 manure DM) in the uncovered control, decreasing by 72% with plastic sheet roofing and 50% with roofing plus rock phosphate. In a second 3.5-month rainy season experiment, carbon losses from the control were 164 g kg−1 manure DM, reduced to 77% and 65% of the control by roofing and roofing plus rock phosphate, respectively. Leaching losses during the rainy season were only observed for the unroofed control.
Organic cyclePeri-urban agricultureDIYDeterminants of sustainability in urban and peri-urban agriculture
2009Andreas Buerkert, Eva Schlecht, Martina Předotová, Rodrigue V.C. Diogo, Katja Kehlenbeck, Jens Gebauer · eScholarship (California Digital Library) · Sub-Saharan Africa
This study analyzed urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) systems in major Sub-Saharan African cities, measuring carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fluxes and conducting biodiversity studies. In Niamey, low-input gardens showed annual gaseous carbon emissions of 20-25 t ha-1, predominantly CO2, and high-input gardens irrigated with wastewater had annual CO2-C emissions of 27 t ha-1, with N2O as a major nitrogen loss contributor. Animal manure stored in the open was subject to large carbon and nitrogen losses, indicating environmental tradeoffs. However, UPA gardens in Niamey maintained a large variety of fruit and vegetable species, with richness increasing with garden and household size and commercialization.
Environmental trade-offsOrganic cycleBiodiversityClimate changePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsA Study on the Influence Mechanism of Tourism Agriculture on Farmers' Income- Taking the Tourism Agriculture in Beijing Suburbs for Example
2009Zhen Zhong · Ecological Economy · China (Beijing)
This article analyzes the mechanism by which tourism agriculture influences farmers' income in Beijing suburbs, China. It examines the macro-level urban and rural economic processes and micro-level farmers' livelihoods, concluding that tourism agriculture directs income streams to rural areas and farmers. This process also fosters rural product innovation, maximizes family labor utilization, enhances rural capital yield, and improves market integration, leading to increased peasant income.
EconomicsPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageAGRICULTURA PERIURBANA: NUEVOS ROLES DE LA AGRICULTURA DE PROXIMIDAD EN LA PLANIFICACIÓN DE LAS PERIFERIAS URBANAS
2009Carlos Humberto Gómez Arciniegas · Revista M · Global
This article from 2009 investigates the primary features and opportunities of peri-urban agriculture, a practice at the transition between rural and urban areas. The study aims to identify 'agricultural strategies' from significant experiences to encourage future territorial planning practices in other peri-urban contexts. The research seeks to recognize recent experiences where peri-urban agriculture has coordinated economic and social activities and integrated with other activities aimed at valorizing local resources.
Peri-urban agriculturePolicyUrban–rural linkageWastewater Use in Cauliflower Production and Farmer’s Health: An Economic Analysis
2009Shahzad Kouser, Mr. Abedullah, Abdus Samie · The Pakistan Development Review · Pakistan (Faisalabad)
This study, conducted in 2006 with 200 farmers in two peri-urban villages of Faisalabad, Pakistan, estimated the economic values of negative health externalities from wastewater use in cauliflower production. While wastewater use appeared profitable without considering externalities, factoring in health costs strongly discouraged its use. The health externalities for a three-month cauliflower crop on 741 acres amounted to Rs 3.2 million, and for 5,283 acres of vegetables cultivated with wastewater in Faisalabad, the annual total was Rs 90.7 million. The findings indicate a significant economic loss due to wastewater use, suggesting that installing a water treatment plant is a viable option to minimize these external effects.
Contamination & food safetyHealthEconomicsPeri-urban agriculturePolicyUncertainty and Territorial Innovations in Peri-urban Agricultural Spaces
2009Lucette Laurens · Journal for Geography · France
This inquiry examines peri-urban agricultural spaces in Languedoc-Roussillon and the Montpellier agglomeration, France, which are characterized by a decline in agricultural activities and abandonment. These spaces are confronted with new, uncertain, and innovative dynamics, appearing as multifunctional spaces that need to be re-invented. The study highlights the paradox of these areas caught between appropriation for different uses and agricultural decline.
Economic viabilityPeri-urban agriculturePolicyUrban–rural linkageOpportunities and Challenges of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Niamey, Niger
2008Sophie Graefe, Eva Schlecht, Andreas Buerkert · Outlook on Agriculture · Niger (Niamey)
Semi-structured interviews with 130 households in Niamey, Niger, characterized urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) and assessed resource use. The study found high use of livestock manure and indiscriminate use of nutrient-loaded wastewater for irrigation, leading to significant nutrient surpluses in UPA gardens. Initial calculations suggested large gaseous emissions of nitrogenous compounds and and leaching of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to groundwater.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceHealthClimate changeEconomicsOverview on urban and peri-urban agriculture: definition, impact on human health, constraints and policy issues
2008Erastus K. Kang’ethe, Delia Grace, Thomas F. Randolph · East African Medical Journal · East Africa
This study synthesizes current knowledge on urban agriculture (UA) in East Africa, focusing on its human health impact. It identifies UA as an important source of food security, but notes that many zoonotic and food-borne diseases are associated with it, with a lack of evidence on human health impact and management. Major constraints include illegality and limited access to inputs and markets, indicating a need for more research to understand both positive and negative health impacts.
Contamination & food safetyHealthFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureUrban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Kyiv (Ukraine): "Crisis Induced Strategy" versus Recreational Resource
2008Zoia Komirenko, D.M. Hoermann, Komirenko, Z., Hoermann, D.M. · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · Ukraine (Kyiv)
This study surveyed 240 Kyiv households with urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in 2005 using a standardized questionnaire. Data collected covered production, inputs, sales, and the importance of plots for self-sufficiency, recreation, and leisure. Cluster analysis identified four groups of UPA users, revealing that the importance of UPA shifts from livelihood necessity to recreational resource, or combines both, depending on the plot type.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsCommunityWelfareLiving Demands of Suburban Residents Pushing Forward Building of Town Community Gardens——Talk about the Landscape Design of Gangcheng Garden in Gaoqiao Town
2008Han Lu-yu · Chinese and Overseas Architecture · China
With the continuous promotion of social economy and living quality, the living behaviors of suburban residents are diversifying. Higher demands in spirit, culture, and leisure entertainment are driving the construction of more community gardens. Gangcheng Garden, a large new community garden in northern Gaoqiao Town, with its natural and comfortable landscaping environment and various leisure, cultural, and gymnastic facilities, has become a place for leisure, entertainment, neighborly communication, and refuge.
CommunityPeri-urban agricultureIncreasing Recognition of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture:
2008Camillus J. Sawio · · Global
This paper, based on existing literature, discusses the increasing international, regional, and local recognition of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) over the past three decades. It highlights UPA's contributions to feeding urban populations, poverty alleviation, food security, and sustainable urban management, attributing this recognition to efforts by various international organizations and resulting municipal declarations.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfarePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsUsing on-farm sedimentation ponds to improve microbial quality of irrigation water in urban vegetable farming in Ghana
2008Bernard Keraita, Pay Drechsel, Flemming Konradsen · Water Science & Technology · Ghana (Kumasi)
A study in Kumasi, Ghana, assessed the use of on-farm ponds to reduce microbial contamination in wastewater-contaminated irrigation water, analyzing over 300 samples. It found that while ponds are common, their potential for pathogen removal via sedimentation is not fully optimized. Helminth eggs reduced by about 70% with careful water collection, but thermotolerant coliforms took six days in the dry season to meet WHO guidelines, indicating suboptimal performance for some pathogens.
Contamination & food safetyHealthPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceLinking research, capacity building, and policy dialogue in support of informal irrigation in urban West Africa
2008Pay Drechsel, Olufunke Cofie, R. van Veenhuizen, Theophilus O. Larbi · Irrigation and Drainage · West Africa
Informal irrigation in urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in West Africa offers benefits but is often hindered by water pollution, threatening public health. A multi-stakeholder process implemented since 2005 in six West African cities, including Accra, Ghana, aimed to integrate UPA into sustainable urban development. However, an internal lesson learned was that local partners may not prioritize every project, and capacity-building efforts might not provide expected incentives for commitment.
Contamination & food safetyPolicyHealthPeri-urban agricultureCommunityPengendalian Penyakit Sayuran Yang Ditanam Dengan Sistem Budidaya Mosaik Pada Pertanian Periurban
2008Euis Suryaningsih · Jurnal Hortikultura · Indonesia (Bandung)
From January to July 2001, a field experiment on vegetable disease control in a mosaic farming system in periurban agriculture was conducted at a farmer's field in Rancaekek, Bandung, Indonesia. Treatments included white plastic net cages, biorational pesticides, Bacillus subtilis, a mixture of Mancozeb and Bacillus subtilis, and an unsprayed control. All tested alternative control methods were very effective against major diseases of chili pepper, shallot, eggplant, beans, and cucumber, but the use of poisonous synthetic pesticides in periurban agriculture increases the likelihood of contaminating humans and the environment.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureHealthOrganic cycleHelminth infections among people using wastewater and human excreta in peri‐urban agriculture and aquaculture in Hanoi, Vietnam
2007Do Thuy Trang, Kåre Mølbak, Phung Dac Cam, Anders Dalsgaard · Tropical Medicine & International Health · Vietnam (Hanoi)
A cross-sectional study in a peri-urban area of Hanoi, Vietnam, surveyed 400 agricultural households and examined 807 stool samples from 620 adults and 187 children for helminth infections. The study found that 39% of samples were infected with helminths, with Ascaris sp. at 21.6%, Trichuris sp. at 9.8%, and hookworm at 21.8%. Wastewater exposure was not a major risk, but lack of sanitation facilities and use of fresh or inadequately composted human excreta in agriculture were important risk factors for infection.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cyclePeri-urban agricultureThe significance of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Peddie, in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa
2007Alex Thornton, Etienne Nel · Africanus Journal of Development Studies · South Africa (Peddie)
This study investigated the significance of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) as a livelihoods strategy in Peddie, Eastern Cape province, South Africa, based on a PhD study. The findings indicate that UPA is not as significant or widely practiced as often assumed, despite its potential to address food insecurity and generate income. Its development has been slowed by various structural historical and socioeconomic barriers, limiting its current impact.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsWelfarePeri-urban agricultureChanges in Understanding Environmental Health Risks Linked Participatory Education and Action Research Among Senegalese Farmers
2007Nita Chaudhuri, Daryl Cole, D S Niang · Epidemiology · Senegal (Dakar)
A Participatory Education and Action Research (PEAR) process was conducted with 3 farmers in periurban Dakar, Senegal, and surveyed 55 farmers using pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Post-intervention, farmers showed a clearer understanding of environmental impacts like water contamination and pesticide runoff, and perceived a broader range of health risks linked to urban agriculture. Observations also indicated reduced pesticide container litter in the fields.
HealthFood educationCommunityPeri-urban agriculture日本东京都郊区现代农村建设的经验及启示——以三鹰市、桧原村为例的分析
2007焦必方 · 上海经济研究 · Japan (Tokyo)
This paper analyzes the experiences of modern rural construction in the suburbs of Tokyo, focusing on Mitaka City and Hinohara Village. It highlights the development of suburban rail networks and other infrastructure, the provision of comprehensive public facilities, and the promotion of urban agriculture tailored to suburban characteristics. The study also notes efforts to balance regional development disparities, advocate democratic management, and pursue social harmony.
Urban–rural linkagePeri-urban agriculturePolicyPark Development on the Urban-Agricultural Fringe
2007William F. Stewart, James R. Barkley, Andrew Kernis, Katerie Gladdys, Troy D. Glover · Journal of Park and Recreation Administration · United States
This study assessed participants' lived experiences and place meanings in urban-agricultural fringe landscapes in the Chicago metropolitan area and Urbana, Illinois, using an autodriven photo elicitation method (APEC). Participants expressed place meanings that valued human history, tolerated human development, and indicated a need to heal the land. These findings informed two principles for park development: embodying public memories and allowing community-based restoration of ecological and cultural heritage.
Peri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkagePolicyPrecision application of water for peri-urban horticulture
2007Viola Devasirvatham, P. S. Cornish · International Journal of Water · Australia
Peri-urban horticulture in Australia requires irrigation for year-round vegetable production. Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) offers higher water use efficiency and crop yields, with the potential to reduce environmental risks from drainage and runoff. However, SDI has potential disadvantages, including poor germination or crop establishment and uneven wetting patterns. Research is needed to solve these problems and enable environmentally acceptable vegetable production.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsClimate changeOrganic cyclePLANTAS DE BAJO PORTE MÁS UTILIZADAS PARA SETOS EN LA AGROSILVICULTURA O EN LA SILVICULTURA URBANA Y PERIURBANA
2007Valeria Olivera · · Cuba (City of the Havana)
This study surveyed producers in urban and peri-urban agriculture settings in Cuba to identify low-growing plant species commonly used for hedges in agroforestry systems. The surveys revealed 13 species across 9 families utilized as hedges. In the City of Havana, Marpacifco (Hibiscus rosasinensis), Bugambilia (Bougainvillea glabra), and Muralla (Murraya paniculata) were most frequently used, while in rural areas, Cardona (Euphorbia lactea), Tuna (Opuntia dillenii), and Itamo real (Pedilanthus tithymaloides) were more common.
DIYUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureBiodiversityWastewater use for urban and peri-urban agriculture.
2006Stephanie Buechler, Gayathri Devi Mekala, B. Keraita · Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) · Global
This 2006 global study from Victoria University discusses wastewater use in urban and peri-urban agriculture for crop production and aquaculture, noting its role in generating livelihoods and providing cheap produce. However, the study emphasizes that clear policy guidelines and careful research are needed to prevent potential negative impacts on human health and the environment from wastewater reuse.
Contamination & food safetyUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureHealthPolicyEconomics