Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
3622 results(25 / 145)
Low Carbon Adaptation through Community Composting
2025Wang, Junrong · Digital Commons - RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) · Global
This project uses landscape architecture to reduce carbon emissions from restaurants by implementing compost gardens that shorten compost transportation routes. These gardens, placed on roofs and at ground-level, create new local food sources to replace distant shipments and provide materials for organic pesticides, reducing carbon-intensive VOC emissions. The compost gardens are integrated into existing parking lots and vacant lots, forming a community garden network.
CompostCommunityClimate changeFood miles & supply chainUrban Farming and Food Security Nexus for Food Sovereignty and Food System Planning: The Case of a Highly Urbanized City in Metro Manila, Philippines
2025Sheila Uside Alumasa, Dina Cartagena Magnaye · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science · Philippines (Metro Manila)
A case study evaluated a nearly decade-old urban farming program in a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. The study revealed that vulnerable families depend on urban farming for daily food and alternative employment opportunities. However, a lack of land ownership or tenure rights for urban farming exacerbates food insecurity, hinders access to affordable food, and impedes innovation within the urban farming system.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareCommunityEconomicsPolicyLong-Term Manure Application in Urban Gardens: Impacts on Soil Fertility, Mineral Composition, and Variability
2025Rafael López Núñez, Paula Madejón, José Molina-Vega, Sabina Rossini-Oliva · Horticulturae · Global
This study investigated soil variability in two sections of an urban allotment garden subjected to long-term manure fertilization for 12 or 16 years, with application rates up to 10–12 kg m−2 yr−1. Prolonged manure incorporation enhanced soil fertility, increasing organic carbon, total-N, available-K, and total/available-P, and caused shifts in mineral composition with increases in Ca, inorganic C, Sr, and S. No accumulation of potentially toxic elements was observed, but pronounced spatial heterogeneity emerged among plots, with coefficients of variation up to 58% for S and 47% for Zn.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityLes sols agricoles urbains
2025Sophie Joimel, Tania DE ALMEIDA, Baptiste Grard · · Global
Urban soils are characterized by high heterogeneity and diverse source materials, leading to a wide range of physical, physicochemical, and biological properties. These soils support diverse forms of urban agriculture and can provide various ecosystem services beyond their productive function.
Organic cycleBiodiversityClimate changeBuilding a more sustainable food system in Colombia: a role for nutrition professionals
2025Christine McCullum-Gómez, Yuri Milena Castillo Quiroga, Monica Diaz-Beltran · Academia Nutrition and Dietetics · Colombia
This article describes multiple efforts to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable food system in Colombia. Public health nutrition professionals can increase food security, build food sovereignty, and facilitate this transition through community food gardening and peri-urban and urban agriculture projects, food waste reduction programs, and sustainable menu projects incorporating indigenous, native, and local foods. Such projects should be participatory and tailored to meet the needs of stakeholders in the different regions of Colombia.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityPeri-urban agricultureHealthUrban African food systems as sites of challenges and opportunities for household food equity and resilience
2025Corrie Hannah, Jordan Blekking, Julia Davies, Jane Battersby, Allan Chilenga, Dorcas Kabuya, Percy Toriro · Ecology and Society · Zambia
This empirical case study examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected urban food systems (UFS) in 14 Zambian cities, using household survey data from 2019, 2020, and 2021. Descriptive and regression analyses assessed household food sourcing, including urban agriculture. Households from diverse socioeconomic quartiles faced similar food security challenges but coped differently based on capacities and resources, indicating a lack of equitable outcomes. Smaller and remote cities sourced food from open-air markets, vendors, and urban agriculture, while more connected cities used local shops.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageEconomicsClimate changeCommunityEnhancing Public Health and SDG 3 Through Sustainable Agriculture and Tourism
2025Elena Petelos, Danai Antonaki, Erasmia Angelaki, Christos Lemonakis, Alexandros Garefalakis · Sustainability · Global
This study explored how private sector initiatives in tourism can contribute to public health and SDG 3 through sustainable agricultural practices. Using a mixed-methods approach combining a systematic literature review and a case study, it examined how integrated strategies like pesticide-free farming reduce environmental health risks and improve nutritional quality. Findings indicate that business-led sustainability models can support systemic change when based on clear metrics and cross-sector collaboration. However, the absence of pre-2019 baseline data and direct health outcome measurements limits causal inference.
HealthBiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityPolicyPatios Productivos y Seguridad Alimentaria en la Comunidad Afrodescendiente del Barrio Olaya Herrera, en Cartagena, Colombia
2025Carlos Eduardo Torres Acosta, Enrique Manuel Acuña Hernández, Elizabeth Ramírez-Llerena · BUIYYA TIERRA · Colombia (Cartagena)
In Cartagena, Colombia, the Granitos de Paz Foundation implements an urban agriculture program called "productive patios." This initiative allows vulnerable communities, such as those in the Olaya Herrera neighborhood, to access production systems and improve their quality of life by producing organic products. These organic products are in demand by hotels and restaurants in the city, potentially generating additional income for families in extremely poor areas. The program introduces an economic model to combat extreme poverty in vulnerable communities and contributes to environmental conservation.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicySmart Farming: Enhancing Urban Agriculture Through Predictive Analytics and Resource Optimization
2025Eman Aldhahri, Abdulwahab Ali Almazroi, Monagi H. Alkinani, Nasir Ayub, Elham Alghamdi, Nourah Fahad Janbi · IEEE Access · Global
This study proposes ResXceNet-HBA, a novel classification model for crop health prediction and stress assessment in urban agriculture. The model integrates ResNet blocks, Xception modules, and HBA-optimized parameters, along with data handling techniques like WICL, LFS, and AFD. ResXceNet-HBA achieved 98.5% accuracy, 98.2% precision, 98.7% recall, and 98.4% F1-Score, outperforming ResNet, CNN, and Inception V2, and executed faster in 50.9 seconds.
Digital agricultureClimate changeCommuniversity Synergised Academic Activities towards Sustainable “Green” for Urban Poverty Eradication and Social Well-Being
2025Rohaiza Rokis · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science · Malaysia
This qualitative study in Kampung Kerdas, Malaysia, investigated a community-synergised academic activities programme initiated by AHAS KIRKHS at the International Islamic University Malaysia, integrating a Sociology and Anthropology course with the Kampung Kerdas community's needs. Through narrative analysis, in-depth interviews, and participatory observation, the project was shown to promote environmental sustainability, economic empowerment, and social cohesion among community members via community-driven initiatives and educational workshops. It also provided practical training for SOCA students and academics, creating a sustainable model for urban poverty eradication and holistic community development.
CommunityWelfareEconomicsFood educationCommunity Garden Politics
2025Sartor, Iriana, Paccillo, Giovanna, Banham, Rebecca, Ezzy, Douglas · Conicet · Global
This chapter explores the politics of nonreligion, with gardens and gardening functioning as practices illustrating how lifestances can be structural, collectivist, relational, and radical. Data from Brazil and Argentina are used to frame political, educational, and activist elements of gardening worldwide. The chapter demonstrates how the politics of community gardening can constructively contribute to positive political engagement and community building.
CommunityPolicyFood educationUrban food forests: Seeing the fruit for the trees - A systematic quantitative literature review and emerging research gaps
2025H.J. Thwaites, Jungho Suh, G.M. Coote, Melissa Nursey‐Bray, Timothy R. Cavagnaro, M.J. Salomon · Journal of Cleaner Production · Global
This systematic quantitative literature review explores urban food forests, defined as woody food-producing species in urban landscapes, identifying their realized and potential impacts across ecosystem services, food security, health, society, and culture. The research found that urban food forests are highly valued for providing local foods and medicine, as well as regulating services, and contribute to biodiversity, economic and social inclusivity, and human well-being. The review highlights urban planning and design as a central research theme and identifies a need for more quantitative research and integration into local legislation.
BiodiversityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceHealthRedefining the nutrition paradigm for a sustainable future: the meating point for a harmonious coexistence
2025Daniel Borer, Daniel Fuller, Manjit Singh Sandhu, Duy‐Tung Bui · Social Responsibility Journal · Global
This conceptual paper introduces the Pancentric Nutrition Paradigm, an interdisciplinary framework integrating human nutrition, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and societal considerations for global food systems. It identifies four strategies for sustainable food systems: implementing urban agriculture and agro-zoos, introducing a meat carbon tax (€0.10 per kg CO2e), promoting ostrich farming, and developing policy pathways. The study suggests the pancentric approach can harmonize competing interests in food systems.
HealthClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkagePrevalence of Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria in Manure, Soil, and Vegetables in Urban Blantyre, Malawi, from a Farm-to-Fork Perspective
2025Amon Abraham, Andrew G. Mtewa, Chimwemwe Chiutula, Richard Lizwe Steven Mvula, Alfred Maluwa, Fasil Ejigu Eregno, John Njalam’mano · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · Malawi (Blantyre)
This cross-sectional study in Blantyre, Malawi, characterized antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) prevalence in 35 samples from five livestock farms, including manure, soil, and vegetables. It found high contamination, with Escherichia coli dominating pig manure (52%) and farm soil (35%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae contaminating all sample types (up to 67% in home soils, 60% in vegetables). All manure isolates showed sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim resistance, and vegetables exhibited severe multidrug resistance, including 100% E. coli resistance to gentamicin. Composting for ≤6 weeks did not eliminate ARBs, indicating manure-amended farms are AMR reservoirs.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleSustainable cities: enhancing food systems with urban agriculture
2025Zafar Tabrez · Discover Food · Global
Urban agriculture contributes to urban sustainability by supporting food production, income generation, waste recycling, preventing urban sprawl, preserving biodiversity, and enhancing resilience and local economies. Achieving sustainable implementation requires integrating urban farming into urban planning processes and developing specific policies. Incorporating urban gardening into urban planning and strengthening it with policies enhances its sustainability, improves food security, raises awareness, reduces poverty, and improves food systems. Additionally, urban gardens mitigate urban heat islands, waste, and air pollution, improve health, and foster social connections, with organic agriculture boosting biodiversity and urban food production reducing CO2 emissions.
CommunityPolicyHealthClimate changePortable X-ray fluorescence as a tool for urban soil contamination analysis: accuracy, precision, and practicality
2025E.N. Jenkins, John M. Galbraith, Anna Paltseva · SOIL · Global
This study conducted a literature review of 84 publications to evaluate the accuracy, precision, and practicality of Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) as a tool for analyzing heavy metal contamination in urban soils. Urban soils often face contamination with heavy metals like lead and arsenic, and PXRF was shown to achieve reliable accuracy when properly calibrated. PXRF emerges as a viable method for assessing urban soil contamination.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageUrban Agriculture as a Catalyst for Food Security and Sustainability in Ghana's Rapidly Urbanizing Cities
2025Christian Kofi Sarpong, Romanus Dogkubong Dinye, Alex Donbeinaa, Vera Nyarko Amoako · Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research · Ghana
This study assessed the role of urban agriculture in Ghanaian cities through a systematic literature review of publications from 2000 to 2024. Urban agriculture was found to significantly contribute to food security, nutrition, and income, and to bolster environmental sustainability. However, challenges such as land tenure insecurity, unsafe irrigation practices, weak institutional support, and limited policy integration persist.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsHealthOrganic cyclePolicyCommunityDemystifying the integration of hydroponics cultivation system reinforcing bioeconomy and sustainable agricultural growth
2025Anwesha Chatterjee, Proma Ghosh, Bastian Winkler, V Vijayaragavan, Sanjit Debnath, Jedrzej Cichocki, Marielle Trenkner, Bilitis Vanicela, Christoph Riethmueller, Monte Walz, Suhrid Chandra, Harshata Pal · Scientia Horticulturae · Global
This in-depth review explores the integration of hydroponics cultivation systems, reinforcing bioeconomy and sustainable agricultural growth. Hydroponics is a promising urban farming approach due to its high resource-use and land-use efficiency, enabling year-round production of high-quality fresh foods with less water, nutrients, and pesticides compared to soil-based methods. Recent studies focus on optimizing hydroponics for biofortification in indoor cultivation and integrating municipal wastewater treatment for nutrient and water recovery.
DIYUrban–rural linkageClimate changeRoad Map for the Future
2025Sukanta Kumar Sarangi, Rajeeb K. Mohanty, Sukham Munilkumar, Jitendra Kumar Sundaray · · Global
This chapter presents new and innovative Integrated Farming System (IFS) models designed to meet future generations' needs, considering constraints on land, water, and energy. Described models include three-dimensional farming, aquapod farming, vertical farming, aquaponics, and hydroponics. The chapter also discusses strategies for doubling farmers' income, such as reducing cultivation costs and increasing production, and highlights the roles of international/national organizations and government schemes in promoting IFS.
Digital agriculturePolicyEconomicsClimate changeIn full bloom
2025Susanne Berliner · · Global
This narration observes a community garden as a space of social diversity, functioning as a "cosmopolitan canopy" where people from different backgrounds interact. While a cosmopolitan spirit exists, the garden is not neutral; its permeable boundaries and internal segregation indicate it is permeated by power dynamics and control.
Equity & displacementCommunityHealthPolicyWelfareCOMMERCIAL URBAN AGRICULTURE BUSINESS MODEL STRATEGIES: CITY PROXIMITY AND THE CHOICE OF VALUE PROPOSITIONS
2025M.M. Rasmuna, VGR Chandran, Keshminder J.S. · PLANNING MALAYSIA · Malaysia
This research analyzed commercial urban agriculture (CUA) models in Malaysia using the Business Model Canvas to understand their sustainability. The study found that Malaysian CUA primarily employs low-cost specialization, differentiation, and diversification strategies, including organic branding and targeting upscale consumers. Urban farms also diversify revenue through educational programs, food experiences, and leisure activities. A direct link was established between a farm's geographic location (urban vs. peri-urban) and its value proposition strategy, indicating the importance of spatial planning for CUA success.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood educationSpatial opportunities at the rural-urban fringe: balancing urban growth, food production and ecology
2025Marcus Robinson, Jacky Bowring, Shannon Davis, Sarah Edwards · Landscape Research · Global
This narrative review explored how urban expansion at the rural-urban fringe drives the loss of productive agricultural land, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. The review examined how these competing interests can be negotiated spatially, emphasizing the role of multifunctional green infrastructure to integrate both food production and ecological function across the urban-rural continuum.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageBiodiversityClimate changePolicyTrädgårdar vid stadens rand
2025Mattias Öbrink, Maria Paring · META – Historiskarkeologisk tidskrift · Sweden (Gothenburg)
This text presents an excavated area in the southernmost part of Nya Lödöse, Sweden (Gothenburg), which existed between 1473 and 1624. Excavations conducted between 2022 and 2023 revealed an area with fewer houses and several gardens, contrasting with the densely built-up northern part of the town. The area may have served as both a food supply resource and a land reserve, and the text discusses possibilities and challenges in studying urban gardening, including cultivated soil and land division.
Urban–rural linkagePolicyGardens of the future unique visions for a changing world
2025Chivers, Ruth, Laing, Olivia 1977-, British Library · · Global
Ten award-winning designers present original garden designs for public and private spaces, extending up to 50 years into the future. These designs aim to mitigate the effects of climate change, encourage biodiversity, and address issues of legacy, land ownership, changing societal needs, and individual well-being. The paper emphasizes the power of gardening to nurture nature and adapt to change.
CommunityHealthClimate changeBiodiversityImpact of municipal wastewater use on urban and peri‑urban agricultural productivity: the endogenous treatment-effects approach
2025Mohammed Abdulai, Mohammed Tanko, Alhassan Andani · World Development Sustainability · Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)
This study empirically investigated the link between municipal wastewater (MWW) use and vegetable productivity among 416 vegetable farmers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, using survey data. It was found that MWW use alone is associated with a higher value of vegetable output, but regulation through contacts with extension agents reduces the agronomic and economic benefits of using MWW for irrigation.
Peri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceHealthEconomicsClimate change