Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
1089 results(25 / 44)
Socio-political dynamics of alternative food networks: a hybrid governance approach
2019Alessandra Manganelli, Pieter Van den Broeck, Frank Moulaert · Territory Politics Governance · Global
This theoretical paper points out that Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) encounter governance challenges stemming from organizational growth pains, the search for cultivable land, and confrontation with urban planning policy and state structures that have a low affinity with urban agriculture. As AFNs develop, various governance tensions arise both within their organization and in their institutionalization processes. The paper redefines hybrid governance to elucidate these dynamics, suggesting that existing agro-food literature insufficiently addresses the complexity of AFNs' governance.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEducación popular, educación ambiental y buen vivir en América Latina : una experiencia socioeducativa de empoderamiento comunitario
2019Byron Cevallos, Xavier Úcar · · Ecuador
This doctoral thesis proposal analyzes socio-educational approaches to the global social-ecological crisis and climate change. It systematizes the experience of the "Convento Eco-emprende" project in Convento, Manabi province, Ecuador, where participatory bioconstruction of an agro-ecological community center and a community garden began in 2017 through strengthening local organizational capabilities. These are understood as spaces for knowledge exchange aimed at collective empowerment and social transformation.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceEl aporte de la permacultura en el desarrollo de la agricultura urbana
2019Rafael Bújanos Muñíz · · Global
This essay explores the intersection of permaculture principles and their potential application in urban agriculture. Permaculture, originating from the work of Bill Mollison, David Holmgren, and Masanobu Fukuoka in the 1970s, is a system for designing and implementing general principles for organic food production in urban settings. It is based on natural ecosystem patterns and ethical principles, including soil, forest, and water conservation, self-care, and equitable distribution of goods with reasonable consumption limits.
Organic cycleCommunityPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceThe countryside in the city? Rural-urban dynamics in allotment gardens in Brno, Czech Republic
2019Lucie Sovová, Radoslava Krylová · Moravian Geographical Reports · Czech Republic (Brno)
This paper evaluates the position of urban allotments within the rural-urban spectrum, investigating how urban and rural characteristics are materialized, represented, and practiced in five allotment sites in Brno, Czech Republic. The research examines the physical environment, social life, and food production within these spaces. It suggests that overcoming the urban-rural dichotomy could facilitate the inclusion of urban gardening in contemporary cities.
CommunityUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceTrade‐offs in the performance of alternative farming systems
2019Navin Ramankutty, Vincent Ricciardi, Zia Mehrabi, Verena Seufert · Agricultural Economics · Global
A review was conducted on the production, environmental, and socioeconomic performance of three alternative farming systems: organic, smallholder, and urban agriculture. Organic agriculture offers environmental, livelihood, health, and nutritional benefits but is hampered by lower yields and higher prices. Smaller farms exhibit higher yields and biodiversity but result in lower incomes for farmers. Urban agriculture can alleviate pressure on rural landscapes, provide nutritional benefits to the urban poor, and engage urban dwellers in food system challenges, but it cannot scale up to be a substantial solution on its own.
Limited or null effectUrban–rural linkageHealthEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceLa agricultura en los periurbanos de Buenos Aires (Argentina) y Santiago (Chile): Territorios en transición
2019María Carolina Feito, Sofía Boza, Santiago Peredo · Repositorio Digital Institucional de la Universidad de Buenos Aires (Universidad de Buenos Aires) · Argentina
This study focused on the reality of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (AUPU) in Latin America, comparing cases in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area and the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Both cities form complex territories strongly related to their periphery, but the debate regarding AUPU's future development model remains open, reflected in contradictions even in public policies. The strong link between family farming and AUPU further complicates the situation due to the intrinsic limitations of family farming.
Governance failurePeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsHubungan Kompetensi Petani terhadap Ketahanan Pangan Keluarga melalui Pertanian Perkotaan
2019Aldea Lyliana · Studi Pustaka · Global
This literature study aims to describe the relationship between farmer competence and family food security through urban agriculture. Urban agriculture is presented as a solution to food insecurity caused by population growth and land conversion in urban areas. Farmer competence is identified as a key factor in urban agriculture management, influenced by farmer characteristics, and crucial for planning and decision-making due to greater challenges than rural agriculture. Good farmer performance leads to food availability and increased income, contributing to family food security. The study utilizes relevant secondary data analysis.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityAlternativas bioorgánicas de nutrición en el cultivo de la zanahoria (Daucus carota var. sativa) en un huerto intensivo
2019Pedro López Labarta, José Luis Montejo Viamontes, Yacelis Cárdenas García, Dimeri Piñeiro Esquivel, Diosmaris de la Caridad Vasallo Cristia, Amaury Rondón Aquilar · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba
This research, conducted in the Ernesto Che Guevara intensive orchard in Esmeralda municipality, Cuba, from December 2016 to March 2017, compared different bioorganic nutrition alternatives and their influence on growth and yield indicators in carrot cultivation. Using a completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and three repetitions, plant height, root length, and yield were evaluated. Fortified liquid humus and liquid humus enriched with boron, calcium, and zinc yielded the best agronomic indicators and the greatest economic benefits compared to natural liquid humus and the control.
Organic cycleDIYFood sovereignty & justiceUrban gardens as a source of self-grown food in Czech towns and cities
2019Jan Vávra, Petr Daněk, Petr Jehlička, Miloslav Lapka · · Czech Republic
An analysis of large-scale representative survey results in Czech towns and cities investigated urban gardens as a source of self-grown food. The study found that while food production in urban areas is less frequent than in rural areas, the level of self-sufficiency in urban households is similar to that in rural households. This paper presents data on the scale of urban food production and its contributions to ecosystem services and resilience.
DIYClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityMoroccan towns
2019Heide Studer · · Morocco
This text focuses on urban food production in Moroccan towns, discussing existing practices and their changes during urbanization. It notes that urban food questions, including food accessibility, food sovereignty, and environmental aspects, are gaining importance in international debates due to increasing urban spaces and populations. Urban food production contributes to health for the affluent and food security for poorer populations.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsClimate changeLocalizing SDG2 Zero Hunger through “Fair Food” in Australia
2019Kiah Smith · Queensland's institutional digital repository (The University of Queensland) · Australia (Brisbane)
This paper presents a sociological analysis of community "fair food" initiatives in Brisbane, Australia. These initiatives pursue more equitable food access through activities that connect values of food justice, sovereignty, and citizenship with solving practical problems in local ecological food production, food waste reduction, providing low-cost food to vulnerable groups, and restructuring finance. Scaling up to influence policy and financing remains a key challenge.
CommunityWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceAgricultural Productive Public Space: “An Alternative for Increasing Ecological Services, Social Development and Urban Sustainability”
2019Ignacio Carreño, Wenjun Ma · Current Urban Studies · Global
This multi-cluster quantitative and design research describes a methodology for establishing agricultural productive public spaces in cities, focusing on community participation. A case study in Shanghai, China, demonstrated how urban agriculture, in various modes, can address urban needs and improve environmental and urban conditions. The research provides a methodological approximation for formalizing local spatial development with a participatory approach, aiming to increase urban sustainability and meet the socioeconomic needs of communities.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsClimate changePolicyAgricultura urbana: Creación de un Restaurante Gourmet
2019Romero López, Iván Fernando · · Colombia (Bogotá)
This article proposes creating a gourmet restaurant in Bogotá, Colombia, to address food security and generate income for urban farmers in low-resource communities like Comuna 4 of Altos de Cazuca. The restaurant would purchase fresh produce weekly from local cultivators, supporting employment, innovation in cultivation infrastructure, and providing organic, quality products to customers. This initiative aims to improve commercialization for urban farmers who currently only support children's nutrition programs.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agricultureUrban Agriculture as Livelihood Strategy
2019Ashenafi Tilahun Hailie · IGI Global eBooks · Global
This chapter assessed the benefits of urban agriculture in a study area, using qualitative and quantitative analysis aligned with a sustainable livelihood framework. Findings indicated that urban agriculture is sustained by sex indiscrimination, migrant dominancy, poor educational status, and agricultural background. While assets like land access and fertile soil were promising, skills, knowledge transfer, labor ability, and good health were found insufficient. Identified vulnerabilities included population explosion, absence of good governance, frequent natural calamities, land tenure insecurity, and seasonality of prices.
Governance failureCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceWelfarePolicyAgricultura urbana e as Iniciativas de Resistência Popular
2019José Luiz Lourenço Ribeiro, Liz Cristiane Dias · RELACult - Revista Latino-Americana de Estudos em Cultura e Sociedade · Global
This paper examined the contribution of urban agriculture to creating alternative territories built from a non-hegemonic and popular perspective. Based on a theoretical literature search, it was revealed that when urban agriculture is organized by excluded individuals or those not integrated into the normalized urban lifestyle, these initiatives transform into territories of resistance whose primary function is to escape social vulnerability and protect marginalized popular culture.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityWelfareQuelle agriculture urbaine pour atteindre l’autosuffisance en ville ?
2019Eurêkoi · · Global
This record describes a query from a user of Eurekoi, a remote response service provided by librarians, seeking documents on urban self-sufficiency. The user requested information ranging from identifying needs to presenting existing solutions. Librarians from the Liège library provided the response.
Food sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageEconomicsSolar powered internet of things for urban framing
2019Wang, Jiaxin · DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) · Singapore
This project focuses on developing novel sensing and monitoring techniques for urban farming environments, particularly in land-scarce areas like Singapore, to enhance food security. It introduces various IoT platforms and elements, illustrates radio frequency and Bluetooth low energy communication principles, and explains data transmission using IDE programming. The project aims to design a system capable of temperature measurement and TDS value detection in water, combining different sensors with Arduino design.
Digital agricultureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceUrban Agriculture in Harare: Socio-Economic Dimensions of a Survival Strategy
2019David Rider Smith · · Zimbabwe (Harare)
Urban agriculture in Harare, Zimbabwe, is extensive in private gardens and public open spaces, serving as a widespread survival strategy. It contributes to mitigating hunger, achieving household food security, alleviating poverty during economic restructuring, and improving the urban environment. Despite its importance as a food and income source, the rising cost of food places many families under severe pressure.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareEconomicsCommunityParticipation of Poor Town Community as Agro-Entrepreneur Towards Urban Agriculture
2019Mohammad Amizi Ayob, Nurul Aida Yaakob, M. Nursalwani · Canadian social science · Global
This study investigated the level of participation of poor town communities, primarily homeless individuals, in urban agriculture entrepreneurship, involving 79 respondents. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used. Results showed that implementing urban agriculture requires the right attitude, knowledge, and perception. However, the chi-square test revealed no significant value on socioeconomics towards urban agriculture within the poor town community.
WelfareCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban agriculture as a climate change and disaster risk reduction strategy
2019Marielle Dubbeling, R. van Veenhuizen, Jess Halliday · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
Urban and peri-urban agriculture is considered a strategy that can bring multiple benefits and help to build resilient urban food systems at the city region level and enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable residents. Cities, as major emitters of greenhouse gas (GHG), are not only contributing to climate change but are also directly and indirectly impacted by it. Key issues include rising temperatures, increasing rainfall, flooding, and urban food insecurity. Rapid urban growth will only increase the number of highly vulnerable urban communities, with the urban poor being most at risk.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agricultureAquaponics: a positive impact circular economy approach TO feeding cities
2019Steven Beckers · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Belgium (Brussels)
The Abattoir Farm in Brussels, Belgium, established in 2015 on the roof of Foodmet, is BIGH's first full-scale production site. This project utilizes an aquaponic production system, linking fish-farming tanks to greenhouses for growing plants, recreating a natural ecosystem in an artificial environment. The system produces minimal waste, requires limited energy inputs, and delivers positive environmental impacts, while providing city consumers with year-round access to quality, locally sourced products such as tomatoes, fish, herbs, and berries.
EconomicsCommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceTHE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND URBAN AGRICULTURE
2019Cvijetin Živanović, Miroslav Nedeljković · AKADEMSKI PREGLED · Global
This paper focuses on agricultural urbanism, using urban agriculture as a sustainable approach to food production, preparation, processing, and distribution in cities. Analytical methods like analysis, abstraction, and specialization, along with synthetic methods including synthesis, concretization, and generalization, were employed. The results indicate that, in most cases, industrialization and its growing social problems are the primary causes of disturbed human behavior, broken community ties, disrupted traditions, and increased crime and fear among people.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageClimate changeAgricultura Urbana y Periurbana. Reconfiguraciones territoriales y potencialidades en torno a los sistemas alimentarios urbanos
2019Héctor Ávila Sánchez · Investigaciones Geográficas Boletín del Instituto de Geografía · Global
This study analyzed the impact and potential of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA) on urban food systems, focusing on cities in Western Europe, North America, and Latin America. It concluded that while UPA practices have increased, their presence in urban food systems remains limited, and their consideration in territorial public policies is still marginal. In developed countries, its impact has been primarily therapeutic, landscape-related, and for heritage preservation, while in poorer countries, it has contributed to self-sufficiency for low-income urban populations, public space recovery, social fabric strengthening, and community development.
Limited or null effectUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsDiseño de un modelo de agricultura urbana para el desarrollo de huertos familiares
2019Cindy Carolina Ortiz Franco, kleber Bajaña Avarado · · Ecuador
A study was conducted in the Atahualpa parish, Santa Elena province, Ecuador, on the design of an urban agriculture model for family garden development. The investigation was carried out through documentary research, comprising stages of diagnosis via surveys and interviews with council managers, approach, theoretical proposal based on survey results, methodological procedure, analysis, and conclusions on project viability. The diagnosis determined that farmers are interested in participating in the implementation of the urban agriculture proposal designed for the Atahualpa parish to improve food security and nutrition in families.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsOrganic cycleGrowing Food in the City: Urban Agriculture in Quito, Ecuador, through a Feminist Lens
2019Laine Young · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Ecuador (Quito)
This preliminary research brief explores the potential of using intersectional experiences and feminist political ecology to assess urban agriculture (UA) programming in Quito, Ecuador. It suggests this approach can influence increased access to nutritious food for marginalized people, promote equality and inclusion, and improve urban environments.
CommunityWelfareFood sovereignty & justicePolicy