Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2056 results(25 / 83)
The profile of foreign urban gardeners in the municipalities of Lombardy (Italy)
2023Valentina Cattivelli · Journal of urban regeneration and renewal · Italy (Lombardy)
This paper describes the profile of foreign urban gardeners in Lombardy, Italy, based on questionnaire responses from municipalities. Foreign gardeners predominantly originate from North Africa and Eastern Europe, are mostly over 40 years old, married, and have children. While many Lombard municipalities have urban gardening projects, there is no regional database of cultivated plots or specific information on gardens cultivated by foreign-born residents.
CommunityWelfareHealthHands-on-ground in a new country: a community-based participatory evaluation with immigrant communities in Southern Alberta
2023Ulises Charles-Rodriguez, Aiat Aborawi, Kamal Khatiwada, Ashmita Shahi, Silvia Koso, Savanna Prociw, Christa Sanford, Richard Larouche · Global Health Promotion · Canada
This article describes a community-based participatory evaluation (CBPE) of a community garden for immigrants in Southern Alberta, Canada. Participants, interpreters, and organizers were engaged through surveys, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews. The garden fostered learning and healthy behaviors, but organizational and communication challenges were identified, with findings used to adapt activities and expand programming.
CommunityHealthWelfareAn assessment of the feasibility of initiating urban agriculture in Pardis New Town of Iran
2023Maede Hedayatifard, Mitra Azimi · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Iran
This research assessed the feasibility of initiating a community garden in Pardis New Town, Iran, through a qualitative approach involving interviews, focus group meetings, and an online survey. Findings revealed favorable conditions due to residents' background in local communal activities, adequate agricultural skills from previous residences, and their readiness to engage in volunteer activities. The study also identified strategic requirements for the design and management of community gardens.
CommunityHealthPolicyCarbon, indoor air, energy and financial benefits of coupled ventilation upgrade and enhanced rooftop garden installation: An interdisciplinary climate mitigation approach
2023Sarabeth Buckley, Catherine L. Connolly, Jonathan I. Levy, Pamela H. Templer, Jacqueline Ashmore, Luís Carvalho, Nathan Phillips, M. Patricia Fabian · Sustainable Cities and Society · Global
This study quantified changes in CO2 emissions, energy use, and financial cost when ventilation upgrades and rooftop garden installations are done simultaneously, with the potential to enhance plant growth from exhausted CO2. Researchers measured indoor CO2 concentrations (maximum 2210 ppm, median 840 ppm, 33% of daytime above 1000 ppm) and estimated ventilation rates (4 L/s). Model calculations showed that while increasing ventilation to recommended levels (7 L/s) would increase CO2 emissions, energy, and cost by 1-4%, rooftop garden installation benefits could counterbalance this, leading to a net decrease of 23-46% in CO2 emissions, 12-13% in energy use, and 12-16% in cost.
Climate changeEconomicsHealthSeasonal variation and risks of potentially toxic elements in agricultural lowlands of central Cameroon
2023Annie Stéphanie Nana, Timo Falkenberg, Andrea Rechenburg, Joshua Ntajal, Juliet Wanjiku Kamau, Anne Ayo, Christian Borgemeister · Environmental Geochemistry and Health · Cameroon (Yaoundé)
This study assessed the seasonal characteristics and ecological risks of potentially toxic elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni) in urban agricultural soils across four lowlands in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cr exceeded recommended thresholds in some or all areas, with Cr exceeding thresholds in all areas during both seasons. One area recorded strong soil pollution (grade V) during the wet season, indicating that preventive action is needed to limit heavy metal contamination in the lowlands of Yaoundé.
Contamination & food safetyHealthClimate changeRethinking Psychiatry: Solutions for a Sociogenic Crisis
2023Helena Hansen, Kevin J. Gutierrez, S. López García · Daedalus · Global
This essay draws on Frantz Fanon's insights into the sociogenesis of psychiatric disorders and feminist standpoint theory to map a path toward sociogenic mental health. It argues that psychiatry should shift from iatrogenesis, the harms of current individual-level and pathologizing approaches, toward the sociogenesis of mental health through robust collaboration with social movements of oppressed people and their collective healing approaches, including community gardens. The essay concludes by outlining a reinvented, community-collaborative psychiatry that supports sociogenesis.
CommunityHealthWelfareÉvaluation et risque sanitaire de la bioaccumulation de métaux lourds (cadmium, cuivre, plomb et le zinc) chez le chou (Brassica Oleracea L.) produit en agriculture urbaine : Cas du périmètre maraicher de Dogona (Bobo-Dioulasso)
2023Issaka Senou · Journal of Applied Biosciences · Burkina Faso
This study assessed heavy metal bioaccumulation in cabbage grown on the Dogona market garden perimeter in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, using a randomized block design with urban solid waste treatments. The results showed high levels of cadmium, copper, and lead in cabbage leaves, with concentrations significantly exceeding WHO standards across all treatments. A critical finding was that consuming this cabbage poses a high health risk to consumers due to significant ingestion of cadmium and lead.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleClimate changeAnalisis Dampak Kebijakan Program Kebun Sekolah untuk Mengatasi Kekurangan Gizi pada Anak
2023Deni Permana · ANTASENA Governance and Innovation Journal · Global
This analysis evaluated the impact of school garden programs on students' nutritional status and nutritious food intake, using surveys, interviews, and nutritional status measurements before and after program implementation. School gardens positively impacted students' nutrition knowledge and increased fresh fruit and vegetable consumption, contributing to a reduction in malnutrition prevalence with significant increases in children's weight and height. However, the program's success was constrained by budget limitations and a lack of training for educators, highlighting the need for adequate training, stable financial support, and curriculum integration.
Governance failureFood educationHealthPolicyWelfareCooking up changes: the act of cooking as a tool for facing the challenges of the Anthropocene
2023Gabriela Rigote, Alessandra Xavier Bueno, Marco Akerman · Saúde e Sociedade · Brazil (São Paulo)
This study analyzed the everyday elements of cooking and its relationship with the food system, based on the experiences of seven female urban farmers in eastern São Paulo, Brazil. Using body-map storytelling, visual and oral data were collected on the meanings of cooking. The findings indicate that cooking connects the field to the table, strengthens urban and peri-urban farming practices, and promotes health and sustainability.
CommunityHealthEconomicsPolicySocial policy and environment in Brazil: Why does community-supported agriculture matter?
2023Ana Paula Pedrosa, Romana Xerez · Global Social Policy · Brazil
This article discusses the implications of Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) for social policy in Brazil, based on qualitative methods, namely, semi-structured interviews with subscribers from six administrative regions who participated through digital platforms. The results indicate that the factors determining consumer participation in CSA are health impact, strengthening local production, environmental concerns, and eating as a human right and political act. This article also demonstrates the need to promote participation among low-income and socially vulnerable families in CSA and to firmly connect food and nutrition security policy with health and environment aimed at poverty alleviation.
CSA & TeikeiPolicyHealthWelfareFirst Report of a Rust Fungus (Puccinia sp.) Infecting Lemongrass in Minnesota
2023Nicholas Greatens, Nick Klejeski, Les J. Szabo, Yue Jin, Pablo D. Olivera · Plant Disease · United States (Minnesota)
In July 2021 and July-October 2022, rust disease was observed on all 20 lemongrass plants in a community garden near Mankato, Minnesota, USA, causing 5-50% leaf loss. Molecular analysis of the rust fungus identified it as Puccinia cesatii or a closely related species. Although P. cesatii has been reported on Cymbopogon species, lemongrass is not generally considered a host, indicating an unusual infection.
Limited or null effectCommunityHealthThe potential impact of policies and structural interventions in reducing cardiovascular disease and mortality: a systematic review of simulation-based studies
2023Olalekan A. Uthman, Rachel Court, Seun Anjorin, Jodie Enderby, Lena Al-Khudairy, Chidozie Nduka, Hema Mistry, G. J. Meléndez‐Torres, Sian Taylor‐Phillips, Aileen Clarke · Health Technology Assessment · Global
A systematic review of 54 simulation-based studies investigated the potential effect of structural interventions on preventing cardiovascular disease. The studies indicated a prospective decrease in cardiovascular incidents from interventions in areas such as diet, tobacco, and alcohol control. However, significant heterogeneity in models prevented output data comparisons, and no models considered interrelationships between multiple policies.
PolicyHealthCSA & TeikeiPEOPLE’S REASONS NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY GARDENS IN DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
2023Sinan Kordon, Patrick Miller · ArtGRID - Journal of Architecture Engineering and Fine Arts · United States (Roanoke)
A survey in five disadvantaged neighborhoods of Roanoke, Virginia, identified primary reasons for non-participation in community gardening. Using descriptive statistics, T-test, and factor analysis, the study found that "theft and damage," "difficult access," "too much effort," and "no personal interest" were the main deterrents. These findings highlight specific barriers to public involvement in community garden projects.
Limited or null effectCommunityPolicyEconomicsHealthAddressing US Food Deserts: Evaluating Current Solutions and Proposing Other Comprehensive Alternatives
2023Seohyun Kim, Carlos Almeida Peña · Journal of Student Research · United States
This study critically evaluated existing initiatives like SNAP, HFFI, and urban agriculture for addressing food deserts in the United States, which affect approximately 19 million individuals. Through a literature review and interviews, the research found that these programs, while offering some positive impact on food insecurity, largely fail to directly address the fundamental issue of distance and systemic accessibility to supermarkets. The study proposes enhancing public transit and online delivery platforms as comprehensive solutions.
Limited or null effectHealthEconomicsPolicyOpportunities and Constraints for Creating Edible Cities and Accessing Wholesome Functional Foods in a Sustainable Way
2023Katarzyna Świąder, Dražena Čermak, Danuta Gajewska, Katarzyna Najman, Anna Piotrowska, Eliza Kostyra · Sustainability · Global
This review analyzed opportunities and constraints for creating edible cities and accessing wholesome functional foods sustainably. While urban food production methods like controlled-environment farms and home gardens exist, significant constraints include pollution, a lack of government support, and economic challenges for urban farms. These issues must be resolved for edible cities to become widespread.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeHealthPolicyBudidaya Tanaman dan Pencegahan Keluhan Muskuloskeletal Pada Pemanenan Telang (Clitoria Ternatea) Dengan Konsep Urban Farming
2023Sajuri Sajuri, Nur Susanti, Farid Rizqullah Baihaqi, Nisfa Prihanani, Erni Fitriani, Riris Anggita · Surya Abdimas · Indonesia
This community service activity aimed to promote the cultivation of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) among a group of former farmers whose rice fields were submerged and unusable due to flooding. Activities were conducted through counseling and training in plant cultivation, as well as providing ergonomic harvesting techniques and physiotherapy training to prevent musculoskeletal complaints. The goal was to develop butterfly pea as a local flagship commodity and enhance its economic value and health benefits through the concept of urban farming.
CommunityEconomicsHealthDIYTraining on Microgreen Cultivation as a Strategy to Strengthen Food Security and Family Nutrition
2023Hifni Septina Carolina, Khodijah Khodijah, Suhono · International Journal of Community Engagement Payungi · Indonesia
A service was implemented to provide knowledge to partners from the WES Payungi community in Indonesia about alternative strategies to strengthen family food security through microgreen cultivation. A Community Based Research approach was used, and the activity was carried out in three stages: training, cultivation preparation, and implementation of microgreen cultivation. Through this training, partners became able to practice growing microgreens for themselves and participate in introducing them to a wider community.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthDeveloping Place-Based Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Taipei City’s Jiuzhuang Community Garden
2023Liling Huang · Sustainability · Taiwan (Taipei City)
This study analyzed the practice of community gardens and their relevance to urban health and human well-being, using the development process of Jiuzhuang Community Garden in Taipei City as a case study. Using qualitative methods such as participatory observation, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews, the study demonstrated co-beneficial relationships and synergistic effects on physical and mental health. This research presents a pathway for community gardens to support place-based health concepts and respond to urban complexity.
CommunityHealthClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceReview and Analysis of the Motivations Associated with Urban Gardening in the Pandemic Period
2023Valentina Cattivelli · Sustainability · Global
This paper examined people's motives for urban gardening during the pandemic waves of 2020 and 2021 through a literature review. Analyzing relevant articles published from early 2020 to mid-2022, findings revealed that the most widespread motivations were related to personal and community wellbeing, as well as food supply security, including the opportunity to spend time having fun outside the home. Additionally, community resilience emerged as a new motivation not previously detected.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsWastewater governance in the upstream catchment of the Awash Basin, Ethiopia: challenges and opportunities for better accountability
2023Yosef Abebe, Mulugeta Gashaw, Asenake Kefale, Tim Brewer · Water Reuse · Ethiopia
A study on wastewater governance in the upstream catchment of the Awash Basin, Ethiopia, found that untreated wastewater discharged from industries is polluting rivers and the surrounding environment. Regulatory bodies have done little to enforce rules and directives for wastewater regulation, and due to poor implementation of laws, urban agriculture is expanding without concern for its negative health and socioeconomic impacts.
Contamination & food safetyHealthPolicyEconomicsClimate changeUrban Farms and Their Benefits: Producing Food in the City
2023Véronique Saint-Gès, Hugo de Vergès · Frontiers for Young Minds · Global
This article introduces urban agriculture, explaining what it is, how it is practiced, and the benefits it provides. It highlights urban agriculture as a way to provide fresh, local food for city residents and to reintroduce nature into urban environments.
CommunityFood educationHealthANALISIS KONTRIBUSI URBAN FARMING DALAM MENDUKUNG PENCAPAIAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) PADA PILAR EKONOMI DAN SOSIAL
2023Lutfiah Alfariza, Ramadhani Eka Putra, Mia Rosmiati · MIMBAR AGRIBISNIS Jurnal Pemikiran Masyarakat Ilmiah Berwawasan Agribisnis · Indonesia
This study examined the contribution of urban farming to the economic and social pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in urban Indonesia. It focused on goals related to poverty, hunger, health, gender equality, and decent work. The findings indicate that urban farming increases income, provides access to healthy food, empowers women, and creates employment for urban communities, thereby positively contributing to these SDGs.
EconomicsWelfareHealthFood sovereignty & justiceHeavy metal occurrence within urban agriculture practices in eastern zones of Nairobi city
2023Njenga John Ng’ang’a, Mukundi John Bosco, Masinde Peter Wasike, Kihurani Agnes Wanjiru · Journal of Agriculture Science and Technology · Kenya (Nairobi)
A study in Nairobi's eastern zone assessed heavy metal occurrence in urban farm inputs and food crops (tomatoes, arrowroots, kales). Cadmium, manganese, lead, and zinc concentrations were analyzed in soil, water, and crop samples. The study found that heavy metal contents, particularly cadmium, manganese, lead, and zinc, were above allowable limits in several crops, and based on FAO/WHO standards, were high for health concern.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageUrban food systems: Factors associated with food insecurity in the urban settings evidence from Dessie and Combolcha cities, north-central Ethiopia
2023Amare Molla Dinku, Tefera Chane Mekonnen, Getachew Shumye Adilu · Heliyon · Ethiopia
A mixed-methods study conducted in Dessie and Combolcha cities, north-central Ethiopia, surveyed 506 resident households to measure the status of food insecurity in urban food systems. The study confirmed that 33.1% of respondents were food insecure, with nine and six individuals per 100 people forced to 'sleep hungry' and 'not eat in the whole day and night' respectively. Household food insecurity was significantly associated with the gender of the household head, participation in casual labor, and living house ownership, and the degree of food insecurity was deemed higher due to weak food system governance, an inconsistent food supply chain, and socio-economic and gender inequalities.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsHealthKajian Potensi Pengembangan Urban Farming Sebagai Strategi Penghijauan Perkotaan di Kabupaten Pringsewu
2023Ikarini Widayati, Ika Kustiani, Panji Kurniawan · Seminar Nasional Insinyur Profesional (SNIP) · Indonesia (Pringsewu)
This study investigated the potential development of urban farming as a strategy for urban greening in Pringsewu Regency, Indonesia, by utilizing spaces in homes, idle land, and residential roads. Its objectives are to create more pleasant, healthy, and clean dense urban residential environments, apply urban farming concepts, and provide economic and environmental benefits to selected communities. Pringsewu urban area still has 1,856.36 hectares with non-urban characteristics, and urban farming is developing to anticipate decreasing urban land.
CommunityEconomicsHealthClimate change