Research & reports

Marthe L. Derkzen, Maitreyi Koduganti, Sheetal Patil, Parama Roy · · India (Bengaluru)

Bengaluru has transitioned from a "Garden City" to a "Global Technology Hub," resulting in food production being pushed out and productive lands converted to residential and commercial uses. This urbanization has led to rising land values, sharpening inequalities, and recurrent water insecurity. In response, new forms of urban farming, such as kitchen gardens and community farms, have emerged to mitigate space constraints and meet local food aspirations. This chapter will use participatory mapping, interviews, film, and photography to explore how Bengaluru residents from diverse backgrounds perceive food as cultural connections, community feelings, and environmental resilience.

Retno Lantarsih, Suhartini Suhartini, Anu Gupta · HABITAT · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)

This study evaluated the sustainability of the Pekarangan Pangan Lestari Program (P2L) in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, across ecological, economic, and social dimensions. Multidimensional scale analysis showed the social dimension was "quite sustainable" at 62.63%, while the ecological (48.69%) and economic (33.38%) dimensions were in the "less sustainable" category. The social dimension had the greatest impact on the P2L Program's sustainability.

Eko Sudarmanto, Triana Zuhrotun Aulia, Indra Gunawan Siregar, Lena Erdawati, Isrok Isrok, M Wahid Saputra, Yuana Fasya Purnamasari · Solusi Bersama · Indonesia

The "Go Green" program, part of Universitas Muhammadiyah Tangerang's community service, aimed to address environmental issues and strengthen food security in Rawa Buntu, Indonesia. It promoted gardening in home yards and vacant land, encouraging community participation in cultivating vegetables and herbs. The program concluded that community involvement in gardening positively impacts the environment, strengthens the local economy, and fosters more sustainable food security.

Jinrong Tong, Dongsheng Feng, Xia Wang, Min Wang, Mei-Lian Chen, Yanfen Chen, Yingqing Ma, Bo Mei, R. Chen, Mengfeng Gao, Siwen Shen, Hongkang Wang, Weiyi Zhang · Heliyon · China (Shanghai)

A study investigated pesticide residues and dietary intake risk in 7028 vegetable samples grown under modern urban agriculture in Shanghai from 2018 to 2021, analyzing 68 types of pesticides. Pesticide residues were detected in 29.21% of samples, with 0.47% exceeding China's national maximum residue limits (MRLs). The target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) for detected pesticides were all less than 1, suggesting there may be no obvious health hazard for residents.

Shengyi Du, Katsuya Tanaka · Heliyon · China (Shanghai)

A discrete choice experiment with 756 Shanghai residents investigated preferences for urban agriculture (UA). Respondents generally supported UA, favoring facilities with environmentally friendly production, farming activities, and dining options, and preferring regularly scheduled educational activities. Residents preferred nearby UA facilities but not necessarily directly in front of them, with stronger preferences observed among highly educated populations, those with primary/secondary school students, and those with agricultural work experience.

Dinda Helma Saputry, Rossi Septy Wahyuni · Jurnal KomtekInfo · Indonesia

This study, conducted from May to July 2023 with 100 respondents, used the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine criteria and suitable tomato seed alternatives for urban farming. The AHP identified yield potential per hectare (0.231) as the highest priority criterion, followed by the number of viable fruit per plant (0.205). GBU tomatoes (0.418) were the most supported seed alternative, with Hibrid (0.417) and GM (0.164) as the second and third alternatives.

Putu Hadi Setyarini, Sisca Fajriani, Tri Nurwati, Mochammad Roviq, Dian Inayati · Jurnal Surya Masyarakat · Indonesia (Malang)

A community service activity at SDI As Salam and SMPIT As Salam in Malang, Indonesia, integrated solar panels into hydroponic and aquaponic systems to enhance energy independence. The Participatory Rural Appraisal approach involved training, installation workshops, and farming assistance. The use of solar panels reduced electricity costs, supported student learning about renewable energy, and improved the sustainability of urban farming in schools.

Maula Fadhilata Rahmatika, Agus Suman, Wildan Syafitri, Sri Muljaningsih · Regional Sustainability · Indonesia

This study examined potential customers' interest in Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Indonesia using the UTAUT2 model, surveying 1200 respondents. The model explained 44.4% of customer intentions, identifying performance expectancy (0.292) as the decisive factor. Hedonic motivation (0.262), social influence (0.259), and facilitating conditions (0.086) also positively influenced interest in CSA participation.

Aulia Adetya · Policy Brief Pertanian Kelautan dan Biosains Tropika · Indonesia

This policy brief discusses urban farming as a strategy to address food insecurity in Indonesian urban areas, which face weakened local food availability and high reliance on external supplies. Urban farming, encompassing integrated farming or agriculture, has been widely adopted across Indonesian cities with diverse objectives. The brief highlights urban farming's potential to strengthen urban food security and emphasizes the need for supportive policies, including limited land use, citizen training, and assessing the impact of such training.

Eni Karsiningsih, Andini Meisya Sriwijayani Suwardih, Dinda Aulia, Santia Santia, Sulthon A’uliya Alfarissi, Gita Ardianta, Aprilianti Wulandari, Annisa Miswarni Lubis, Dodi Irwandi, Muhammad Ferghio Jovanka · MESTAKA Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Pangkalpinang)

This empowerment program in Pangkalpinang City, Indonesia, aimed to increase vegetable production and income for the Cendawan 31 Women Farmers Group (KWT). The program addressed obstacles such as non-commercial orientation, simple management, low member motivation, unplanned production, limited price information, and inefficient marketing. Using active participatory methods, mentoring, and counseling, the program successfully improved the group's creativity, innovation in vegetable planting, and vegetable production, enabling them to arrange planting schedules and select appropriate plant types.

Engelbertus Nggalu Bali, Cornelia Theresia Asamal, Vanida Mundiarti · Early Childhood Education Development and Studies (ECEDS) · Indonesia

This descriptive qualitative study observed the transformation of a campus teaching program strengthening the Pancasila student profile in early childhood education in Alor Regency, Indonesia. Data was collected through observations and interviews with 3 principals and 1 teacher in 4 driving schools. The study found that challenges included media limitations, unstable electricity and network conditions, and teachers' understanding of modules and assessments.

Anubhav Pradhan · South Asia Research · India

This article analyzes the recalibration of justice for agrarian communities along the Yamuna in Delhi. Following a 2015 ban on edible crop farming by India's apex environmental court, the Delhi Development Authority has conducted multiple demolition drives for nearly a decade to evict farmers and clear land for redevelopment. The ongoing contentions involving farmers, planning agencies, and the judiciary in this region are symptomatic of the erosion of social justice in urbanizing India.

Yulia Andriani, Roza Yulida, Rosnita Rosnita, Fanny Septya, Meki Herlon · KnE Social Sciences · Indonesia

A survey in Pekanbaru City, Indonesia, identified the use of communication media and institutional support for urban farming among farmer women groups. Farmers demonstrated excellent information access and communication behavior, utilizing smartphones and printed media for farming information. They also received full support from local leaders and the Pekanbaru city government, including regular counseling and urban farming socialization.

Heristama Anugerah Putra, Ryan Putranda Kristianto, David Andrian, Daniel Gentario Hutabarat, Elisabeth Yolanda Kristin · Sarwahita · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This study in Surabaya, Indonesia, addresses the cultivation of grapes using the verticulture method as an urban farming concept. The project involved preparation, socialization, training, mentoring, and evaluation to enable residents to learn grape cultivation from seeding to fertilization, aiming for both consumption and sale of produce.

Nur Annisa, Tri Indriani, Irfan Irfan, Ahmad Anugrah Wahidin, Muhammad Kadir · Jurnal Pelayanan dan Pengabdian Masyarakat Indonesia · Indonesia

At Inkiya Farm in Bajubodoa village, Maros district, challenges in lettuce production using the NFT system included crop damage or failure due to natural disturbances, limited space, low drought resistance, and suboptimal growth. This activity introduced a Bell-Siphon ebb-flow hydroponic system as a cheaper, environmentally friendly, space-saving, and more optimal plant production solution. The activity provided partners' women members with at least 6 ebb-flow hydroponic units, installation, and training on building the system to increase production, reduce crop failure risk, and improve lettuce production.

Wa Ode Hesty Eka Prawira, Batara Surya, Syafri Syafri · Urban and Regional Studies Journal · Indonesia

To analyze the impact of land use change on settlement development in Moncongloe Bulu Village, Indonesia, quantitative descriptive analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and SWOT analysis were employed. The study found that land use change and land availability affect the fulfillment of settlement development needs, while the activity system does not. Suggested strategies include maintaining productive agricultural land and developing the concept of urban farming to utilize land in the new town.

Eka Triana Yuniarsih, Muslim Salam, Muhammad Hatta Jamil, Andi Tenriawaru · Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity · Indonesia (Makassar)

This study aimed to identify key factors influencing the adoption of technological innovation in urban farming (ITUF) in Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Primary data was collected through a structured survey of 334 randomly selected individuals from 14 sub-districts and analyzed using Binary Logistic Regression. The study revealed that eight variables, including farming knowledge and experience, education, and involvement in urban farming organizations, significantly influenced the adoption rate.

Nurmiftah Fauzi, Titi Stiawati, Arenawati Arenawati · Kebijakan Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi · Indonesia (Tangerang)

The Tangerang City Food Security Agency implemented a 1000-plant hydroponic assistance program as part of an urban farming initiative to strengthen food security. This qualitative phenomenological study used Rogers' innovation attributes theory to evaluate the program's relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Results indicated the program provided economic benefits and spiritual satisfaction, and was compatible with existing values and food needs, but found room for improvement in the complexity aspect.

悦来 刘, 安锌 周 · Landscape Architecture · China

To explore the healing value of community gardens from a public health perspective, a study was conducted on four projects. Through literature review and questionnaire surveys, it was shown that community gardens promote individual healing, group therapy, and the repair and reconstruction of social relationships. This effect is realized through a three-layer mechanism: natural output services and physical space creation, individual physiological and psychological healing, and social relationship repair through community network building.

Aji Saputra, Oekan S. Abdoellah, Gemilang Lara Utama · Jurnal Ilmu Lingkungan · Indonesia

A systematic literature review aiming to identify the methods used for sustainable urban agriculture in Indonesia and to assess the main opportunities and challenges of using it to achieve environmental, social, and economic goals. Using the PRISMA method, the review screened articles from the Scopus database and analysed 25 studies on the relationship between urban agriculture and sustainability. It reports that urban agriculture offers economic, social, and environmental benefits within sustainable urban environments, and concludes that realising its full potential requires coordinated efforts through policy development, community involvement, and overcoming existing obstacles.

Alifia Revan Prananda, Cornelius Rangga Surya Kusuma, Daniel Gunawan, Terra Rhebekka, Galih Slamet · Manfaat Jurnal Pengabdian Pada Masyarakat Indonesia · Indonesia

A community-service report on introducing solar-powered hydroponic urban farming in Rejowinangun Selatan village, Magelang City, Indonesia (population density 7,361 people/km²), in response to declining green open space linked to rising population density and land concretisation, which affects food security and self-sufficiency. The programme delivered various approaches to educate and directly involve residents in building hydroponic systems integrated with solar panels, using renewable-energy technology to enable food production in limited spaces such as house terraces. It reports that this increases food independence and security, and that the vegetables produced are described as healthier owing to minimal pesticide use.

Fauziyyah Nur Rachmadillah, Mochamad Yusuf · Jurnal Teknik ITS · Indonesia

In Kampung Ngemplak Sutan (Kampung Sayur Organik), Surakarta, Indonesia, sustainability of the local urban farming initiative was evaluated using primary data from observation, questionnaires and interviews plus secondary data, analyzed with Multidimensional Scaling and Rapid Appraisal for Sustainability (MDS/RAPS). The socio-cultural dimension scored highest at 75.44 ("very sustainable"), while the economic dimension scored lowest at 56.71 ("fairly sustainable"); the study also noted that urban farming there functions mainly as a side activity that receives limited attention and that community participation has been declining.

Siti Nurhidayati · Panthera Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Sains dan Terapan · Indonesia

In Mataram City and West Lombok Regency, Indonesia, researchers used observation and interviews with teachers and students to identify local learning resources available for high school biology teaching. They found potential resources including school gardens, city parks, urban forests, coastal areas and local agro-tourism sites, and reported that using these resources increased student interest and motivation and made lessons more contextual, while also noting continuing challenges in implementation.

Shuyue He, Ming Li, Yuhan Zheng, Xin Gao, Ruixia Wang · Cities · China

An ethnographic study of two guerrilla gardening cases in Nanjing, China (SuoJincun), examined how residents produce differentiated representational space in daily gardening practice. It found that gardening carries social value as material production, functions as a material carrier of place attachment and cultural identity, offers access to nature and culture for residents with limited mobility, and operates as a form of private appropriation and recycling of collective public space by residents.

Yunanto Yunanto, Retno Wulandari · Agricultural Socio-Economic Empowerment and Agribusiness Journal · Indonesia

A study of the Sustainable Urban Farming (P2L) program in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, surveyed 88 respondents across 11 farmer groups using a Likert scale to assess farmers' perceptions of agricultural extension workers' performance in planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, with relationships analyzed via Spearman's rank correlation. The program was reported to have improved food availability, accessibility and household income through market-oriented production, and extension workers' performance was rated good (score 260.42), but factors such as age, non-formal education, farmer knowledge, farming experience and ICT use showed only very weak correlation with extension worker performance.