Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
3622 results(26 / 145)
Economic and Environmental Tradeoffs in Cultivating Short Food Supply Chains With Urban Indoor Agriculture
2025Joseph Seong, H. Christopher Peterson, Simone Valle de Souza · Agribusiness · Global
This study evaluated the economic and environmental sustainability potential of urban indoor agriculture (IA) using a multi-objective optimization model (IA-MOO) integrating a bioeconomic model for lettuce production. Results indicated that earnings before taxes (EBT) and energy use efficiency (EUE) are generally not conflicting objectives, except for a short production schedule frame.
Economic viabilityEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureFrom Survival to Solidarity: Reclaiming Santiago’s Streets and Plazas Through Food, Care, and Collective Resistance in <i>Ollas Comunes</i>
2025Francisco García, Francisco Vergara‐Perucich · Urban Planning · Chile (Santiago)
This article examines how "ollas comunes" (community-led survival kitchens) in Santiago, Chile, contest the dominant logic of neoliberal governance and ownership within public space. Emerging during the 2019 social revolt and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic to address food insecurity, these initiatives reclaim streets as arenas of collective care, mobility, and embodied everyday democracy by providing free communal meals. Based on qualitative data from interviews, focus groups, and participant observations, findings demonstrate that cooking and eating in the street transform physical streetscapes and mobility patterns, producing emergent publics, meanings, and solidarities.
CommunityWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceFramework SolAgro para una agricultura urbana escalable y soberana desde el desarrollo sostenible.
2025Rodríguez Taboada, Sanyi · Figshare · Cuba
The SolAgro Framework is an integrated agricultural engineering project by SolAgro SRL, designed for urban farms of 1 to 3 hectares in Cuba. It integrates functional agroecology, open technologies, renewable energy, and local manufacturing to create autonomous nodes of resilience. The project aims for economic returns within 12 months and social returns through youth training, consolidating technological and community sovereignty.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsDigital agricultureClimate changeNurturing resilient cities: a systematic literature review of community gardens’ contribution to sustainability, 1992–2021
2025Galia Oriya Cukierman, Demi Coenraads, Emmy Iwarsson, Tong Wu, Alon Shepon · npj Urban Sustainability · Global
This systematic review analyzed 363 community garden (CG) articles from 1992 to 2021, identified through a bibliometric analysis of 1534 urban agriculture (UA) and 470 CG studies. Findings indicate that UA research primarily focuses on food production, while CG studies emphasize social and urban dynamics, mainly in the Global North, with limited quantitative evidence of their impacts. The review concludes that CGs contribute to all SDGs, but their roles in urban resilience, food systems, and policymaking are underexplored, and their overall contribution to sustainability remains unclear due to the lack of a global estimate.
CommunityClimate changePolicyHealthLifelong learning in sustainability-led initiatives: Exploring their learning potential along the reworked four pillars of education
2025Lena Schmeiduch, Émile Thévenot · International Review of Education · Global
This study explored the potential for lifelong learning within sustainability-led initiatives, such as ecovillages and community-supported agriculture, through the theoretical lens of Noah Sobe's four pillars of lifelong education. While these initiatives offer opportunities to address sustainability-related challenges, their insular nature and limited accessibility have drawn criticism in the literature on sustainability transitions. The analysis suggests that these initiatives and lifelong learning agendas frequently converge in their framing of sustainability issues.
Equity & displacementCSA & TeikeiCommunityFood educationEconomicsRethinking the potential of urban agriculture as a climate resilience strategy: Evidence from Accra, Ghana
2025Gideon Baffoe, Philip Antwi‐Agyei · City and Environment Interactions · Ghana (Accra)
This mixed-methods study analyzed the role of urban agriculture (UA) in climate resilience in Accra, Ghana, from the perspective of policymakers. While UA contributes to food security, water use efficiency, and ecological protection, its integration into policy frameworks was found to be limited due to challenges such as weak institutional coordination, competing economic priorities, and governance inefficiencies.
Governance failureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsEffectiveness of Facebook groups in enhancing the capacity of rooftop gardeners
2025Khondokar H. Kabir, Jannatul Ferdows, Saifur Rahman, Ataharul Chowdhury, Md. Asaduzzaman Sarker, S.M. Asik Ullah, Mohammed Nasir Uddin, Mohammad Maruf Hasan · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Bangladesh
An online survey of 120 rooftop gardeners in Bangladesh investigated the extent to which Facebook groups support information needs and enhance capacity. Findings indicate that information sharing in Facebook groups assists in planning, acquiring and utilizing resources, carrying out intercultural operations, and determining optimal harvesting and storage practices. Facebook can play a significant role in bridging the information gap among rooftop gardeners and enhancing their skills.
DIYCommunityFood educationDigital agricultureProduction of Biofertilizers using Rhizobium Isolated from Phaseolus Vulgaris Root Nodules
2025Azemfack Jules Arnol, Mbouobda Hermann Désiré, Dobgima John Fonmboh, Muyang Rosaline Forsah, Fotso · African Journal of Biology and Medical Research · Cameroon
This study aimed to isolate and characterize Rhizobium bacteria from Phaseolus vulgaris root nodules to produce nitrogen biofertilizer as a chemical fertilizer substitute. Nodules from the University of Bamenda's school garden were used to purify and characterize Rhizobium, which were then used with charcoal powder to produce biofertilizer. Morphological characterization revealed fast-growing, translucent, mucoid, Gram-negative bacteria consistent with Rhizobium, and three concentrations of biofertilizer with a six-month shelf life were produced.
Organic cycleBiodiversityFood educationDeterminants of rooftop gardening knowledge among gardeners: A case study from Dhaka, Bangladesh
2025Sk. Md. Nur-E-Alam, Marcin Feltynowski, Md. Sekender Ali, Mohummed Shofi Ullah Mazumder, Fida Al Hasan · Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
This study in Dhaka, Bangladesh, aimed to explore the socio-economic characteristics and current knowledge of rooftop gardeners, and to evaluate factors contributing to their gardening knowledge. The research found that gardening space and media contact positively correlate with gardeners' existing knowledge. Access to diverse media can enhance understanding, and having gardening space facilitates technical knowledge sharing and community building among gardeners.
DIYFood educationCommunityTree Species Overcome Edaphic Heterogeneity in Shaping the Urban Orchard Soil Microbiome and Metabolome
2025Emoke Dalma Kovacs, Melinda Haydee Kovacs · Horticulturae · Romania (Cluj-Napoca)
This study in an urban orchard in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, investigated how five Prunus species and soil depth (0–30 cm) affect microbial biodiversity and metabolomic signatures using 225 soil samples. It found significant tree species-specific effects on soil microbial biodiversity, with bacterial biomarkers dominating and apricot tree soils showing the highest microbial activity. Metabolomic analysis identified 247 distinct metabolites, revealing unique organic acid profiles for sour cherry and quinone accumulation for cherry, with depth also influencing microbial communities and metabolite composition.
BiodiversityOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkageA Smart Plant Monitoring System Using Arduino
2025Arin Shaikh · International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology · Global
This paper presents a Smart Plant Monitoring System using Arduino, designed to automate irrigation and enhance plant care by continuously monitoring soil moisture, temperature, and humidity. The system, comprising an Arduino Uno, sensors, and a water pump, demonstrated a 30-40% reduction in water consumption and improved irrigation efficiency in experimental results. It is proposed for both small-scale urban gardening and large-scale agricultural applications.
Digital agricultureDIYAssessment of performance mesophilic single-stage biogas digester for treating agricultural wastes
2025Isaac Mbir Bryant, Francis Kumi, Christina Fobir · Journal of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (JGhIE) · Ghana
This 24-week study in Ghana assessed the performance of an 8 m3 pilot-scale mesophilic single-stage biogas digester for treating urban agricultural wastes. Operating at 30 °C with various hydraulic retention times (HRTs), the digester used cow dung as inoculum and various plant and animal wastes as substrates. The system produced 3 m3 of biogas (60% CH4) daily, with HRTs of 23 and 26 days showing better removal efficiency for most parameters compared to 20 days.
Organic cycleFloristic Diversity and Cultural Heritage of Aleppo’s Public Park: Toward Sustainable Urban Green Space Management
2025Antonio Andréa Belló, Aline Batch · Trees Forests and People · Syria (Aleppo)
This study documented 257 plant species in Aleppo's Central Public Park, Syria, through systematic field surveys and floristic analysis. Despite conflict, the park exhibited exceptional plant diversity, with Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae being the most represented families. The findings revealed a dominance of herbaceous species and perennials, and identified five native gymnosperm trees and approximately 7% rare or underrepresented flora, underscoring the need for integrated management strategies.
BiodiversityCommunityMapping the climate in the urban fabric. The first step for farming the city
2025Matteo Clementi, Valentina Dessì, Mariana Pereira Guimarães · TERRITORIO · Global
The bize_UrFarm research explores urban agriculture's potential to integrate into urban and building metabolism by utilizing water, soil, and waste, and to strengthen urban green infrastructure. This research introduces building surfaces as a resource for urban agriculture, challenging the previous view of them as impediments in urbanized contexts.
Climate changeCommunityOrganic cycleBiodiversityLarval habitat diversity, physicochemical characteristics and their effect on the larval density of malaria vectors in the city of Accra, Ghana
2025Abdul Rahim Mohammed Sabtiu, Isaac Amankona Hinne, Isaac Kwame Sraku, Daniel Kodjo Halou, Richard Tettey Doe, Simon K. Attah, Fred Aboagye‐Antwi, Yaw A. Afrane · Malaria Journal · Ghana (Accra)
A study in Accra, Ghana, investigated mosquito larval habitats and their impact on Anopheles gambiae s.l. larvae density, conducting surveys at 15 locations during 2022's dry and rainy seasons. Of 727 potential habitats, 65.34% were positive for Anopheles larvae, with drainage ditches being the most common type. Irrigated urban farming sites showed the highest abundance of An. gambiae s.l. larvae, particularly during the rainy season, indicating that urban farming contributes to increased mosquito breeding habitats.
Environmental trade-offsHealthPeri-urban agricultureCloud-based platforms for monitoring and managing climate-smart urban farming systems
2025Marieke van Daalen, Joris Meijer, Lisanne Koopmans · International Journal of Cloud Computing and Database Management · Global
This review examined the evolution, applications, and benefits of cloud-based platforms in climate-smart urban agriculture systems, synthesizing pre-2024 literature. It demonstrated how cloud-enabled monitoring supports energy optimization, adaptive climate control, greenhouse gas mitigation, and early stress detection in plants. The article also discussed data interoperability issues, cybersecurity concerns, and adoption barriers in low-resource settings. Findings suggest that cloud-integrated platforms enhance decision accuracy, promote sustainable water management, and strengthen resilience to climate variability.
Digital agricultureClimate changePlanning for People with People: Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions in Participatory Land-Use Planning, Co-Design, and Co-Governance of Green and Open Spaces
2025Katarína Slobodníková, Attila Tóth · Land · Slovakia
This study examined the approaches and methods of civic initiatives (CIs) implementing Green Infrastructure (GI) and Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) in Slovakia. Analysis of seventeen case studies showed that many CIs engage in NBS activities such as creating or enhancing parks, green public spaces, and community gardens, and restoring natural and semi-natural areas. Knowledge creation and awareness-raising are also central strategies, with the transformation of derelict areas into multifunctional public spaces emerging as a notable practice.
CommunityPolicyFood educationContrasting Prosumption Models: Experiences, Benefits and Continuation in Allotment Gardens and Community-Supported Agriculture in Switzerland
2025Stefan Galley, Stefan Mann, Patrick Bottazzi · Societies · Switzerland
A survey of Swiss allotment garden (AG, n=201) and community-supported agriculture (CSA, n=250) members revealed how prosumers perceive the benefits of their activity and how these experiences shape their likelihood to continue. AGs enhance production-related individual benefits, while CSAs foster positive experiences around consumption activities. AG continuation is driven by experienced health and food-related benefits, whereas CSAs rely on the communal and organizational involvement of their members.
CommunityCSA & TeikeiEconomicsUrban Horticulture Program Through Smart-farm DIY
2025Nam-Gyeong Gim · Asia-pacific Journal of Convergent Research Interchange · Global
This study developed an efficient hydroponic smart-farm program for urban elementary school students, focusing on its applicability in a classroom environment. Through school environmental analysis and program development using household items and upcycled materials, the study confirmed that urban schools, despite operational disadvantages, have potential for small-scale smart-farm operation. The developed program demonstrated applicability with low-cost, recyclable materials.
DIYFood educationCommunityDiseño de estanterías rotativas verticales hidropónicas con sistema NFT para hortalizas
2025Augusto Cáceres Núñez, Sergio Delgado Bernedo · Veritas · Global
This project designed an automated hydroponic vegetable cultivation system using NFT in vertical rotating shelves, incorporating a PLC, EC and pH sensors, and a PID control system. A Simulink simulation demonstrated the PID control system's proper behavior, ensuring stable and efficient shelf rotation. The automated system optimizes space, improves operational efficiency, reduces manual intervention, and facilitates urban agricultural management, with the design deemed viable for automated urban agriculture.
Digital agricultureDIYClimate changeDrivers of nocturnal and diurnal pollinating insect declines in urban landscapes
2025Emilie E. Ellis, S. Campbell, Jill L. Edmondson · Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · Global
A large-scale assessment across three cities found up to a 43% reduction in species richness of bees, hoverflies, and nocturnal moths in urban horticultural sites along urbanization gradients. These declines are driven by taxon-specific landscape changes like reduced tree canopy and semi-natural habitat. Moths and hoverflies were particularly sensitive to urbanization compared to bees, indicating a wide range of pollinators are under threat in urban landscapes.
Environmental trade-offsBiodiversityPollinatorsClimate changeUrban–rural linkageCultivo de hortalizas en agricultura urbana. Invernaderos integrados en edificios
2025Abella Alemany, Agèric, Casals Missio, Joan, Macarulla Martí, Marcel, Pintó Espín, Laia, González Atero, Ramiro, Arcas, Verónica, Gassó Domingo, Santiago, Gabarrell Durany, Xavier · UPCommons institutional repository (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) · Global
Urban agriculture is gaining prominence globally for promoting environmental sustainability, food security, and social cohesion in cities. While urban cultivation is not new, a recent innovative approach involves integrating agriculture into urban infrastructure, particularly utilizing building rooftops as underutilized spaces with significant potential.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeDIY"It's From a Fresh Perspective": Children's Reflections on Participation in Ecological Research and Action
2025Susan Jagger · The Canadian Journal of Action Research · Global
This paper points out the limited research on the experiences of young learners in participatory action research (PAR) in environmental education. It shares the reflections of the Eco Research Organization, a group of grade six researchers, and their adult co-researcher, Susan Jagger, on their engagement in PAR in a longitudinal study of their school garden and nature in their community.
Food educationCommunityBiodiversityClimate-smart crop production can support household food and nutrition security in urban communities in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe
2025Blessing Nyamasoka‐Magonziwa, Esther Simango, Hatirarami Nezomba · Frontiers in Agronomy · Zimbabwe (Chitungwiza)
This study evaluated climate-smart crop production practices by urban farmers in Chitungwiza District, Zimbabwe, and their effects on household diets. Mixed methods research, including focus group discussions with four farmer groups and interviews with 107 households in 2022, classified only 23% of farmers as climate-smart. While climate-smart crop production positively influenced household diets, with climate-smart households having a significantly higher Household Dietary Diversity Score (3.3 vs. 2.9; p=0.02), there were no significant differences in maize yield between climate-smart and non-climate-smart farmers (2.10 t/ha vs. 2.27 t/ha, respectively, in the 2020/2021 season).
Limited or null effectClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceHealthCommunityEconomic and Environmental Benefits of Green Cultivation
2025S. GopalaSundara Raj, Halavath Tharunkumar, R. P. Srivastava, Mukesh Kumar Singh, Manindra Nath Upadhyay · Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology · Global
This study explores the economic and environmental benefits of green cultivation, encompassing organic farming, community-supported agriculture, and sustainable land use. Economically, it offers increased profitability, improved market opportunities, and enhanced food security, while environmentally, it supports biodiversity, improves soil health, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Case studies from Spain and Egypt demonstrate the effectiveness of these sustainable farming methods.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsClimate changeBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justicePolicy