Research & reports

Joël Thibert · Journal of Planning Education and Research · North America

A literature review and an analysis of urban agriculture (UA) in Detroit, Toronto, and Montreal, based on interviews with practitioners, were conducted in North America. The study suggests that UA practices vary significantly and face cultural, legal, and technical challenges. These findings support the view that UA belongs within planning and that municipalities have an important role in facilitating its development.

Akira Yuzawa · Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ) · Japan

This study examined user characteristics and effects of allotment gardens, focusing on "the community farm YUI" in Japan. It found that the main applicants were men aged 50 or older, and key factors in choosing an allotment garden were use charge, distance from home, and agricultural guidance. The identified effects of allotment gardens included providing a purpose for living, fostering agricultural understanding, and promoting exchange among participants.

Annie L Stoller-Patterson · Scholarship @ Claremont (The Claremont Colleges) · United States

This paper explores how education for environmental literacy can be integrated into America's public school system. It investigates the benefits of environmental education and how green school buildings, sustainable cafeterias, school gardens, and environmental education curriculum can be used to teach for environmental literacy at all grade levels. A sample lesson plan is included.

刘喜高, 李一 · 农村工作通讯 · China (Qingdao)

Huangdao District in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, has accelerated agricultural transformation and structural adjustment in recent years, following principles of "planning first, government guidance, enterprise as主体, and social participation." Leveraging its resource advantages of mountains, sea, water, forests, and land, Huangdao District is vigorously developing tourism-oriented and eco-tourism modern urban agricultural parks, promoting the upgrade of the agricultural structure. This has driven increased agricultural production and efficiency, and sustained income growth for farmers.

Luciano Deiques Minozzo · · Brazil

This study characterized urban and peri-urban agriculture practiced by nine producers belonging to the Associação Pedritense dos Produtores de Hortifrutigranjeiros (APPH) in Dom Pedrito/RS, Brazil, between September 2011 and March 2012. Findings showed that 67% of producers practiced peri-urban agriculture (10-26 km from the city), while three practiced urban agriculture. Producers had low schooling (78% incomplete elementary education) and 55% earned 2.5 to 4 minimum wages. Family labor accounted for 88% of the workforce, and personal satisfaction was the main motivation. Water availability and quality were identified as limiting factors for production.

Cécilia Claeys, Jean-Noël Consalès, Carole Barthélémy · · France (Marseille)

This paper re-examines the question of nature in the city through emerging environmental paradigms, using Marseille, a French Mediterranean city, as a case study. An interdisciplinary analysis combining sociology and geography revealed that new modes of urban and suburban nature management (e.g., National Park, greenways, community gardens) question spatial boundaries between wild and artificial. However, the uses of these spaces are still marked by persistent social segmentations.

Adriana Franklin de Souza da Silva, M. M. da Silva, L. M. de Santana, A. N. Moreira, J. R. B. Pereira, S. A. S. Amorim, C. R. R. S. França, A. P. G. Santos, Rooselvelt Izel Pereira de Melo · infoteca-e (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) · Brazil

This study describes multiple participatory research and technological learning fields concerning alternative control of banana weevils and the management of agroecological gardens in communities of the Brazilian Northeast Semi-arid region. These include projects on the Maria Tereza Project, Senator Nilo Coelho Irrigation Project, community agroecological gardens in Nova Descoberta, Petrolina, PE, chemical characteristics of biofertilizer, adaptation of lettuce varieties, and cultivation of different species using well water.

Dan Stafford · · United States

This record describes the 2013 Kutztown University School Garden Workshop, an event designed as a learning opportunity for educators and parents. The workshop featured speakers and demonstrations focused on fostering sustainable community partnerships through school gardens.

Michelle Melissa Althaus Ottmann, Juliana Maantay, Kristen Grady, Nilce Nazareno da Fonte · Cities and the Environment · United States (New York City)

This study investigated urban agricultural practices and gardeners' perceptions in community gardens in the Bronx, New York City, United States, using semi-structured interviews, garden observations, and GIS spatial analysis of socio-demographic characteristics. GIS analysis revealed a significantly higher rate of poverty and Hispanic population in block groups within a quarter mile of the community gardens. The gardens were characterized as places for socialization, fresh produce, neighborhood beautification, and education, and gardeners valued family/community time, nature, and therapeutic benefits, but expressed fears of losing the gardens due to lack of city protection and developer take-over.

Toni Y. Sims-Muhammad · · United States (South Louisiana)

This project examined the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on existing food systems in Lafayette, Acadia, Evangeline, St Martin, and St Landry parishes, with a focus on home and community gardens. The researcher interviewed 57 home/community gardeners and farmers and conducted a survey on pre- and post-Katrina/Rita food sustainability problems, challenges, and perspectives on future food systems.

Yugo YAMAMOTO, Asami ORITA, Motoyuki NAGAI · Studies in Regional Science · Japan (Osaka)

A questionnaire survey was conducted among LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) and general consumers in Osaka Prefecture to identify sustainable lifestyles related to food production and consumption and evaluate their effect on CO2 emissions. LOHAS consumers tended to participate in local food production activities and make purchasing decisions based on health and environmental consciousness. Their total daily life CO2 emissions were 15% lower than regular consumers, but their transportation-related CO2 emissions were higher due to roundtrips to local farm shops.

D. Z. Phillips, Heather I. Sullivan · ISLE Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment · United States

This collection of essays for ISLE assesses the material aspects of healthy economies, environments, and bodies, arguing that the traditional economic-ecological "health" dichotomy is insufficient. It finds that the determination of "healthy" is complex, as artificial environments can be benign, and even a flourishing community garden can have neglected produce going to waste. The essays explore how a large number of healthy human bodies can be detrimental to healthy environments.

A. Yusuf · · Nigeria (Lagos State)

This study assessed the attitudes of 50 women farmers towards urban agriculture in the Somolu local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Findings indicated that the women's attitude towards urban agriculture was extremely negative. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between attitude and age, marital status, educational level, years of experience, and access to loans. However, farm size, annual income, access to labor, and access to inputs were statistically insignificant.

Sandra Lorena Herrera Giraldo, Adriana Panader Torres, Luz Mery Cárdenas Cárdenas, Nancy Aurora Agudelo Cely · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Colombia

A qualitative study in Tunja, Colombia, designed, implemented, and evaluated an intervention strategy to increase vegetable availability in a community. Applying five principles of community-based research, the strategy included educational and urban agriculture components. Seven participatory educational sessions were conducted, and eight home gardens and one community garden were implemented. The intervention strategy successfully increased vegetable availability, fostered community empowerment, built social networks, and highlighted the role of nursing professionals in community actions.

Rui Yang · Nanjing Linye Daxue xuebao · China (Nanjing)

This paper explores a new community endowment pattern by integrating vertical farms into urban senior day care centers, contrasting with traditional nursing homes. Focusing on the South Lake Community in Nanjing, China, it examines the specific construction of vertical farm landscapes to address the physical and mental health needs of the elderly in an aging society.

Amber Fessler · ScholarWorks@BGSU (Bowling Green State University) · United States (Ohio)

This project explored service-learning in middle school math in Findlay, Ohio, during the 2010-2011 school year, focusing on a pre-service teacher's experience. It addressed challenges and possibilities for pre-service teachers implementing service-learning as part of their educational preparation. The project involved engagement in a math classroom, design and implementation of a service-learning project, and reflection.

Evan Weissman · Syracuse University Libraries (Syracuse University) · United States (New York City)

This dissertation explores urban agriculture in Brooklyn, New York, using a mixed-methods analysis to investigate its historical changes, motivations for engagement, and outcomes. The study argues that Brooklyn's urban agriculture is limited by its neoliberal characteristics, which undermine its potential to build a radical political movement around food issues. While urban agriculture tends to reproduce neoliberalism, it simultaneously creates political possibilities through the assertion of public rights to cultivate the city and the potential of food to serve as a tool for building solidarities towards food justice.

Rabiul Islam, Chamhuri Siwar · Advances in Environmental Biology · Malaysia

This research analyzed the current situation and future potential of urban agriculture in Malaysia using a literature review. Study participants demonstrated a relatively greater awareness of environmental and community benefits of urban agriculture compared to food security, health, or economic benefits. Malaysian urban agriculture was found to be constrained by a lack of adequate land use planning, weak support for urban farmers, and an absence of an integrated development approach. Major challenges identified included perceptions of limited space, limited resources, and education.

Neil Ravenscroft, Niamh Moore, Ed Welch, Andrew Church · University of Brighton Repository (University of Brighton) · United Kingdom

This paper explores the theoretical foundations of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the UK, a cooperative venture where communities share farming risks and harvests. It suggests that CSA's theoretical underpinnings are gift-based, fostering deep connections among people, farmers, and the environment. The paper argues that CSA's significance lies in its rejection of market-based food communities and its demonstration of durable community forms for making multiple connections.

Nicolette Larder, Kristen Lyons, Geoffrey Woolcock · Local Environment · Australia

This article explores the values and meanings domestic food producers associate with urban backyard food production in Australia. Through interviews with eight domestic food producers in one Australian city, the study finds that the act of growing food at home offers space for hope. These small acts are seen as part of the broader food sovereignty movement seeking to remake the global food system.

Andrew Schlesinger · ScholarWorks -A service of University of Vermont Libraries (University of Vermont) · United States (Cherry Hill)

This paper highlights the high dependency of U.S. suburban communities on fossil fuels, particularly oil. It states that while global oil supply is projected to decline, few suburban communities are currently planning for "life after oil." Presented as a proposal for the Willowdale Community Garden, the abstract does not state specific research or its findings, nor an analysis of how community gardening addresses this challenge.

Stefan Reyburn · Environnement urbain · Global

This abstract is an article on the challenges and prospects of urban agriculture, published in the journal Urban Environment via the Érudit platform. This abstract does not contain detailed content regarding specific challenges or prospects related to urban agriculture governance.

José Luis Fernández de Casadevante, Nerea Morán Alonso · · Global

This article reviews the uses of the term resilience in the urban domain and examines methods for applying sustainability to urban environments. It focuses on the role of urban and peri-urban agriculture, arguing that their scope extends beyond mere food production. These practices generate spaces for developing alternative city models, fostering conviviality, and illustrating an alternative to the current agri-food system.

· Lincoln (University of Nebraska) · United States

The May 2012 issue of NEBLINE features Lincoln's Biosolids Land Application Program, which is 20 years old. It also covers topics such as urban agriculture, food and fitness, home and family living, horticulture, environmental focus, 4-H and youth, community focus, and extension news and events.

Elizabete Cristina Ribeiro Silva, Alexandre Brasil Carvalho da Fonseca · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

This study discusses the multidimensionality of agriculture and its interfaces with environmental and health education, based on perceptions from social actors in a school and an extension unit belonging to the Municipal Network of Rio de Janeiro. Agricultural activities are suggested as a pedagogical tool to facilitate complex thinking and transdisciplinarity, and to perceive food and environment as interconnected transversal themes. School gardens are re-qualified for urban spaces based on agroecological urban agriculture principles.