Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
11393 results(265 / 456)
Improving Urban Food Security in African cities: Critically Assessing the Role of Informal Retailers
2018Jane Battersby, Vanessa Watson · Figshare · Africa
Recent research in African cities indicates that urban agriculture is not as important a food source for low-income households as often believed. Most African urbanites source their food from retail outlets, suggesting that solutions to urban food insecurity need to consider urban food marketing and distribution structures, rather than solely supporting food production through urban agriculture. This chapter reviews evidence supporting the argument that urban agriculture is not a primary food source for the poor.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsWelfareCapacitações com base agroecológicas potencializando a agricultura urbana e periurbana em Capitão Poço - PA
2018Rayssa da Rocha Batista, Aparecida Hurtado Soares, Carolina Simões dos Santos, Henderson Gonçalves Nobre · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
In Capitão Poço, PA, urban and peri-urban farmers cultivate vegetables for subsistence and surplus sale. The NEA/UFRA/Capitão Poço/PA has supported these farmers by providing information on agroecology principles and building participatory knowledge on sustainable vegetable production technologies. This initiative included three training workshops on agroecological production systems, covering biofertilizer production, composting, and vermicomposting, fostering learning and knowledge exchange.
Food educationCompostOrganic cyclePeri-urban agricultureECF FARMSYSTEMS: a Circular Economy Business Model Case
2018Alexis Figeac · Repositorio institucional da Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (University of Santiago de Compostela) · Global
ECF is a small-to-medium sized enterprise operating an aquaponic urban farm, demonstrating a co-product recovery business model where circularity is retained within its own operations. The aquaponics system enables resource-efficient food delivery on a B2B basis and achieves significant socio-environmental impact by displacing food miles. However, fish feed sustainability challenges need addressing for greater circularity, and aquaponics faces competitiveness issues due to support for traditional farming and planning hurdles in urban communities.
EconomicsOrganic cycleClimate changeEncourager le développement de agriculture urbaine à Toulouse.Diagnostic des sols par la pédologie et les plantes bio-indicatrices.
2018Calvin Siméon · · France
This report describes the creation of a didactic booklet for beginners and curious individuals interested in urban agriculture around Toulouse, France. The booklet provides tools to diagnose a plot of land using pedology and bio-indicator plants. Based on observed data, agronomic advice is offered to select the most suitable plant production for the soil.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkagePolicyAvanços e desafios das hortas comunitárias urbanas de base agroecológica: uma análise do município de Sete Lagoas
2018Daniel Calbino, I. Borges, Luis Antonio Andrade Rosas, C.T. Abreu, Fernanda Anziliero Gonçalves · COLÓQUIO - Revista do Desenvolvimento Regional · Brazil
This case study in Sete Lagoas, Brazil, discusses the advances and challenges of agroecological urban community gardens, which have a history of approximately 33 years. Research findings indicate that public policy enables income generation for producers, increased supply, and food security in the region. However, the study highlights the need for greater support to address producers' limited technical knowledge and the importance of more supportive interpersonal relationships.
Governance failureCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyHow to grow multifunctionality in food system planning
2018Ari Jokinen, Eveliina Asikainen, Krista Willman · Tampere University Institutional Repository (Tampere University) · Global
This study explored three urban gardening cases related to brownfield regeneration, a city center strategy, and an established urban neighborhood to understand how spatial planning can foster self-organization in local food production. The findings indicate that urban gardening is multifunctional, relies on self-organization, and is valuable for creating local food systems. The study also discusses challenges and opportunities for integrating these findings into spatial planning.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceCiência experiência: o papel da troca de saberes a partir do protagonismo dos agricultores e organizações na formação acadêmica no sertão do são francisco - PE/BA
2018Hélder Ribeiro Freitas, Suellen Bispo Coelho, Vashtir Ramalho dos Santos Braga, Diego Cesar Alves Lima Verde, Cristiane Moraes Marinho, Rita de Cássia Rodrigues Gonçalves Gervásio · · Brazil
This work analyzed knowledge exchange processes promoted by the Center for Research and Studies Sertao Agroecological, focusing on the experiences of farmers and organizations in the Sertao do Sao Francisco Baiano and Pernambucano Territories. Through extension projects and teaching activities, students and teachers interacted with agroecology, organic production, and urban and peri-urban agriculture experiences. These interactions fostered closer ties between farmers and the university community, enabling dialogical exchanges and strengthening perspectives in teaching, research, and university extension.
Food educationCommunityUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureHorta escolar agroecológica no colégio estadual sinésio costa (Riacho de Santana – BA)
2018Antônio Domingos Moreira, Aurélio José Antunes de Carvalho, Márcio Harrison dos Santos Ferreira · Revista Macambira · Brazil
This study describes a project implemented since September 2015 at Sinésio Costa State College in Riacho de Santana, Brazil, using theoretical-practical and participatory methodologies. The project is guided by agroecological and organic systems, recently integrated into the school's Pedagogical Political Project, enabling greater school community participation. Its aim is to propose sustainable alternatives for providing healthy food produced in small spaces.
Food educationCommunityOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureDescriptive Census Survey of Community Gardens Supported by The Big Garden
2018Abigail R Hughes · Graduate Medical Education Research Journal · United States (Omaha)
This project aimed to provide The Big Garden, an Omaha, NE-based nonprofit, with survey data on the growth, needs, and capacity of its supported community gardens over five years. A census survey was distributed to all gardens in their network to collect data on characteristics, production practices, support needed, community involvement, programming, barriers, facilitators, impact, and capacity. The collected data, analyzed using descriptive statistics, is intended to inform the organization's future planning.
CommunityEconomicsPlanning and designing low-carbon cities in México
2018Silverio Hernández Moreno, José Antonio Hernández Moreno, Bianca G. Alcaraz Vargas · Cuadernos de Vivienda y Urbanismo · Mexico
This article proposes an urban cluster for planning low-carbon cities in Mexico, drawing on environmental design models for buildings and smart city planning strategies integrating urban and rural land uses. It suggests allocating areas for urban agriculture and alternative energy generation, in addition to housing, commerce, and green spaces. The cluster design is concluded to function as an urban design pattern, useful for smart city planning, and a reference point for planning "ruracities."
PolicyUrban–rural linkageClimate changeAgricultura urbana agroecológica: más de una década de trabajo de Facultad de Agronomía (Udelar) junto a diversos colectivos sociales
2018Beatriz Bellenda, Guillermo A. Galván, Margarita García, Inés Gazzano, V. Gepp, Gabriela Linari, Stella Faroppa · Agrociencia · Uruguay
The Faculty of Agronomy at the University of the Republic in Uruguay has implemented activities since 2002 to promote food production, social organization, and agroecological projects. This study analyzed these efforts over more than a decade using qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews, censuses, and surveys. Findings indicated contributions to participant learning, food and nutritional security, healthy food production and consumption, and strengthened collective projects supported by the university.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareUrban Gardens and Nutrition in Sioux Falls, SD
2018Austin Brynjulson · Open PRAIRIE (South Dakota State University) · United States (Sioux Falls)
This research explored the role of urban gardens in Sioux Falls, SD, as a tool to combat food insecurity. It examined gardeners' experiences and how gardens affect perceptions of food security and eating behaviors. Additionally, the study investigated the nutritional quality of urban garden produce compared to store-bought equivalents, aiming to understand how urban gardens affect access to and consumption of nutritional food for the surrounding community.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceProductos agrícolas para implementar huertas caseras en Altos de Cazucá, Soacha
2018German Ricardo Paredes-Guzmán, Pedro Antonio Forero-Palomino · Ciencia y agricultura · Colombia (Bogotá)
This study identified consumption habits to implement home gardens using urban agriculture methods in Altos de Cazucá, Soacha, Colombia, a region affected by forced displacement and malnutrition. Semi-structured interviews with Loma Linda neighborhood residents identified the most consumed agricultural products suitable for home gardens. Peas and carrots were the most accepted and consumed (90% and 86% respectively), while quinoa was the least consumed (8%).
DIYWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceHealthDesafios das práticas agroecológicas no contexto do associativismo em hortas comunitárias no município de Sete Lagoas – MG
2018Angelina Moreira Melo, Daniel Calbino, Yuri Gomes Figueiredo, Fabiola Paulino da Silva, E. R. de O. Carvalho · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
This empirical work, based on participatory research, analyzed the social relations between producers of the Vapabucu community garden in Sete Lagoas, Brazil, and municipal public support organs. Research results indicate that while agroecological knowledge has advanced significantly in the technical dimension of agronomic production, the social relations among producers still show contradictions inherent to agroecological assumptions.
Governance failureCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleObstacles for school garden program success: Expert consensus to inform policy and practice
2018John Diaz, Laura A. Warner, Sue Webb, Debra M. Barry · Applied Environmental Education & Communication · Global
This study used a consensus-driven process to identify central issues impeding the sustained success of school gardens. It outlined practical, logistical, and institutional barriers that need to be addressed to ensure their success in supplementing education.
Governance failureFood educationPolicyCommunityUrban community gardens, commons, and social reproduction: revisiting Silvia Federici’s Revolution at Point Zero
2018Salvatore Engel‐Di Mauro · Gender Place & Culture · Global
This study discusses two concerns regarding urban community gardens' political potential, suggesting caution. It notes that the community in urban community gardens can be reactionary and capitalism-friendly, potentially impeding the collectivization of social reproduction if it remains largely women's work. Additionally, urban gardeners, primarily women, people of color, and the elderly, may face exposure to toxic substances and increased care work needs due to health effects.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyHealthEconomicsLearning Environment by the Future Society: Development of School Grounds in Lithuania
2018Liutauras Nekrošius, Indrė Ruseckaitė, Edita Riaubienė · Landscape architecture and art · Lithuania
This paper examines the educational function and development of schoolyards in Lithuania, noting that many have been "Forgotten Spaces" despite their potential for urban gardening and environmental education. The study found that most schools, built in interwar and Soviet periods, do not meet contemporary spatial needs. Since 2014, VGTU's Faculty of Architecture has facilitated discussions and alternative visions for school space changes, engaging youth in co-creation and maintenance of their environment.
Food educationCommunityUrban Farming in Philadelphia
2018Kaitlyn Lawrence · Digital Commons - Ursinus (Ursinus College) · United States (Philadelphia)
This study aims to understand urban farming in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by investigating who farms as a business, what they grow, their methods, and reasons for involvement. Recognizing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not track urban farmers, the research intends to develop an understanding of the collective identity of Philadelphia's urban farmers to help them better serve their communities.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceA AGRICULTURA URBANA E SUAS FUNCIONALIDADES EM MONTES CLAROS, MG: PROPOSTAS DE EXTENSÃO UNIVERSITÁRIA MULTIDISCIPLINAR
2018Cristh Ellen Ferreira Pinheiro, Hélder dos Anjos Augusto, Cledinado Aparecido Dias, Fábio da Silva Gonçalves, Marcelo Oliveira · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (São Paulo)
This study in Montes Claros, MG, Brazil, investigated the reality of urban farmers commercializing vegetable production to propose multidisciplinary extension and research actions. It identified agricultural production regions, the main functions of urban agriculture from the farmers' perspective, and the difficulties faced by these producers. The analysis highlighted the need for multidisciplinary approaches due to the identified demands, implying challenges in economic viability.
Economic viabilityEconomicsFood educationCommunityHortas escolares em Vancouver, Canadá como parte da “segunda geração” da soberania alimentar
2018Estevan Leopoldo de Freitas Coca, Ricardo Barbosa · Ateliê Geográfico · Canada (Vancouver)
This paper qualitatively analyzed the implementation of school gardens in Vancouver, Canada, as part of the "second generation" of food sovereignty. It highlighted that while these initiatives are implemented in public schools, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are primarily responsible for developing projects that promote local agriculture and food literacy.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDifferentWays of Environmental Issue Management by Active Citizens: Case Studies from Hungary
2018Adrienn Reisinger, Katalin Bándy · Managing Global Transitions · Hungary
This paper illustrated how active citizens in Hungary manage environmental issues through participation in local or national programs, using three case studies: a school garden program, the banning of a planned incinerator by local civic organizations in Szentgotthárd, and the citizen-managed litter collection campaign TeSzedd. The results showed that citizens can actively shape environmental issues, but the most important factor is their personal concern about these issues.
Food educationCommunitySustainability of Urban Community Gardens in Gweru -Zimbabwe: The Case of Senga Area
2018Henry Mabika · Research & Reviews: Journal of Social Sciences · Zimbabwe
This paper examines the sustainability of urban community gardens in the Senga area of Gweru, Zimbabwe, which have adopted a participatory approach. Residents are beneficiaries, the council is the landowner, and Care International provides technical and resource assistance. Data was collected through questionnaires from a convenient sample of residents and interviews with management from Care and Gweru city council. The project's sustainability is attributed to employment creation, food security, compatibility with household work, and a ready market for fresh produce.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCo-Creating community gardens on untapped terrain – lessons from a transdisciplinary planning and participation process in the context of municipal housing in Vienna
2018Rita Mayrhofer · Local Environment · Austria
A case study of the Roda-Roda pilot project in Vienna, Austria, demonstrated that community gardening can develop and persist even without favorable conditions for grassroots community gardens. Using an action research approach, an interdisciplinary project team implemented a spatial and socio-economic framework with a top-down approach, providing a stable basis for participatory community-building. This enabled gardeners to gain knowledge, skills, and self-confidence to run a garden and create a well-functioning local community.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsGardening Club has a "flipping" good time
2018David Broyles · VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) · United States (Virginia)
On November 17, 2018, the Carroll News reported on the 4-H Gardening Club in Carroll County, Virginia, which planted peanuts as an experimental crop in their school garden. The report covered their harvesting methods and the success of growing peanuts in Southwest Virginia.
Food educationCommunityProject vital: Community revitalization industry report
2018Glynis Longhurst · Wintec Research Archive (Waikato Institute of Technology) · Fiji
The ViTAL project in Fiji aims to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by investing in women's health and well-being. This program supports community-based initiatives such as community gardens, healthy cooking classes, and walking groups, with the goal of increasing participation in physical activity and healthy eating across the community.
CommunityHealthWelfare