Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
9074 results(27 / 363)
AGRICULTURA URBANA: CONSUMO E PRODUÇÃO RESPONSÁVEIS, ODS 12/AGENDA 2030
2025Maria de Nazareth Oliveira Maciel, Luann Yago Oliveira Maciel · Aracê. · Global
This descriptive review study examined whether urban agriculture aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) of Agenda 2030 and generates social benefits for producers, analyzing articles published from 2019 to 2022 from Scielo, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The results showed that urban agriculture aligns with SDG 12, generating ten main social benefits, including improved quality of life, social inclusion, food security, and promotion of mental and physical health.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceDo urban safety net programs affect the financial inclusion and food security of households, primarily women participating in urban agriculture? A triangulative exploration of Ethiopia
2025Kassa Moges Tareke · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)
This study examined the impact of conditional cash transfers (CTs) from a safety net program on financial inclusion, urban agriculture participation, and food security among 278 women beneficiaries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, since 2017. After receiving CTs, 94% of respondents owned bank accounts and participated in urban agriculture as an additional income source, improving access to savings, credit, mobile banking, financial advice, and farm incomes. However, 61.5% (171) of women households were food insecure, indicating that while the program moderately improved financial inclusion and slightly increased food-secured women, its overall contribution to food security remains inadequate.
WelfareEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceA case study of community-led edible landscape revitalization in post-industrial Shenyang, China
2025Hang Yu, Mohd Yazid Mohd Yunos, Mohd Nazri Saidon, Mohd Amirul Hussain · Landscape Research · China (Shenyang)
This study critically examined how community-led edible landscapes intersect with tensions of urban redevelopment, memory politics, and governance ambiguity in post-industrial Shenyang, China. Using a qualitative case study approach, including participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and spatial documentation, findings showed that while edible landscapes can revitalize neglected spaces and evoke industrial memory, they also face instability, informal governance, and socio-environmental risks.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyClimate changeTHE IMPACT OF SOCIAL SPACES IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOURHOOD DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: URBAN FARMING INTO A SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY
2025Chua Siu Ting, Hazreena Hussein · Journal of Surveying Construction & Property · Malaysia (Port Dickson)
This study explored residents' perceptions of social spaces in Port Dickson, Malaysia, during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a mixed-method approach combining photographic documentation and a questionnaire survey. The majority of respondents experienced significant stress during the pandemic due to anxiety, job loss, and livelihood challenges, emphasizing the importance of effective space allocation and varied options within residential neighborhoods. These findings imply that strategically designed social spaces and zoning practices are key to developing self-sufficient communities in residential areas.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthClimate changeUrban Agriculture: The Food Movement Moves On
2025Paul Β. Thompson · · Global
This article discusses urban agriculture, noting that the decline of grocery stores in inner cities and projected vulnerabilities in megacities outside the global West suggest distinct moral imperatives. It contrasts urban agriculture with rural resilience and sustainable intensification, highlighting its focus on consumption and present needs. The article describes two urban agriculture archetypes: one embracing high-tech solutions and another emphasizing local solidarities and urban-based control over the food system.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justicePolicyDigital agricultureReurbanização da favela Vila dos Heróis: uma abordagem com dignidade socioambiental
2025Leonardo Ferreira da Silva, Maria Laura Fogaça Zei, Juliana Alcantara Fernandes, João Moreirão, Fernando Camilher Almeida · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Brazil
This article presents the Vila dos Heróis reurbanization project in Brazil as an integrated urban intervention model for informal settlements, based on a qualitative case study. The project includes 84 housing units with sustainable infrastructure such as a floodable park, photovoltaic energy, water reuse, composting, and a community garden. The proposal demonstrates the viability of reurbanization models that integrate qualified technical planning, community leadership, and socio-environmental sustainability.
CommunityCompostFood educationA Participatory Analytic Hierarchy Framework for Evaluating Urban Agriculture in Compact Cities: Implications for Sustainable Urban Development and Smart-City Governance
2025Pierluigi Siano, Isam Shahrour, Silvano Vergura · Journal of Urban Development and Smart Cities · Germany
This study presents a participatory Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) framework for evaluating urban agriculture in compact cities, based on a two-stage German case design. A European expert survey (35 responses) identified priority sub-criteria, and a German stakeholder survey (141 responses) weighted these criteria. The AHP structure prioritized the environmental dimension (42%), with biodiversity receiving the highest priority and food quality and safety the lowest.
PolicyEconomicsBiodiversityCommunityFrom Crisis to Opportunity
2025Chris Blythe, Silvio Caputo, Michael Hardman, Paul Milbourne, Mina Samangooei, Victoria Schoen · · United Kingdom
This chapter provides a narrative review of how urban food growing in the UK responded to past crises and during the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses the positive impacts of urban food growing on individual, household, and community resilience, well-being, environment, and local food systems during the pandemic. The chapter suggests that further recognition and support for urban food growing would improve its ability to respond to future crises.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changePolinizadores de huertos urbanos y periurbanos en la ciudad de Morelia (Michoacán, México)
2025Sergio Osorio Cañadas, Ek del Val de Gortari · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Mexico (Morelia)
This study investigated pollinators in seven urban and periurban orchards in Morelia, Mexico, during an annual agricultural cycle from October 2022 to June 2023. Monthly 5-hour censuses at each site revealed a considerable diversity of pollinators, with an average of 60 different species including bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds, visiting the orchard flowers. It was also observed that each plant species attracted different pollinators.
PollinatorsBiodiversityPeri-urban agricultureAssessing the Potential of Rooftop and Wall-Based Urban Agriculture for Food Security Enhancement in Gasabo District, City of Kigali, Rwanda
2025Florien Misago, Isaac Nzayisenga, Henri Jacques Ngirinshuti, Leon De Pere Irakoze, Richard Mind’je · East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology · Rwanda (Kigali)
This study evaluated the potential of rooftop and wall-based urban agriculture to enhance food security in Gasabo District, Kigali, Rwanda. It used GIS and remote sensing to map suitable spaces and assessed 400 household heads using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Findings showed that 41.5% of households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, and approximately 32% of rooftops and walls were structurally appropriate for urban agriculture. While 57.8% of households expressed willingness to adopt rooftop or wall gardening, 67.4% cited structural and financial constraints.
Economic viabilityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyPenerapan Urban Farming sebagai Alternatif dalam Pengembangan Kota yang Berketahanan Pangan (Studi Kasus pada Urban Farming Guyub Rukun RT 18 Kelurahan Bontang Baru)
2025Ibnu Akmal Khuluqi, Muhammad Azhari, Rahmawati Munir · TRANSFORM Journal of Tropical Architecture and Sustainable Urban Science · Indonesia (Bontang Baru)
A qualitative case study in Guyub Rukun RT 18, Bontang Baru, Indonesia, investigated the implementation of urban farming. The study found that urban farming improved local food security, strengthened social ties, and was supported by CSR funds. However, it faced challenges such as limited technology and resources, which were overcome through manual adaptation and cross-sector collaboration.
Economic viabilityFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsWhat Works Outdoors? A Systematic Literature Review of Nature-Based Instruction in Science Education
2025Siti Nur Diyana Mahmud, Muhammad Hanif Sainorudin · International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development · Global
This systematic literature review analyzed 58 empirical studies on nature-based instruction (NBI) in science education from 2021-2025, focusing on formal and school-linked learning settings. Most studies used qualitative or mixed-methods designs, with outcomes primarily in affective and cognitive domains. Recurring challenges included limited causal designs, short follow-up periods, and inconsistent implementation reporting.
Food educationCommunityAGROECOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE HORTICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
2025Lokesh Ramachandran, Keerthivasan Ragupathi, Nithishkumar Govindaraju, Ajay Raja Anandhan, Dinesh Devarajan · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Argentina
This chapter examines agroecology as a sustainable production paradigm for the horticultural sector, facing challenges like climate change and resource depletion. It reviews the conceptual foundations of agroecology, its application to horticulture, and advances in agroecological practices. Case studies, such as peri-urban horticulture in Argentina, illustrate its promise, but note that a full transition remains incomplete.
BiodiversityPollinatorsOrganic cycleClimate changePeri-urban agriculturePeningkatan Literasi Pemasaran Digital pada Kelompok Wanita Tani Sugih Waras
2025Rahmawati Setiyani, Esti Dwi Rahmawati · MESTAKA Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia
This community service activity in Indonesia aimed to improve digital marketing literacy among members of the Sugih Waras Women's Farmers Group. The activity involved delivering materials on agricultural commodity production and digital marketing, followed by interactive discussions and evaluations. Results indicated an increase in knowledge among members, who committed to continuing the activity to support food security.
CommunityEconomicsWelfareDigital agricultureVertical Farming: Innovations, Challenges, and the Future of Sustainable Urban Agriculture
2025Gokulakrishnan G, Navaneetha Krishnan T, Tamilselvan D, S Sanjeevkumar, Devaganesh A, Janani N, K. Arunadevi, Balaji Kannan · Madras Agricultural Journal · Global
This review explores vertical farming, a method that uses stacked layers in controlled environments for year-round crop production with reduced resource use. It assesses the environmental and economic advantages of vertical farming, while critically examining its limitations, including high energy demands and limited crop diversity. The study highlights that despite its potential, vertical farming faces challenges regarding economic viability due to high energy consumption.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsPolicyHomegarden (forest garden) systems and Food Forests: High Productivity on Small Areas
2025Daniel Fischer · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Europe
Homegardens, also known as forest gardens or food forests, are a diverse and sustainable agroforestry model that mimics natural ecosystems by combining trees, shrubs, and other useful plants or small livestock. These systems are gaining popularity in Europe, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland, due to their high productivity and the wide range of benefits they offer on limited space. The FAO defines these systems as agrisilvopasture.
DIYCommunityBiodiversityImplementation of Urban Farming Through Integrated Training in Gunung Anyar District
2025Gyska Indah Harya, Wanti Mindari, Taufik Setyadi, Siti Mukaromah, Cholid Fadil · Nusantara Science and Technology Proceedings · Indonesia (Surabaya City)
This community service activity in RW 01, Gunung Anyar District, Surabaya City, Indonesia, aimed to implement urban farming through integrated outreach and training. The initiative sought to enhance urban food security, meet local food needs, maintain environmental cleanliness, and preserve the environment by reducing carbon footprints and increasing green open spaces. Training covered the meaning and importance of urban farming, cultivation techniques for various plants, and solutions for production waste.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeSustainable Urban Horticulture Practices: A Review
2025Yogita Yogita, Ashutosh Kumar, Robin Kumar, Subhash Chander Verma, Abhay Saini, J. C. Das, Rajnish Kumar, Manjul Jain · Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · Global
This review discusses various sustainable practices in urban horticulture, including vertical gardening, hydroponics, aquaponics, rooftop gardening, composting, and rainwater harvesting. It analyzes the benefits and limitations of these strategies, highlighting their effects on urban ecology, climate resilience, socio-economic well-being, and environmental conservation. The review concludes with recommendations for policy integration, technological innovation, and public participation to enhance the sustainability of urban horticulture.
CompostBiodiversityClimate changePolicyThe state, colonial legacies of planning and land for food growing in the contemporary city: Reply to Koenraad Danneels
2025Elza D’Cruz · Landscape Research · Global
This article discusses the critical issue of reclaiming space for urban agriculture in contemporary cities, which is central to debates on urban food growing. It highlights that collective and individual food-growing is widely recognized as a means to address food-related challenges.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageAdaptation of Verticulture Technology in Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Horticultural Systems
2025Luh Kadek Pande Sri Astrini, Suluh Dewanto · Agricultural Power Journal · Indonesia
This study analyzed the adoption of verticulture technology within sustainable horticultural systems in major Indonesian production centers, including West Java, East Java, and North Sumatra. Using a descriptive quantitative approach with secondary data, field surveys, and semi-structured interviews, results showed verticulture enhances land-use efficiency by up to 85%, reduces water consumption by 60%, and decreases reliance on synthetic chemical fertilizers by 70%. The technology also contributes to production stability and food security, achieving an average return on investment within 3.5 years.
Digital agricultureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsRole of Urban Voids in Sustainable Planning
2025PC Trivedi, Shruti Walia Ar · International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology · Global
This research defines urban voids as idle, unused, or partly used urban lands that public agencies fail to utilize to their maximum capacity. It proposes that these urban voids can serve as valuable resources in sustainable planning by creating green infrastructure, fostering civic engagement, and enhancing biodiversity. Converting these spaces into parks or community gardens can encourage social interaction and improve urban living quality.
CommunityBiodiversityPolicySistema de irrigação e monitoramento de solo
2025André Luiz dos Santos, Bruno Teixeira Lima, Leonardo Cabral Ramos, Lucas Bellio Buldrini, Lucas Ferreira de Queiroz, Henrique Silva, Paulo César da Silva Emanuel, Gustavo Caravita de Andrade · DELOS Desarrollo Local Sostenible · Global
This work presents AquaGarden, an automated irrigation system with soil temperature and humidity monitoring, developed using an ESP32 microcontroller and physical sensors. Collected data is sent to a FlutterFlow mobile application connected to Firebase for cloud storage and remote management. The system aims to facilitate garden cultivation through automation, optimizing water usage and reducing manual intervention, allowing real-time monitoring and remote irrigation control.
DIYDigital agricultureClimate changeFloristic Diversity and Characterization of Peri-Urban Agriculture in Some Drains of the City of Douala (Cameroon)
2025Olivier Parfait Bissemb, Rosette Christelle Ndjib, Patrice Brice Mvogo Ottou, Jacques Bruno Ngotta Biyon, Zenabou Ndiang, Georges Maxime Lamy Lamy, Eric Ngansop Tchatchouang, Ivant Stevy Nganmo, Jean Lagarde Betti, Richard Jules Priso · Journal of Environmental Protection · Cameroon (Douala)
This study assessed floristic diversity and agricultural practices around five stormwater drains in Douala, Cameroon, identifying 67 species from 24 families. Floristic diversity, measured by the Shannon-Weaver index (H'= 0.99) and low evenness (E = 0.23), indicated an unbalanced plant community dominated by a few cultivated and ruderal species. The analysis also revealed significant homogenization between drains, suggesting common agricultural practices and environmental pressures in these polluted environments.
Environmental trade-offsBiodiversityPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeLepidoptera diversity, richness, and distribution in semi-urban farmland and other habitats around Lumbini, Rupandehi
2025Celeus Baral, Hem Sagar Baral, Carol Inskipp, Rajana Maharjan · Our Nature · Nepal
This 14-day study examined Lepidoptera diversity in semi-urban agricultural landscapes around Lumbini, Nepal, documenting 30 moth species from six families and 39 butterfly species from five families across various habitats. Moth populations were dominated by Erebidae, and butterfly diversity by Nymphalidae, showing resilience in disturbed habitats. Statistical analyses revealed that shrubland and agricultural habitats supported the highest species richness and evenness, while grasslands hosted fewer species.
BiodiversityPollinatorsPeri-urban agricultureArchitecture for Spatially Just Food System Planning with and for Urban Youth South Sudanese Refugees in Kenya
2025Katie Schofield, Jacqueline Fanta, William Kolong Pioth, Alissa Cook, Samuel Owuor, Cherie Enns · Youth · Kenya
This youth-led study, involving 40 South Sudanese urban refugees (aged 19-32) in Kenya, mapped food supply chains and identified barriers to procuring, growing, and selling food. Findings indicate that improving the quality of life and food security for refugee youth is complex. Without education and improved livelihoods, including urban agricultural opportunities, their health and wellbeing will continue to be negatively affected.
Equity & displacementWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceCommunity