Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
11393 results(273 / 456)
Appraising the viability of quail (Chikuta) farming. Prospects and challenges. A case of Bindura urban farmers in Zimbabwe
2018Cuthbert Majoni, Deliwe Tembachako, Anyway Katanha · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Zimbabwe
This study was conducted in Bindura urban area, Zimbabwe, to evaluate the viability of urban quail farming, interviewing 40 urban quail farmers selected via snowball sampling and 10 key informants using semi-structured guides. Key challenges highlighted included inadequate housing facilities, insufficient space, theft, predation, inadequate knowledge, market price fluctuations, inability to access credit, and misconceptions in urban agriculture policies. Despite these challenges, urban quail farming showed potential to boost family income and reduce poverty to some extent.
Economic viabilityEconomicsWelfarePolicyGemeinschaftsorientierte Ernährungsinitiativen – Neue Chancen für eine nachhaltige Ernährungswirtschaft?
2018Irene Antoni-Komar · HiBiFo – Haushalt in Bildung & Forschung · Global
Civil society food initiatives and transformative enterprises like urban gardening projects, CSA, and food co-ops are considered pioneers for a sustainable food supply. These initiatives test community-oriented economics in the form of empowerment, solidarity, and prosumerism for a socio-ecological food transition.
CommunityCSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsNATURE-BASED DEMENTIA CARE: INNOVATIVE ADULT DAY SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA IN THE NETHERLANDS
2018Simone R. de Bruin, Yvette Buist, Lenneke Vaandrager, Jan Hassink · Innovation in Aging · Netherlands
This study in the Netherlands aimed to understand the value of nature-based adult day services (ADS) for people with dementia (PwD) in urban areas. Researchers interviewed 40 PwD and their carers, who indicated that these services positively affect PwD's health and wellbeing by stimulating physical activity, social interaction, a sense of dignity, relaxation, and a sense of meaning in life.
CommunityHealthElderlyA Study on the Development Strategies of Smart City Infrastructure Considering Residents’ Demands and the Concept of Urban Regeneration - Focused on the Area of Gamcheon2-Dong, Busan -
2018B. Lee, Seong-Woo Nam, Young-Hyeon Kim · Journal of the Urban Design Institute of Korea Urban Design · South Korea
This study aimed to establish concepts for introducing smart city facilities in existing urban areas and systematic maintenance plans for smartifying existing urban facilities in Gamcheon2-Dong, Busan, South Korea. Based on field surveys and resident demand surveys, it proposed smartification and networking of facilities connecting public spaces, and smartification of public/welfare facilities and resident-led projects like urban agriculture to enhance efficiency and promote profitable ventures. Legal improvements were also suggested, including exceptions to area regulations and modularization of smart city facilities, to facilitate their integration with urban regeneration projects.
CommunityDigital agriculturePolicyRevisiting the Sustainability Concept of Urban Food Production from a Stakeholders’ Perspective
2018Esther Sanyé‐Mengual, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto · Sustainability · Italy (Bologna)
This paper evaluates the concept of Urban Food Production (UFP) sustainability from stakeholders' perspectives in Bologna, Italy, through two workshops using mind-mapping. The bottom-up approach revealed a comprehensive vision of sustainable UFP, identifying relevant elements and key aspects for its development and policy-making. The study also highlighted priorities, synergies, and trade-offs among sustainability dimensions, suggesting UFP can serve as a local tool for democracy and equity.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsClimate changeThe Aroma-Home Community Garden Project'sDemocratic Narratives: Embodied Memory-Stories of Planting and Cooking
2018Susan C. Haedicke · Public Art Dialogue · France
The Aroma-Home project, originating from aromatics, flavors, conversations, and guerrilla gardening, began in Villetaneuse, France, in early spring 2013. Inhabitants discovered a small, brightly painted caravan, marking the start of this community garden initiative.
CommunityDIYParadigm of Eco-Urban-Agriculture for the Sustainable City: Integrating the Concept for Urban Dhaka
2018Ayasha Siddiqua · Nakhara Journal of Environmental Design and Planning · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
This paper explores the concept of eco-urban-agriculture for sustainable cities, focusing on its integration into urban Dhaka, Bangladesh. It discusses the theoretical background of urban agriculture and practiced models globally, aiming to demonstrate how a city can generate food, improve health, and utilize waste. The study seeks to develop an understanding of this concept within Dhaka's dense urban fabric.
Food sovereignty & justiceHealthOrganic cycleClimate changePRAÇA COLABOR[ATIVA]: NOVOS USOS DE ESPAÇOS PÚBLICOS URBANOSCOM PARTICIPAÇÃO POPULAR NO CONJUNTO HABITACIONAL ANA JACINTAEM PRESIDENTE PRUDENTE-SP
2018Juliana Cavalheiro Costa, Mayara Pisssuti Albano Vieira · COLLOQUIUM SOCIALIS · Brazil
This work aimed to gather knowledge on applying the placemaking concept to implement a community garden and orchard in an urban empty space within the Ana Jacinta Housing Complex in Presidente Prudente-SP, Brazil. The methodology involved bibliographic research on housing complexes, documentary research, and field surveys.
CommunityDIYPolicyUrban Regeneration : Shifting from Production of Space to Community Empowerment - Case Study of Knowledge and Innovation Community Garden in Shanghai
2018Huahua Zou, Hai Long Yu · Rikkyo University academic repository (Rikko Roots) (Rikkyo University) · China (Shanghai)
The Knowledge and Innovation Community Garden in Shanghai illustrates the shift in urban regeneration from capital-driven space production to community empowerment. By offering natural education and gardening methods to children, this garden brings urban people back to a walking-friendly world, creates a user-centric space, reinstates residents' power to shape and improve their living space, and rebuilds bonds among community members.
CommunityFood educationPolicyCULTIVATED EDGE: Mediating rural and urban gaps in informal settlements
2018Camila Hellebuyck · DigitalCommons - Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw State University) · Colombia (Bogotá)
This project addresses urban farming in Ciudad Bolivar, an informal settlement in Bogotá, Colombia, where it emerged due to food scarcity and poverty. It proposes design placemaking strategies to improve the built environment and social cohesion by integrating agriculture from the initial design stages. The concept includes farming gardens, food markets, and a community hub to create a "performative edge" that mediates between rural and urban contexts.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageWelfare실내분화재배를 위한 약용식물 소재 선발
2018이윤지, 이정훈, 박춘근, 정진태, 장재기 · 인간식물환경학회 학술대회 · South Korea
This study addresses the growing social interest in cultivating plants indoors for mental and emotional well-being and environmental improvement, particularly in South Korea. While research on selecting native plants and cultivation environments for urban agriculture is ongoing, studies on indoor cultivation of medicinal plants are scarce. Most medicinal plants are typically harvested from the wild or grown outdoors, unlike other horticultural plants.
DIYHealthUrban–rural linkageCultivo comunitário para abastecimento local: o caso da Associação dos Produtores de Hortaliças da COHAB I de Lavras - MG
2018Janine Fernanda da Silveira, Maria Dalva Pereira, Suelen Ferreira Matoso Couto, Viviane Santos Pereira · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
This experience report investigated the daily dynamics and existing agroecological practices of a community garden in COHAB I, Lavras-MG, Brazil, which originated from a city hall initiative. The garden became an association with approximately 50 members two years prior, and while it has made some progress in production methods and social organization, further capacity building is deemed necessary.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleImpacts of Urban Agriculture on the Determinants of Health: Scoping Review Protocol
2018Pierre Paul Audate, Melissa Anne Fernandez, Geneviève Cloutier, Alexandre Lebel · JMIR Research Protocols · Global
This protocol outlines a research strategy for a scoping review to characterize the beneficial and adverse impacts of urban agriculture (UA) on health and its determinants across various disciplines. The method involves a systematic search of seven electronic databases, followed by a three-step screening by two independent reviewers, and data extraction on bibliography, participants, study type, results, and countries. The findings are expected to identify research and knowledge gaps for future UA research.
HealthFood sovereignty & justiceSocial Change for Sustainable Localised Food Sovereignty: Convergence between Prosumers and Ethical Entrepreneurs
2018Rachel Reckinger · SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO · Luxembourg
This study examines four community-driven alternative food network initiatives in Luxembourg, where low organic agricultural rates contrast with high consumer demands. Using qualitative interviews and participant observation, the research describes these initiatives, which combine agroecology and circular economy practices. These initiatives, ranging from an established one with 200 employees to more recent, smaller cooperatives, focus on regenerative land use and foster consumer integration, representing a cultural shift towards a more resilient food system.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsOrganic cycleImpact of Long-Term Application of Patranala Sewage on Carbon Sequestration and Heavy Metal Accumulation in Soils
2018M. L. Dotaniya, V. D. Meena, S. Rajendiran, M. Vassanda Coumar, Asha Sahu, J. K. Saha, S. Kundu, Hiranmoy Das, A. K. Patra · Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science · India (Bhopal)
A case study in peri-urban agricultural lands near Patranala, Bhopal, India, investigated the impact of over 50 years of untreated sewage water irrigation on soil properties. Findings showed higher concentrations of heavy metals in surface soils of sewage-irrigated fields, posing a major concern. Conversely, soil microbial population, enzymatic activities, and organic carbon content were also higher, indicating enhanced carbon sequestration.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureHealthClimate changeOrganic cycleReview of the Literature
2018Kwaku Obosu-Mensah · · Global
This chapter reviews literature to identify the types of people likely to engage in urban agriculture. It explains that the labor-surplus, dependency, and cultural lag models are complementary in explaining urban residents' involvement in agriculture. Low salaries compel workers to supplement income through urban agriculture, and the sector is expected to grow with population increases, notably with the increasing entry of highly educated and skilled personnel.
EconomicsWelfareUrban–rural linkageHow to grow a city: cultivating an urban agriculture action plan through concept mapping
2018Wanda Martin, Lindsey Wagner · Agriculture & Food Security · Canada
In a Canadian prairie city, 66 participants used concept mapping and group discussions to develop an urban agriculture action plan. The plan consists of six concepts, with increasing food production in public spaces and improving education strategies ranked as both important and feasible. Participants stated that an integrated vision from city administration, along with a paid position to oversee bylaws and consider local food procurement systems, is necessary to advance urban agriculture.
CommunityPolicyFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceAntifungal Susceptibility of Candida Species Isolated from Horticulturists with Onychomycosis in Piauí, Brazil.
2018Mitra Mobin, Maria Walderez Szeszs, Juliana Possatto Fernandes Takahashi, Marilena dos Anjos Martins, Daise Damaris Carnietto de Hippólito, Jhonatas Cley Santos Porto, João Batista Mendes Teles, Sidney Gonçalo de Lima, Márcia de Souza Carvalho Melhem · PubMed · Brazil
A 2014 study in a community garden in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, investigated the antifungal susceptibility of Candida species isolated from horticulturists with onychomycosis. Samples were identified using phenotypic methods, MALDI-TOF MS, and PCR, and their susceptibility to four antifungal drugs was determined. All isolated Candida species were found to be sensitive to the tested antifungal drugs, with no resistance observed.
HealthCommunityComida de Verdade
2018Fernanda Maciel Mendes Costa, Ana Paula Leite Fabrini, Tânia Vital, Aline Neves Costa, Tatiana Perassolo, Rodrigo Borghezan · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
This experience report describes the introduction of Unconventional Food Plants (PANC) into a school environment in Campo Grande, Brazil, through culinary workshops for staff and lectures for students. The initiative aimed to promote healthy eating and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases. As a result, Taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) was included in the public call for supply to municipal schools, ensuring frequent PANC consumption for approximately 1100 students.
Food educationHealthEMPREENDEDORISMO FEMININO SOLIDÁRIO: estudo de caso em uma horta comunitária
2018Anderson Luiz Duarte, Bezamat de Souza Neto · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (São João del-Rei)
This research examines a type of solidarity female entrepreneurship carried out by a group of women participating in a community garden in São João del-Rei, Brazil. The objective is to demonstrate how knowledge exchange and management practices are established within this endeavor. The community garden is presented as an educommunicative ecosystem that creatively transforms urban space through micropolitics, aiming to address social inequalities and mitigate economic vulnerability. It also highlights female empowerment, promoting self-esteem and a sense of community belonging among participants.
CommunityEconomicsWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceA Sustainable Operation Plan for School Gardens - Based on a Survey of Elementary School Gardens in Seoul
2018I-Jin Choi, J.J. Lee, Sang Tae Cho, Yoon Ah Jang, Joo Nyung Heo · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea (Seoul)
This study surveyed 599 elementary schools in Seoul, South Korea, finding that 161 schools operated school gardens with a total area of 65,493m2, averaging 363m2 per school. The primary difficulty in operating these gardens was management (34.2%), and the most needed elements for sustainable operation were physical environment improvement and hiring paid garden staff (each 32%). The main purpose of school gardening was creating educational environments (81.6%), and all schools reported positive educational impacts.
Food educationCommunityPolicyTrees and Shrubs Prevailing in the Urban Green Spaces of the Gaza City in Palestine
2018Abdel Fattah N. Abd Rabou · IUG Journal of Natural Studies · Palestine (Gaza City)
This six-month study (October 2016 – March 2017) identified and recorded woody components in three selected urban green spaces in Gaza City, Palestine: Gaza Municipality, Barcelona, and Al-Azhar parks. A total of 50 tree and shrub species, belonging to 26 families and 14 orders, were identified. Angiosperms accounted for 92.0% of species, with Fabales being the largest order. The study recommends selecting woody species adapted to local environmental conditions.
BiodiversityCommunityGeostatistical Analysis Of Contamination Of Soils In An Urban Area In Ghana
2018Simon Kojo Appiah, Eric Nimako Aidoo, Derrick Asamoah Owusu, M. W. Nuonabuor · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Ghana (Kumasi)
This paper assesses the spatial distribution of heavy metals and potential ingestion risks in Kumasi, Ghana, using geostatistical techniques on topsoil samples. Results from univariate and multivariate semivariogram models showed strong spatial dependence with autocorrelations ranging from 100 to 300 meters. The produced risk maps indicate strong spatial heterogeneity for most soil heavy metals, with extremely high contamination risk found near commercial areas.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkagePEMBERDAYAAN SEKOLAH DALAM KEGIATAN URBAN FARMING DALAM RANGKA MENDUKUNG KEMANDIRIAN PANGAN BAGI KOTA MAKASSAR
2018Hari Iswoyo, Katriani Mantja, Nuniek Widiayani, Rahmansyah Dermawan · Jurnal Dinamika Pengabdian (JDP) · Indonesia (Makassar)
This paper describes an urban farming initiative in Makassar, Indonesia, aimed at empowering two schools, SMPN 4 and SMAN 17, to utilize school land for productive cultivation. The project transferred knowledge and skills in urban farming technologies, including those for limited spaces, to support food self-sufficiency. Methods included socialization on land utilization potential and participatory activities involving students in creating urban farming devices and practicing land management.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkagePlan of Sapti Community Garden-Park by Design Charrette
2018Kyoungjin Lee, Junghan Sung · Journal of East Asian Landscape Studies · South Korea
In 2018, Yesan-gun implemented a "Village Community Garden Project" at Sapti Park, Yesan-eup, using a design charrette method. This study describes the design process, from planning to construction, demonstrating how residents' opinions were incorporated into the design drawings for the community garden. The project aimed to advance user-participation design methods and examine the role of storytelling in transforming community garden plans.
CommunityPolicy