Research & reports

Hua Li · Nongye xiandaihua yanjiu · China

This study analyzes the industrial structure of agriculture in Xi'an, China — a city developing toward international-metropolis status — using location quotient and symmetric revealed comparative advantage indices to determine the comparative advantages of quality grain, organic vegetables, fruit, agricultural and animal products, and aquatic products across its districts and counties. Drawing on Xi'an's current urban agriculture development status and successful experience from domestic and foreign metropolises, it constructs a three-layer structure — landscape ecology, scale agriculture, and featured-plate circles — and proposes regional development modes based on featured geographical space, industry collaborative organization, and industry chain/network sharing.

Qin Shu-ying · Anhui nongye kexue · China

A bibliometric study of Chinese-language literature on urban agriculture indexed in CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) from 1991 to 2012 (2013, China) analyzed publication-year distribution, author distribution, institutional distribution, academic influence, and subject distribution. It found that leading sources of research were concentrated in Beijing and developed eastern coastal provinces and municipalities, that contributing institutions were mainly higher-education institutions, and that the most-studied topics clustered around agricultural economics research. The study recommends increasing resource allocation and research in western China to promote urban agriculture research there.

김윤수, 이연숙 · 한국생태환경건축학회 학술발표대회 논문집 · South Korea

This study examines a case in South Korea where, after removing derelict houses in a deteriorated urban residential area, a community garden growing flowers, diverse plants and vegetables was built and managed together with local residents. It was carried out to contribute to the "physical regeneration" of the residential environment, the "social regeneration" of the community through residents' active participation toward a harmonious community, and "economic regeneration" through productive cooperation with community enterprises.

QI Airon · · China

A study of Xi'an, China, built indicators for urbanization and urban agriculture development and applied principal component analysis and correlation analysis to examine their interaction mechanism and quantitative coupling relationship. Urbanization was found to promote urban agriculture's commercialization and scale through market effects and information diffusion, but rapid urbanization's rising population and industrial land use also strained land and water resources and degraded soil and the urban ecological environment, constraining urban agricultural development.

Du, Xing-ying · 亚洲农业研究：英文版 · China (Huainan)

This paper analyzes the necessity of developing urban agriculture in Huainan City, China, identifying it as crucial for agricultural industry transformation, urban-rural integration, sustainable urban development, and effective resolution of issues concerning agriculture, countryside, and farmers. It also examines the city's endowments for urban agriculture and proposes a basic conception for its industrial form and spatial framework.

Xie Miya Qiong, 方爱国, 陈进, 刘海虹 · 武汉金融 · China (Wuhan)

This paper analyzes the financial challenges and their causes for modern urban agricultural development in Wuhan, China. It proposes a comprehensive and systematic financing support system with a "resonance" effect. This system includes an investment and financing platform centered on agricultural investment companies, guarantee companies, and industrial investment funds, an optimized credit finance system with new rural financial institutions and postal savings banks, and a strengthened insurance system combining policy-based and commercial models.

Haiyan Cai · Journal of Hebei Agricultural Sciences · China (Shijiazhuang)

This study analyzed the development situation of urban agriculture in Shijiazhuang City, China, which has seen rapid growth as an emerging industry. It identified existing problems from various angles and proposed reasonable suggestions for promoting urban agriculture in the city.

Danfeng Huang · Journal of Changjiang Vegetables · China

This paper analyzed the requirements of China's urban development and vegetable quality and safety, expounding on the important roles of organic vegetable production and marketing in urban agriculture development. After a full analysis of the quality and safety, ecological function of organic vegetables, and the relationships between price and organic product price, the paper provided suggestions for promoting the development of urban organic vegetable production, including production mode, key technology, and marketing strategy.

Anthony M. Fuller, Theresa Schumilas, Zhenzhong Si · Digital Commons - Lingnan (Lingnan University) · Canada; China

This presentation examines innovations and contradictions in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Canada and China, where farmers pursue economic, social, and ecological goals. It describes the evolving CSA movement in Canada and identifies three paradoxes, including the economic paradox of market-based social change, questioning if CSAs can maintain their alternative nature or if co-optation is inevitable.

Shengzhong Chen · Guangdong nongye kexue · China (Guangzhou)

This study analyzed the development conditions, process, characteristics, and barriers of urban agriculture in Guangzhou City. It showed that while urban agriculture in Guangzhou has formed functions such as production, technology demonstration, ecological barriers, and leisure services, it faces internal and external development barriers including a decline in agriculture's status, expansion of urban land, labor shortages, and environmental pollution. These barriers hinder the healthy and sustainable development of urban agriculture.

윤희정, 조미경 · · Korea

This study aimed to critically consider and classify new paradigms for urban parks in the 21st century. While urban parks exhibit progressive aspects such as process, openness, productivity, and community space, they face significant criticism regarding the long development period for tree growth, covering open spaces, ecological limitations, economic validity, urban sprawl, underutilization as a low-carbon strategy, and negative consilience with contiguous fields. Based on these critical considerations, the study proposed urban agricultural parks as an alternative.

이행우, 김용성, 이재일 · · South Korea

This study noted that vertical farms face problems with economic viability and a lack of resident awareness. It derived types of vertical farms applicable to residential spaces and inferred assessment items for a questionnaire survey to develop u-services. Based on issues from the survey, u-services needed in vertical farm buildings were proposed, including u-notification of crop conditions, remote/automatic control u-services, harvest information u-service, recipe information u-service, indoor air quality monitoring u-service, indoor environment adjusting u-service, and farm environment control u-service.

许厚祺, 刘爱民 · 中国农业综合开发 · China (Tianjin)

This article describes Tianjin City's comprehensive agricultural development since 1994, focusing on expanding scale benefits and improving technological levels. Tianjin, located in northeastern North China Plain, has actively developed coastal urban modern agriculture, creating a unique path for agricultural development.

邹冰洋 · 中国乡镇企业 · China (Beijing)

In 2012, a forum on urban modern agriculture and urban-rural integration was held in Beijing during the 13th Annual Meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology. The forum discussed successful experiences, typical models, new mechanisms, new plans, and new theories related to modern agricultural industries, increasing farmer income, and new rural construction. It focused on transforming economic growth patterns and advancing urban-rural integration.

夏平, 徐丽萍 · 公民导刊 · China (Chongqing)

On July 6, 2012, Chongqing Municipality announced a plan to divide the city into three characteristic and efficient agricultural regions, designating the main eight urban districts as an urban agriculture demonstration zone. Qianjiang District, which began characteristic and efficient agriculture construction in 2010, developed the Yangtoushan Modern Agricultural Demonstration Park. This park attracted large companies, focused on characteristic agricultural efficiency, provided a new platform for increasing local income, and demonstrated tourism value, injecting new vitality into Wuling Mountain tourism.

여화선, 서주환, 정예슬 · 디자인지식저널 · South Korea (Seoul)

This study explored the definition of urban design and the value of urban agriculture, examining trends in South Korean urban agriculture and the current status in Seoul. Analysis of advanced international cases revealed that urban agriculture abroad has developed based on legal frameworks, features diverse facilities and programs, and is utilized for urban environmental preservation. Based on these advanced cases, the study concluded that expanding agricultural facilities, establishing urban agriculture portals, providing education for farming and garden management, and developing local government plans reflecting urban characteristics are necessary to revitalize urban agriculture.

HU Bao-gui · Journal of Beijing University of Agriculture · China

This paper analyzes the functions of productive and consumer services in the development of urban agriculture. It states that urban agriculture is characterized by advanced technology, quality products, and diverse functions, and its development requires greater cooperation among farmers, agricultural enterprises, and the government, involving productive services as intermediate inputs and consumer services. Suggestions are provided to strengthen environmental and cultural construction, expand public investment, and develop farmer training.

Qiang Li · Ecological Economy · China

This paper discusses urban agriculture in China, noting its increasing prevalence in developed and developing countries and its role in urban food supply and ecological systems. It argues that urban agriculture holds significant strategic value in alleviating crises related to energy, food, and ecology, which have emerged due to rapid urbanization in China since the 21st century. To foster its development, the paper suggests establishing a highly integrated and convenient support system for urban agriculture, based on enterprises providing production factors and technical services.

Guan Hai-ling · Science Technology and Industry · China (Taiyuan)

This paper examines the achievements and current status of urban agricultural development, technology, and innovation in Taiyuan. It proposes countermeasures for urban agricultural scientific and technological innovation in a low-carbon economy, including establishing a training system, supporting research institutions, increasing investment, and strengthening external exchanges and cooperation.

陈少金, 王志容, 廖成林 · 农村工作通讯 · China (Foshan)

Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China, has developed modern agriculture by promoting urban, ecological, sightseeing, export-oriented, and brand agriculture. In 2011, the added value of modern agriculture accounted for 84.6% of the primary industry, with agricultural land output reaching 20,200 yuan per mu. This development was primarily facilitated by the establishment of "three platforms."

NI Xiao-nin · Urban Problems · China (Beijing)

This article argues, based on an analysis of Beijing's modern agriculture and environmental agriculture policies, that urban agriculture is eliminating the gap between city and rural areas and gaining the micro-desire to obey environmental agriculture policies. Simultaneously, environmental policies support urban agriculture by internationalizing it. The article suggests that institutional innovations in environmental agriculture regulation, agricultural standardization, and environmental agriculture economic policies are necessary for better environmental and urbanization development.

Cai Jianming, Guo Hua, Larissa Muller, Margaret Zhou · Journal of Resources and Ecology · China (Beijing)

This study analyzed changes in Beijing's food footprint and food self-sufficiency rate over a 30-year period from 1981 to 2011. During this time, the food footprint grew from 11,800 to 29,400 km2, while the self-sufficiency rate for vegetables dropped from 59.3% to 39.0%, with significant declines also seen for fruit, grain, and edible oil. It was concluded that with proper shifts in farmland use, full utilization of temporary idle land, and the development of rooftop farming, Beijing could increase its vegetable self-sufficiency rate to 60% without significantly reducing the production of other types of local food.

Minjae Kong, Kwang-Lai Park, Jin-Kwan Son, Ji-Hoon Shin · Journal of the Korea Society of Environmental Restoration Technology · South Korea (Seoul)

This study investigated the characteristics of rooftop gardens (farms) in 40 areas in Seoul, Korea. Cabbage, lettuce, pepper, and mini-tomatoes were the most preferred vegetables and fruits. Problems observed in rooftop gardens during cultivation included drainage systems, soil management, the cost or quality of planting mats, and diseases and insects.

Li D · Chinese Horticulture Abstracts · China

With rapid urbanization in China, urban environments face increasing threats, making horticultural plants a choice to improve and beautify living spaces. This study analyzed the connotation, industry orientation, realistic meaning, and development prospects of the domestic horticulture industry in China, based on the current state of urban horticulture.

杨卓翔 YANG Zhuoxiang, 高阳 GAO Yang, Zhao Zhi, 李双成 LI Shuangcheng · Acta Ecologica Sinica · China (Shenzhen)

An emergy analysis compared the emergy input structure, production efficiency, environmental load, and sustainability of three farms (Biling Modern Agricultural Technology Park, Xili Orchard, and Shanhai Farm) in Shenzhen, China. Xili Orchard showed a high reliance on renewable resources, the lowest environmental load ratio, and the highest emergy indices for sustainable development. Shanhai Farm had a low reliance on renewable resources, the highest environmental load ratio, and was assessed as having the lowest sustainable development capacity.