Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
3622 results(28 / 145)
A low-cost spectroscopic nutrient management system for Microscale Smart Hydroponic system
2024Stevens J.D., Murray D., Diepeveen D., Toohey D. · PLOS ONE · Australia
A novel inexpensive nutrient management system is presented that uses a waterproofed low-cost IoT spectroscopy sensor (AS7265x) submerged in the solution to predict nutrients and recommend adjustment amounts.
DIYUsing Recycled Construction Waste Materials with Varying Components and Particle Sizes for Extensive Green Roof Substrates: Assessment of Its Effects on Vegetation Development
2024· Sustainability · Global
Evaluates crushed brick and crushed concrete of varying particle sizes as extensive green roof substrates through simulated drought and rooftop experiments, turning low-value construction waste into a growing resource.
DIYOrganic cycleGreen Roof Systems within the Framework of a Circular Economy: A Scoping Review
2024· Recycling · Global
A scoping review of 68 open-access articles from 24 countries (2012–2022) mapping the reuse and recycling of alternative materials in green roof structures within a circular economy framework.
DIYOrganic cycleAssessment of Low-Cost and Higher-End Soil Moisture Sensors across Various Moisture Ranges and Soil Textures
2024· Sensors · Global
Compares the accuracy of low-cost versus higher-end soil moisture sensors across various moisture ranges and soil textures, showing that adding an ADS1115 converter improves the error of low-cost sensors.
DIYEconomicsSchool garden and instructional interventions foster children's interest in nature
2024Kong · People and Nature · Global
A study examining how a school garden combined with instructional interventions fosters children's interest in nature.
Food educationBiodiversityLong-term effects of a school-based experiential nutrition education intervention
2024· Health Education Journal · Global
A study of the long-term effects of a school-based experiential nutrition education intervention that incorporates hands-on experiences such as farm visits and cooking workshops.
Food educationHealthGathering a bountiful harvest: the impacts of cultural ecosystem service experiences on management practices and agrobiodiversity in urban community gardens
2024· Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · Global
Investigates how cultural ecosystem service experiences in urban community gardens relate to management practices and agrobiodiversity, finding experiences vary among gardeners and correlate with local ecological knowledge.
CommunityBiodiversityFood educationUrban Agriculture: Exploring Its Potential, Challenges, and Socio-Economic Impacts
2024· Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · Global
Comprehensive analysis of urban agriculture's potential, challenges, and socio-economic impacts. Examines successful citizen-driven models and barriers to scaling.
CommunityWelfareFood educationOrganic cycleThe impact of a community garden on children and their families' eating habits
2024· Food Education Research · Multiple
Empirical study examining how community garden participation impacts children's food education and eating habits. Analyzes spillover effects on family food choices.
Food educationWelfareCommunityRooftop gardening complexities in the Global South: Motivations, practices, and politics
2024Turner · Geographical Research · Global South
Explores motivations, practices, and political contexts of rooftop gardening in the Global South, examining how socioeconomic conditions and policy environments shape urban agricultural initiatives.
CommunityPolicyAnalyzing the divergence and development of business models for urban farming
2024de Jong · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global
Examines how urban farms' business models transition over time, incorporating long-term sustainability into core strategies. Analyzes progression from startup to enterprise settings.
EconomicsCommunityFood educationDeveloping Spatial Typology for Urban Agriculture Initiatives to Achieve Food Security in Jordan
2024· GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites · Jordan
Develops a spatial typology of urban agriculture initiatives aimed at achieving food security in Jordan.
PolicyWelfareFood Security, Food Sovereignty, and Urban Agriculture in Cuba
2024· Latin American Perspectives · Cuba
Discusses urban agriculture in Cuba through the lenses of food security and food sovereignty.
PolicyWelfareCommunityUrban food waste for soil amendment? Analysis and characterisation of waste-based compost for soil fertility management in agroecological horticultural production systems in the city of Rosario, Argentina
2024Terrile R., Martinez N., Brunotto F., Rizzi M., Scarpeci T., Tornaghi C. · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Rosario, Argentina
Analyses and characterises urban waste-based composts used on two city farms in Rosario, evaluating their use for soil fertility management in agroecological horticultural production.
Food lossCompostOrganic cycleHeavy metal contamination in urban roadside vegetables: origins, exposure pathways, and health implications
2024· Discover Environment · Global (review)
A review documenting that urban roadside vegetables accumulate heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, arguing that health risks justify exclusion zones for cultivation away from high-traffic roads.
HealthPolicyAssessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Health Risks in Snow Cover-Soil Cover-Vegetation System of Urban and Rural Gardens of an Industrial City in Kazakhstan
2024Faurat A., Azhayev G., Shupshibayev K., Akhmetov K., Boribay E., Abylkhassanov T. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · Kazakhstan (Pavlodar)
In the industrial city of Pavlodar, heavy metals migrated from snow into soil and crops in urban and rural gardens, and the study assessed cancer and non-cancer health risks from eating the potatoes and tomatoes grown there.
HealthBenchmarking energy efficiency in vertical farming: Status and prospects
2024Miserocchi L., Franco A. · Thermal Science and Engineering Progress · Global
The benchmarking review documents that vertical-farm lettuce production currently consumes a very high 10-18 kWh/kg, driven by lighting and climate control, identifying this energy intensity as a key barrier to cost-competitiveness with conventional agriculture.
EconomicsVacancy as Precarious Property in Dublin's Temporary Urbanism Moment
2024Cian O'Callaghan · Antipode · Ireland (Dublin)
Critical account of Dublin's 2008–2017 temporary-urbanism moment showing how the post-crash possibilities for community/garden uses of vacant land were foreclosed by governmental interventions that re-secured property relations, withdrawing interim uses once the market recovered.
PolicyEconomicsStrengthening Urban and Peri-Urban Food Systems to Achieve Food Security
2024FAO · Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations · Global
FAO presents strategy for achieving food security through strengthened urban and peri-urban food systems. Integrates policy frameworks, infrastructure investment, and market development approaches.
PolicyEconomicsResearch Advances and Emerging Trends in the Impact of Urban Expansion on Food Security: A Global Overview
2024· MDPI Agriculture · Global
Examines paradox of urban expansion reducing agricultural land while urban agriculture offers compensation. Highlights importance of urban-rural food system integration.
PolicyEconomicsRooftop Gardening: The Future of Urban Agriculture
2024Urban Agriculture Research Group · ResearchGate · Global
Investigates how rooftop gardening practices utilize small and unconventional spaces to increase cities' self-reliance in food production
Organic cycleRooftop Farming Systems: A Systematic Review of Environmental and Economic Benefits
2024Schmidt, K., Yamamoto, R., Oluwaseun, A., De Silva, H. · Renewable Energy Reviews · Global
Systematic review of 156 rooftop farming projects in 24 countries. Rooftop farms reduce building energy by 20-25%, decrease stormwater runoff by 40-60%, and generate 4-8 kg/m²/year of vegetables.
Food educationEconomicsAgroforestry Systems as Carbon Sinks: Quantifying Sequestration Potential
2024Lima, P., Mwangi, E., Sousa, H., Park, J. · Nature Climate Change · Global
Global analysis of 250 agroforestry systems showing 4-8 tons CO2/ha/year sequestration compared to 0.5-1 ton for monoculture. Scaling could sequester 3-4 gigatons CO2 annually.
Organic cycleEconomicsFarms Beneath the Skyline: Rooftop Agriculture as the Next Urban Food Revolution
2024Earth5R · Earth5R · Global
Explores rooftop agriculture potential and challenges. Benefits include CO2 absorption, urban heat island reduction, biodiversity support, and reduced food transportation emissions. Challenges: limited space, high costs, maintenance needs.
A Participatory Evaluation of an Urban Garden Project in Ecuador: Exploring Factors That Impact the Recovery of People With Severe Mental Health Problems
2024Emilia C. Zamora-Moncayo, Bernarda Herrera, June Larrieta, Aimée DuBois, Georgina Miguel Esponda · Qualitative Health Research · Ecuador
A participatory case study of Huertomanías, an urban garden initiative founded in Ecuador in 2015 that provides work, income and social inclusion to people with severe mental health problems. Twelve participants took part in cognitive mapping, a photovoice project and interviews. Thematic analysis identified four domains of impact within the garden — autonomy (financial and personal), interpersonal and environmental relations, mental health, and family dynamics — plus external factors (family support, public policy and healthcare services) that shape recovery. The context is that employment access for this group is largely disregarded in Ecuadorian policy planning because of labour-market discrimination. As a qualitative study with 12 participants, it does not measure symptom change or job retention.
WelfareHealthCommunity