Research & reports

Karolina M. Lukasik, Maija Linturi, Tuomas Aivelo · npj Urban Sustainability · Finland

A study in two Helsinki urban allotment gardens, using interviews and ethnographic observation, examined human-rat conflict as multispecies negotiations. Gardeners and rats co-created an implicit code of conduct for peaceful coexistence, based on humans becoming attuned to rats' needs. The research proposes this framework as a tool for achieving multispecies justice.

Michelle Loy, Rupa Mahadevan, Maria R. Mascarenhas, Lori Walsh · Pediatric Annals · Global

Culinary medicine, which uses food to treat illness and maintain health, is gaining support from health systems and organizations to develop policies promoting access to high-quality meals. It is now incorporated into medical education and shows potential to enhance patient care in various settings, including farms and community gardens.

Dulcie Mariori, Asher Thomas Namui, Selina Kangei Rifireka, Daisy Kukupa Fena · · Papua New Guinea

This chapter explores the integration of Design Thinking in STEM education within Papua New Guinea's National Schools of Excellence. Using four in-depth vignettes, it examines how students apply the Stanford d.school Design Thinking framework to solve real-world challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through projects such as a hand-powered water pump, a sago extraction machine, eco-friendly termite control, and a sustainable school garden, students demonstrate empathy, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Ngetleh Ngesang, Marietta Yilen · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science · Cameroon (Bamenda)

This study investigated the contributions of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) innovations to resource use efficiency (RUE) in Bamenda City, Cameroon. Data was collected from 402 UPA farmers in Bamenda City using questionnaires, and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method was employed. Empirical findings showed that the practice of innovative UPA has an overall positive and significant effect on RUE, with the effect being higher when farmers use inorganic rather than organic fertilizers.

K M Tanjida Islam, Md Shahin Mahmud · Pharmacon Jurnal Farmasi Indonesia · Bangladesh

This study characterized multidrug-resistant (MDR) Shigella flexneri strains from contaminated raw vegetables in Bangladesh, retrieved from the NCBI genome database. Whole-genome sequences of four S. flexneri strains from tomatoes and green chilies in Gazipur and Dhaka were analyzed. The analysis identified 4273 core genes and 44 antibiotic resistance genes, with five essential hub genes (tolC, acrA, emrK, emrB, evgS) identified as high-priority therapeutic targets for compromising MDR mechanisms in food-borne S. flexneri.

Aditi Sagar, Deepak Lall, Unnati Singh · International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research · Global

This review explores the nutritional profile, cultivation techniques, health benefits, applications, challenges, and future directions of microgreens. It discusses their role in sustainable agriculture, urban farming, and the food industry, highlighting their potential in promoting human health due to compounds like antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phenolic substances. The paper also provides an overview of their nutritional properties, a comparison with sprouts, potential bioactive compounds, and aspects related to cultivation, harvesting, marketing, and prospects.

Mohammad Sultan Ahmad Ansari · Sustainable Futures · Global

A systematic literature review investigated how innovation and creativity support sustainability in an educational landscape. The review found that sustainability through innovation and creativity can foster societal changes and enable learners to address social and ecological issues. It also identified challenges in integrating multicultural society for achieving sustainability.

Anaïs M. Kipelo, M. Jothilakshmi, Dhafer Mohammed M. Al Salah, Georgette N. Ngweme, Emmanuel K. Atibu, Crispin K. Mulaji, Periyasamy Sivalingam, John Poté · Toxicology Reports · Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa)

This study examined trace element levels in Brassica pekinensis Lour. from urban gardening sites (Cecomaf and Lutendele) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and associated human health risks. Analysis showed that Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Hg concentrations in samples from both sites exceeded FAO/WHO maximum permissible limits. Health risk assessments indicated that Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) values for Cd and Pb exceeded recommended limits, and Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values exceeded 1 for most metals, suggesting potential non-carcinogenic risks.

Victória Pansani Silveira Maia, Sílvia Aparecida Mikami Gonçalves Pina · Periódico Técnico e Científico Cidades Verdes · Global

This case study analyzed urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) experiences in India (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam) and an agroforestry system in Campinas, Brazil, using literature review, document analysis, and participant observation. The study identified common obstacles to agroecological practices, including land tenure insecurity, real estate pressures, lack of specific public policies, and uneven community engagement. It also highlighted potentialities such as care networks and food resilience, emphasizing the need for institutional support and public policies.

Davit Markosyan, Vardan Aleksanyan, Sargis Gevorgyan · AgriScience and Technology · Armenia

This study investigated the relationship between food security and waste management in Armenia's agri-food system, analyzing data from 2005 to 2022. Findings indicate that increased imports, use, and exports of food commodities are linked to higher food loss. Recommendations include improving infrastructure for food imports, enhancing supply chain efficiency, investing in better storage, and applying circular economy principles like community-supported agriculture (CSA) to reduce waste.

Nilo Coradini de Freitas, Hélène Picard, Marcos Barros · Organization Studies · Global

This ethnographic study of a shared community garden explores the role of affective dynamics in creating dissonance within alternative organizations. The study found that intensive affective experiences generate tensions in member interactions, leading to transitional reactions that require organizational responses. This highlights how affective embodiment processes shape supposedly rational procedures and dialogue in decision-making, impacting organizational democracy.

Maria Teresa Braga Bizarria · Gender Place & Culture · New Zealand (Wellington)

This qualitative study explored the embodied experiences of six women in three community gardens in Wellington, New Zealand, focusing on gender roles and care responsibilities. The findings indicate that participants' experiences were permeated by complicity with oppressive structures, and their actions had limitations in fostering transformative justice.

Diego Alejandro Riaño-Herrera, Felipe A. Perdomo, Juanita Quintero-Castro, Alejandra García-Sánchez, Leonardo Rodríguez-Urrego · Sustainable Futures · Global

A content analysis and qualitative assessment of 34 urban agroecosystem living labs (UALLs) from academic and grey literature explored their design and contributions to sustainable city development. UALLs were found to boost agricultural productivity, food security, and community cohesion, while also supporting climate mitigation and waste reduction. However, the study noted that UALLs need to better align their strategies with SDGs and improve the measurement of their contributions.

Rebecca Lindberg, Stephanie Godrich · · Australia

This chapter proposes a typology of Australian food charity, describing seven types of food aid provision in Australia. The typology includes large warehousing foodbanks, community food charity, emergency and disaster responses, networks, social enterprises, community gardens and farms, and school food charity programmes. These food assistance agencies play a vital role in Australia's food space and are involved in addressing hunger and food insecurity.

S. Pickles, Anita Stefoska‐Needham, Karen Charlton · Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems · Global

This scoping review was undertaken to identify factors affecting the economic sustainability and associated viability of soil-based commercial farms located in urban and peri-urban settings within OECD member countries. Following the PRISMA ScR methodology, 170 eligible articles were identified from four scientific databases. This review found that many soil-based urban farms in OECD countries struggle to achieve economic sustainability or organizational viability.

R. B. Meshram, RP Dalavi · International Journal of Biology Sciences · Global

This review synthesizes contemporary approaches to urban biodiversity conservation, focusing on green corridors, urban rewilding, and green infrastructure like rooftop and vertical gardens. It assesses the effectiveness, scalability, and limitations of these strategies through a comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed literature. The review indicates that strategically connected green spaces serve as critical habitats and that urban rewilding and rooftop gardens enhance ecological functions and habitat diversity.

Меглена Златкова · Семинар_BG · Bulgaria (Plovdiv)

This article analyzes urban gardening as a practice of inhabiting in the Bulgarian post-socialist city, based on long-term anthropological research in the Trakia residential district of Plovdiv. It examines how inter-block gardens and peripheral "ranch" gardens are maintained, transformed, and inherited amidst changing urban space management. Urban gardening is interpreted as a sustainable mechanism for rooting in the city and understanding post-socialist forms of inhabiting public space.

K I Safitri, Oekan S. Abdoellah, Budhi Gunawan, P Parikesit · Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics · Global

This qualitative study investigated the commercialization of urban agriculture and its influence on agricultural practices and environmental ethics, engaging 43 participants through observation, interviews, and documentation. Findings showed that global commercialization promotes policies for environmental sustainability, leading to aligned production methods. However, in local contexts, farmers cultivating sloped land without perennial crops often use artificial inputs and contaminated irrigation water, facing constraints from intermediaries.

Nina Madrigal Zuluaga, Sebastián Ardila Osorio, Diana Carolina Perez Torres · Revista de la Facultad de Trabajo Social · Colombia (Santander de Quilichao)

This article describes a 2020 research project in Santander de Quilichao, Colombia, focused on food security and community strengthening for families with children with disabilities. The project implemented community gardens and provided training to parents, benefiting 45 families and 150 individuals with 30 urban gardens and 2 home gardens. The research demonstrated positive results, showing how community development can be approached integrally by incorporating community elements to facilitate access and participation for people with disabilities.

Odeimy Sarría-Crespo, Mayelin López-Roque, Wilfredo Sis-Sánchez · Revista Metropolitana de Ciencias Aplicadas · Cuba (Cienfuegos)

A ten-month non-experimental study at the "Pueblo Griffo Viejo" organic farm in Cienfuegos, Cuba, identified limiting factors in vegetable production through surveys, field observations, and documentary review. The research found low yields due to poor substrate quality, inadequate water management, limited organic matter, and insufficient training participation. Additionally, the workforce's low educational level hindered efficient agricultural practices.

Mohd Nazmin Maslan, Izzat Rafaie Ramli, Muhammad Hafidz Fazli Md Fauadi, Mohd Erdi Ayob, Mohamad Faizal Baharom, Ihwan Ghazali, Tia Tanjung · Multidisciplinary Science Journal · Global

This study designed and implemented an outdoor home smart farming system using Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, ESP32, sensors, and Home Assistant software to address challenges like limited skills and resources. The system efficiently monitored and analyzed farming parameters, resulting in water usage of only 0.16% and energy consumption of 0.64% compared to daily household use. It also reduced water usage for watering by up to 82.45%, demonstrating its capability to optimize resource use and enhance crop productivity.

Pratham Kawade -, Mrunal Karkar -, Ritisha Mittal -, Neha Sathe · International Journal on Science and Technology · Global

This system utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller connected to DHT11 and soil moisture sensors to capture real-time data on temperature, humidity, and soil wetness. Data transmitted via MQTT protocol to a Flask-based web server is processed by a RandomForestClassifier model, trained on twelve sequential readings per sensor, to suggest the top five crops and monitor plant health against predefined optimal thresholds. Alerts are generated when deviations are detected, and the system is deployed on cloud platforms like Render.

Paul Β. Thompson · · Global

This chapter explores the potential for alliance around issues such as sustainability and the political interests of rural areas within food systems. While archetypes set different priorities, they generally do not involve irresolvable incompatibility, allowing for opportunities for alignment in support or opposition to policy initiatives or technological innovations. Sustainable intensification, rural resilience, and urban agriculture challenge the presumption that there is nothing morally unique in the production and distribution of food and fiber goods.

Gregg G. Van Ryzin · Policy Studies Journal · Global

This article argues that viewing the coproduction of public goods and services by government agencies and citizens as a causal process, using causal diagrams, can help describe and diagnose coproduction processes more precisely across various services and settings. The approach is demonstrated with examples such as roads, community gardens, traffic safety, education, and policing, and helps clarify the definition of coproduction and its relation to concepts like volunteering, participation, co-creation, and collaborative governance.

Woo Young Kim, Seung-Won Ha, Sung-Min Jung, Jae-Soon Kim, Hyeong-Seok Lee, Y. Barry Chung, Han-Na Chu · · Global

A study implemented a bio-wall program over five sessions with second- and fourth-grade students, analyzing pre- and post-tests with paired t-tests. It found significant increases in plant familiarity (1% level) and ecological literacy (5% level) for both grades, but no significant difference in social skills for fourth-grade students. The bio-wall also improved classroom air quality by reducing particulate matter and increasing humidity.