Research & reports

Choi S.-W., Shin Y. J. · Sustainability (MDPI) · Korea

Uses input–output analysis to compare the production- and value-added-inducement ripple effects of Korean smart farms against conventional agriculture, demonstrating the economic impact of fourth-industrial-revolution, business-oriented smart farming on the national economy.

Wang L., Liu C., Lu N., Takagaki M. · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 7:973341 · China

Case study investigating China's plant factory and vertical farm industry, analyzing corporate deployment and challenges, and proposing policy and technical countermeasures to advance commercialization.

Xue H., Zhai Y., Su W.-H., He Z. · Agriculture (MDPI) 13(9), 1681 · China

Analyzes the governance response of China's urban food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing out from cases the disruption of rural-urban food distribution, the reality of administrative intervention and its challenges.

Purnomo D., Sitepu G.L., Nugraha Y.R., Rosiyan M.B.P. · Sustainability · Indonesia (Bandung)

Using a social metabolism framework derived from individual variables, this paper analyses urban farming activities in Bandung's Buruan SAE programme and finds that implementation paradoxically stifled agricultural development, with most groups unable to sustain activities beyond two years. The study reveals how top-down policy formulation undermines the emergence of independent urban farmers.

· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · China (Beijing)

Examines the state and challenges of urban vegetable production in Beijing, China.

· Foods · China (Pearl River Delta)

Quantifies the foodshed and food self-sufficiency of the Pearl River Delta megacity region using land footprints, finding regional and urban self-sufficiency is not achievable.

Chang Y., Si Z., Crush J., Scott S., Zhong T. · Urban Governance · China (Wuhan, Nanjing)

Examines central, provincial, and municipal government responses to ensuring stable urban food supply during zero-COVID measures in Wuhan and Nanjing, China.

· Agriculture · China (Pearl River Delta)

A study classifying urban agricultural functional regions at the county level in the Pearl River Delta, China, and analyzing their carbon effects from 2002 to 2020.

· Frontiers of Engineering Management · China

A paper framing urban agriculture as nature-based solutions and proposing three key strategies to address food security in Chinese cities under climatic and non-climatic challenges.

· Water, Air, & Soil Pollution · China (Beijing)

A study assessing the concentrations, potential sources, and risks of soil heavy metal(loid)s pollution in Beijing, China.

· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · China

A study discussing how policymaking can support both migrant and native gardeners engaged in urban gardening in China.

· Land · China

Analyzes newspaper coverage of participatory urban gardening in China to examine how mass media promotes participatory landscape revitalization.

· Sustainability · China (Beijing)

Case study of Beijing's Dashilar historic neighborhood analyzing resident-driven small-scale gardening as spontaneous green renewal, an alternative to government-led redevelopment.

· Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering · China

CiteSpace-based visualized review comparing Chinese and Western research on community garden design, mapping research trends and differences between the two contexts.

Pham · Asia Pacific Viewpoint · Vietnam (Hôi An)

Case study of peri-urban agriculture in Hôi An, Vietnam, analyzing how agrotourism development and rapid urbanisation jointly pressure farming.

Southeast Asia Research Collective · ResearchGate / Regional Academic Database · Southeast Asia

Reviews current state, challenges, and future directions of urban farming in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines). Includes case studies from Indonesian cities (Bandung, Denpasar, Palembang) and Thailand's sustainability initiatives. Documents citizen-led agriculture as a counter-strategy to agricultural land loss from rapid urbanization.

· Frontiers in Built Environment · Indonesia

Analyzes urban farming as an alternative solution to food insecurity and environmental problems caused by rapid agricultural land loss in Indonesia. Documents cases from Bandung, Denpasar, and Palembang cities, demonstrating urban agriculture's positive effects on food security and environmental conditions.

Bhardwaj P., Sharma R. K., Chauhan A., Ranjan A., Rajput V. D., Minkina T., Mina U., Tripathi A. · Water · India

Evaluates amending soil with municipal solid waste compost at different ratios and its effect on growth and yield of brinjal, tomato and okra, assessing heavy metal distribution and health risk for sustainable urban agriculture.

Pengyao Li, Feinan Lyu, Yuan Zhou, Zhenrong Yu · Ecological Indicators · China (Beijing)

A study in Beijing, China, surveyed ground spiders and carabids in 12 plantation forests and nearby arable lands to assess the impact of afforestation on biodiversity. Intensive afforestation on arable lands did not increase local ground arthropod diversity. Ground arthropod abundance and species richness in plantation forests were significantly lower than in arable lands when surrounding arable land cover was relatively high, and overall landscape-scale diversity was not improved.

Myeong Seok Jeong, Mina Lee, Chaw Su Lwin, Kwon-Rae Kim · 한국토양비료학회지 · Korea (Jinju)

This study investigated heavy metal concentrations in soil and crop leaves from 23 urban gardens in Jinju, Korea, to assess suitability for cultivation. While average concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn generally did not exceed Korean guidelines, the Geoaccumulation Index indicated ongoing contamination by Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. A significant amount of Pb was introduced into some soils from the atmosphere, and continuous monitoring for heavy metals in urban garden soils is required for food safety.

Novianti Indah Putri, Zen Munawar, Rita Komalasari, Iswanto Iswanto, Hernawati Hernawati, Dandun Widhiantoro · Darma Abdi Karya · Indonesia

A prototype digital farming system was developed for farmer groups in Indonesia, based on participatory action research. This system integrates IoT technologies such as Arduino UNO, solar panels, soil moisture sensors, temperature sensors, and automated irrigation. The prototype helps monitor and automate routine processes, enabling farmers to maintain the quality of planting media, which was deemed crucial for easier and more efficient plant growth and development.

Yingjie Ge, Lily Kiminam, Shinichi Furuzawa · Studies in Regional Science · China (Shanghai)

Rapid urbanization in China has weakened urban communities, making community restructuring an important issue. In Shanghai, urban agriculture initiatives like community gardens and rooftop farms are increasing, emphasizing social functions such as resident exchanges. While these new types of urban agriculture are promoted by social entrepreneurs, few studies have focused on the relationships between the creative class and communities in urban agriculture.

Zhiwei Zheng, Rung-Jiun Chou · Land · Taiwan (Taoyuan City)

This study investigated strategies for promoting edible landscapes in urban communities, focusing on the San-He community in Taoyuan City, Taiwan. Using in-depth interviews and non-participant observation, the research found that edible landscapes offer social, economic, and cultural benefits but face challenges in marketing, government policies, and growing techniques. Place branding strategies were identified as effective in addressing these challenges.

Darmawan Setia Budi, Hapsari Kenconojati, Mohammad Faizal Ulkhaq, Muhammad Yusuf Taufiqur Rohman, Shovia Finny Anggraeni, Farahnovita Yuliyanti, Ahmad Alie Fikri, Shierly Zaissiliya Clarissa Lifani, Hikam Zainul Qolbi · ABDIMAS Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Asia

In Muncul fish farm, Banyuwangi, Indonesia, a community partnership program was introduced to enhance catfish production using a bucket farming system. This program significantly improved catfish productivity and profitability through the application of humic acid, and participants gained knowledge and skills in intensive bucket fish farming, increasing their productivity and income.

Yansha Xiao, Chun-Chen Chou, Kenji Doi, Kento Yoh · Eco Cities · China (Hefei)

This study investigated residents' willingness to participate in urban edible landscaping in Hefei, China, using an extended Theory of Planned Behavior model and an online questionnaire survey. Findings indicate that participation intention is influenced by perceived benefits and costs, attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms. Multi-group analyses also revealed moderating effects of past behavior, age, and gender.