Research & reports

Mabu Masiala Bode, Apollinaire Biloso Moyene, Charles Kinkela Savy · International journal of innovation and applied studies · Democratic Republic of Congo

A study examined the nature of production in peri-urban agricultural concessions in the commune of Mont-Ngafula, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, based on the concept of production systems and questionnaire surveys. The surveyed concessions carry out several types of plant and animal production, and fruit arboriculture is the most important crop type in terms of area occupied and visibility. Its development is linked to the capacity to rapidly develop land and occupy it long-term, the necessary and sufficient conditions for obtaining and keeping the long-term occupation contract, the only land title the Congolese state legally recognizes for agricultural concession users. The paper proposes an innovative fruit agroforestry approach based on participatory domestication of fruit trees with high nutritional and commercial value mixed with food crops and animal production, aimed at increasing food supply in Kinshasa's markets and professionalizing fruit arboriculture.

Joshua P Newell, Anu Ramaswami · Environmental Research Letters · Global

An editorial (2020, no specific region) introduces a focus issue on the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus in urban areas, noting that with most of the world's population now living in cities, cities drive global flows of food, energy, and water. The eight papers in the issue are described as interdisciplinary, multiscalar, and cross-sectoral, examining how FEW interactions affect the health of cities and their inhabitants as well as the distant people and places from which resources originate, covering topics including a review of existing urban FEW research and promising approaches, urban agriculture and energy-water dynamics, conventional agriculture and FEW dynamics, and the energy "foodprint" of the American diet. The editorial identifies four areas needing further research: ecosystem services tied to urban agriculture, resource recovery in the urban FEW nexus, equity/social actors/governance of the FEW nexus, and the food-energy-water-health nexus.

Lisandro Esteban Martínez · Estudios socioterritoriales · Global

A team from Argentina's National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) conducted a territorial foresight exercise for the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region (RMBA), focusing on food production and consumption and the metropolitan territory in which they are embedded. Defining the area as a metropolitan agri-food system (SAM), the team constructed multiple plausible future scenarios, drawing on more than a decade of INTA work on urban and peri-urban agriculture in the region to characterize the dynamics of this complex system.

A Shumba, N Dunjana, B. Nyamasoka, P. Nyamugafata, Simon Madyiwa, J. Nyamangara · South African Journal of Plant and Soil · Zimbabwe

In Harare, Zimbabwe, an experiment on sandy and red clay soils tested combinations of cattle manure plus mineral nitrogen fertilizer, 0 or 5 t/ha of mulch, and reduced (RT) or conventional (CT) tillage, assessing effects on soil organic carbon (SOC), aggregate stability, bulk density, steady-state infiltration rate (SSIR) and maize yield over two cropping seasons. Reduced tillage improved SOC and aggregate stability by at least 6% over conventional tillage in the 0-5 cm depth (p < 0.01); cattle manure plus mineral fertilizer increased SOC and aggregate stability by at least 13% and SSIR by at least 17% over mineral fertilizer alone, while mulching improved SSIR by at least 8% and reduced tillage improved it by 27% in both soils. Maize yields increased significantly under mineral fertilizer in both soils (at least 3.7-fold, p < 0.05), and principal component analysis showed yield could be predicted from bulk density in sandy soil and from aggregate stability and SSIR in red clay soil.

Alexey Valerevich Vasilchikov · Eurasian Law Journal · Russia

A study of urban agglomeration development trends in the regions of the Russian Federation, drawing on analyses from various Russian sociological research schools, examines the differentiation between cities — including million-plus cities — competing for natural, demographic, financial, and investment resources. It finds that large agglomerations act as monopolists that in many cases hinder the successful development of medium-sized and especially small Russian cities, further worsening inequality in living standards and quality of life across localities throughout the Russian Federation.

Zhaohui Wu, Madeleine Pullman · Oxford University Press eBooks · Global

A book chapter surveys sustainable food supply chain issues, introducing the typical actors in food supply chains and the global food system characterized by consolidation and industrialization. It discusses traceability, transparency, certification and standards, and alternatives to industrialized food systems — including cooperatives, community-supported agriculture, and small and medium-sized growers practicing regenerative agriculture — and closes with emerging logistics topics such as last-mile delivery, new technology, and cold chain management.

Manganelli A., Moulaert F. · Land Use Policy · Belgium (Brussels)

This paper applies a Hybrid Governance Approach to analyze the Boeren Bruxsel Paysans coalition in the Brussels-Capital Region, revealing how scaling out land access for urban agriculture produces governance tensions across local, regional, and institutional scales.

Daburon A., Alary V., Ali A., El-Srogi M., Tourrand J.F. · Diversity of Family Farming Around the World (Springer) · Egypt (Cairo)

Examines family farms engaged in dairy and market gardening in and around Cairo (population ~20 million), analyzing their role in the city's food supply chain and the transformations they undergo under urbanization pressure. Based on collaborative fieldwork by CIRAD, Ain Shams University, and the Animal Production Research Institute.

Nordhagen S., Thiam K., Sow S. · Food Security · Senegal (Dakar)

A post-project survey in Dakar found that microgardens were largely abandoned (5% continued use) while poultry activities persisted strongly (75%) due to income-generation potential, suggesting urban nutrition interventions must align with economic incentives to achieve lasting adoption.

· Springer (book chapter) · Villapinzón, Colombia

Examines low-cost oyster mushroom cultivation as an income- and nutrition-generating alternative for rural low-income women in Villapinzon, Colombia. Highlights mushroom growing as an accessible, low-capital livelihood option.

· Applications in Plant Sciences · Global

GMpi, a low-cost growth-environment monitoring system built from a Raspberry Pi, open-source software, inexpensive environmental sensors and a camera that automates readings, imaging and out-of-range alerts, and is customizable and scalable.

Anguelovski I., Connolly J. J. T., Garcia-Lamarca M., Cole H., Pearsall H. · Progress in Human Geography · Global

A critical review synthesizing research on green gentrification, arguing that urban greening interventions can create elite enclaves of environmental privilege that exclude and displace lower-income and minority residents.

Peter Dery Bolang, Issaka Kanton Osumanu · Heliyon · Ghana (Wa)

A 2019 cross-sectional survey of 364 randomly selected formal-sector employees across four public institutions in Wa Municipality, north-west Ghana, analysed with logistic regression. Only 37.9% took part in urban farming; 62.1% did not. Participation was strongly gendered (44.1% of men versus 23.1% of women), and 78% of non-participants were under 35. Participants grew food crops (55.1%), kept animals (19.9%) or did both (25.0%), 68.1% at small scale. Annual earnings from the activity were GH¢101–200 (US$22–44) and monthly food-bill savings US$13–44, and 73.9% said they could feed their families from their own production — but against an average monthly salary of about US$289 the monetary contribution is modest. Significant predictors of participation were access to credit (+67.42%), being male (+20.9%), age and household size, while each additional year of education lowered the probability by 19.72%; household income, land access and access to agricultural information were not significant. The most cited barriers were production risk (90.3%) and weekend work duties (53.5%). The authors note the study covers one municipality and only non-essential-service formal workers, is cross-sectional, and that farmers could not reliably quantify yields.

Celina Gómez, Christopher J. Currey, Ryan W. Dickson, Hye‐Ji Kim, Ricardo Hernández, Nadia Sabeh, Rosa E. Raudales, Robin G. Brumfield, Angela Shaw, Adam K. Wilke, Roberto G. López, Stephanie E. Burnett · HortScience · Global

This review discusses the application of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) techniques to urban agriculture (UA), driven by increased market demand for local produce. While CEA offers opportunities for year-round production and resource-use efficiency, significant challenges remain due to the high costs of production in urban settings. The review emphasizes that for urban growers to benefit, studies evaluating CEA for commercial food production must consider economic viability.

Alessio Russo, Giuseppe T. Cirella · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · Global

This comment examines "edible urbanism 5.0," noting that urban and peri-urban agriculture can have negative effects on city ecosystems, which urbanists and planners have largely overlooked. It highlights the need for a concept that considers trade-offs between ecosystem services and disservices, especially given current unsustainable industrial intensive farming. Edible urbanism aims to integrate food security, resilience, and social inclusion through edible green infrastructure and modern food production.

Martin Stuchtey, Tilmann Vahle · OpenEdition (OpenEdition) · Global

This paper discusses different types of urban agriculture (UA) to assess its potential for future food production. Conventional open-air farming is found to be rarely commercially viable for meaningful food production, though it offers community, educational, psychological, and environmental benefits. High-yielding Controlled Environment Farming (CEF), while potentially contributing substantially to food output, is highly capital and knowledge-intensive and likely to develop at city fringes due to economic considerations.

Leelanayagi Ramalingam, Juwaidah Sharifuddin, Zainal Abidin Mohamed, Fazlin Ali · International Social Science Journal · Malaysia (Klang Valley)

This study analyzed data from 375 volunteers in Community-based Urban Agriculture Programmes in Klang Valley, Malaysia, to determine the relationship between motivation and satisfaction. It found that volunteer satisfaction was primarily influenced by external factors like campaigns, support groups, extension departments, community, and government policy, followed by love of farming, social referents, and values. The program faces problems in attracting and retaining enough volunteers, indicating a governance challenge for sustainability.

Tracy Hood · UNC Libraries · Global

This article cautions against professional planners dismissing community gardening projects as simplistic community development initiatives. Author Tracy Hood reminds planning and city officials of the value of small-scale, less costly community development options like community gardens. She lists and describes numerous economic, educational, and social benefits derived from planting and maintaining a garden.

Emmanuel Patroba Mhache, Elna Lyamuya · Huria Journal of the Open University of Tanzania · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)

This review paper examined the role of urban agriculture in alleviating poverty for women in the Dar es Salaam Region, Tanzania. It found that women's participation in urban agriculture contributes to food security, increases household income (average net income Tshs 58,356.2 per month), offers employment, and reduces poverty. However, numerous bottlenecks hinder women's involvement in urban agriculture, including poor markets, water shortage, land shortage, seed unavailability, lack of capital, lack of government support, crude working tools, lack of water pumping machines for irrigation, poor storage facilities, and lack of agricultural extension services.

Ana Cristina Teixeira Alves, Miguel Nenevé · International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science · Cuba

This study addresses the benefits of agroecology, using Havana, Cuba as an example. Following the 1989 socialist crisis and economic blockade, urban agriculture emerged as a social movement in Havana. Through sustainable practices, this movement demonstrates success in generating jobs and income, as well as enhancing food security and sovereignty. Production, technical assistance, and sales outlets are steadily growing, supported by the government through an ecological and efficient low-cost agricultural policy that combines traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technology.

Milagros de la Caridad Mata Varela, Johana Meza Salvatierra, Ana Yilian Santana Mata · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global

This research evaluated investment project management in urban agriculture through its life cycle, applying eighteen indicators and a management index. The study concluded that an agroecological farm development project exhibited economic inefficiency during its first two years of operation due to an imbalance between income and expenses, preventing high management values.

Juan Sebastián Hernandez, Diego Cardona Arbeláez, Clara Judith Brito Carrillo · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Colombia

This paper presents a qualitative case study of an urban agriculture program implemented by an NGO in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, from July 2017 to June 2018. The program targeted low-income populations, aiming to improve their food, environmental, and economic conditions. The study details the program's success factors, challenges, benefits for beneficiaries, and describes an inclusive business model derived from the NGO's strategy.

M. R. S. Mlozi · · Tanzania

This chapter presents research findings from an urban agriculture project conducted in several towns in Tanzania. It discusses the market flow of agricultural products in Tanzanian towns, explaining that products come from two sources: household compounds and gardens, plots, and various open spaces not part of urban dwellers' household compounds. Several factors are involved in production and marketing operations, and their complexity tends to intensify and exacerbate problems.

Olga Domené-Painenao, Francisco Herrera · Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · Venezuela

The Bolivarian University of Venezuela established the Program Degree in Agroecology (PDA) in 2004 to expand agroecological practices and knowledge. Over a decade, more than a thousand PDA graduates have contributed to agroecological scaling in urban and rural areas, playing a key role in urban agriculture amidst economic crisis. The PDA has created human talent for territorializing agroecology and institutionalizing pro-peasant policy in Venezuela.

Nadine Appelhans, Sabine Baumgart · · Morocco

An analysis of documents related to planning and agriculture and interviews with experts in Morocco indicated that urban and rural issues were treated as separate areas. Urban development affects daily travel distances as urban expansion changes distances between cultivated land and dwelling places. Data from Morocco show a lack of serious support for urban agriculture and animal husbandry in expanding urban agglomerations.