Research & reports

Nataliya Apanovich, Gene King, Ashley Limbaugh, Garrett Smith, Sandra Bernal · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States (Tucson)

This 10-week study in Tucson, Arizona, examined the role of a collaborative urban garden in addressing food security and social isolation among nine university students, refugees, and asylum seekers. Using pre- and post-study surveys, interviews, and observations, researchers found that both groups experienced positive impacts on food access and social connections. The results indicate that urban gardening creates pathways to empowerment and equalizes differences between the groups and society.

Celso Donizete Locatel, R.F. da Silva, Roberto Marinho Alves da Silva · · Brazil

This paper presents the definition and evolution of urban and peri-urban agriculture (AUP) in Brazil, highlighting advances in public policies. It also discusses the National Project of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Supported by Agroecology and Solidarity Economy (Projeto AUP), which aims to expand and consolidate this practice in Brazil.

Lúcio Lorandi de Toledo, Renata Ferraz de Toledo · Periódico Técnico e Científico Cidades Verdes · Brazil (São Paulo)

A case study in São Paulo, Brazil, mapped 152 urban gardens in public spaces, identifying 114 as community gardens. These gardens are predominantly distributed in peripheral regions, coinciding with areas of high socio-environmental vulnerability and food insecurity. The analysis concluded that despite their good geographic distribution, the productive volume of these gardens is assumed to be insufficient to significantly impact access to fresh food in these communities.

Marté Antione Gifford · Scholars Crossing (Liberty University) · United States (Augusta)

A project at the Augusta Dream Center (ADC) in Augusta, United States, aims to design and implement a community garden, supplemented by local farmer partnerships. This initiative seeks to address food insecurity in the Central Savannah River Area by providing fresh produce, fostering nutrition education, and promoting long-term health equity, particularly in low-income and minority communities facing food deserts and food swamps. The project will develop a community garden for seasonal crops and education, supported by local farmer partnerships and workshops.

Emanoel de Jesus Aquino Moreira, Amanda Beatriz de Souza Lopes, Edna Antônia da Silva Brito · Caderno Pedagógico · Brazil (Moju)

In Moju, Brazil, a study conducted from August to November 2024 investigated the importance of urban productive backyards by collecting qualitative and quantitative data from a representative group of residents practicing them. Questionnaires gathered information on food production, consumption frequency, food expenses, sustainable practices, and knowledge of food security. The findings indicate that urban productive backyards in Moju can significantly contribute to improving local food security by providing direct access to fresh, healthy, and low-cost food.

Ramírez Pérez, Norma Verónica, Padilla Medina, José Alfredo, Cárdenas Manríquez, Marcela, Araujo Rodríguez, Jessica Alejandra, Barranco Gutiérrez, Alejandro Israel, Prado Olivarez, Juan · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Mexico

This article analyzes the technical feasibility, energy efficiency, political, and economic viability of urban agriculture (UA) in Mexico, considering its advantages, disadvantages, and conditions favoring soilless cultivation. The study, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis using the PRISMA protocol, aims to provide scientific evidence on UA's technical, economic, and energy feasibility. It highlights that UA faces technical, political, and economic challenges that limit its development and expansion.

Paloma Ribeiro TARRÃO, D. Ferreira, Rita de Cássia Pereira de Pereira de Almeida · Revista ORG & DEMO · Brazil (São Paulo)

This article analyzed the implementation of the Gera Juncal community garden in São Mateus, São Paulo, between October 2021 and September 2022, using participatory action research and a case study approach. The findings indicated the adequacy of "School" Time and Community Time relationships, learning agroecology and solidarity economy principles, and the effectiveness of these practices in food production. It also showed changes in individual and group conduct, trainer training, and fostered public policy development for food sovereignty.

Ana Zepeda, Maria C. Ortíz-Rivera, Clare Cannon, Amanda Crump · The Professional Geographer · United States

This research, conducted in San Juan, Puerto Rico in July 2019, investigates how women experienced the impacts of Hurricane Maria on their urban farms (huertos urbanos). Findings show that while many women enjoy urban farming and it provides fresh produce, almost all women farmers experienced a decline in volunteer participation a few years after the farms' establishment and even more so after Hurricane Maria. Despite this, many women described the urban farms as very important for community food cultivation and gathering.

Eduardo Fernandes Martinello, Wanderley de Jesus Souza, José Virtuoso · REMEA - Revista Eletrônica do Mestrado em Educação Ambiental · Brazil

This article presents a successful experience in Araranguá, Santa Catarina, Brazil, where environmental education and popular extension movements facilitated the conversion of an underutilized urban space into a community garden. The garden produces food for people experiencing food vulnerability, and the experience demonstrated community engagement and knowledge construction by learners.

Jennifer Temmer, Alison Blay‐Palmer, Andrew Spring · Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation · Canada (Northwest Territories)

A Participatory Action Research study in Kakisa, Northwest Territories, applied the Community Agroecological Values Framework to food system planning. While the community successfully leveraged extra-regional resources by building relationships with organizations outside the territory, findings indicated that unstable relationships and conflicting perspectives regarding land use and agriculture constrained access to critical regional supports, including gardening knowledge networks, funding, and training opportunities. This study highlights the necessity of both short-term regional support and long-term local capacity building for sustainable food production.

Ricardo de Amorim Cini, Juliana Hrycyna · Ágora · Brazil (Curitiba)

This study analyzed the challenges, expectations, and potential of the relationship between urban gardens and chefs, focusing on the "Horta do Chef" project developed by the City of Curitiba. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2022 and February 2023, involving a literature review and semi-structured qualitative interviews with two chefs and one public official. The results indicated that the "Horta do Chef" project was discontinued due to its decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Iriana Sartor, Giovanna Paccillo · Ciencias Sociales y Religión · Brazil, Argentina

This paper analyzes the everyday practices and attributed meanings of participants in community gardens in Brazil and Argentina. Based on 34 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2021 and 2022, it explores human-nature and human-society relationships, and the role of food sovereignty and agroecology. The study argues that these practices contribute to a shared ethic, reconfiguring relational modes grounded in respect, care, and self-recognition as part of nature.

José Arturo Méndez Espinoza, Martín Neri-Suárez, Karen Italia Ruiz-López · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Mexico (Puebla)

A case study in Cuautlancingo, Puebla, Mexico, revealed an adverse context for the reproduction of peri-urban family farming. Urban expansion, neoliberal policies, and real-estate speculation have displaced traditional agricultural practices and fostered land-tenure changes. Between 2005 and 2021, over 40% of agricultural areas were lost due to industrial and housing growth. The study concludes that without effective protection and territorial planning, peri-urban agriculture in Cuautlancingo is at risk of disappearing under urban and industrial pressures, with implications for local food security.

Fabiana Witt, Carolina Andion, André Augusto Manoel · Revista Brasileira de Políticas Públicas e Internacionais - RPPI · Brazil (Florianópolis)

This study investigated the impact of civil society on municipal public governance in Florianópolis, Brazil, focusing on the fields of children's and adolescents' rights and urban agriculture promotion. From 2020 to 2022, cartography and ethnographic methods were used for these two public arenas. The results revealed that civil society in Florianópolis is diverse, dynamic, and characterized by multiple interactions that change over time, revealing new governance dynamics. Public governance was shown to have a processual dimension, forged in socio-state relations that change over time, potentially driving or hindering the promotion of social innovation.

Rita Regina Marques Costa, Denes Dantas Vieira, Vivianni Marques Leite dos Santos, Deise Cristiane do Nascimento · Derecho y cambio social. · Brazil (Juazeiro/BA)

This article analyzed the experience of the Povo Unido Community Garden in Juazeiro/BA, Brazil, as a community-based socio-productive arrangement, to understand its implications for the economic sustainability of family farmers. Using an exploratory and quantitative approach with the Lume Method, the study analyzed four representative family units. Results showed significant differences in management styles, with some families more dependent on external inputs and others demonstrating greater autonomy, especially when linking productive and reproductive work.

Letícia Rodrigues Faria, David Luciano Rosalen, Ana Cardoso, Laura de Oliveira · Confins · Brazil (São Paulo)

This study investigated urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) practices in Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil, a city with a predominantly agricultural economy. Using geotechnologies and QGIS software, the research mapped existing and potential UPA areas. Results indicated that vacant lots and public areas are promising spaces for urban agricultural development, which could improve quality of life and waste management.

Luis Enrique Serrano Ayasta, Josiane Stoessel-Ritz · Anales Científicos · Peru (Lima)

A doctoral research study in three low-income neighborhoods in South Lima, Peru, analyzed power relations within urban agriculture projects. The findings indicate that these projects, despite aiming for empowerment, often mask asymmetric power relations and reinforce preexisting inequalities, particularly for women gardeners. This perpetuates gender hierarchies and limits their participation and agency, reflecting paternalism from promoting organizations and community leaders.

Ivanjack, Katherine Rose, Preciado, Kylie J · DigitalCommons - CalPoly (California State Polytechnic University) · United States (California)

This senior capstone project aims to explore the potential of urban agriculture to address critical challenges in sustainability, food security, and community development within California cities. The project highlights practical and innovative approaches to urban farming that can be adopted or adapted to suit the unique needs of urban areas across the state.

F. Xavier Medina, José Antonio Vázquez–Medina, Marco Covarrubias · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · Mexico (Mexico City)

This chapter discusses the factors linking food production, social and environmental problems, and future challenges in the chinampas of Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage wetland area in Mexico City's peri-urban zone. It examines strategies implemented by stakeholders and their effects to envision future scenarios for sustainable food systems. The insularity of the chinampas imposes a particular character on agri-food production and the life of inhabitants, highlighting existing social and environmental problems.

Francisco Pereira de Sousa, Clareana Maria Guimarães Franco, Cássio Bruno Sá de Souza, Débora de Paula Brito Fogaça, Marcos Paulo Parente Araújo, Maíra Santiago Pires Parente, Henrique D. Silva, Dirlley Douglas Alves de Oliveira · Caderno Pedagógico · Brazil

A qualitative and quantitative study in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil, aimed to understand the interfaces of the Palmas City Hall's community garden project. Based on ethnographic research, action research, and field study, the results showed that this local practice enhances community participation in urban garden planting in northern Palmas. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and is a viable tool for minimizing food insecurity and hunger reduction. However, the project requires structural adjustments, promotion of public and private partnerships, and support from universities and civil society for healthy sustainability.

Johnny Jean, Nildo da Silva Dias, Nildo da Silva Dias, Alison Rocha de Aragão, A. JEAN, Patrícia Lígia Dantas de Morais, Rogério Taygra Vasconcelos Fernandes, Leonardo Angelo Mendonça, Vânia Christina Nascimento Porto, Khadidja Dantas Rocha de Lima · OBSERVATÓRIO DE LA ECONOMÍA LATINOAMERICANA · Brazil (Mossoró)

This study aimed to identify and georeference suitable spaces for urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in three neighborhoods of Mossoró, Brazil: Nova Betânia, Sussuarana, and Vingt Rosado. The research found that out of 1,300 hectares in these neighborhoods, 944.1 hectares are suitable for UPA. However, the study identified a lack of public policies to incentivize UPA in these areas.

Bernardo Riley, Mariana Trotta Dallalana Quintans · InSURgência revista de direitos e movimentos sociais · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

The Quilombo da Gamboa Popular Housing Project in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, originated from social movements' struggle for popular housing. The project secured six Union properties for over 100 families under the My Home My Life Entities Program. Currently, 17 families live in temporary houses while the main project advances. The Quilombo da Gamboa also operates a solidarity kitchen and a community garden, and conducts political and cultural activities supporting surrounding occupations.

Andrés Barsky · · Latin America

This chapter assesses the current state of threats to and measures to protect periurban agriculture around cities in Latin America. It highlights the social and spatial vulnerability of peri-urban agriculture and its increasing appearance on Latin American food and urbanistic agendas. Examples of strategies for the concrete management of peri-urban agriculture in Latin American cities include the institutionalization of relevant organizations, the enactment of specific laws, the implementation of programs for small-scale production, and the generation of territorial intervention instruments. The conclusion argues for the need to generate new public intervention instruments to preserve and design spaces of high productive and environmental value in periurban areas.

Paolo Martins, Rafael Nogueira Costa, Stephanie Di Chiara Salgado, Daniel Vieira Nunes, Celso Sánchez · Revista Sergipana de Educação Ambiental · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

This article presents a photographic narrative from research conducted with a network of farmers in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region, Brazil. It highlights photography as a methodological pillar for understanding and communicating educational processes linked to social and environmental struggles. The study suggests a need to rethink environmental education's foundations and expand dialogue with marginalized communities to address socio-environmental complexity.

Maria de Nazareth Oliveira Maciel, Herdjânia Veras de Lima, Daniel Pereira Pinheiro, Luann Yago Oliveira Maciel · Contribuciones a las Ciencias Sociales · Brazil (Belém)

This field research analyzed urban agriculture's contributions to 12 of 17 SDGs in Ananindeua, Belém, and Marituba, Pará, Brazil. A Likert scale questionnaire and participant observation were used with 120 agricultural producers. Multivariate Factor Analysis and Tukey's test (5%) showed Ananindeua had a higher factorial score, statistically differing from Belém but not Marituba. Producers in Ananindeua demonstrated a greater perception of sustainable cities, indicating urban agriculture's contributions to SDGs in all three municipalities, with Ananindeua showing greater effectiveness.