Research & reports

Angga Mahardika Syahrul Putra, Jafron Wasiq Hidayat, Kasiyati · Prosiding SNAST · Indonesia

Against the backdrop of Yogyakarta City, Indonesia (32.85 sq km) having only 23.52% green open space coverage versus the legally required 30%, this study used a literature review method (journal articles, proceedings, government documents, regulations, and spatial data) to analyze the form and role of the city's Lorong Sayur ("vegetable alley") program. It found Lorong Sayur to be a form of vertical urban agriculture using land along alleys and neighborhood roads, with an ecological effect of minimizing non-organic waste and contributions to changing residents' lifestyles and improving socio-economic life.

Putri Balqis, Riski Wulandari, Muhammad Zulfandi · Jurnal Teknologi Cerdas · Indonesia

Reducing carbon emissions is a critical task in addressing global climate change, and establishing rooftop gardens in urban areas is presented as one approach that could be adopted. This paper is a literature review examining the environmental advantages of rooftop gardens, with particular focus on their capacity to mitigate carbon emissions. It reviewed diverse sources concerning rooftop garden implementation for carbon mitigation. The review states that rooftop gardens possess significant capacity to mitigate carbon emissions and address the challenges posed by climate change, though successful installation requires careful planning and a thorough understanding of environmental and technological aspects. Rooftop gardens are described as enhancing CO2 absorption, lowering surface temperatures, and decreasing building energy needs by improving thermal insulation, as well as contributing to improved air quality and urban biodiversity. The review identified numerous designs and best practices that could optimize the ecological and economic advantages of rooftop gardens, and points to the possibility of incorporating them into urban planning as an approach to addressing climate change and enhancing urban quality of life.

J Resmi, K Vismaya, V. Chitra, S K Anjana, K V Sumiya · International Journal of Environment and Climate Change · India

Focusing on the role of trees and forested ecosystems in sustainable development and climate change adaptation and mitigation, this study compares Miyawaki forests — a high-density planting method developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki to intensify green cover and support local biodiversity — with food forests, planned and planted forests of food plants providing a variety of food year-round. The study sites were in Palakkad district, Kerala, India: Krishi Vigyan Kendra Palakkad, where a Miyawaki forest patch was established, and V.T. Bhattathiripad College in Sreekrishnapuram, where a food forest was established. While both approaches aim to restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity, they differ in design, purpose and management: the Miyawaki forest reconnects with nature by supporting native flora and fauna for biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration, while the food forest reconnects with nature by providing a food source for pollinators and habitat for many animals, and is described as environmentally friendly because it requires no chemical pesticides. Both techniques are described as effective for establishing urban forests and converting unproductive wasteland into ecologically and socially beneficial productive land.

· 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.

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.

G Charan Tej, P. Lakshmi, B. Savitha, A. Meena · International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development · India (Telangana)

A survey was conducted in Telangana state, India (Hyderabad, Warangal, and Karimnagar) to assess urban dwellers' knowledge of terrace gardening. Among 120 respondents, 52.50% showed a high level of knowledge, but gaps were identified regarding terrace gardening layout (54.17% unaware), crop rotation benefits (53.33% unfamiliar), seedling trays (52.50% lacked knowledge), drainage hole uses (50.83% unaware), and protecting plants from harsh weather (47.50% lacked understanding).

Suswadi, Norbertus Citra Irawan · Kufa Journal for Agricultural Sciences · Indonesia

This study investigated urban communities' perceptions of how ethnobotanical practices and urban farming relate to planet, people, and profit in achieving "city healing," surveying 150 respondents in five major Indonesian cities. Analysis using structural equation modeling and partial least squares showed that people, planet, and profit generally have excellent and significant effects on urban farming ethnobotany, and the use of ethnobotanical practices has a considerable and beneficial impact on urban health.

Myung‐Bok Lee · PeerJ · China

This study investigated how environmental features within and surrounding urban farmlands affected the abundance of Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) and cabbage white butterflies (Pieris rapae) in a megacity of China during winters. P. rapae abundance increased with local crop diversity but was strongly negatively associated with landscape-scale crop and weed covers. A. cerana responded positively to fine-scale flower cover, increased with local-scale weed cover, but decreased with increasing landscape-scale weed cover.

Regina Indri Rembang, Alfonds Andrew Maramis, Fanny Nella Nanlohy · Jurnal Arjuna Publikasi Ilmu Pendidikan Bahasa dan Matematika · Indonesia

This experimental study investigated the impact of a problem-based learning model (PBM) on student learning outcomes in ecosystem content for class X students at SMA Negeri 2 Tondano, Indonesia. Using a pretest-posttest control group design, 60 students were randomly assigned to an experimental class (PBM) and a control class (traditional learning). The average learning outcome for the experimental class was 98.16, compared to 81.63 for the control class. The study concluded that the problem-based learning model can enhance student learning outcomes.

Tuyet Truong, Khoirunnisa Khuzaimah, H.T.M. Pham, Ho Ngoc Son, Tuan Van Bui, Long Ha · SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF TAN TRAO UNIVERSITY · Vietnam (Son La Province)

A study surveyed 39 local farmers in Buot village, Son La province, Vietnam, to examine their perception of agrobiodiversity and factors influencing the adoption of syntrophic farming in home gardens. The survey found that most farmers understood the importance of agrobiodiversity and were willing to adopt syntrophic farming. However, challenges in capital, market access, and a lack of irrigation systems were identified as barriers hindering their adoption of syntrophic farming.

Asti Irawanti Azis, Ratih Ratih, Dea Ekaputri Andraini · Perbal Jurnal Pertanian Berkelanjutan · Indonesia

This study investigated permaculture as a method for controlling rat attacks on sweet corn in urban farming. In monoculture sweet corn plantings, rat attacks began at 21 days after planting (DAP) and reached 53% by 49 DAP. In contrast, permaculture plantings showed no rat attacks (0%), indicating its potential to prevent pest damage.

Vudipong Davivongs, Sigit D. Arifwidodo · Urban Ecosystems · Thailand

This study surveyed six orchards in Bangkok's Inner Orchard (BIO) to analyze forest structure and tree diversity. It found 98.64% forest canopy cover, an average tree height greater than common orchard trees, and mid-range diversity (Shannon index 2.53). Older orchards showed greater fruit tree species diversity, while newer ones had less.

Yusran Yusran, Erniwati Erniwati, Akhmad Khumaidi, Ramadhanil Pitopang, Ignasius Radix Astadi Praptono Jati · Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences · Indonesia (Central Sulawesi)

This study investigated the wood types serving as substrates, ethnomycology, mineral composition, proximate, and phytochemical compounds of the wild macro fungus Schizophyllum commune Fr. in the area along the Palu-Koro fault, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, using a descriptive explanatory approach. Fungi and wood substrate samples were collected through purposive sampling in forest areas, agroforestry, and community gardens. The results identified 92 types of rotted wood, belonging to 36 families, where S. commune grew. Nutritional content was found to be good, although it varied based on the type of wood growing media.

Devisri S.S. Senthilkumar, Moumita Malakar · Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability · India

This review examines "public gardens" — green spaces holding diverse plant collections for public enjoyment, education, and biodiversity conservation — as a potential option for climate change hazard mitigation, drawing on recent built-environment interventions in non-agriculture-based rural cities in India that use urban gardening. It notes a deficit in public awareness and understanding of climate information and governance systems, including technical knowledge, and compiles knowledge on how urban gardening approaches feature in climate change programs that seek to legalize green infrastructure implementation.

Poonam Bewtra · Current Agriculture Research Journal · India

Food forests involve planned agroforestry. The abstract states that, like a real forest, a food forest requires no pesticides, herbicides, weeding, crop rotation, mowing, or digging, and ensures the sustainability of flora, fauna, birds, animals, and particularly bees. This is a case study of one such food forest, Vanya Organic, realized by one of its owners, Mr. Patanjali Jha, who grew native trees, creepers, and shrubs in combination with symbiotic vegetation to maximize carbon sequestration, forest cover, and usable by-products. A key component is Vetiver grass, and Jha argues that food forests and vetiver plantations should be planned and established together, terming the combination a "Regenerative Food Forest." The abstract states that Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) or Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), described as a "green fuel," can be derived from the agricultural waste and other biomass that regenerative food forests produce in abundance; a CBG plant produces sulphur-stripped, automotive-grade methane along with a high-quality organic fertilizer by-product approved for regular use by the Ministry of Agriculture, and the abstract argues for linking CBG plants with regenerative food forests to provide jobs, increase farm incomes, and bring sustainable changes to air, water, and soil quality over time. The case study is stated to have been prepared with the owner's consent and approval.

Nimas Sekarlangit, Prasasto Satwiko · MODUL · Indonesia

This paper addresses how the COVID-19 pandemic forced people worldwide, including in Indonesia, into new living habits. It notes that experts link recurring zoonotic pandemics closely to human consumption of wild animals and livestock, and states that plant-based food sources have already been shown to meet humans' complete nutritional needs. The "arsitektur nabati" (plant-based architecture) discussed here combines human activity spaces with food plants within a local context, and is presented as an integrated solution to the challenges of preventing recurring zoonotic pandemics, nutritional sufficiency, biodiversity, and urban living-environment quality. Using recent COVID-19-related information, the paper discusses the connection between the pandemic and plant-based architectural design, studying student and professional architects' works that respond to the idea of urban agriculture. It concludes that plant-based architecture can serve as an early mitigation effort against pandemic disasters by providing good air quality and lighting for spaces, promoting occupant health, and providing food security under conditions of limited land.

Liang Zixi, Hui Liang, Chen Xiuping, Huang Yushu, Yang Guiying, Yuan Cuiyun · Journal of Agriculture and Forestry · China

An essay (Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 2023) traces the historical development of "Yunnan Garden," a regional garden style in China's Yunnan province, situating it within the context of the 2021 UN Convention on Biological Diversity conference (COP15) held in Kunming, and proposes countermeasures for its further development based on an analysis of Yunnan's resource endowment. The paper is a historical and cultural analysis without empirical measurements.

· Land · China

Analyzes how urban expansion drives the loss and fragmentation of cropland in China's major grain production areas.

Fa Likitswat, Alisa Sahavacharin · Journal of Architectural/Planning Research and Studies (JARS) · Thailand (Bangkok)

This research analyzed landscape transformations, specifically agricultural landscape structures and functions, in eight selected sites in the urban fringe of Bangkok from 1952 to 2018. The study found that the significant loss of agricultural landscape in Bangkok's peri-urban areas resulted in the loss of seasonal water retention areas, productive landscapes, and urban wildlife habitats. It concludes there is a research gap regarding the lack of policies and practices to promote ecosystem services linked to preserving peri-urban agriculture in Bangkok.

Can Wu, Xiaoma Li, Yuqing Tian, Ziniu Deng, Xiaoying Yu, Shenglan Wu, Di Shu, Yulin Peng, Feipeng Sheng, Dexin Gan · Agronomy · China (Changsha)

This study investigated the impact of perceived ecosystem services (ES) and disservices (EDS) on behavioral intention towards urban community gardens (UCGs) among 1142 residents in Changsha, China. While government decision-makers often refuse UCGs, residents' attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms positively impacted their behavioral intention towards UCGs. Perceived ES had a direct positive impact on behavioral intention, whereas perceived EDS had a direct negative impact.

Ro'fatul Maulaa, Niken Kusumarini, Dian Triastari Armanda · BIOLOGICA SAMUDRA · Indonesia (Semarang)

The potential and constraints of urban farming development on the railroad border in Bangetayu Wetan Village, Genuk District, Semarang City, Indonesia, were investigated through observation, interviews, and documentation. The approximately 1 to 2-hectare area cultivated crops such as corn, cassava, and sugarcane, with yield predictions sufficient to meet food needs. However, the presence of pests, diseases, and weeds were identified as constraints, indicating challenges for urban farming development.

Prem José Vazhacharickal, K. S. Jagadish, G. Eswarappa · Agricultural Reviews · India (Bengaluru)

This outlook study reviewed honey bee diversity and the potential for integrating honey bees into urban agriculture and forests in Bengaluru, India. An urban forestry study in Bengaluru identified 374 plant species, with the highest diversity in parks (291 species). Most plant species provided good foraging sources for honey bees, including Apis indica, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, and Trigona iridipennis. The urban agro-ecosystem in Bengaluru was found to be suitable for beekeeping, particularly for stingless bees.

Gabriel Marcacci, Ingo Graß, Vikas S. Rao, Shabarish Kumar S., K. B. Tharini, Vasuki V. Belavadi, Nils Nölke, Teja Tscharntke, Catrin Westphal · Ecological Applications · India

This study sampled bees across three seasons in 36 conventionally managed vegetable farms along an urbanization gradient in Bengaluru, a tropical megacity in India, to assess how urbanization affects the functional diversity of farmland pollinators. Functional responses were trait-specific: larger, solitary, cavity-nesting, and specialist bees benefited from urbanization, while ground-nesting bees increased in urban areas, in contrast to patterns seen in temperate cities. However, overall bee abundance and the abundance of social bees (85% of all bees sampled) decreased with urbanization, which the study identifies as a threat to crop pollination. Crop diversity promoted taxonomic and functional diversity, flower resources promoted abundance, and exotic plants decreased functional diversity and bee specialization. The authors recommend preserving semi-natural vegetation such as hedges, diversifying crops, maintaining native vegetation along field margins, and controlling invasive exotic plants.

Nitya Rao, Sheetal Patil, Maitreyi Koduganti, Chandni Singh, Ashwin Mahalingam, Prathijna Poonacha, Nishant Kumar Singh · · India

Despite growing interest in and recognition of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) as a nature-based solution, empirical evidence on its role in reconfiguring environmental functions (biodiversity, waste management, water recycling, micro-climate regulation) and social wellbeing (food and nutrition security, gender relations, work burdens, land tenure, community ties) in India was limited. This compendium, produced by the project "Urban and peri-urban agriculture as green infrastructures" (UPAGrI), which began in 2019 to address that gap, collects 29 innovative UPA practices from cities across India, loosely grouped into four themes: environment and sustainability; food, nutrition, and livelihood; gender and subjective wellbeing; and urban policy and planning. Written mostly by practitioners themselves, the case studies document UPA innovations and serve as a repository of lessons for peer-to-peer learning among practitioners.

Cheng C., Aviso K.B., Tan R.R., Aviso K. · Sustainability (MDPI), 13(16):9042 · Asia

A study developing a system-dynamics model of a rooftop farm in Taipei City to analyze the socio-environmental benefits of rooftop agriculture (improved food access, community ties, energy savings, reduced flood risk). It frames rooftop farming as a practical solution for strengthening water-energy-food nexus synergies in greener cities.