Research & reports

Agus Slamet, Maryam Nurlaila, Farid Nur Achmad · Abdimas Singkerru · Indonesia

A community service program in Lapandewa Village, Buton Selatan Regency, Indonesia, provided education and practical training on utilizing organic kitchen waste to make compost, liquid organic fertilizer (POC), and botanical pesticides. Targeting 20 participants, including housewives, farmers, and entrepreneurs, the activity aimed to support food self-sufficiency through urban farming and improve community welfare. Participants successfully learned to produce these items and sort seeds, fostering awareness of waste utilization and motivating a shift from chemical fertilizers and pesticides to organic alternatives.

Mahmudah Hamawi, Use Etica · Prosiding Sains Nasional dan Teknologi · Indonesia (East Java)

This study aimed to examine the effect of growing media mixtures on celery yield. The research was conducted from May to June 2020 at the UNIDA Gontor Faculty of Science and Technology practice land in Ponorogo, East Java. A completely randomized design with one factor and five replications was used to compare four growing media mixtures (A=control, B=soil+compost+rice husk charcoal, C=soil+compost+wood charcoal, D=soil+compost+kitchen ash). Results showed that the soil and compost mixture produced the largest wet weight of celery leaves, which was not significantly different from the soil+compost+rice husk charcoal mixture, but significantly different from the soil+compost+kitchen ash mixture.

Dion Notario, Ferdian Suprata, Meda Canti, Listya Utami Karmawan · MITRA Jurnal Pemberdayaan Masyarakat · Indonesia (Jakarta)

A community empowerment program focusing on clean water management, compost making, and urban farming was implemented in Muara Baru flats, Jakarta. A majority of residents responded positively to the program and expressed willingness to actively participate. However, several obstacles hindering the program's success were identified, including a lack of commitment from the local community, climate change, water availability, and arable land availability.

Dhian Rosalina, Yenni Marnita, Nasrul Kahfi Lubis, Fiddini Alham · SELAPARANG Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Berkemajuan · Indonesia (Langsa)

This community service activity provided training in Gampong Baroh Langsa Lama, Langsa Aceh city, to 30 day laborers on utilizing household organic waste to create compost blocks for planting media. The training involved socialization, practice, and evaluation, aiming to transform waste into useful products for urban farming. As a result, 50 percent of partners expressed willingness to practice making compost blocks and be periodically evaluated.

M. Ichwan, Ameilia Zuliyanti Siregar, E Yusni, Tulus Ikhsan Nasution · ABDIMAS UNWAHAS · Indonesia

As a community-service program run from August to December 2020 at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Indonesia, this project set up a waste management unit called SIMALIM, combining smart urban farming methods, at USU's waste disposal site and the rooftop garden of its integrated laboratory, to handle organic waste from campus canteens and nearby residents. It combined black soldier fly (BSF) larvae rearing, eco-enzyme production, and aquaponics (catfish/gabus, tilapia/nila and lele species alongside organic vegetables), training students to participate as eco-campus ambassadors and members of USU's UI GreenMetric team. The project is framed as a model for generating income-producing products from proper organic waste management and improving USU's UI GreenMetric ranking.

Muhammad Taqiyudin Majid, Nurul Aini · Jurnal Produksi Tanaman · Indonesia

Although white radish (Raphanus sativus L.) can be cultivated throughout Indonesia, it is grown in only a few regions; this study examined expanding cultivation via urban farming by testing the interaction between polybag size and planting media composition on growth and yield. Conducted from March to April 2020 in a greenhouse at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, the study used a factorial randomized group design with two factors and three replications: polybag size (30×15 cm = U1, 35×17.5 cm = U2, 40×20 cm = U3) and cocopeat:compost:sand ratio (1:1:1 = K1, 1:3:1 = K2, 1:1:3 = K3, 3:1:1 = K4). Results showed the appropriate media composition depended on polybag size: the 30×15 cm and 35×17.5 cm polybags produced the highest fresh weight with a cocopeat:compost:sand ratio of 3:1:1, while the 40×20 cm polybag with a 1:1:1 ratio increased the fresh weight of radish tubers.

CGTN · CGTN (China Global Television Network) · China

Beijing implemented compulsory four-category household waste sorting for 21 million residents starting May 1, 2020. One year in, daily waste collection fell from 27,700 tonnes (2019) to 20,600 tonnes (early 2021), the recycling rate reached 37.5%, and separated food-waste volume rose to nearly 11.6 times the pre-regulation level.

Mohan S. V. · Materials Circular Economy · India

A case study treating urban organic waste as a resource in urban biocycles, presenting the keyhole garden as a practical decentralized urban-farming method integrating circular-economy and regenerative principles.

Sugeng Triyono, Fadli Afrizki Surya Aditama, Elhamida Rezkia, D Dermiyati, Jamalam Lumbanraja · World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews · Indonesia

This pot experiment in Indonesia investigated the effect of medium size and organic compost dosage on the growth and yield of red lettuce. Red lettuce growth was depressed at 1kg and 3kg medium sizes but grew more freely at 5kg. The study found that the 3kg medium size with 10% compost dose yielded 75.3g per plant, which was considered the most optimum treatment due to using the least medium and compost, despite restricted growth.

Peileku Yikwa, Luluk Syahr Banu · Jurnal Ilmiah Respati · Indonesia

An experimental study conducted at the Greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Respati University, Indonesia, from February to August 2019, investigated the response of chili and mustard greens polyculture in polybags to onion peel compost composting time and dose. Using a factorial completely randomized design, onion peel compost doses (0, 100, 150, 200 gr/polybag) and composting times (24, 36 hours) were examined. The results showed that applying 100 grams/polybag of 36-hour compost yielded the highest plant weight (211.25 grams) and chili fruit weight (73.25 grams) for polycultured chili and mustard greens.

Ahmad Shabir Hozad · Environmental Research and Technology · Thailand

This study investigated the effects of human urine as fertilizer on butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) plants in a green wall system on the AIT campus. Applied at a nitrogen loading rate of up to 0.73 g N m-2 week-1 (104.28 mL urine m-2 week-1) for 16 weeks, urine fertilizer positively affected the food production, inflorescences, and health of butterfly pea plants, indicating it is suitable for green walls. This method could reduce campus wastewater load and save on expensive wastewater treatment.

Ni Made Sudri, Iyus Hendrawan, Mohamad Hardiyanto · Empowerment in the Community · Indonesia (South Tangerang City)

The Indonesian Institute of Technology (BLK) provided integrated waste processing assistance at TPST-3R Batan Indah to support the South Tangerang City Government's waste management program. The challenge was 2000 kg of waste generated daily from 1114 households, with 70% (1.4 tons) going to the Cipeucang landfill. This assistance aims to produce energy and compost, leading to zero waste and supporting urban farming.

Ahmad Rifqi Fauzi, Warid Warid, Maulidian Maulidian · Khadimul Ummah · Indonesia (Jakarta)

Since 2016, Trilogy University's Community Partnership Program has disseminated urban agriculture technology and empowered residents of the West Jatinegara Flats in Jakarta, Indonesia. This initiative supports the DKI Jakarta provincial government's urban farming program, aiming to enhance food security and reforestation. Activities included training in vertical farming, composting, and utilizing open land, resulting in residents becoming familiar with urban farming technology and the implementation of hydroponics for net houses.

Sugeng Triyono · · Indonesia

This study observed the effect of medium size and organic compost dosage on the growth and yield of red lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var red rapids) in pots. A 3x4 factorial treatment in a completely randomized design with 3 replicates tested medium sizes (1kg, 3kg, 5kg) and organic compost dosages (0%, 10%, 30%, 50%). Results showed that red rapid lettuce growth was depressed at 1kg and 3kg medium sizes but grew more freely at 5kg. The treatment combination of 3kg medium size-10% compost dose, yielding 75.3g per plant, was considered the most optimum due to using the least amount of medium and compost, despite restricted growth.

Fetty Dwi Rahmayanti · · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This research focuses on utilizing waste chicken and duck eggshells as organic fertilizer for shallot plants cultivated in pots, particularly in Cipinang Melayu Village, East Jakarta, Indonesia. The study aims to process eggshell waste into eggshell flour fertilizer to provide nutrition for shallot plants. During the research, each stage of shallot growth and development will be observed from planting to harvesting.

Udhayabanu.D, Sharmilabanu.D · Studies in Indian Place Names · India

This study investigates rooftop farming in an urban area in India, focusing on the growth ratios of two plants cultivated using different substrate ratios, including garden soil and kitchen waste compost. Measurements included stem height, leaf height, girth, root height, and total growth time. The study suggests that rooftop cultivation contributes to environmental sustainability by increasing green cover, reducing carbon levels, and decreasing household organic kitchen waste.

Wahyu Sulistiadi, Ibnu Malkan Bakhrul Ilmi, Dian Luthfiana Sufyan, Sri Rahayu · Jurnal Bisnis Indonesia · Indonesia (Depok)

A community service activity in Depok, Indonesia, aimed to establish vegetable consumption habits among residents by utilizing limited space for verticulture. The training employed organic and non-organic waste as growing media, using participatory methods and demonstrations. Participants practiced planting vegetables from seeds to harvest using verticulture, and the activity was deemed successful as most participants were able to harvest their own crops.

Pawan Gajbe · Agricultural Science Digest - A Research Journal · India (Nagpur)

An experiment was conducted in Nagpur city, India, from July 2019 to March 2020, to grow herbs and vegetables on a 230 sq ft rooftop area. The experiment produced 61.7 kg of pesticide-free vegetables using sustainable farming methods, including cultural pest management, composting household green waste, and irrigating with harvested rainwater and greywater. The results indicate that sustainable urban rooftop farming can be an innovative means to promote urban agriculture without harming the environment.

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group · C40 Cities · China

This case study describes how Chengdu's Xingrong community converted an unused rooftop space into a vegetable garden in 2014. The project uses three environmentally friendly methods—rainwater irrigation, food-waste composting, and natural pest control—with 23 of more than 50 households participating in shared cultivation and harvest distribution.

Sabki M.H., Lee C.T., Bong C.P.C., Klemeš J.J. · Chemical Engineering Transactions, 70:49-54 · Asia (Indonesia, China)

Cost-benefit analysis of composting operations across Indonesia, China and Asian countries, evaluating economic viability of circular economy approaches in urban farming.

Blake T. Moskal, Sean T. Berthrong · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · United States (Indianapolis)

The study tested a barrier strategy used by urban farmers in Indianapolis—layering wood chips between contaminated or low-quality background soil and healthy growing media—for protecting urban growing beds. Despite a limited sample, barriers appeared effective at separating contaminated soils from growing beds, and farming with barriers or in non-contaminated soil improved soil nutrients and physical characteristics, though phosphorus was very high in many beds, posing a potential risk to waterways.

Reni Amaranti · ETHOS (Jurnal Penelitian dan Pengabdian) · Indonesia

This community service activity provided assistance to communities in Indonesia to manage organic waste at the local Rukun Tetangga (RT) level. The aim was to support urban farming programs by addressing the uneven spread of knowledge and low public participation in waste utilization. The activity focused on helping communities utilize their existing potentials and resources for waste management.

Nur Faizah Marwan, Bagas Setiono, Nur Indah · Jurnal Ilmiah Penalaran dan Penelitian Mahasiswa · Indonesia

Code Village in Indonesia faces severe river pollution, with heavy metal levels at 6-9 mg/l, exceeding the 3 mg/l standard. This paper proposes the "ECOBLUE" concept, which combines Blue Open Space (BOS) optimization with urban farming, prioritizing waste management to improve living standards. The concept involves managing organic waste for fertilizer and recycling plastic for vertical gardens, aiming to enhance health, education, and prosperity in Code Village.

Dong Sung Kim, Yong Joo Sung, Bomi Kim, Ji-Yoon Kim, Rizal Solehuddin, Young Seok Park, Yong-Gyo Seo · Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry · South Korea

In South Korea, this study evaluated whether rice husk fiber — derived from the biorefinery process used for rice husk silica extraction — could substitute for cocopeat, the major component of vegetation media used in artificial greening such as rooftop gardens, testing samples made with OCC or ONP pulp. Higher rice husk fiber content produced bulkier, weaker vegetation media, though water-holding capacity and disintegration resistance were little affected, and no effect on conductivity change was detected. The study concludes that substituting rice husk fiber for cocopeat is possible with optimized application practice.

Bayani M. Espiritu · Journal of the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences · Asia

This study investigated the effects of microbially inoculated compost on mungbean and pechay growth in container media. Compost from coconut coir dust and chicken manure was inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Azotobacter sp.) and/or cellulolytic fungi (Trichoderma harzianum). Mungbean plants supplied with uninoculated compost showed the lowest fresh biomass and nodule count, while compost with combined Azotobacter sp. and T. harzianum inoculation significantly increased fresh biomass and nodule numbers in mungbean, and showed similar positive results for pechay.