Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
266 results(3 / 11)
Agro-Food Supply Chains in Peri-Urban Agricultural Areas: Do They Contribute to Preserve Local Biodiversity? The Case of Baix Llobregat Agrarian Park
2024Jon Marín, Teresa Garnatje, Joan Vallès · Sustainability · Spain (Barcelona)
This study investigated whether agro-food supply chains in peri-urban agricultural areas contribute to preserving local biodiversity, using the Baix Llobregat Agrarian Park in Spain as a case study. Analysis of different food retailers revealed variations in plant diversity, origin, and seasonality. Farmers' markets were found to exhibit higher intraspecific diversity, contributing to local agrobiodiversity conservation.
Peri-urban agricultureBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsThe Agricultural Land Use Changes in Metropolitan Areas: A Case Study in Italy
2024Concetta Cardillo, Orlando Cimino · Rural and regional development · Italy
An economic evaluation of urban and peri-urban agriculture in the Rome metropolitan area was conducted using Italian FADN data from 2008–2020 to analyze agricultural land use changes. The analysis revealed that farms are mainly specialized in arable land and herbivores, operated predominantly by men aged 40–65 with a high school education. While economic performance was good, it varied yearly, and few farms resorted to other gainful activities to increase income, suggesting greater diversification of agricultural activities is desirable.
EconomicsPeri-urban agriculturePolicyCREATION OF LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF URBANIZATION: THE CASE OF ST. PETERSBURG
2024Olga Ergunova, Andrey Somov · EKONOMIKA I UPRAVLENIE PROBLEMY RESHENIYA · Europe
This article discusses the prospects for developing local food systems (LPS) in St. Petersburg, focusing on urban agriculture (GSH) as a key component. The study analyzes current trends and statistical data to forecast GSH's impact on the city's environmental and socio-economic situation by 2030. Projections indicate that GSH can be an important tool for food supply and sustainable urban development, with advanced technologies and integration into urban planning as key development directions.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsClimate changePolicyUrban agriculture business models and value propositions: Mixed methods approach based on evidence from Polish and Italian case studies
2023Wiśniewska-Paluszak J., Paluszak G., Fiore M., Coticchio A., Galati A., Lira J. · Land Use Policy 127:106562 · Poland, Italy
Uses the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas to analyze urban farming strategies in Poland and Italy, identifying three business types (service-, product-, and land-use-oriented) and how each communicates value to market segments.
EconomicsCommunity-supported agriculture as food democratic experimentalism: Insights from Germany
2023· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Germany
Analyzes Community-Supported Agriculture (Solidarische Landwirtschaft) in Germany as a form of food-democratic experimentalism, in which producers and consumers share the costs, risks and governance of production.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsA large share of Berlin's vegetable consumption can be produced within the city
2023De Simone M., Pradhan P., Kropp J. P., Rybski D. · Sustainable Cities and Society · Germany (Berlin)
Evaluates five urban space types (residential areas, allotments, rooftops, supermarket parking lots, cemeteries) and estimates the potential to produce a large share of Berlin's vegetable consumption locally.
EconomicsCommunityPolicyAllotment Garden Products as Contribution to Sustainable and Resilient Cities: An Analysis in Leipzig, Germany
2023Schäfer, Kleemann, Spyra · Sustainability · Germany (Leipzig)
Analyzes allotment garden products in Leipzig and their contribution to sustainable and resilient cities.
CommunityBiodiversityEconomicsDesign and validation of an open-sourced automation system for vertical farming
2023· HardwareX · United Kingdom
Designs and validates MACARONS, a scalable, customisable, open-sourced modular platform for plant care, monitoring, and transportation. It offers per-plant dosing, automated logging of temperature/humidity/images, and Python-programmable behaviours, validated by autonomously caring for five lettuce plants over five weeks under artificial lighting.
DIYEconomicsInvestigating local policy instruments for different types of urban agriculture in four European cities: A case study analysis on the use and effectiveness of the applied policy instruments
2023Marini M., Caro D., Thomsen M. · Land Use Policy · Europe (Barcelona, Lyon, Trieste, Udine)
Reviews 83+ policy documents and surveys local managers in four EU cities. Finds land-use frameworks fail to prioritise urban agriculture, that only allotment gardens are meaningfully supported, and that local policies are formulated ad hoc outside any comprehensive UA framework, weakening effectiveness.
PolicyEconomicsSustainability assessment of peri-urban organic horticulture — A case study in the United Kingdom
2023Mustafa Ali, Lenny Koh, Adolf Acquaye, Jonathan R. Leake, Jacob Nickles, Toby P. Evans, Gareth Roberts, Douglas Kemp · The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment · United Kingdom (Sheffield)
This study conducted an integrated environmental and economic assessment of organic peri-urban horticulture using primary data from a farm in Sheffield, UK. A hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) found that the global warming potential (GWP) for case study tomatoes was 3.53 kg CO2-eq, which was 1.87 times higher than imported Spanish tomatoes. Economic analysis showed that the marginal increase in the prices of tomatoes and courgettes from the case study farm was 4.6 and 5.15 times less than the market prices, leading to the conclusion that the studied production system is economically and environmentally sustainable compared to the existing scenario.
Peri-urban agricultureOrganic cycleEconomicsClimate changeUrban Agriculture Approach in The Development of Sustainable Cities: The Case Of Elazığ, Türkiye
2023Fürüzan Aslan, Yaşar Menteş, Oğuz ATEŞ · Kırklareli Üniversitesi Mühendislik ve Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · Turkey (Elazığ)
This study examines the city area of Elazığ province, Türkiye, from the perspective of urban agriculture, which is presented as a tool for sustainable urban development. It offers various suggestions to ensure sustainability in Elazığ, develop insights into regional food supply, and increase the importance of urban aesthetics, land use, urban environmental management, public health, and economic development.
PolicyHealthEconomicsCommunityChallenges and Opportunities in Managing Peri-Urban Agriculture: A Case Study of L’Horta de València, Spain
2023J. L. Miralles i Garcia · International Journal of Environmental Impacts · Spain (Valencia)
In L’Horta de València, a historical agricultural area in Valencia, Spain, challenges and opportunities in peri-urban agriculture management were investigated. A semi-structured survey focusing on a SWOT analysis was administered to key specialists involved in the 2018 legislative protection and 2019 management plan. The study aimed to evaluate how newly implemented tools are rectifying identified issues, but the abstract does not present specific findings from the survey.
Peri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsFarming under Urban Pressure: Business Models and Success Factors of Peri-Urban Farms
2023Wojciech Sroka, Piotr Sulewski, Jarosław Mikołajczyk, Karol Król · Agriculture · Poland
This study, based on a survey of economically successful peri-urban farms in Poland, identified success factors and major barriers to their development. The research shows a considerable convergence in business solutions in recent years, particularly in customer relationships and channels. According to respondents, the success of peri-urban farms is primarily determined by three groups of factors: motivation, diligence, and creativity; high quality of products and services; and cultivating deep bonds with customers. While farm managers indicated relatively few internal problems, urban pressure was considered the most significant external barrier to development.
Economic viabilityPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsCommunityA one-sided love affair? On the potential for a coalition between degrowth and community-supported agriculture in Germany
2023Julia Spanier, Leonie Guerrero Lara, Giuseppe Feola · Agriculture and Human Values · Germany
This article systematically analyzes the potential for a coalition between Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) and degrowth movements in Germany, drawing on social movement theories. It finds that the ideologies and political strategies of the two movements are not aligned, with CSA focusing practically on smallholder agriculture and degrowth abstractly on the growth-dependent economy. Scarce resources, differing internal organization, and CSA's lack of knowledge about degrowth are obstacles, though existing social ties and initial ideological alignment with sufficiency-oriented degrowth are noted.
CSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityProductivity and Efficiency of Community Gardens: Case Studies from the UK
2023Silvio Caputo, Victoria Schoen, Chris Blythe · Land · United Kingdom (London)
Data was collected from seven community gardens and one community farm in London, UK, during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons using a citizen science approach, investigating crop yield, resource inputs, and social benefits. Results showed very mixed levels of crop and social productivity depending on organizational structure and agenda, with no clear pattern emerging. This study suggests that citywide productivity evaluations based on small data samples may not be reliable.
Limited or null effectCommunityEconomicsHealthClimate change“I’m Happy for People to Collaborate, but I Don’t Want to Join in”. Addressing Failure in Community-supported Agriculture Networks
2023Bernd Bonfert · · United Kingdom; Germany
This article investigates "network failure" and collaboration barriers within Community-supported agriculture (CSA) networks in the UK and Germany, using qualitative case studies. The study found that CSA networks function effectively at national and local levels but experience relative failure at the regional level. Regular barriers to collaboration arise from capacity limitations, member differences, and competition, which the networks are actively trying to address.
Governance failureCSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsPolicyFood loss and waste in community-supported agriculture in the region of Leipzig, Germany
2023Janine Voge, Till Newiger-Dous, Emily Ehrlich, Ulrich Ermann, D. Ernst, Dagmar Haase, Isabel Lindemann, Rebecca Thoma, Emilia Wilhelm, Joerg A. Priess, Lukas Egli · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · Germany (Leipzig)
This study assessed food loss and waste (FLW) and yields for one year in four Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives in the Leipzig area, Germany, comparing them to reference data. Results showed that FLW during production, distribution, and consumption was on average 22–70% lower compared to reference data. Due to lower FLW, CSA initiatives could compensate for yield gaps of 32% on average, reflecting typical yield gaps between organic and conventional agriculture. Co-evaluation with CSA gardeners indicated that FLW could be further reduced at all stages.
CSA & TeikeiFood lossOrganic cycleEconomicsStakeholder Opinions on Urban Agriculture: The Case of Iğdır
2023Enes AKDENİZ, M. Bihter BİNGÜL BULUT, İbrahim HOSAFLIOĞLU, Öner Demirel · Mimarlık Bilimleri ve Uygulamaları Dergisi (MBUD) · Turkey (Iğdır)
This study aimed to determine the place and importance of urban agriculture from the perspective of stakeholders in Iğdır city and its surrounding areas. Semi-structured interview forms were used, with five questions posed to stakeholders, and data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. According to the findings, Iğdır city was concluded to hold significant potential for urban agricultural activities.
CommunityPolicyEconomics«Green» practices of Kharkiv residents during the war: results of Kharkiv Green Urban Tour 2023
2023Ruslan Zaporozhchenko, Denys Shymansky · SOCIOПРОСТІР · Ukraine (Kharkiv)
The Kharkiv Green Urban Tour 2023, held in April-May 2023, aimed to reveal the “green” practices of Kharkiv residents during the war, specifically the continuation of growing and distributing home-grown vegetables and fruits in the context of urban farming. This study, conducted as part of the FUSILLI international research project, seeks to provide a clearer understanding of how residents of an urbanized city engage in improvised farming, adapt to the military situation, and reproduce green practices while helping others.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsLe portage foncier public et sa réception par les agriculteurs. L’exemple du pacte agricole de la région Île-de-France
2023Alioune Badara Dabo · Norois · France (Île-de-France)
This article analyzes how the public land tenure system, introduced in the 2018 "Agricultural Pact" in the Île-de-France region, articulates with local farming systems. Based on a qualitative survey conducted in the Green Belt area, the findings reveal that this land tenure system does not fully align with the strategies of farmers, particularly young people outside family farming who wish to establish themselves in agriculture, as they do not necessarily seek land ownership.
Governance failurePolicyPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsTechno-Economic Assessment of an Office-Based Indoor Farming Unit
2022Cichocki J., von Cossel M., Winkler B. · Agronomy 12(12):3182 · Germany
Assesses technical requirements, productivity and economic viability of a 'Smart Office Farm' indoor unit based on a five-week production cycle of lettuce, pak choi and basil, comparing indoor vertical production with field and greenhouse cultivation in Germany.
EconomicsThe role of the common agricultural policy in contributing to jobs and growth in EU's rural areas
2022Grodzicki T., Jankiewicz M. · PLoS ONE (PMC8812895) · Europe
A quantitative analysis of how the EU Common Agricultural Policy affects rural employment, GDP and poverty in the Baltic states, showing that higher rural employment promotes rural economic growth.
PolicyEconomicsThere Grows the City: A Long History of Urban Agriculture in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2022Michael Carriere, David Schalliol · Journal of Urban History · United States (Milwaukee)
This historical essay documents the history of urban agriculture in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, complicating the "declensionist" narrative of the twentieth-century U.S. city. It argues that food production played a significant and often overlooked role in Milwaukee's economic, social, and spatial development, even during industrial expansion. The authors show that urban agriculture remained a viable tool for urban redevelopment, used by both public- and private-sector actors well into the twenty-first century.
EconomicsCommunityPolicyPotentials and perspectives of food self-sufficiency in urban areas—a case study from Leipzig
2022Rüschhoff J., Hubatsch C., Priess J., Scholten T., Egli L. · Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems · Germany (Leipzig)
A Leipzig case study assessing food self-sufficiency potential, finding that combining organic agriculture, reduced food loss, and a more plant-based diet could reach a mean self-sufficiency level of about 95%.
Food lossOrganic cycleEconomicsDevelopment of a Low-Cost Open-Source Platform for Smart Irrigation Systems
2022Puig F., Rodríguez Díaz J.A., Soriano M.A. · Agronomy · Spain
Develops a low-cost, open-source IoT platform for smart irrigation that supports many sensors and can be easily integrated with other platforms.
DIYEconomics