Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1177 results(30 / 48)
Green Shoots in Vacant Plots? Urban Agriculture and Austerity in Post-Crash Ireland
2017Mary P. Corcoran, Patricia C. Kettle, Cian O'Callaghan · ACME: An International Journal for Critical Geographies · Ireland (Dublin)
Shows how post-crash austerity governance in Dublin treated urban agriculture on vacant lots as a cheap 'stop-gap' between development booms, entrenching precarity: gardens exist only until land is reactivated for building, exposing the instrumentalization of UA under austerity.
PolicyEconomicsCommunityUrban and peri-urban family-based pig-keeping in Cambodia: Characteristics, management and perceived benefits and constraints
2017Gunilla Ström, Agnes Andersson Djurfeldt, Sofia Boqvist, Ann Albihn, Sorn Sokerya, Sokun San, Holl Davun, Ulf Magnusson · PLOS ONE · Cambodia (Phnom Penh)
A cross-sectional survey of 204 pig-keeping households (from 267 initially identified) in urban and peri-urban Phnom Penh, Cambodia, using structured questionnaires in November–December 2014 and February 2015. Typical holdings were 5–15 pigs, all households kept pigs for sale, and more than 60% reported pig income as one of the household's main sources of revenue. The constraints named most often were low prices for slaughter pigs (54%), expensive feed (53%) and disease outbreaks (50%), with lower-socioeconomic-status households significantly more affected by disease (P=0.025). Notably, no household raised food-safety or zoonotic-transmission concerns, despite these being the standard international worry about urban livestock keeping.
EconomicsOrganic cycleAchieving Resilience through Water Recycling in Peri-Urban Agriculture
2017Roger Attwater, Chris Derry · Water · Australia
This paper presents a case study in Western Sydney, Australia, examining the role of water recycling for agricultural use within the peri-urban water cycle. It identifies and discusses aspects that enhance resilience, such as water resource security, avoidance of wastewater discharges, enhanced landscape ecology, and provision of ecosystem services. The study also considers environmental risk management, local agricultural products, social values, livelihood opportunities, and the industrial ecology of recycled organics.
Peri-urban agricultureOrganic cycleClimate changeEconomicsThe Rise of Urban Agriculture
2017James C Padgett · Murray State's Digital Commons (Murray State University) · Global
This paper aimed to highlight the increasing number of communities positively impacted by urban agriculture across the United States, drawing data from case studies in the US and other countries. It argues that urban agriculture is becoming a necessity for cities, offering an opportunity to grow fresh produce locally and address the burdens of current food systems on the environment and economy. While challenges like limited space exist, the paper suggests that underutilized urban spaces can be transformed through urban agriculture.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsAquaponics in Urban Agriculture: Social Acceptance and Urban Food Planning
2017Georgia Pollard, James Ward, Barbara A Koth · Horticulturae · Australia (Adelaide)
A study in Adelaide, Australia, investigated the social acceptance of aquaponics and its role in urban food planning through focus groups and interviews with urban food opinion leaders and local government officials. Most participants were unfamiliar with aquaponics, and perceived negatives received more attention than benefits. Urban growers' views on overcomplicated urban food planning aligned with mixed policy responses from local government areas towards urban agriculture, indicating a lack of consistent governance.
Governance failureDigital agriculturePolicyCommunityEconomicsUrban Agriculture: Search for Agricultural Practice in Urbanized Rural Areas
2017Celile Özçiçek Dölekoğlu, Sema Gün · Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology · Global
Urban agriculture, practiced by 800 million people globally, offers economic, social, and environmental benefits but also carries risks and adverse effects. This study presents developments in urban agriculture in Turkey and worldwide, discussing all aspects of its effects and outcomes.
Limited or null effectUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityClimate change도시양봉으로 양봉산업의 발전가능성 확보 방안
2017박진 · 한국양봉학회 학술대회 자료집 · Global
This report examines the global rise of urban beekeeping, noting its diverse approaches across countries like the UK, Japan, and Denmark. While South Korea has seen an increase in urban beekeeping since 2012, with government support initiated in 2016, the sector faces significant challenges. Urban beekeeping is still largely viewed as a derivative of conventional beekeeping, and a lack of ordinances or legal frameworks hinders its widespread adoption and recognition of its environmental, social, and economic value.
Governance failureBiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityPolicyEconomicsImportancia de los productos agrícolas del grupo hortofrutícola en la alimentación de poblaciones vulnerables
2017Blanca Rosa Restrepo de Peña, José Elvis Sierra Borras, Nubia Esperanza Suárez Suárez · CITAS · Colombia
This descriptive and interpretive study, using Participatory Action Research with 62 randomly sampled families in Loma Linda neighborhood, Soacha, Colombia, investigated urban agriculture's role in addressing food needs and improving family income. The study identified an extremely poor population with an average family income of 252,000 pesos, 49.9% aged 60+, 70% with primary education, and 30% illiteracy. Analysis showed that 50% of basic fruit and vegetable needs could be met through rudimentary but efficient community urban agriculture, leading to the production of family consumption products and commercializable surpluses.
WelfareEconomicsFood educationCommunityLE MARAICHAGE EN MILIEU URBAIN ET PERIURBAIN : CAS DE LA VILLE DE N’DJAMENA AU TCHAD
2017Alhadj Markhous Nazal, Abdelsalam Tidjani, Yassine Doudoua, Abdourahamane Balla · · Chad (N'Djamena)
This study characterized urban and peri-urban market gardening in N'Djamena, Chad, through a focus group with 92 market gardeners on development constraints and individual surveys of 61 producers on techniques. Producers were mostly men (67.21%) with an average age of 35, operating on administrative reserves (34.43%) and private property (65.57%). While holdings were diversified, leafy greens dominated (47% of products), and many problems were identified as obstacles to the sector's development.
Governance failurePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsCommunityLa agricultura urbana como modelo solidario de producción una experiencia práctica en Cuba
2017Rolando Peguero Pérez, Gisela María Riquenes Despaigne, Adriana de Santiago Aguilar · Revista Plus Economía · Cuba
This research, conducted with agronomy students in El Caney, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, proposes a model for urban agriculture. The model, based on principles of equality, solidarity, and cooperation, is presented as a viable alternative for a solidarity work economy.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceURBAN AGRICULTURE AS A FOOD SECURITY STRATEGY FOR URBAN DWELLERS: A CASE STUDY OF MKOBA RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF GWERU, ZIMBABWE
2017Nyasha Chaminuka, Ernest Dube · PEOPLE International Journal of Social Sciences · Zimbabwe
This qualitative study, involving 26 participants in Mkoba suburb, Gweru, Zimbabwe, analyzed urban agriculture as a food security strategy. It found that urban agriculture's growth is driven by population growth, poverty, high food prices, and unemployment, and it promotes food security, employment, and savings. However, existing legal frameworks, including the Urban Councils Act and Regional Town Planning Act, do not support but rather impede urban agriculture, alongside challenges like lack of supportive legislation, government support, and funding.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsCommunityDivorcing food and agriculture: towards an agenda for urban food security research
2017Bruce Frayne, Jonathan Crush, Cameron McCordic · · Global
Building on research from Harare's urban food system, David W. Smith proposed a global agenda for urban food security research in 1998. He noted that many national food security plans inadequately address urban food systems by focusing almost exclusively on smallholder agriculture, and that coordinated policy reviews are overdue. Smith emphasized the need to examine individual and household food insecurity in cities and questioned the role of urban agriculture in mitigating it.
Food sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageAdditional file 3: of Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK): An innovative community supported agriculture intervention to prevent childhood obesity in low-income families and strengthen local agricultural economies
2017Rebecca Seguin, Emily Morgan, Karla Hanson, Alice Ammerman, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Jane Kolodinsky, Marilyn Sitaker, Florence Becot, Leah Connor, Jennifer Garner, Jared McGuirt · Figshare · Global
This document compiles publication, presentation, and dissemination guidelines for an innovative Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) cost-offset intervention aimed at preventing childhood obesity in low-income families and strengthening local agricultural economies.
CSA & TeikeiHealthEconomicsWelfare“The Lucky country”? A critical exploration of community gardens and city–community relations in Australian cities
2017Alec Thornton · Local Environment · Australia
This study, based on Australian city case studies, explored community gardeners' views and engagement in community gardens. Findings revealed that community gardeners identified local councils as barriers to the emergence of community gardens and other forms of urban agriculture. Unlike other Western cities, effective city–community relations for community garden growth have not yet emerged in Australian cities.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsManaging Urban Soils for Food Production
2017Klaus Lorenz · · Global
This chapter provides an outlook on how soil-based agriculture for growing food crops in urban areas can be strengthened. Credible assessments of the importance and extent of urban agriculture (UA) are challenging due to numerous and disparate definitions of UA. UA offers many benefits, particularly contributing to urban food security in high-income countries by providing fruits and vegetables. Urban soil properties differentiate the type and value of food produced, but urban soil quality can be improved for crop production.
CommunityHealthEconomicsClimate changeBack to Solidarity-Based Living? The Economic Crisis and the Development of Alternative Projects in Portugal
2017Britta Baumgarten · Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) · Portugal
In Portugal, the impact of the 2011 socio-economic crisis on alternative projects, including urban gardening groups, in both urban and rural areas was analyzed. The study used data from an analysis of internet pages and a questionnaire on the impact of the socio-economic crisis on Rede Convergir projects in 2015. The findings strengthen the argument that the crisis had an adverse effect on resilience projects, supported by case studies from other crisis-affected countries and empirical observations in Portugal.
CommunityEconomicsUrban–rural linkageThe cost of sustainability in higher education: staff and student views of a campus food culture
2017Amy Shaw, Teresa Capetola, Justin Lawson, Claire Henderson‐Wilson, Berni Murphy · International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education · Australia (Melbourne)
This study investigated the sustainability of the food culture at Deakin University's Burwood campus and identified barriers to increasing its sustainability. An online survey of 697 staff and students from the Faculty of Health and a paper-based survey of 10 campus food outlets were conducted. The findings revealed that while sustainability considerations are important to staff and students, cost is the main issue and a significant barrier to developing a more sustainable food culture and making healthy food choices.
CommunityFood educationEconomicsAnalyse De La Performance Productive De L’agriculture Urbaine Dans Le District d’Abidjan
2017Kouakou Kouakou Paul-Alfred · European Scientific Journal ESJ · Cote d’Ivoire (Abidjan)
This study assessed the productive performance and technical efficiency determinants of urban agriculture in the Abidjan District, Cote d’Ivoire. The analysis of the production frontier revealed that producers' technical efficiency ranged from 21% to 97%, with an average of 76%. Key determinants significantly impacting technical efficiency included the legal status of occupied space, education level, irrigation water quality, access to credit, and the nature of the main activity. The study suggests improving efficiency through strengthened training and technical support for producers and integrating urban agriculture into district development plans.
EconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceThe contribution of smallholder irrigated urban agriculture towards household food security in Harare, Zimbabwe.
2017Never Mujere · CABI eBooks · Zimbabwe (Harare)
This case study in Harare City, Zimbabwe, examined an urban irrigated agriculture project's contribution to household food security and poverty alleviation, including crop types, productivity, and farmer challenges. It found that while urban irrigated smallholder agriculture contributes to livelihoods, numerous socio-economic factors impede greater participation. Furthermore, some participants withdrew due to security threats from perceived political affiliations.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareEconomicsPolicyIn This Issue: Food Systems Resilience
2017Duncan Hilchey · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Global
This combined spring and summer issue of JAFSCD highlights the growing interest in food systems resilience, presenting various strategies such as supporting critical organizational and physical infrastructure along with social capital, incubating new farmers, protecting farm landscapes, using season-extending technology, and supporting labor. It also emphasizes adapting to climate change and creating stronger connections between farmers and residents in need who are in close geographic proximity. The issue includes columns on Latinx/Hispanic issues in food systems work, the role of "freedom farmers" in the civil rights movement, and the under-appreciated contribution of urban agriculture to communities.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageEconomicsSustainable Development Through Urban Agriculture
2017Eric R. R. Weaver · Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) · Global
This document compiles three publications advocating urban agriculture as a solution for UN Sustainable Development Goals. The first publication examines stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) modeling for urban agriculture. The second highlights agriculture's role as a driver for planetary systems impacts, and the third proposes a new definition for urban agriculture due to existing ambiguities.
Climate changeCommunityPolicyEconomicsPrinciple-Centred Therapy (PCT): The Future for Therapeutic Interventions?
2017Muzammil H. Syed, Umair Majid, Reda Siddiqui · · Global
This paper proposes that community garden ventures could offer a solution for vulnerable populations struggling with mental well-being in isolation. Through gardening and acquiring agricultural techniques, participants would engage in Principle-Centred Therapy, aiming to guide individuals from dependence to independence and interdependence. Agricultural output would be sold in markets, contributing to community resilience by integrating isolated members and enhancing overall economic vitality.
CommunityHealthWelfareEconomicsChallenges and Opportunities in Urban Farming
2017V. Kumar, K. Sentamilselvan · Advances in business strategy and competitive advantage book series · Global
This study is an initiative to explore the feasibility of urban farming and focuses on its challenges and opportunities in the context of rapid global urbanization. It aims to bring out societal views on urban farming and suggest ways to overcome hindrances. The research seeks to facilitate the utilization of urban farming's benefits.
Climate changeHealthFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsResilience to Economic Shocks: Reflections from Zambia's Copperbelt
2017Etienne Nel, Jessie Smart, Tony Binns · Growth and Change · Zambia
This study examined resilience to economic shocks in Zambia's Copperbelt region, which experienced significant economic destabilization after the 1970s. Following massive job losses in mining and manufacturing, the local population shifted to informal sector activities and food self-provisioning. The practice of urban agriculture served as a case study of how households strengthened their food security through their own actions in the absence of formal sector employment opportunities.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban agriculture, dietary diversity and child health in a sample of Tanzanian town folk
2017Natascha Wagner, Luca Tasciotti · Canadian Journal of Development Studies/Revue canadienne d études du développement · Tanzania
This study explores the link between urban agriculture, dietary diversity, and child health in urban Tanzania, using weight-for-age and height-for-age Z-scores. Utilizing two rounds of observational data for urban Tanzania and an instrumental variables estimation approach, the research shows that practicing urban agriculture leads to the consumption of a greater variety of food items, and the health status of urban children living in households practicing urban agriculture significantly improves in both the short and long term.
HealthWelfareEconomicsFood sovereignty & justice