Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
3241 results(30 / 130)
Understanding the emerging phenomenon of food forestry in the Netherlands: An assemblage theory approach
2024Anna M. Roodhof · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Netherlands
To map and analyze food forestry (FF) in the Netherlands, a survey of 109 participants and interviews with five experts were conducted, identifying 231 food forests established since 2017. The survey data indicates that while FF initiatives are diverse in goals, few focus on profitability. Practitioners are largely homogeneous, consisting of university-educated individuals aged 40 to 60.
Economic viabilityCommunityPolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageTackling Social Inequality in the City of Porto, Northern Portugal: Grassroots Horticultural Practices and the Desired City
2024Paula Mota Santos · Social Inclusion · Portugal (Porto)
Grassroots urban horticultural plots (hortas) in the Porto Metropolitan Area, Northern Portugal, are informal communities that have existed for decades, often involving over 20-30 people. However, these low-income urbanite horticultural communities are not cherished by city governance, which does not prevent their destruction. This incompatibility between urban governance and grassroots communities hinders the right to the city for the low-income urbanites who created them.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceWill Climate Endowment Affect the Improvement of Agricultural Production Efficiency? Evidence From Cities in Zhejiang Province, China
2024Yihang Hu, Junbiao Zhang, Yangmei Zeng, Jie Li · Land Degradation and Development · China
A study in Zhejiang Province, China, examined the impact of climate factors on agricultural production efficiency using a pooled OLS model. While precipitation production potential showed a significantly positive impact, the effects of temperature, evapotranspiration, and insolation were not significant or exhibited poor stability. Furthermore, the benefits of precipitation potential varied, with only a few cities experiencing significant improvements.
Limited or null effectClimate changeEconomicsUrban–rural linkageA review of food asset maps in Canada
2024Belinda Li, Tammara Soma, Raghava Payment, Srishti Kumar, Nicole Anderson, Flora Xu, Phonpoom Piensatienkul · Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation · Canada
This study reviewed and categorized 73 food asset maps in Canada based on their included food assets and design characteristics. Most maps included built environment assets like grocery stores and food banks, as well as agriculture-based natural food assets such as farms, community gardens, and orchards. However, representations of Indigenous-focused food assets and non-agriculture-based natural food assets like forests, water bodies, and foraging areas were generally lacking. This lack of Indigenous perspectives reinforces the values of a settler-colonial food system within food asset maps.
Equity & displacementCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsPrincipales spéculations maraîchères cultivées dans les zones urbaines et périurbaines de la ville de Kinshasa (<i>Synthèse bibliographique</i>)
2024Jean de Dieu Minengu, Aiko Ikonso Mwengi, Romain Kawanga, Simon Mwengi, Oscar Mangunda Yama · Revue Africaine d’Environnement et d’Agriculture · Africa
Market gardening in Kinshasa's urban and peri-urban areas faces multiple constraints, including land insecurity, low natural soil fertility, the incidence of diseases and pests, weak technical support, climate hazards, poor input supply, and problematic marketing systems. These constraints limit yields in production sites and hinder the development of market gardening activities.
Governance failureUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceSubsistence to commercial: urban farming transformation builds food security and social empowerment
2024Ilham Nur Hanifan Maulana, Chandra Dinata, Aditya Chisabul Amali, Ditania Arya Dewi · JRTI (Jurnal Riset Tindakan Indonesia) · Indonesia (Malang)
This qualitative case study in Sukun Village, Malang City, Indonesia, investigated urban farming's potential for diverse food security and community empowerment through commercialization. Data was collected via in-depth interviews with 15 stakeholders, participatory observations, and document analysis. Findings indicate that urban farming contributes to micro-food security by providing fresh produce, fostering social solidarity, and increasing household incomes through cooperative models and agrotourism, also highlighting its integration with educational tourism for economic sustainability.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceA growing concern: investigating sustainable water quality and urban food production in Freetown, Sierra Leone
2024Lee D. Bryant, Roy Maconachie, Bastian Schnabel, Abubakarr Swaray, Howard Gigi, Solomon Gbanie, Kabba Haroun Bangura, Anthony Kamara, Prince Antwi-Agyei · Water Science & Technology Water Supply · Sierra Leone (Freetown)
This paper examined the environmental health status of three urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) sites in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Qualitative and quantitative data revealed heavy metal concentrations significantly exceeding regulatory limits in sweet potato leaves and arable soil. Additionally, soaring levels of faecal coliform bacteria were found in irrigation water, and crops were identified as hyperaccumulators for environmental contaminants.
Contamination & food safetyHealthPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPemanfaatan Limbah Organik Pertanian Sebagai Media Tanam Pertanian Perkotaan (Urban Farming) Dalam Membangun Kemandirian Pangan di “Kampung Wisata Terpadu” Desa Mulyoagung, Kecamatan Dau, Kabupaten Malang
2024Tri Wahyu Nugroho, Aulia Luqman Aziz, Hery Toiba, Ahmad Imron Rozuli, Suyadi Suyadi · JAPI (Jurnal Akses Pengabdian Indonesia) · Indonesia (Malang)
This community service activity in Mulyoagung Village, Malang, Indonesia, aimed to empower the local economy through urban farming by utilizing organic waste such as cocopeat and polybags as growing media. The program successfully enabled the community to adopt urban farming concepts, proving its effectiveness in addressing shrinking agricultural land and strengthening the local economy. However, it is also noted that sources of materials, human resources, and market access are among the obstacles causing urban farming failures.
Economic viabilityOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityUrban Agriculture and Food Security in Development Planning
2024Paul Teng · Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development · Global
This paper examines urban agriculture's role in national planning, particularly concerning global food security challenges as urban populations grow. It notes that urban and peri-urban agriculture, ranging from community gardens to commercial farms, has seen rapid technological development and private investment, especially since the early 2020s. Beyond economic and food security benefits, urban agriculture also offers environmental and social advantages for cities aiming to reduce their carbon footprints.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityDigital agricultureYield Operations: (Re)Fitting Urban Agriculture in Existing Green Spaces for Economic and Other Benefits
2024Joshua Zeunert · UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) · United States
To investigate the economic potential of urban agriculture in existing public green spaces, gross economic returns per hectare from horticultural crops were calculated from eight sources and fourteen growing approaches. Findings showed returns ranging from $22,249 to $360,000 USD per hectare annually, with several small urban agriculture businesses achieving gross returns of $150,000-$300,000 per hectare. The study concludes that urban agriculture in existing public green spaces offers opportunities to increase economic viability, alongside additional benefits like job creation, local food availability, education, training, health, and environmental improvements.
EconomicsCommunityPolicyAgro-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 & justiceEconomicsHortas urbanas: desafios e potencialidades para o desenvolvimento sustentável de Cachoeiro de Itapemirim - ES
2024Adriana Rezende Bighi, Regiane Carla Bolzan Carvalho, Camille Rezende Sartorio, Maurício Novaes Souza · Mérida Publishers eBooks · Brazil
This study examines the role of urban gardens in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, Brazil, exploring their economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Urban gardens mitigate environmental degradation, promote biodiversity, and have the potential to generate employment and income opportunities for local residents, while reducing food costs. Through the efficient use of local resources like idle land and organic waste, these gardens yield significant environmental benefits, including reduced pollution and improved air quality, and foster sustainable agricultural practices.
CommunityEconomicsBiodiversityClimate changeMANAJEMEN RISIKO RANTAI PASOK INTERNAL HORTIKULTURA SAWI (Studi Kasus: Buruan SAE “Mang Odedâ€, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat)
2024Legenda Samuel Pardede, Tomy Perdana, Dhany Esperanza, Endah Djuwendah · Jurnal Agristan · Indonesia (Bandung)
This qualitative case study investigated the internal supply chain risk management for mustard greens (sawi) at the "Buruan SAE Mang Oded" urban farming group in Bandung City, Indonesia. Using the House of Risk method, the study identified 23 risk events and 23 risk agents within the supply chain, with 14 priority risk agents requiring control. The findings indicate significant challenges in managing the internal supply chain, suggesting that the current system faces numerous risks that hinder efficiency and effectiveness.
Economic viabilityCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsImplementation system monitoring and control temperature and pH in urban silver catfish hatchery to enhance efficiency and responsiveness based on IoT
2024Firda Rachma Amalia, Syarifuddin Nasution · Jurnal Sistem dan Manajemen Industri · Indonesia (Bogor Regency)
AKA Farm, an urban silver catfish hatchery in Bogor Regency, Indonesia, faced challenges of low efficiency and responsiveness due to complex production processes, leading to suboptimal harvest outcomes. This study developed and implemented an IoT-based monitoring and control system to address water quality conditions, as fluctuations in water temperature and pH impact fish metabolism and survival. The system uses the Blynk application for real-time monitoring and control, with actuators automatically optimizing aquarium conditions when temperature and pH are not optimal, substantially improving silver catfish survival and growth.
Digital agricultureEconomicsEvaluation of the Sustainability of Urban Agriculture in the Use of Yard Land in the City of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2024Retno Lantarsih, Suhartini Suhartini, Anu Gupta · HABITAT · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)
This study evaluated the sustainability of the Pekarangan Pangan Lestari Program (P2L) in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia, across ecological, economic, and social dimensions. Multidimensional scale analysis showed the social dimension was "quite sustainable" at 62.63%, while the ecological (48.69%) and economic (33.38%) dimensions were in the "less sustainable" category. The social dimension had the greatest impact on the P2L Program's sustainability.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityClimate changeGo Green: Memberdayakan Masyarakat Rawa Buntu Serpong Dengan Menanam Sayuran dan Rempah-rempah
2024Eko Sudarmanto, Triana Zuhrotun Aulia, Indra Gunawan Siregar, Lena Erdawati, Isrok Isrok, M Wahid Saputra, Yuana Fasya Purnamasari · Solusi Bersama · Indonesia
The "Go Green" program, part of Universitas Muhammadiyah Tangerang's community service, aimed to address environmental issues and strengthen food security in Rawa Buntu, Indonesia. It promoted gardening in home yards and vacant land, encouraging community participation in cultivating vegetables and herbs. The program concluded that community involvement in gardening positively impacts the environment, strengthens the local economy, and fosters more sustainable food security.
CommunityFood educationEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceResidents' preferences for urban agriculture in Shanghai
2024Shengyi Du, Katsuya Tanaka · Heliyon · China (Shanghai)
A discrete choice experiment with 756 Shanghai residents investigated preferences for urban agriculture (UA). Respondents generally supported UA, favoring facilities with environmentally friendly production, farming activities, and dining options, and preferring regularly scheduled educational activities. Residents preferred nearby UA facilities but not necessarily directly in front of them, with stronger preferences observed among highly educated populations, those with primary/secondary school students, and those with agricultural work experience.
CommunityFood educationEconomicsUrban–rural linkageAnalisis Pendukung Keputusan Pemilihan Benih Tomat untuk Pertanian Perkotaan Menggunakan Analytical Hierarcy Process (AHP)
2024Dinda Helma Saputry, Rossi Septy Wahyuni · Jurnal KomtekInfo · Indonesia
This study, conducted from May to July 2023 with 100 respondents, used the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine criteria and suitable tomato seed alternatives for urban farming. The AHP identified yield potential per hectare (0.231) as the highest priority criterion, followed by the number of viable fruit per plant (0.205). GBU tomatoes (0.418) were the most supported seed alternative, with Hibrid (0.417) and GM (0.164) as the second and third alternatives.
DIYEconomicsFood educationUnderstanding factors affecting non-participants’ interest in community-supported agriculture
2024Maula Fadhilata Rahmatika, Agus Suman, Wildan Syafitri, Sri Muljaningsih · Regional Sustainability · Indonesia
This study examined potential customers' interest in Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Indonesia using the UTAUT2 model, surveying 1200 respondents. The model explained 44.4% of customer intentions, identifying performance expectancy (0.292) as the decisive factor. Hedonic motivation (0.262), social influence (0.259), and facilitating conditions (0.086) also positively influenced interest in CSA participation.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsPolicyCommunityUrbanization, civil conflict, and the severity of food insecurity in Africa
2024Aristophane Djeufack Dongmo, Désiré Avom · Politics & Policy · Africa
This article examined the impact of urbanization and civil conflicts on food insecurity severity across 43 African countries from 2000 to 2020 using heterogeneous choice models. Findings revealed that both urbanization and civil conflict increase food insecurity, with a one-unit increase in urban growth rate raising the probability of high-risk food insecurity by over 0.6 times. The study recommends developing urban agriculture and controlling urbanization to mitigate food insecurity.
Food sovereignty & justicePolicyUrban–rural linkageEconomicsPemberdayaan Kelompok Wanita Tani Cendawan 31 Melalui Peningkatan Produksi Sayuran Dan Pendapatan Di Kota Pangkalpinang
2024Eni Karsiningsih, Andini Meisya Sriwijayani Suwardih, Dinda Aulia, Santia Santia, Sulthon A’uliya Alfarissi, Gita Ardianta, Aprilianti Wulandari, Annisa Miswarni Lubis, Dodi Irwandi, Muhammad Ferghio Jovanka · MESTAKA Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Pangkalpinang)
This empowerment program in Pangkalpinang City, Indonesia, aimed to increase vegetable production and income for the Cendawan 31 Women Farmers Group (KWT). The program addressed obstacles such as non-commercial orientation, simple management, low member motivation, unplanned production, limited price information, and inefficient marketing. Using active participatory methods, mentoring, and counseling, the program successfully improved the group's creativity, innovation in vegetable planting, and vegetable production, enabling them to arrange planting schedules and select appropriate plant types.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceDIYFood educationA profile of urban agricultural growers, organizations, their needs, and challenges in the Northeastern United States
2024Matthew L. Richardson, John Taylor, Megan J. Thompson, Anusuya Rangarajan, Mamatha Hanumappa, Neith G. Little · PLoS ONE · United States (Northeastern United States)
This online survey of 394 urban growers, primarily in the Northeastern United States, profiled growers and assessed urban agriculture's state, identifying needs and challenges. Most growers were white (non-Hispanic), under 45, well-educated but without agriculture degrees. Urban agriculture was dominated by small non-profits and home/community gardens. A critical finding is that urban growers face diverse barriers, with the most common being land availability and long-term access in urban areas, and many reported low revenue or operating at a net loss.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceMapping and Assessing Urban Agriculture in São Paulo: Tackling Socio-Economic and Environmental Issues through Nature-Based Solutions
2024Luiza Vigne Bennedetti, Silvia Ronchi, Maurício Lamano Ferreira, Fabiano Lemes de Oliveira · Sustainability · Brazil (São Paulo)
This study assessed São Paulo's urban agriculture (UA) potential using an Ecosystem Services (ES)-based approach, combining ES spatial mapping and a producer survey at 49 UA sites. Results showed natural habitats and anthropic areas within urbanized land, especially in the south, with high habitat quality scores. Nine ES were identified: food supply, commercialization, income generation, waste mediation, lifecycle maintenance, soil formation, leisure/social, well-being, and education.
PolicyEconomicsBiodiversityFood educationThe 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 agriculturePolicyTHE IMPERATIVE ROLE OF URBAN HORTICULTURE IN FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY: A REVIEW
2024Anusha Ghimire, Sunil Ojha, Srijana Saud, Sanju Aryal, Anjali Thapa, Prabina Bhandari · INWASCON Technology Magazine · Global
This review summarizes the need for urban horticulture, its challenges, opportunities, and new trends. Urban horticulture addresses threats to food security, environmental quality, and community well-being in urban settings by providing local produce, improving green spaces, and fostering human-nature connections. It faces obstacles such as plant selection and nutrient recycling, but new techniques like aeroponics and vertical farming are emerging.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomics