Research & reports

Ada Górna, Krzysztof Górny · Miscellanea Geographica · Cuba

An exploratory, classification-based study combining fieldwork with satellite and aerial imagery analysis characterized urban agriculture across the built-up areas of Havana, Cuba. It found urban gardens distributed unevenly across the city, concentrated in lower-density districts where land was intentionally left between buildings by modernist planners, with organopónico (organoponics) as the most common production technique — but found that the material commonly used to build the bordering walls of these plots is asbestos, posing a significant health threat to both producers and consumers.

Nicholas Henderson, Quentin Lefèvre · Sens-Dessous · France

This article investigates biology, economics and landscape through the lens of a relational paradigm that the author identifies as pervasive across both the social and life sciences, positing the relational nature of the world as an actant reality that remains largely invisible. It also examines the human relationship to the living world amid what it frames as a crisis in that relationship, and analyzes a shared permaculture garden as a manifestation of "relational design" — an approach to design centered on relationship.

Cristhiane Oliveira da Graça Amâncio, João Pedro Ribeiro Oliveira, Leonis Junior Santos Silva, Bruna Maria Pereira Ribas, Claudemar Mattos, Ilzo Arthur Moreira, Robson Amâncio · · Brazil (São Paulo)

Among farmers of the Rede CAU (Carioca Urban Agriculture Network) in the Vargem Grande neighborhood of western Rio de Janeiro, data collected from February to December 2019 using the LUME method analyzed production of fruit, vegetables and compost across 8 hectares of land. Total family income was estimated at R$62,632.00, of which 56% (R$38,906.00) came from agricultural income (with the greatest profit from vegetables sold at fairs) and 46% (R$30,726.00) from non-agricultural income (space rental); 65% (R$45,421.53) of total income derived from women's labor (making sweets and dried fruit for sale) and 35% (R$24,210.47) from men's labor (planting and management). The main constraint on improving production was difficult access to the steep, hard-to-reach region and the large distances between subsystems, with optimizing self-production of inputs through composting and mechanizing transport proposed as alternatives.

Muhammad Asadullah, Shahbaz Nasir Khan, Hafiz M. Safdar, Rana Ammar Aslam, Imran Shaukat · Earth Sciences Pakistan · Global

A review paper on aquaponics, a closed-loop system combining hydroponics and aquaculture, framed as a sustainable-technology response to soil, air and water pollution, global warming, food shortages and droughts. It notes that many studies have focused on small-scale farming for education and indoor decoration rather than commercial urban-scale food production, and highlights how trickling biofilters and plant uptake of aquaculture wastewater improve water and nutrient use efficiency. The paper identifies the central sustainability challenge as balancing optimal organism growth and maximum production output against minimizing effluent discharge to the environment.

Jackline Gomes Silva, Maria Cleoneide Brito, Jerrana Cantarelli, Sebastião Santos, Paula Vanessa Queiroz, Lourinalda Luiza Dantas da Silva Selva de Oliveira · Revista de Agroecologia no Semiárido · Brazil

A report on SERTA (Alternative Technology Service), a Brazilian institution offering an agroecology technical course for rural and urban youth and traditional communities, describing a 30-hour internship experience of students from the Glória do Goitá unit at the Ibimirim unit in Pernambuco's semi-arid Sertão do Moxotó, in the caatinga biome, on a 5-hectare site with a range of native and exotic trees, shrubs, herbs and medicinal plants and a large variety of cacti. Activities included observing social technologies such as cactus-grafting techniques, animal and plant husbandry, use of high-protein, high-value medicinal and food plants such as moringa (Moringa oleifera) and pitaya (Hylocereus undatus), and participation in the "Caatinga Emoldurada" project making handcrafted lamps from dead plant material, as well as hands-on exposure to solar and wind energy use and to aquaponics combining fish, chickens, medicinal plants, fruit trees, vegetables and unconventional food plants (PANC).

Wanti Mindari, Widi Wurjani, Purnomo Edi Sasongko · Jurnal Peduli Masyarakat · Indonesia

A community outreach report on urban farming training and planting-media modification for the women farmers' group PKK RT 03/RW 08 in Rewwin, Waru, Sidoarjo, Indonesia, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Planting media mixed soil with non-soil materials (compost, rice husk, cocopeat, manure), with drip irrigation applied twice daily (morning and evening) and NPK fertilizer given as a base dose plus four follow-up applications of 20 g per plant. In a demonstration plot growing tomatoes in 5-kilogram pots, the medium combining soil, compost, husk, and manure produced the highest and best tomato yield compared with mixes lacking one of those components.

Miftachul Zannah, Sitawati Sitawati · PLANTROPICA Journal of Agricultural Science · Indonesia

A field trial on the sixth-floor rooftop of the central building at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia, conducted from December 2019 to March 2020, tested the effect of intercropping on cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) growth and yield in a rooftop garden system. Using a randomized block design with six treatments and four replications, intercropping reduced cauliflower's growth and yield parameters but raised the land equivalent ratio (LER) above 1, except when intercropped with pakcoy or water spinach; LER reached 1.74 with sweet corn, 1.57 with upright common beans, and 1.27 with broccoli.

Anna Pigott · Environment and Planning E Nature and Space · United Kingdom

Drawing on extended fieldwork with a Community Supported Agriculture project in south Wales, this article re-imagines soils as lively, complex, more-than-human ecologies by examining the largely sidestepped subject of spirituality in agriculture. It explores how care is cultivated through biodynamic farming, a non-conventional method incorporating astrological and spiritual principles, arguing that biodynamic narratives and rituals encourage attentiveness to more-than-human agency and energy, to depth both underground and in above-ground influences of air and celestial bodies, and to reciprocity between soil biota and humans — while also resisting drives to measure and map and leaving room for mystery. It also notes that despite biodynamic farming's growing popularity, its spiritual elements tend to be kept quiet, overshadowed by more familiar secular narratives.

Madeleyne Ivonne Demera-Pico, Carlos Francisco Ortega-Ordóñez · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Spain

A study reporting the incorporation of substrate into an ecological garden while applying strategies for organic production. Solid waste was sorted and organic waste used to develop three types of compost: the first from humus-rich soil with 10% sandy soil, the second from silty soil with 20% sandy soil, and the third from silty soil with 40% sandy soil, aimed at improving water filtration and moisture retention. Each compost was combined with production strategies using biostimulants and ecological micro- and macronutrients, and irrigation water was monitored for chlorine concentration and pH before use. The compost made from silty soil with 40% sandy soil, combined with 5 mL of a biostimulant that adjusted alkaline water to neutral pH, produced the greatest increase in soil fertility and the best improvement in germination, cultivation, and post-harvest development.

Delphine Manka’abusi, Désiré Jean‐Pascal Lompo, Christoph Steiner, Mariko Ingold, Edmund Kyei Akoto-Danso, Steffen Werner, Volker Häring, George Nyarko, Bernd Marschner, Andreas Buerkert · Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science · Sub-Saharan Africa

To quantify carbon and nitrogen losses in urban and peri-urban agriculture soils in West Africa, this study measured CO2-C, N2O-N, and NH3-N fluxes from irrigated fields in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and Tamale, Ghana, under different fertilization and (waste)water regimes. Compared with unamended controls, fertilizer application increased average cumulative CO2-C emissions by 103% over eight cropping cycles in Ouagadougou and by 42% over seven cropping cycles in Tamale. Total emissions across all cropping cycles reached 14 t C/ha in Ouagadougou — 73% of the carbon applied as organic fertilizer over two years at that site — and 9 t C/ha in Tamale. Fertilizer application increased N2O-N emissions in Ouagadougou by 37-360% across cropping cycles and NH3-N losses by an average of 670%, but had no significant effect on N2O-N losses in Tamale. Wastewater irrigation did not significantly raise CO2-C emissions in Ouagadougou, but in Tamale CO2-C emissions were 71% higher on wastewater plots (1.6 t C/ha) than on controls (0.9 t C/ha); wastewater had no significant effect on N2O-N or NH3-N emissions at either site. Biochar did not affect N2O-N or NH3-N losses but could help reduce CO2-C emissions from urban garden soils.

A Shumba, N Dunjana, B. Nyamasoka, P. Nyamugafata, Simon Madyiwa, J. Nyamangara · South African Journal of Plant and Soil · Zimbabwe

In Harare, Zimbabwe, an experiment on sandy and red clay soils tested combinations of cattle manure plus mineral nitrogen fertilizer, 0 or 5 t/ha of mulch, and reduced (RT) or conventional (CT) tillage, assessing effects on soil organic carbon (SOC), aggregate stability, bulk density, steady-state infiltration rate (SSIR) and maize yield over two cropping seasons. Reduced tillage improved SOC and aggregate stability by at least 6% over conventional tillage in the 0-5 cm depth (p < 0.01); cattle manure plus mineral fertilizer increased SOC and aggregate stability by at least 13% and SSIR by at least 17% over mineral fertilizer alone, while mulching improved SSIR by at least 8% and reduced tillage improved it by 27% in both soils. Maize yields increased significantly under mineral fertilizer in both soils (at least 3.7-fold, p < 0.05), and principal component analysis showed yield could be predicted from bulk density in sandy soil and from aggregate stability and SSIR in red clay soil.

Brian Raison · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States

This is a review of "A Garden Experience: Growing Organic," a film about an organic community garden project in Colorado, United States, that centers on a participating gardener's statement, "It's not about the vegetables. It's about community," and is framed as potential inspiration for local food groups, garden clubs or food-and-community events.

Dotanhan Yeo, Kouassi Dongo, Adeline Mertenat, Phillipp Lüssenhop, Ina Körner, Christian Zurbrügg · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · Côte d'Ivoire (Tiassalé)

A 2020 assessment of material flows and greenhouse-gas mitigation from decentralized composting, based on primary data from a pilot composting facility in the municipality of Tiassalé, Côte d'Ivoire. Flows were visualised with STAN version 2.6 (Vienna University of Technology) and carbon emission reductions estimated with UNFCCC methods. In 2017 the station processed 59.4 metric tons of organic waste and produced 14.2 metric tons of mature compost — 24% of input mass on a wet-weight basis and 36% on a dry-weight basis. The compost's nutrient content matched published values for sub-Saharan African compost, and heavy metal contamination met both French and German compost standards. Under this composting scenario, 87% of the baseline emissions that would occur under open dumping could be avoided. The study was motivated by the fact that, despite many composting initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa, data on material flows and mitigation contribution were lacking. It rests on one facility and one year of data and does not address long-term operational continuity or markets for the compost produced.

· 農林水産省 · Japan

Materials on the 2019 Noufuku JAS standard certifying foods and ornamental plants produced with the involvement of people with disabilities, raising trust and brand value for agriculture-welfare products via third-party certification; first certifications issued November 2019.

Wielemaker R., Oenema O., Zeeman G., Weijma J. · Science of the Total Environment, 668:1277-1288 · Global

Drawing on a survey of urban agriculture practitioners in industrialised countries, this study characterises how city-derived resources such as compost, food waste and urine are used as fertiliser and how nutrients are managed. It maps the practices and challenges of cycling urban organic waste back to farmland, systematising on-the-ground approaches that link food-waste composting to urban agriculture.

Pai S., Ai N., Zheng J. · Sustainable Cities and Society, 50:101683 · United States

Using Chicago as a case study, this analysis assesses the feasibility of decentralized community composting on portions of public parks in terms of cost and greenhouse gas emissions. It finds decentralized composting delivers outreach, landfill diversion and cost-saving benefits, with an estimated net benefit of about $100 per tonne, indicating the financial viability of a city-wide strategy to compost household food waste locally.

Tibu C., Annang T. Y., Solomon N., Yirenya-Tawiah D. · International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture · Ga West, Ghana

In Ga West Municipality, Ghana, stack-pile composting of market waste with sawdust, rice straw and swine manure was monitored for temperature, pH, N, P, K and heavy metal concentrations through the composting process.

Talia Talita Sehn, Cassiano Peixoto Rosa, Andersson Daniel Steffler, Daiane Karina Grellmann, Divanilde Guerra · · Brazil (Tres Passos)

The objective was to identify cultivated species and their management, and to disseminate agroecological practices in domestic gardens and orchards in the urban perimeter of Tres Passos-RS, Brazil. Over two years, 177 residences were visited in the first year, with 165 (95%) having orchards and 147 (87%) having vegetable gardens. In the second year, 12 residences were visited, all (100%) cultivating vegetables and 10 (75%) having fruit trees.

Odiney Alvarez‐Campos, Gregory K. Evanylo · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · United States

This field study in Blacksburg, VA, investigated the effects of exceptional quality (EQ) biosolids on urban soil properties and vegetable yield over two years (2016-2018). Biosolids increased soil carbon storage by 37-84% compared to controls, but soil nitrogen availability was lower than expected. Reclamation rates of biosolids resulted in higher yields for cabbage (∼3.1 kg m⁻²) and Siberian kale (∼1.1 kg m⁻²) than inorganic fertilizer (1.0 kg m⁻² and 0.4 kg m⁻² respectively) in fall 2017, indicating potential to increase vegetable yield despite limiting soil conditions.

Montserrat Delpino-Chamy, María Arquero de Alarcón, Sandra Calduch Fernández, José R. Soto · International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics · Chile (Concepción)

This research focused on developing and applying a methodology to identify and assess agroecological practices in the metropolitan area of Concepción, Chile. A methodology based on production forms, sociopolitical organization, and metropolitan sustainability was proposed. Strengths identified include their location in rururban interstices and small scale, contributing to metropolitan sustainability. However, weaknesses include a lack of appropriate planning policies and regulations, threatening their existence under urban development pressures.

Cosmos C. Alamanjo, Abimbola O. Adepoju, H. Martin, R.N. Baines · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Nigeria (Jos)

This mixed-methods study investigated farmers' perceptions, willingness, and capacity to use household sewage sludge as organic resources for peri-urban agriculture around Jos, Nigeria. Farmers were found to use a complex mix of fertilizers and were keen to utilize household sewage sludge for soil fertility, though constrained by accessibility. A critical finding was that household sewage sludge observed in the field is heterogeneous due to its proximity to urban refuse disposal, raising concerns for possible cross-contamination of pollutants and indicating a lack of extension guidance.

Rayim Wendé Alice Nare, Stephania Boua, Rockia Marie Nadege Zerbo, Richard Madege · Research Journal of Science and Technology · Burkina Faso

This study assessed the impact of urban waste application on soil microbial activities in Burkina Faso. Soil amended with urban waste showed significantly higher Soil Induced Respiration (SIR) (0.049 mg C g−1 soil h−1) compared to manure-amended (0.0212 mg C g−1 soil h−1) and control soils (0.0114 mg C g−1 soil h−1). Urban waste amendment also significantly decreased lag time by 50% and maximal response time (Tmax) by 53%, indicating increased microbial biomass and rapid growth of soil microorganisms. The results suggest that adding urban waste to soils is likely to result in carbon sequestration.

Hendrick J. Bruins · · Africa

This paper discusses drought mitigation in urban and peri-urban Africa, where severe droughts threaten food production under rainfed agriculture. It argues that while urban and peri-urban farming's informal private sector should not be government-controlled, the treatment and use of urban wastewater in agriculture requires government planning, investment, and extension services. Participatory development is suggested to integrate central wastewater planning with private farmer use.

Simon Tresch, David Frey, Renée‐Claire Le Bayon, Paul Mäder, Bernhard Stehle, Andreas Fließbach, Marco Moretti · Scientific Reports · Switzerland (Zurich)

A study in 85 urban gardens across Zurich, Switzerland, investigated the impact of gardening on five soil functions and the relationship between plant (600 spp.) and soil fauna (18 earthworm spp., 39 springtail spp.). High plant diversity positively affected soil fauna and multifunctionality, but intense garden management decreased plant diversity. This indicates a trade-off where intensive gardening, while potentially beneficial for some aspects, can negatively impact overall plant diversity.

Patrizia Papetti, Sara Spognardi, Enrica Iannucci, Ilenia Bravo, Claudio Beni · International Journal of Environmental Policy and Decision Making · Italy (Tor Mancina)

The demonstration garden of Tor Mancina, Italy, engages schools and local communities to test sustainable agricultural practices. It conducts experiments on the phytostimulant and pest repellent effects of plant extracts for crop protection. These activities aim to instill positive values regarding food, agriculture, and the environment in youth, while also seeking to improve crop performance and safeguard biodiversity.