Research & reports

Phoebe Lickwar, Roxi Thoren · · United Kingdom

Welwyn Garden City was conceived by Ebenezer Howard as a utopian hybrid community combining the best aspects of city and rural life. Agriculture was integrated into the urban fabric in two forms: a buffering greenbelt surrounding the city and allotment gardens providing opportunities for domestic self-sufficiency. The garden city was designed as a closed-loop development connecting farms to local markets and reinvesting urban waste into soil regeneration.

Rendy Primrizqi · · Indonesia (Jakarta)

DKI Jakarta faces challenges in meeting food needs for its over 10 million residents due to limited urban food production, making it dependent on other regions. Urban farming is proposed as an alternative, particularly by optimizing the use of house yards in residential areas, which constitute 48.41% of the city. This paper emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement and innovative architectural interventions to facilitate urban farming in dense, narrow areas.

Kristen Adams · Educational Media Reviews Online · United States (California)

The 27-minute film "Best of Both Worlds: Cohousing’s Promise" (2019) presents examples of cohousing communities in California, which are living arrangements with privately owned homes and shared facilities, tools, amenities, and several meals each week. The film features architect Charles Durrett, who began creating cohousing communities in the U.S. in the late 1980s, and includes resident interviews discussing social and environmental benefits. It also covers shared spaces, community gardens, and challenges in establishing cohousing projects.

Lucas Ricardo Souza Almeida, Diego Cesar Alves Lima Verde, Hélder Ribeiro Freitas, Rita de Cássia Rodrigues Gonçalves Gervásio, Elson de Oliveira · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (Petrolina)

This study analyzed land use and occupation seasonality at the EREMCC Community Garden in Petrolina, Brazil, from August 2018 to March 2019. In August 2018, 73% of the 6,200 m² garden area was uncultivated, indicating a large unexplored area for production. By March 2019, food production increased by 35.71%, with most beds cultivated with cabbage, coriander, and lettuce.

Ren Yan · Academic Journal of Business & Management · China

This article discusses how the development models of modern urban agriculture in Western countries offer valuable experience and a new perspective for China's urban-rural coordinated development. It suggests that these models can serve as a reference for accelerating rural modernization and constructing new rural areas in China, especially given the challenges of urbanization, rural labor transfer, and urban population growth.

J.E. Jansma, Sidrig Wertheim-Heck · · Netherlands

This paper explores how urban planning practices can integrate urban agriculture in peri-urban zones, despite its current marginalization in such areas. It analyzes the planning practices of Almere, a Dutch city that has fully integrated urban agriculture into its new urban area, Oosterwold. The study reflects on how cities can sustainably feed urban populations.

Anderson Nunes de Carvalho Vieira, Alexandro Rodrigues Ribeiro, Silvio Santos Cardoso · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Cuiabá)

This study describes the socioeconomic and productive profile of urban farmers in Cuiabá, Brazil, and their potential contribution to ecological economics. Using a mixed-method descriptive approach with primary data collected via questionnaires, the research found that urban agriculture often emerges as a survival alternative for poorer populations from rural areas. The study concludes that this practice, if adequately supported, can foster a better understanding and practice of ecological economics in the region.

Liu Yu, Zhi JIANG, Hao-sen WANG · 自然资源学报 · China (Beijing)

This study analyzed the spatial differentiation of agricultural regional functions in Beijing, China, using data from 184 streets and towns. It found that agricultural regional function generally increases from the urban core to the far suburbs, but significantly declines in the urban-rural fringe extended area, leading to a loss of spatial development constraints. Land factors, particularly location and house prices, were identified as key inhibitors of agricultural regional function, especially in low-scoring areas.

Милена Йорданова, Вера Петрова, Цветелина Николова, Елена Цветкова, Milena Yordanova, Vera Petrova, Tsvetelina Nikolova, Elena Tsvetkova · Bulgarian Portal for Open Science · Global

This article considered the potential risks of contamination in urban agricultural products. Urban agriculture, particularly in large cities, areas with heavy traffic, or near industrial zones, can lead to the accumulation of heavy metals in vegetable crops due to air pollution, traffic pollution, and other sources. Consuming these contaminated fresh vegetables is noted to potentially deteriorate human health.

Angela Oyilieze Akanwa, H. C. Mba, E. B. Ogbuene, M. U. Nwachukwu, Charles C. Anukwonke · Apple Academic Press eBooks · Global

This chapter explores the potential of intensive agroforestry and environmental greening as measures to minimize climate change. It details agroforestry components such as urban agriculture, all-season farming, and forest conservation, alongside legislative actions against tree felling. Environmental greening measures include land surface greening, landscaping, gardening, and horticulture, with legislative efforts to minimize land exposure. These practices are presented as efficient ways to reduce greenhouse gas effects on the ozone layer and balance the earth's heat budget.

Djeugap Guedia Amélie Mermoze, Aristide Yemmafouo · European Scientific Journal ESJ · Cameroon

From April to August 2019, surveys (100 questionnaires per city) and interviews (25 per city) were conducted in Dschang, Mbouda, and Foumbot, three medium-sized cities in West Cameroon, to examine the daily practices of urban livestock farming. Findings showed that an average of 60% of city dwellers in these cities engage in livestock farming for commercial reasons, primarily encouraged by their urban conditions. While livestock farming is mostly a secondary activity (87%), professionals make significant investments, and space availability remains a major limiting factor for market growth.

Giuseppina Pennisi · AMS Acta (University of Bologna) · Global

This paper describes an international workshop held in Turku, Finland, and online from September 2-4, 2020, as part of the EU-H2020 project FoodE. The workshop gathered 15 contributions, including two plenary lectures and 13 short presentations from PhD candidates from nine countries, to discuss innovation and sustainability in City/Region Food Systems (CRFS). Topics covered innovative plant production systems, sustainability assessment, short food chains, food waste management, urban agriculture, business models, and the water-food-energy nexus within cities.

Piero Conforti, Giulia Ponzini, Alberto Zezza · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · Global

This chapter analyzes national household survey data on the prevalence of urban agriculture, its importance for livelihoods, and characteristics of engaging households in low- and middle-income countries. Approximately 25 million urban households in the studied countries practice crop or livestock activities, with over 20% of urban households involved in agriculture in almost half of these nations. The incidence of urban agriculture is not as extensive as sometimes claimed in the literature. On average, urban agricultural households are poorer and more deprived in both monetary and non-monetary dimensions of welfare.

Pozo Palacios, María Gabriela · · Ecuador (Cuenca)

This paper describes the context of urban agriculture in the historic center of Cuenca, Ecuador, highlighting challenges posed by urbanization and gentrification. It mentions the increase in urbanization rates in Latin America since 1950 and its impact on the food production sector. The paper also touches upon the tradition of private patios devoted to family farming in Cuenca's republican architectural typologies and the diminution of farming areas due to rising land prices, but it does not present specific research methods, findings, or conclusions.

HD Vashi, PK Dubey · International Journal of Chemical Studies · Global

This paper discusses urban farming and vertical farming as solutions for future urban food security and sustainability, addressing environmental changes and resource shortages. It highlights how urban farming, including green rooftops, can contribute to environmental, social, and economic sustainability by improving urban greenery and food systems. Vertical farming is presented as a method to produce large quantities of fresh food in densely populated areas with limited land.

Francisco Fransualdo de Azevedo, Helena Perxacs, Maria Angelis Alió · Mercator · Global

This study aimed to deepen the social dimension of urban agriculture by examining experiences in cities such as Barcelona, Girona, and Natal. It proposed a scheme of the various advantages urban agriculture offers to society, including contributing to urban poverty reduction and improving public health. The study concluded that urban agriculture represents a social phenomenon of territorial resistance and a transition towards a more balanced productive paradigm.

[PDF] [DOWNLOAD] Growing a Sustainable City?: The Question of Urban Agriculture (UTP Insights) [Full] · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global

This abstract provides information regarding the download and reading of the book "Growing a Sustainable City?: The Question of Urban Agriculture (UTP Insights)" by Christina D. Rosan.

Anna Shortly, Thembela Kepe · Forests Trees and Livelihoods · Canada (Toronto)

This paper explores the opportunities and challenges of incorporating foraging practices into parks planning and management in Toronto, Canada, where foraging is often not permitted in urban parks. The study, based on a scan of practices and interviews, concludes that urban parkland managers should establish dedicated spaces like community orchards to safely and sustainably accommodate foraging, acknowledging current restrictions.

In-Kyoung Hong, Hyung-Kwon Yun, Young Chae, Sangmi Lee, Young-Bin Jung, Mi-Ra Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · South Korea

This study proposed and tested an urban garden model derived from the traditional Korean Gyeonjongbeop farming method, interpreting practices from Imwongyeongjeji Bolliji. Researchers cultivated vegetables on ridges and furrows, finding that Raphanus sativus, Allium fistulosum L., Brassica juncea, and Spinacia oleracea on ridges, and Hordeum vulgare var. hexastichon and Triticum aestivum L. on furrows, showed higher growth than in conventional flat fields. This method proved effective for crops vulnerable to weather and could enable year-round urban farming by utilizing winter fallow lands.

Amsalu Woldie Yalew · Regional Economic Development Research · Ethiopia

This paper provides an overview of urban agriculture in Ethiopia, synthesizing existing evidence on its role in the overall agricultural sector, urban economy, and urban employment, based on official reports and statistical surveys. Despite scant evidence, urban agriculture shows considerable contributions. However, the review reveals existing gaps in institutional and policy support for urban agriculture.

Mr. Isaiah ACQUAH, Dr.Sc. Joseph Ato FORSON, Dr.Sc. Theresa Yaaba BAAH-ENNUMH · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Ghana

This qualitative exploratory study in Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana, investigated the effect of urban growth and concretization on urban farming households' livelihoods and food security. The study, using interviews and spatial imagery, found that urban farms face challenges due to inadequate land use planning and support, leading to a loss of farmlands. Significant challenges identified include limited farming space, limited resources, continuous increase in buildings, and inadequate education for urban farmers.

Seiichiro Shiozawa · The Japanese Journal of Real Estate Sciences · Japan

This study examined the "2022 problem" in Japan, concerning the potential mass conversion of farmland designated as Production Green Space into residential land. It notes that these concerns have receded due to legal amendments and system establishment following the 2016 Basic Law for the Promotion of Urban Agriculture. The study suggests that future urban development should utilize urban farmland to increase regional value, proposing three key actions: establishing cooperation between urban farmers and residents, creating district-specific community development systems, and promoting appropriate land use.

Mengist Belay · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · Ethiopia

This study, focusing on Debre Markos Town and surrounding districts in the East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, establishes that Urban Agriculture is a multipronged tool for adaptation and mitigation to tackle climate change. It is concluded to be an effective tool to address food security challenges in cities, educate and reconnect urban and peri-urban farms and people to assure food and climate security in the cities.

Rosalia Filippini, Sylvie Lardon, Stefano Corsi · · Italy

This chapter designs an inter- and transdisciplinary, multiscale, and mixed-method framework for analyzing Smart Agriculture (SA) in urban-rural relationships across Italian case studies. It proposes SA as an experimental field for cooperation among decision-makers, civil society, and academia to improve urban-rural links in metropolitan regions. The promotion of peri-urban agriculture and rural-urban links is central to this approach.

Keshav Chandra · Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research · Japan

In Japanese agriculture, women's participation is progressively increasing, and there is a close relationship between attracting youth to agriculture and achieving food self-sufficiency. Urban agriculture is developing as a new trend in Japan. New trends such as organic farms, robotics agro, urban agriculture, and increasing women's participation are emerging, which can accelerate the pace of agricultural development in Japan.