Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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3623 results(35 / 145)
Research on the Commercial Model of Medicinal and Edible Plants: A Case Study of Gynura Bicolor
2024Shujun He, Shumei Xiao, Qiaoying Lin, Hong Wu, Shufen Xiao, Tingwei Deng · Journal of life sciences and agriculture. · Global
This study focused on the commercial potential of medicinal and edible plants, analyzing the growth traits, nutritional worth, market demand, and potential applications in landscape architecture of Gynura bicolor. Through an assessment of its cultivation techniques and ecological value, the plant's adaptability to diverse environments and its potential contribution to enhancing urban green spaces were highlighted. A dual strategy integrating ecological aesthetics with a commercial model was proposed, demonstrating that the plant's utilization contributes to both ecological balance and economic feasibility.
EconomicsBiodiversityUrban–rural linkageThe Importance of Social Programming in Urban Agriculture: A Practitioner’s Experiences from Norway
2024Helene Gallis, Kimberly Weger, Adam Curtis · The Geojournal library · Norway (Oslo)
This memoir presents the experiences of urban agriculture pioneer Helene Gallis and Nabolagshager in Oslo, Norway. It argues for a systematic application of placemaking principles in urban agriculture to enhance social well-being, enabling diverse community members to participate in co-creating urban agriculture in public spaces. The projects highlight the transformative impact of using placemaking principles for more accessible, inclusive, and democratic cultivated public spaces.
CommunityWelfareAn Intelligent Water Management Framework for Irrigating Urban Gardens in Technologically Advanced Cities
2024G. Ananth Kumar, A. Supriya, G. Soumya, B. Thriveni, Dr. Sandhya C, H. Sai Kumar Reddy · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
The Innovative Water Management Protocol introduces a strategy for sustainable urban agriculture in smart cities. This approach optimizes irrigation water usage by integrating intelligent sensors, data analysis, and automated processes, utilizing real-time information on soil moisture, weather, and plant needs. It also incorporates IoT-enabled devices for remote monitoring via mobile applications, aiming to conserve water, foster environmental sustainability, and enhance food security.
Digital agricultureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceFrom drainage to resource: a practice approach to reuse greywater for household irrigation purposes
2024Ngo Anh Dao Ho, C.P. Leo, Anh Tuan Ta, Thanh Q. Nguyen · Water Practice & Technology · Global
This paper presents a study on a low-cost system for greywater treatment for household irrigation. The system used physical filtration and UV disinfection, and three greywater samples from the kitchen, washing basins, and bathroom were investigated. High removal efficiency (>60%) was obtained for turbidity, coliform, BOD5, and COD. Greywater from washing basins showed the highest potential for reuse, as its treated quality met water reuse standards for household irrigation.
Peri-urban agricultureDIYClimate changeFostering sustainable agriculture: An exploration of localised food systems through community supported agriculture
2024Ming-Jie Tay, Tuan Hock Ng, Ying-San Lim · Environmental and Sustainability Indicators · Malaysia
To explore farmers' motivations for participating in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs in Malaysia, 15 farmers were interviewed one-on-one at their farms using snowball sampling, with each session lasting 1-2 hours. The findings indicated that CSA not only provides economic benefits for farmers but also promotes eco-friendly food production and distribution, while enhancing social equity within local communities. The three qualitative indicators inherent to CSA serve as essential pillars advocating for the expansion of CSA initiatives and a supportive policy environment for sustainable food production systems.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePolicySustainable urban horticulture—Providing more than just food
2024Jill L. Edmondson · Cell Reports Sustainability · Global
Growing fruits and vegetables in cities is recognized as a potential contributor to local food security and can provide additional benefits for urban dwellers. However, it is crucial to ensure equity in access to land for all urban communities and to support the development of necessary skills and knowledge for successful cultivation.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justiceHealthCommunityFood educationPlanning [for Urban Agriculture] as Public Nurturance
2024Samina Raja, Marcia Caton Campbell, Alexandra Judelsohn · Urban agriculture · Global
This chapter highlights urban agriculture's role in promoting equity in cities, proposing "planning as public nurturance." This approach is a value-explicit process centered on an ethic of care, protecting marginalized groups' interests, and building their capacity for co-design and participation. It requires consistent evaluation of progress toward equitable outcomes and attention to structural inequities.
PolicyCommunityEconomicsEl huerto del Tierno Galván
2024A López · Gaditana-Logía · Global
This article describes the school garden at Tierno Galván as an important part of the school, fostering collaborative work among pupils, parents, teachers, and staff. It highlights the garden as an educational experience that develops values, promotes love for nature, and serves as a neutral space for learning. The garden is presented as a community effort contributing to students' personal growth.
Food educationCommunityTransdisciplinary teaching and learning in a master’s program in urban agriculture
2024Sigrid Gjøtterud, Rasa Holen, Trine Hvoslef-Eide · International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education · Global
This action research study explored transdisciplinary teaching and learning in an urban agriculture master's program using qualitative methods. Students demonstrated high inter- and intrapersonal competencies and cross-disciplinary idea development. However, a critical finding was that the potential for collaboration with external partners (case owners) was not fully exploited and requires further development.
Limited or null effectFood educationCommunityPropostas para o fortalecimento da agroecologia e do desenvolvimento sustentável diante da emergência climática.
2024M. P. PADOVAN, A. FEIDEN, O. M. KOMORI, E. A. Guimarães Costa, R. da S. CAMPOS · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Global
At the Agroecol 2024 event, nine proposals were developed to strengthen agroecology and sustainable development in the face of the climate emergency. These proposals include strengthening agroecology in family farming, indigenous peoples, traditional communities, urban and peri-urban agriculture, promoting diversified production and short commercialization circuits, training processes in biodiverse agroecological systems, strengthening public research, and providing qualified technical assistance and credit tailored to farmers' needs.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPeri-urban agricultureAgricultura urbana agroecológica: producción y aportes alimentarios de tres huertas comunitarias
2024Alan Bentancor Cabrera, Inés Gazzano, Beatriz Bellenda Carneiro · REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE AGROECOLOGIA · Uruguay (Montevideo)
This study investigated food production, nutritional contributions, necessary labor time, and satisfaction levels in three agroecological urban community gardens (HUAC) in Montevideo, Uruguay. It integrated secondary information, interviews with qualified informants, and analysis of field records. Results indicated that these HUACs produce significant volumes of quality food capable of covering individuals' nutritional requirements, potentially satisfying between 34% and 74% of recommended intake, and gardeners perceive HUACs as contributing around 42% of the food they consume.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceFood educationHealthCooking as Somaesthetic and Political Education
2024Nicola Perullo · · Global
This chapter proposes understanding cooking as participatory education from a relational philosophy perspective, cultivating an integral and ecological sensibility. It explores the socio-political implications of cooking, drawing on John Dewey's pioneering vision of cooking and taste as aesthetic activities, linking it to somaesthetics and Dōgen's Sōtō Buddhist school. Contemporary examples, including edible school gardens, support the notion that education with and through food develops a somaesthetic sensibility to oppose and redress fragmented social systems.
Food educationCommunityKigali – a case study of urban agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa
2024Ada Górna · · Rwanda (Kigali)
This chapter examines urban agriculture in Kigali, Rwanda, discussing its distribution, structural, production, and organizational features within the city. Crop fields are primarily found in marshy valleys and on hill slopes, with their area and structure varying by location. Terrain and residents' nutritional needs, including the use of wasteland for food production, are important factors influencing agricultural distribution.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageMotivations, Supporting Factors and Challenges for Urban Agriculture in Public Space: Experiences from Oslo
2024Katinka H. Evensen, Vebjørn Egner Stafseng · The Geojournal library · Norway (Oslo)
This study explored ways of integrating urban agriculture in public spaces through case studies of eight urban agriculture projects in Oslo from 2018 to 2020. Interviews with project initiators and managers highlighted motivations emphasizing the creation of social meeting places and learning arenas for cultivation and ecological knowledge. Urban agriculture was also used as a tool in local urban space development to improve well-being by activating unused spaces and integrating cultivation into green space management, suggesting that deliberate design could increase the perceived publicness of spaces.
CommunityFood educationHealthPolicyRaising the Ambition of Urban Agriculture in Public Space: Nurturing Urban Agroecology and More-than-Human Health
2024Chiara Tornaghi · The Geojournal library · Global
This chapter, based on 15 years of research, discusses key issues hindering urban agriculture from reaching its full potential for human and non-human health. It highlights shortcomings in urban planning policy, specifically the failure to recognize urban agriculture as food production, the invisibility of soil and lack of understanding of living soils, and the disregard for the advisory role of soil care and food production specialists in public land design and soil management. The chapter suggests that agroecological considerations can deepen urban agriculture's ambition in public spaces.
Governance failurePolicyHealthClimate changeOrganic cycleThe Intention of Community Garden Participation: A Case Study inCommunity Garden of Taman Tasik Ilmu, Kota Seriemas
2024Nurzawani Azuwa · INTI JOURNAL. · Malaysia
This study aimed to explore the intention behind community garden participation at Taman Tasik Ilmu. Data was collected using an online questionnaire from 40 participants, gathering information on demographics, gardening knowledge, reasons for participation, and opinions on facilities and garden management. Descriptive analysis indicated that the primary motivation for participants to join the community garden program was to fill their free time.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsDetermination of selected phenolic compounds from Malaysian urban farmingcommunity
2024M.N.H. Daud, Mohd Lip Jabit, Noorzalianee Ghazali, J.C.L. Ying · Food Research · Malaysia
This study aimed to evaluate scientific information on major phenolic compounds, including quercetin, protocatechuic acid, and gallic acid, from vegetables cultivated in Malaysian urban farming communities. Leafy and non-leafy vegetables were collected, and phenolic compounds were detected using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Based on the data, most collected vegetables contained the targeted major phenolic compounds, with leaf mustard showing the highest content of quercetin, protocatechuic acid, and gallic acid.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthGuerrilla Gardening in a Time of Ecological and Social Crisis: An Exploratory Endeavor to Feel Connected with a Lost Piece of Forest
2024Margaretha Häggström, Mårten Häggström · The Trumpeter · Sweden
This four-year exploratory study in a clearcut in western Sweden investigated the feasibility of cultivating crops in a nutrient-poor, shadowless environment to support biodiversity. The study found that while it was possible to grow potatoes, peas, and some summer flowers without special efforts, it was difficult to grow other vegetables and root vegetables. The project suggests that planting activities in clearcuts may impact people's sense of human-nature identity and respect for the natural environment.
Limited or null effectDIYBiodiversityFood educationCommunityEnhancing Urban Climate Resistance Through the Application of Selected Strategies and Technologies
2024Caroline Hachem-Vermette · Discover Cities · Global
This study outlines a comprehensive set of resilience strategies aimed at enhancing urban resilience across four key domains: water, food, shelter, and energy. A three-pronged evaluation framework is introduced to assess these strategies, presenting a systematic method to rank them based on six criteria: cost, infrastructure impact, scalability, regulatory and zoning challenges, community acceptance, and maintenance needs. For instance, community gardens and rainwater harvesting systems are highly scalable and accepted, while green roofs require more investment and maintenance.
Climate changeCommunityPolicyGreen horizons: Exploring the potential of vertical green walls
2024T Jeyasurya, C. Subesh Ranjith Kumar, P. Irene Vethamoni, K. Sivasubramanian, M. Djanaguiraman · Plant Science Today · Global
This review explores the concept, suitable plant choices, and benefits of green walls in urban settings, identifying them as a solution to environmental challenges from urbanization. Green walls offer environmental, social, and economic benefits such as improved air quality, noise reduction, energy conservation, and biodiversity enhancement, while also promoting urban agriculture and community engagement. Implementation requires careful consideration of structural integrity, irrigation, and maintenance.
BiodiversityClimate changeCommunityUrban–rural linkageFrom Prescription to Adaptation in the Future Productive City: Classroom-Inspired Principles for Design and Planning of Urban Agriculture
2024Deni Ruggeri · The Geojournal library · Global
This chapter reflects on educational experiences connected to the “Cultivating Public Space” project. Students conceptualized urban agriculture not merely as a collection of physical objects, but as holistic, multifunctional landscapes designed to cultivate biophilia, food justice, public health, and community identity. This approach aimed to celebrate the uniqueness of each locale and co-create new visions of adaptation and transformation.
Food educationCommunityPolicyHealthPour une vision plus holistique des liens entre agricultures et villes
2024Christine Aubry, Nicolas Rouget, Giulia Giacchè, Joëlle Salomon Cavin · Territoire en mouvement · Global
This abstract introduces two parallel sessions on urban agriculture held at the IGU colloquium in Paris in July 2022. The sessions explored themes such as the convergence of functions and representations of urban agricultures in the Global South and North, and the integration of agricultural practices into neighborhood development.
Urban–rural linkagePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceFarm-to-Table Initiatives in Restaurant Food Production: Benefits, Challenges, and Consumer Perceptions
2024Dr.M.K. Ganesh · International Journal for Multidimensional Research Perspectives · Global
This mixed-methods study examined the farm-to-table movement in restaurant food production, identifying benefits like enhanced food freshness and local economic support. However, it also found significant challenges including higher costs, seasonal variability, and complex supply chain logistics. Consumer perceptions were generally positive, but the study emphasized the need for increased consumer education and policy support to overcome barriers.
Economic viabilityEconomicsFood miles & supply chainPolicyCommunityEcological benefits of roof gardens and the difference of roof gardens in different regions
2024Qingxian Lin · Applied and Computational Engineering · Global
This paper examines the ecological benefits of rooftop gardens in response to rapid urbanization and its associated environmental problems. Rooftop gardens were found to improve air quality, store rainwater, mitigate the heat island effect, and protect biodiversity. These benefits alleviate urban air pollution, water resource stress, urban heat island effect, and ecological destruction, with numerous existing applications confirming their feasibility for future cities.
BiodiversityClimate changePlanetary health risks in urban agriculture
2024Nilanjana Ganguli, Anna Maria Subic, Janani Maheswaran, Byomkesh Talukder · Global Health Journal · Global
A systematic literature review of 55 papers identified five distinct planetary health risks associated with urban agriculture, despite its environmental benefits. The study highlighted particular concerns regarding trace metal bioaccumulation in soil and vegetables, posing health risks to populations. Additionally, risks related to wastewater irrigation, backyard livestock farming, and gaps in infectious disease research were identified.
Contamination & food safetyHealthClimate changeCommunity