Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1626 results(35 / 66)
Mitigating the Impact of Human Activities
2021Gail Hansen, Joseli Macedo · University Press of Florida eBooks · Global
Many ecological, political, and economic programs are available to help cities become more sustainable and protect the urban environment. Resilient city planning practices include climate change adaptations, renewable energy technology, reducing urban sprawl, improving urban agriculture and native species use, and using self-sustaining, biophilic buildings. Goals and strategies for implementing these practices rely on citizens accepting responsibility with pro-environmental behaviors that mitigate destructive impacts from development and maintenance practices.
Climate changePolicyCommunityBiodiversityUrban wastewater for agriculture : farmers’ perspectives from peri-urban Bengaluru
2021Seema Purushothaman, Sheetal Patil, Raghvendra S. Vanjari, A. R. Shwetha · · India (Bengaluru)
A participatory assessment in Byramangala, Bengaluru, explored farmers' perspectives on using wastewater (domestic sewage with industrial effluents) for irrigation. The study found that farmers were adapting to a heavily polluted environment, which resulted in restricted crop choices, lower produce prices, health impacts, and socio-cultural consequences. Despite concerns about water quality, farmers prioritized health-imparting agriculture and were keen to continue farming, but their preference for treated wastewater was overshadowed by its potential diversion for urban use.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureHealthClimate changeEconomicsLes infrastructures vertes comme outils d’adaptation au changement climatique et de reconquête de la biodiversité
2021Emmanuelle Virey, Tolga Coskun · Cahiers ESPI2R · Europe
Green infrastructure refers to an interconnected network of natural or semi-natural areas whose proper functioning generates benefits for human societies and strengthens their resilience. It can simultaneously produce multiple benefits such as improved stormwater management, creation of cool islands and species habitats, job creation in urban agriculture, economic valuation of real estate, and new nature experiences. Green infrastructure allows for the reinvention of urban landscapes and a reconsideration of our intimate relationship with living things.
Climate changeBiodiversityEconomicsHealthURBAN HORTICULTURE INNER LIVING CITY, INTERACTIONS AND TRADE-OFFS
2021Cristina Electra Mâcnea, Asănică Adrian, Fabian Claudia, Peticilă Adrian, Julia Nerantzia TZORTZI · AgroLife Scientific Journal · Global
This abstract discusses urban degradation caused by human nature and industrial growth, considering urban horticulture as a potential strategy to partially reverse these problems and recover the human-nature relationship. It proposes that urban horticulture can be an alternative solution to issues such as poverty, lack of public spaces, deteriorating food and life quality, and climate change in cities.
HealthClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityCo-simulation for thermodynamic coupling of crops in buildings. Case study of free-running schools in Quito, Ecuador
2021Gabriela Ledesma, Jelena Nikolic, Oriol Pons · Building and Environment · Ecuador (Quito)
This study developed a co-simulation model incorporating plant heat and mass balances into building simulations to assess the thermal effect of rooftop farms on building thermal performance. Applied to two free-running schools in Quito, Ecuador, integrated rooftop greenhouses improved thermal comfort and air quality, reducing thermal load by 42% and CO2 exceedance hours by 40%, despite a 2.94 kWh/m2 rise in electricity demand.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityThe quest for fresh vegetables
2021Doris Friedrich · · Global
This chapter examines three Arctic vegetable farming projects: Calypso Farm in Alaska, Arviat's community gardens and greenhouses in Canada, and Polar Permaculture in Norway. These projects aimed to improve health or increase food security and independence, experimenting with various growing techniques such as greenhouses, hydroponics, growboxes, and outdoor fields. Many of these projects were successful in improving their own and their community's quality of life.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeIdentification of the start and end dates of the rain seasons in Pointe-Noire (Republic of Congo)
2021Martin MASSOUANGUI-KIFOUALA · International journal of innovation and applied studies · Republic of Congo (Pointe-Noire)
This article analyzed precipitation data in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, using agronomic criteria and frequencies to understand rainy season behavior for agricultural planning. The study found that Pointe-Noire has a bimodal rainfall regime, allowing for two cultivation periods annually. However, the rainy seasons are very random, with increasingly late starts, early endings, and shortening durations over the years.
Limited or null effectClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agricultureImplementation and Impacts of Edible Cities : a Nature-Based Solution for Societal Challenges of Urbanization?
2021Martina Artmann, Katharina Sartison · RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) · Germany
This study investigated the implementation and impact potential of edible cities in three German case studies (Andernach, Haar, Munich) as part of a project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Edible cities are a concept that utilizes public spaces to provide free food and urban gardening opportunities for citizens.
CommunityPolicyClimate changeHuertos urbanos: como estrategia de transición hacia el desarrollo urbano sostenible
2021Diego Armando Masaquiza Moposita, Juan Carlos Santillán Lima, Carlos Roberto López-Paredes · Dominio de las Ciencias · Global
This review aimed to compile and update information on urban gardens and their effects on sustainability, socioeconomic, and agri-food impacts. Databases including Sciencedirect, Google-scholar, Scopus, and NCBI were reviewed, emphasizing articles from the last five years. The review describes the origin and importance of urban gardens, their environmental, economic, and agri-food effects, and the benefits families receive from their production, contributing to food security and improved lifestyles.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsClimate changeCommunityClimate Change and Fecal Peril
2021Ahmed Khadra · IGI Global eBooks · Global
This chapter examines the health effects of climate change, specifically focusing on the global issue of fecal peril caused by intestinal parasites. It suggests that water shortages, driven by climate change, increase pressure on water resources, leading to greater use of urban wastewater for irrigation in urban agriculture. Unsafe management and inappropriate wastewater use are likely to exacerbate the transmission of infectious diseases, including those caused by intestinal protozoa and helminths.
Contamination & food safetyHealthClimate changeOrganic cycleIncreasing City Resilience through Urban Agriculture: Challenges and Solutions in the Global North
2021Boglarka Z. Gulyas, Jill L. Edmondson · Sustainability · Global North
A systematic review of literature on urban agriculture (UA) in the Global North identified factors determining its success in enhancing city resilience and challenges limiting it. UA's success in increasing city resilience was defined as dependent on five factors: institutional and public support, a sufficient knowledge base, communication and collaboration among actors, and resourcefulness in efficient space and resource use. However, comprehensive assessments of UA's potential are still lacking, suggesting challenges in its effective implementation.
Governance failureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceHealthCommunityEffects of Partial Organic Substitution for Chemical Fertilizer on Antibiotic Residues in Peri-Urban Agricultural Soil in China
2021Dong BaoCheng, Wei Li, Wenyong Xu · Antibiotics · China
A field experiment in peri-urban agricultural soil in China investigated the effects of partially substituting chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizers like pig manure and sewage sludge on soil quality and antibiotic residues. Organic substitution significantly increased residual antibiotic levels in agricultural soil, with antibiotic sequestration rising by 138.1~332.5%. This indicated that organic fertilizers can promote antibiotic persistence in soil by modifying soil quality, demonstrating a contamination risk.
Contamination & food safetyOrganic cycleClimate changePeri-urban agricultureUrbanidade e agricultura no contemporâneo: pensando a alimentação pelo viés da agroecologia e as relações com uma dinâmica socioambiental
2021Ivanio Folmer, Gabriella Eldereti Machado · Diversitas Journal · Global
This theoretical study proposes a discussion on contemporary urbanity and agriculture, focusing on food through the lens of agroecology and its relationship with socio-environmental dynamics. It discusses conceptual issues involving territory, urbanity, agroecology, and food production, as well as public policies for healthy food and a balanced socio-environmental environment. The research aims to characterize contemporary urbanity and its potential for creating new spaces for agriculture, such as urban agriculture.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityClimate changeFacilitating Multifunctional Green Infrastructure Planning in Washington, DC through a Tableau Interface
2021John Taylor, Mamatha Hanumappa, Lara Miller, Brendan Shane, Matthew L. Richardson · Sustainability · United States (Washington, DC)
A public-access geographic information system (GIS) and Tableau dashboards were developed for comprehensive multifunctional urban green infrastructure (UGI) planning in Washington, DC. The dashboards enable stakeholders to identify existing UGI (150 ha) and potential areas for new UGI, including urban agriculture (UA). A total of 2734 ha is potentially suitable for UGI development, with 2575 ha potentially suitable for UA. Of this UA potential, 56% is located in Wards 5, 7, and 8, which are largely food deserts with primarily Black residents experiencing the greatest inequities. The tool allows users to prioritize equitable UGI development using population vulnerability indices.
PolicyCommunityClimate changeHealthMethod for Zero-Waste Circular Economy Using Worms for Plastic Agriculture: Augmenting Polystyrene Consumption and Plant Growth
2021Samuel Ken‐En Gan, Ser-Xian Phua, Joshua Yi Yeo, Zealyn Shi‐Lin Heng, Zhenxiang Xing · Methods and Protocols · Global
This study investigated using mealworms and superworms to consume polystyrene (PS) and their frass as plant fertilizer. Researchers found that small amounts of sucrose and bran increased PS consumption by the worms. Superworm frass, in particular, supported better growth and rooting of dragon fruit cacti over a fortnight compared to mealworm frass and control media. These findings suggest worms could offer a zero-waste solution for plastic degradation and urban farming.
Organic cycleCompostClimate changeForecasting Agroforestry Ecosystem Services Provision in Urban Regeneration Projects: Experiences and Perspectives from Milan
2021Ambrogio Zanzi, Federico Andreotti, Valentina Vaglia, Sumer Alali, Francesca Orlando, Stefano Bocchi · Sustainability · Italy (Milan)
This study aimed to assess the benefits of an agroecological requalification of a dismissed peri-urban area in the South Milan Agricultural Regional Park, Italy. Using I-Tree Eco software, the provision of ecosystem services from planting new hedgerows was simulated over 30 years, showing that the planted area becomes an essential supplier of regulating ecosystem services for neighborhoods, increasing carbon storage and air pollution removal. A notable increase in carbon sequestration was observed at the end of the simulation, demonstrating a replicable methodology and techniques for assessing ecosystem services in urban and peri-urban environments.
Peri-urban agricultureBiodiversityClimate changeOrganic cyclePublic food forest opportunities and challenges in small municipalities
2021Sarah E. Coffey, John F. Munsell, Rico Hübner, Curtis R. Friedel · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · United States (Virginia)
A survey of 68 mayors (39% response rate) in Virginia, US, from communities under 25,000 population, investigated public food forest initiatives. Mayors identified long-term maintenance as the greatest barrier and noted that 78% of municipalities lack land use codes for food-producing trees and shrubs. While nearly 70% reported some public land food production, only one-fifth included food-producing trees. Mayors emphasized sociocultural programs and education over food access as the most compelling aspect.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyFood educationClimate changeEl Huerto Escolar como recurso para iniciar la Alfabetización Ambiental en Educación Infantil
2021Fátima Rodríguez Marín, María África Portillo Guerrero, María Puig Gutiérrez · Revista eureka sobre enseñanza y divulgación de las ciencias · Global
This study presents an experience carried out in a classroom with three-year-old children, where the school garden was used as the central axis of a didactic proposal based on the school research model. The results showed that this resource favors environmental literacy, while also serving to articulate didactic proposals that contribute to the population's resilience.
Food educationClimate changeBiodiversityINNOVATIVE URBAN FARMING TECHNIQUES FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF CITIES: FROM FARM TO FORK – CASE OF THE CITY LANUVIO, ROME, ITALY
2021Sangodoyin Olakunle. M, Shehata Mariam, D’Aprile Andrea, Calore Giuseppe, Lorianne Ginot, Correrella Maia, Elian Mariam, Aly Nada, Aboughanema Salma, Ali Sohaila, Aboulnaga Mohsen · International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology · Italy (Rome)
The "Green Symphony" project in Lanuvio, a municipality near Rome, Italy, transformed a vacant ARES site into a smart and sustainable urban farm. The project integrated aquaponic systems, permaculture, vertical farming, and energy harvesting technologies. The developed farm is projected to generate 7 tons of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and fish annually, create 3 stable jobs, and recoup investment costs within a maximum of 5 years.
DIYCommunityClimate changeFood educationCultivating the city for ecosocialism
2021Salvatore Engel‐Di Mauro, George M. Martin · · Global
This chapter examines urban cultivation across diverse global contexts, finding that global South cities often experience declining food production due to displacement by financiers and landowners. It notes that urban cultivation is frequently associated with unacknowledged pollution problems, and its overall ecological impacts are not necessarily positive. Furthermore, urban food production, with the exception of Cuba, does little to reduce social inequality and can sometimes exacerbate it.
Environmental trade-offsFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyClimate changeA new hope for India to eradicate the problem of hunger and unemployment with its advancement in both urban and rural India
2021Dr.Sumanta Bhattacharya, H. B. Lal, Bhavneet Kaur Sachdev · Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research · India
India's horticulture industry has grown, contributing to GDP and employing 42% of the population. However, 60% of products rot due to a lack of cold storage, hindering the elimination of food shortages and export amplification. Floriculture has also improved, with women playing a role in rural economy and empowerment.
Economic viabilityUrban–rural linkageFood lossClimate changeEconomicsPlanning Peri-Urban Open Spaces: Methods and Tools for Interpretation and Classification
2021Enrico Gottero, Claudia Cassatella, Federica Larcher · Land · Italy (Turin)
This research developed a holistic method and map-based indices for interpreting and classifying peri-urban landscapes, focusing on open spaces to understand their complexity and identify homogeneous units. The method was applied to the peri-urban area of Turin, Italy, generating maps of spatial and functional classification at the landscape unit level, as well as a map of critical areas for improvement. Despite some minor limitations, the proposed method and tools appear to have a range of applications in the context of global challenges and from a landscape perspective.
Peri-urban agriculturePolicyClimate changeBiodiversityUrban–rural linkageUrban and peri-urban agriculture in the global food security conundrum
2021Innocent Awasom · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Global
Urban and peri-urban agriculture is considered a creative method of food production to address increasing urbanization and food insecurity. Urban food gardens are noted to have the potential to mitigate hunger and food insecurity, offering health, socio-cultural, environmental, and economic benefits.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeHealthEconomicsNature-based cooling potential: a multi-type green infrastructure evaluation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2021Vidya Anderson, William A. Gough · International Journal of Biometeorology · Canada (Toronto)
A controlled field study in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, evaluated the impact of multiple types of green infrastructure on near-surface air temperature regulation. Over two summers, a field campaign measured the impact of green roofs, green walls, urban vegetation and forestry systems, and urban agriculture systems on near-surface air temperature. This study demonstrated that multiple types of green infrastructure applications are beneficial in regulating near-surface air temperature and are not limited to specific treatments.
Climate changeBiodiversityEcological Connectivity in Agricultural Green Infrastructure: Suggested Criteria for Fine Scale Assessment and Planning
2021Simone Valeri, Laura Zavattero, Giulia Capotorti · Land · Italy
This study addresses knowledge gaps in selecting plant species and understanding landscape heterogeneity's role in dispersal success for Green Infrastructure (GI) planning. It suggests a methodological approach for fine-scale assessment in peri-urban agricultural landscapes, using a case study in the Metropolitan City of Rome. The approach involved stratifying the area, defining GI components, characterizing the area with Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis, assessing connectivity, and prioritizing conservation measures. Despite recognized limits, the approach proved functional for the context and detail level.
BiodiversityPeri-urban agricultureClimate change