Research & reports

David Vieira Lima, Geovane Rocha de Carvalho, Jaqueline Silva Sousa, José Weselli de Sá Andrade · Global Science and Technology · Brazil

This research in Brazil evaluated the viability of a low-cost, handmade hydroponic system for sustainable urban agriculture, constructed from 25 reused 2L PET bottles. Lettuce was cultivated in this system and a commercial system for 57 days. Statistical analysis showed that while the handmade model was less productive, it yielded plants in excellent condition for consumption at a low cost, validating it as a viable alternative for sustainable urban agriculture.

Kaitlin Hathaway · Digital Showcase Research, Scholarship, & Creative Works (University of Lynchburg) · United States (Lynchburg)

The Lynchburg College Community Garden at Beaver Point, United States, was established in 2016 by students and faculty to teach sustainable agriculture and enrich soil. In spring and summer 2017, projects included donating produce, promoting pollinators, raising chickens, and composting. The abstract also describes a designed rainwater collection and irrigation system.

Angelina Moreira Melo, Daniel Calbino, Alair Ferreira de Freitas · Revista Ciência em Extensão · Brazil (Sete Lagoas)

This experience report analyzed the methodology used by extension agents in implementing the Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) model in a community garden in Sete Lagoas, Brazil. Responding to producers' demand regarding production flow problems, CSA was introduced as a fair trade marketing alternative connecting consumers and producers through weekly sales of agroecological product baskets. The methodology focused on constructing participatory methods based on producers' reality and interests, with the autonomy given to subjects being a central point, leading to significant economic, social, and cultural contributions for those involved.

R John Little · OpenSIUC (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) · United States

A research study evaluated fertility requirements for 'Sweet Hungarian' Peppers and 'Savor' Charentais Melons grown in a three-inch extensive green roof medium on the Southern Illinois University campus. Six treatments were applied to peppers and four treatments to melons, each replicated three times. This study contributes to optimizing appropriate fertility treatments for green roof agriculture.

Hana Sakura Putu Arga · PrimaryEdu - Journal of Primary Education · Indonesia (Bandung)

This classroom action research, conducted in 3 cycles with 12 meetings, aimed to improve the ecoliteracy of fourth-grade students at SDN 038 Kiaracondong Bandung, Indonesia, through urban farming activities. The study found an increase in students' ecoliteracy, evidenced by behaviors such as planting on school land, using waste for pots, caring for plants, and distinguishing waste types. These improvements were observed in both school and home environments.

Irma Xánath Bautista-Villalobos, Eduardo Garcı́a-Frapolli, Alba Hernández · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Mexico

This technical experience presents the Participatory Action research process for the Enraizando Espacios urban community garden, established in 2016 in Mexico City's Guerrero neighborhood. The study aimed to recognize the project's impact after one year, resulting in a collective memory and establishing bases for useful sustainability indicators. Key lessons learned include the importance of solidarity and cooperation for the project's success and its transformative power.

J.H. Kwag, Eun‐Jeong Cho, Mi-Eun Jeong, Kwang-Yong Ju, Dae‐Young Jeon, Hui-Cheol Jeong · 한국토양비료학회지 · South Korea (Busan)

This study analyzed the chemical properties of soils from 29 urban vegetable gardens in the Busan area, South Korea. Urban area vegetable garden soils showed high content of organic matter and exchangeable cations, suggesting more fertilizer application in these areas. Average values for soil fertility items were pH 6.87, organic matter 43.4 g kg-1, available phosphate 845.3 mg kg-1, K+ 1.30 cmol kg-1, Ca2+ 17.27 cmol kg-1, Mg2+ 2.88 cmol kg-1, and electrical conductivity 2.66 dS m-1.

Ednaldo Michellon, Jaqueline da Silva Rosa, André Coelho Braga, Victor de Canini Cezar, Tiago Ribeiro da Costa, Wellington Fernandes Pereira · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (Maringá)

The REDIfeira project, part of the University Extension Program in Parana, Brazil, aims to boost the production and commercialization of family agriculture products through monitoring and technical assistance. This work presents the case of the FEPORg – Maringa Organic Products Fair and Region, which was established through community initiative with support from Maringa City Hall, the REDIfeira project, CerAUP, and PPCPO.

Erin Whittingham, Nhu Tuyên Lê, Claudio Vitari, Roxana Bobulescu · International Journal of Agricultural Resources Governance and Ecology · Global

This paper focuses on the transitional features of community supported agriculture (CSA) and its transformational potential for agricultural system change. The research developed a framework that highlights the 'transitional' CSA model and compares it with conventional and 'ideal' CSA models. This framework helps understand how CSAs adapt to their context and demonstrates their transformational potential for agricultural system change, drawing on numerous narratives from the broad literature on CSAs.

Kh. N. Shaaban, M. Abul-Soud, OSAMA A. EL-BEHAIRY · Journal of Environmental Science · Africa

On the rooftop of the Central Laboratory for Agriculture Climate, Agriculture Research Centre, Egypt, tomato was grown over two summer seasons and strawberry over two winter seasons during 2014-2015 to test vermicompost-perlite substrate mixes (10%, 20%, 30% vermicompost, and a perlite-only control) combined with chemical, vermi-liquid, or combined nutrient solutions. Vegetative growth, yield and leaf N/P/K content were highest with chemical or combined chemical/vermi-liquid solution paired with the 30% then 20% vermicompost mixes, and applying or increasing vermicompost reduced heavy metal content in the tomato and strawberry fruit.

Daniel Andrés Vega Castro · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Colombia

An explorative, descriptive study evaluated "papa criolla" (Solanum phureja) production in an urban context using double-bottom HDPE containers and agroecological techniques, with descriptive statistics and dispersion analysis applied to the resulting data. Average production reached 528 g per plant, which the authors compare favorably to average production figures for Colombia as a whole.

Ansel Nastika, V Violita, Irma Laelani Eka Putri · BioScience · Indonesia

This experimental study in Indonesia tested hydroponic cultivation of water spinach (Ipomoea reptans), chosen for its ease of growth on the narrow plots typical of urban agriculture. Conducted from December 2017 to April 2018 in a biology laboratory and screen house at Universitas Negeri Padang, it used a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications, analyzing plant height, leaf number, leaf area, and wet and dry weight by ANOVA and DNMRT at the 5% level. Liquid organic fertilizer made from Sargassum sp. seaweed had no significant effect on plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, or wet and dry weight of the water spinach.

Eduardo Vergara Pérez, Alfredo Viuda López, Israel Acuña Galván · Boletín Científico INVESTIGIUM de la Escuela Superior de Tizayuca · Mexico

This study developed a semi-automatic monitoring and control system for a 4.5 m² community garden in an urban area of Mexico, using a mid-range embedded system to control physical growing variables and communicating wirelessly with a server for highly portable data storage, querying and control via a web page, applied to the organopónico (organic-substrate intensive) cultivation technique. The system proved functional for legume and solanaceous crop species, yielding produce within a time frame comparable to commercial growing methods.

Renan Borro Celestrino, Silvia Cristina Vieira · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Global

A descriptive and experimental study (qualitative-quantitative approach triangulated with a literature review) surveyed the cost of small-scale aquaponics implementation for family and peri-urban agriculture and documented the setup steps. In the practical experiment, 27 kilograms of fish were fed at 2% of their live weight, and the resulting waste nourished 144 seedlings of Crespa lettuce. The system was found to have low implementation costs and practical management, with organic nutrition of plants and no chemical use offering a sustainable alternative for healthier production.

André Ruoppolo Biazoti, Guilherme Borducchi, Lana Lim, Mariana Marchesi · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (São Paulo)

A Brazilian paper describes the experience of the Community Garden of the São Paulo Cultural Center (CCSP) as an experimental space for promoting agroecology and citizen involvement in food production. It discusses agroecology as a form of activism in which the collective work and practical learning of volunteers contribute to the transformation of citizens, the strengthening of community ties, and the promotion of closer relations between farmers and consumers.

Jefferson Pietroski Mota, Tamyres Ferri, Souza Manoella Cristina · · Brazil

A narrative account of the Horta Orgânica do CCA (HOCCA) project at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil, from its founding to its consolidation. It describes converting neglected shared campus spaces into food-growing areas and spreading ecological-farming knowledge to the university and community through technical and thematic workshops. No quantitative outcome measures are reported.

Alexander Wezel, Julia Goette, Elisabeth Lagneaux, Gloria Passuello, Erica Reisman, Christophe Rodier, Grégoire Turpin · Sustainability · Europe

A study mapping the development of agroecology in Europe through a literature review, interviews, conference participation and internet search. It finds that agroecological research and higher education are concentrated more in western and northern Europe, though farm schools and farmer-to-farmer training exist in other regions too. Bottom-up initiatives and national or continental networks and movements are increasing, with food sovereignty and access to land and seeds as major themes. Except for France, the study states there are very few concrete agroecology policies in Europe.

Maria Júlia Ferreira, Hugo Baesso, José Luis González Geraldo · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil

A report on the teaching and learning process during Vegetable Crop Science and Medicinal Plants classes at the Southeast IF MG (Instituto Federal), Campus Muriaé, Brazil, in which second-year students of the Integrated Technological Course in Agroecology implemented an organic, sustainable school garden in the first semester of 2016. Students applied classroom knowledge practically to the fully organic cultivation of vegetables, focusing on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and chives (Allium schoenoprasum). An area of 1,000 m² was subdivided into twelve usable plots of 45 m² each. The techniques and procedures used are described as applicable to any garden pursuing an entirely sustainable way of life without chemical inputs, providing benefits for both the environment and human health.

Przemysław Charzyński, Renata Bednarek, Patrycja Hudańska, Marcin Świtoniak · Soil Science & Plant Nutrition · Poland

This study examined the extent and properties of garden soils in Toruń, Poland, using five soil profiles from four allotment gardens; the city has 66 allotment gardens covering over 300 ha, or 3% of the city area. None of the studied mineral surface horizons met the criteria for a Hortic horizon under the World Reference Base (WRB) 2015 classification because of too-low phosphorus content, although the other hortic criteria were fulfilled, and the authors recommend further study at a larger scale to evaluate whether the WRB criteria are too strict for typical garden soils that are only a few decades old.

J. T. Roane · AAIHS (African American Intellectual History Society) — Black Perspectives · Cuba

Published on AAIHS's Black Perspectives blog on January 4, 2018, this article by J. T. Roane describes the Organopónico Vivero Alamar as 'founded in 1997 on ten and a half hectares of land,' framing Cuban urban agriculture as a response to food shortages and oil scarcity during the post-Soviet 'Special Period.' The author reports the average laborer age at the farm visited was 56, with the tour guide noting difficulty attracting younger workers. It describes methods including worm beds converting livestock waste to compost, strategic plant biodiversity for insect regulation, and integration of plants used in Santería practice, and positions Cuban organopónicos as an alternative to fossil-fuel-dependent U.S. agribusiness.

Alessio Russo, Francisco J. Escobedo, Giuseppe T. Cirella, Stefan Zerbe · Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 242, 53-66 · Global

A foundational paper proposing and reviewing the concept of Edible Green Infrastructure (EGI), addressing the neglect of provisioning (food) ecosystem services in green infrastructure planning that has emphasized regulating and cultural services. It frames allotment gardens, rooftop gardens, edible landscapes and urban forests as a multifunctional green network that, with best management practices to minimize disservices, can enhance food security and urban resilience.

Maia G. Fitzstevens, Rosalie M. Sharp, Daniel J. Brabander · Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene · United States (Boston)

To support urban agriculture and limit childhood lead exposure from resuspended urban soils, this study measured bulk and bioaccessible lead in five types of compost used in Boston urban gardens. Different feedstocks showed unique geochemical fingerprints; bulk lead in compost was a fraction of that in urban soils, yet the bioaccessible fraction exceeded the IEUBK model's default parameters. Based on the observed bioaccessibility, 170 mg/kg total lead in compost yields the same bioaccessible lead as the model predicts for the 400 mg/kg EPA soil benchmark, so risk assessments should treat compost as an urban matrix.

Gunilla Ström, Agnes Andersson Djurfeldt, Sofia Boqvist, Ann Albihn, Sorn Sokerya, Sokun San, Holl Davun, Ulf Magnusson · PLOS ONE · Cambodia (Phnom Penh)

A cross-sectional survey of 204 pig-keeping households (from 267 initially identified) in urban and peri-urban Phnom Penh, Cambodia, using structured questionnaires in November–December 2014 and February 2015. Typical holdings were 5–15 pigs, all households kept pigs for sale, and more than 60% reported pig income as one of the household's main sources of revenue. The constraints named most often were low prices for slaughter pigs (54%), expensive feed (53%) and disease outbreaks (50%), with lower-socioeconomic-status households significantly more affected by disease (P=0.025). Notably, no household raised food-safety or zoonotic-transmission concerns, despite these being the standard international worry about urban livestock keeping.

Roger Attwater, Chris Derry · Water · Australia

This paper presents a case study in Western Sydney, Australia, examining the role of water recycling for agricultural use within the peri-urban water cycle. It identifies and discusses aspects that enhance resilience, such as water resource security, avoidance of wastewater discharges, enhanced landscape ecology, and provision of ecosystem services. The study also considers environmental risk management, local agricultural products, social values, livelihood opportunities, and the industrial ecology of recycled organics.

Janneth Jara-Samaniego, M.D. Pérez-Murcia, M.A. Bustamante, C. Paredes, A. Pérez‐Espinosa, Irene Gavilanes-Terán, Marga López, Frutos C. Marhuenda‐Egea, H. Brito, R. Moral · PLoS ONE · Ecuador (Chimborazo Region)

This study developed a field-scale demonstration project in Ecuador's Chimborazo Region to evaluate composting technology for managing organic waste from food markets and urban gardening. Three co-composting mixtures were prepared using market waste and pruning materials. All piles showed suitable composting development with significant organic matter decomposition, and the resulting composts lacked phytotoxicity and possessed suitable agronomic properties for use as organic fertilizers.