Research & reports

Runrid Fox-Kämper, Specht Kathrin, Caputo Silvio, Hawes Jason K., Lélièvre Agnès, Cohen Nevin, Poniży Lidia · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global

This roadmap identifies policy recommendations for a desirable future for urban agriculture in 2050, based on policy reviews, interviews, and workshops. It assesses how policy can be developed to create synergies between urban agriculture and cities' food, energy, and water nexus, drawing from existing policies in five city regions in France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The recommendations are based on the most positive outcomes for urban agriculture, cities, and citizens.

Bethuel Sibongiseni Ngcamu · Environmental & Socio-economic Studies · Africa

This literature review explored the effects of urbanization on food security in Africa by reviewing eleven empirical journal articles. Findings indicate that rapid, unplanned urbanization has led to increased food insecurity, environmental degradation, and unsustainable food security, exacerbated by ill-prepared and incompetent governments. Key issues identified include poor government interventions, inadequate land-use planning, and high incompetency among urban planners.

Larisa Ivaşcu · Review of Management and Economic Engineering · Romania

This paper presents preliminary results on urban farming in Romania and Malaysia for the period June 2020 - September 2021, highlighting its role in sustainability, particularly during the pandemic. Malaysia exhibits well-defined urban farming behaviors, whereas Romania's concept is incipient. Increased involvement of individuals or employees in urban agriculture is associated with substantial benefits, including increased motivation, improved health, and improved sports.

Nick ten Caat, Martin Tenpierik, Andy van den Dobbelsteen · Sustainability · Global

This study introduced the FEWprint platform's diet shift component, simulating a theoretical community-wide diet shift from conventional to vegan while maintaining protein intake in Amsterdam, Belfast, and Detroit. Results showed the largest total carbon mitigation potential in Detroit (-916 kg CO2eq/cap/year), followed by Belfast (-866 kg) and Amsterdam (-509 kg). In relative terms, Belfast had the largest carbon reduction potential (-25%), followed by Amsterdam (-15%) and Detroit (-7%).

Jia Qi Cheong · · Malaysia

Almost 10 million Malaysians face food insecurity, leading to the emergence of initiatives supporting alternative food sources, though challenges persist. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of urban food supply chains, with Malaysia experiencing cooking oil price spikes in February 2022.

Aurore Guillaume, Anna Hubatová-Vacková, Vladimír Kočí · Agriculture · Czech Republic

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed on several egg-producing subjects in the Czech Republic, representing four main laying systems (enriched cages, barns, free-range, and organic), which were also compared to a community garden system. The study's results suggest that feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed composition, and manure management are the most important factors influencing the total environmental impacts of eggs. Additionally, environmental benefits linked to outdoor access or using organic feed over conventional were observed.

Angelica Mendoza Beltrán, Roc Padró, María José La Rota-Aguilera, Joan Marull, Matthew J. Eckelman, Jacob Cirera, Annalisa Giocoli, Gara Villalba · The Science of The Total Environment · Spain (Barcelona)

This study implemented an attributional, regionalized, cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess 14 environmental impacts of peri-urban agriculture (peri-UA) in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB). It found that vegetables and greenhouses, the prevalent peri-UA land uses, had the largest assessed impacts among all peri-UA land uses. European NPK mineral fertilizer production to cover nitrogen demand for these crops drives all impacts. For fruit crops, on-site nitrogen emissions drive marine eutrophication impacts, and for irrigated herbaceous crops, phosphate runoff drives freshwater eutrophication impacts.

JAVIER DE LEON, ARACELLY VEGA RÍOS · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Panama

This report details a virtual workshop on sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture. The workshop was conducted as part of the APY-CENPEN-2018-012 SENACYT project, focusing on "Sustainability in the Use of Natural Resources in the Western Region of Panama."

Guangyuan Niu, Guiling Wang, Qingchao Lu, Chuanhe Xiong · Polish Journal of Environmental Studies · China

This study built an evaluation model for urban-agriculture-ecology space in China's Yangtze River Delta to analyze its spatial function characteristics. Results showed a high overlap in the spatial distribution of urban and agricultural functions, concentrated in Shanghai, southern Jiangsu, and coastal Zhejiang, while ecological functions were clearly weak. The Yangtze River Delta was divided into six functional zones using an improved clustering algorithm, and scientific countermeasures and suggestions for rational land space utilization and development were proposed.

Siwei Hu, MI Chang-hong, SHI Rongguang, YANG Yanying · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global

This study analyzed the frontiers, hot topics, and trends of sustainable agriculture development using CiteSpace, based on 2,217 papers published in Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from 2000 to 2019. Frontiers focused on "food system resilience and food security," "ecological intensification and sustainable intensification," "agricultural multi-functionality and urban agriculture," and "trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services in agroecosystem." Hotspots included climate change impacts on agricultural systems and adaptive management, ecosystem services management in agro-ecosystems, and environmental impact assessment of agricultural activities and integrated sustainability assessment of agricultural systems.

· Current Science International · Egypt

This research addresses water saving issues and deteriorated school environments in official schools in Egypt. It proposes educational vertical gardens and green vertical walls for school building blocks to improve urban environments, enhance buildings' environmental and economic performance, and positively impact physical and mental health. The proposal aims to boost interaction and creativity by utilizing space as an instrument for new knowledge and highlighting the importance of sustainable development.

Stella Kabiri, Molly Allen, Judith Tomma Okuonzia, Beatrice Akello, Rebecca Ssabaganzi, Drake N. Mubiru · Open Research Africa · Uganda

This study investigated the extent of wetland loss and encroachment by urban agriculture in Wakiso and Kampala, Uganda, over 30 years from 1986 to 2016. Using field surveys, Landsat, and MODIS NDVI data, the analysis found that 72,828 ha (73%) of Wakiso-Kampala wetlands were lost, while agricultural areas doubled. Of this, 16,488 ha (23%) were converted from wetlands, with all cultivated agriculture in Kampala occurring in wetlands and 73% in Wakiso.

Lorena Suárez Peña, Aharon Jazielt Andrade Sandy, Luis René Justiniano Lujan, Romina Alejandra Robles Calderón, Leevan Salvatierra Burgos, José María Jiménez Carillo · Revista 3i Ingeniería Innovación Investigación · Bolivia

This study diagnosed the benefits of implementing urban gardens to promote food security, environmental sustainability, and community development, classifying feasible garden types. Research in El Torno municipality, Bolivia, identified community and school gardens as the most feasible urban garden types, highlighting their environmental and health benefits. These gardens are easy to implement and offer benefits such as landscape beautification, connection with nature, improved physical and mental health, and environmental education.

Ningze Yang, Xuetao Sun, Qi Qi · Frontiers in Environmental Science · China

This study analyzed the role of factor quality in reducing agricultural carbon emissions using the SARAR model and data from 280 urban agricultural sectors in China, based on the high-standard farmland construction policy. It found a significant spatial correlation and that factor quality improvement can reduce agricultural carbon emissions, particularly in areas with higher agricultural development. Factor quality reduces agricultural carbon emissions and promotes agricultural industrial structure transformation through the mediating factor of agricultural carbon emissions.

M.C.G. Haitsma Mulier, F.H.M. Van de Ven, Paul Kirshen · Energy Nexus · Netherlands (Amsterdam), United States (Boston)

This study quantified the Water Energy Nutrient Food (WENF) nexus for three urban farms: a greenhouse in Amsterdam, and a community farm and a container farm in East-Boston. It investigated the water, energy, and nutrient demands of these farms and the availability of resources in urban waters. The study found that the water and nutrient demands (nitrogen and phosphorus) of all three farms could be met by local urban water resources, but energy availability depended on the type of agriculture.

Zihao Chen, Lin Guo, Zilong Zhang · Highlights in Science Engineering and Technology · China (Shenzhen)

As urbanization accelerates in China, urban green space is becoming increasingly insufficient. This study analyzed Shenzhen's current three-dimensional greening policies and compared them with those of advanced foreign cities. The findings revealed three problems in Shenzhen's policies: a small scope of application, a lack of planning elements, and a low degree of compulsion. The paper proposes improvement solutions and optimization suggestions based on the governance experiences of other cities to address these shortcomings.

Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Rodrigo Roblero, Jorge Flores-Velázquez, Colegio de Postgraduados · Vivienda y Comunidades Sustentables · Global

This study aimed to generate a methodology for estimating the volume of rainwater harvesting for urban agriculture use. The surface area of two urban roofs with contrasting characteristics was estimated using images from a UAV camera, generating a digital surface model (DSM) and identifying runoff coefficients by sub-catchment area. Monthly average precipitation was calculated using climatological normals. The volume of rainwater harvesting was calculated and its use in lettuce cultivation was analyzed. The estimated volume of rain from the catchment areas obtained from the DSM and meteorological data allowed for the agronomic analysis of the crop.

A. Smaliychuk, Dmytro Khiblin · Vìsnik Nacìonalʹnogo unìversitetu Lʹvìvsʹka polìtehnìka Serìâ Arhìtektura · Global

This study discussed the necessity of active development of food production at the local level to prevent a predicted global ecological collapse and inability to feed the human population after 2050. It proposed that locating agricultural production in anthropogenic environments and making the synergy of energy, agricultural production, and waste recycling a key structural planning principle for architectural objects would ensure food security and impact urban planning structures. Local food production capacity would limit the maximum size of megacities and contribute to a more dispersed settlement structure.

Swarna Devi Palanivelu, Nur Amira Zainul Armir, Amalia Zulkifli, Ainul Hafiza Abdul Hair, Kushairi Mohd Salleh, Keith Lindsey, Muhamad Hafiz Che Othman, Sarani Zakaria · Polymers · Global

This review discusses the potentials and limitations of hydrogel in urban agriculture. While hydrogel has been introduced in urban agriculture over the past few decades, its application is still being explored regarding hydrogel types, structure, physical and chemical properties, changes due to external factors, and suitability for different plant species. The study presents the current state of knowledge on hydrogel production methods, characteristics, advantages, and limitations.

Ekaterina S. Shafrai · Architecton Proceedings of Higher Education · South Korea (Seoul)

This study examines the use of green roofs and facades in Seoul, South Korea, linking their widespread adoption to climatic features, systematic municipal support, and promotion of urban farming. It notes their practical, ecological, aesthetic, and social functions, with complex effects depending on building type and climatic factors. The study also highlights that direct adoption of this experience in Russia is not feasible due to climatic differences.

Werner Rolf · · Global

This work introduces a typology for spatial planning to integrate peri-urban farmland into Green Infrastructure, aiming to develop multifunctional open space networks. The typology, based on an inter- and transdisciplinary approach and evidence synthesis, suggests that peri-urban farmland has potential to address urban challenges like biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation.

Beatriz Urbano, Marcia Barquero, Fernando González‐Andrés · Scientia Horticulturae · Global

This study used a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to compare the environmental impacts of eight scenarios for fresh tomato supply to urban citizens. Zero-miles production in heated greenhouses showed the highest environmental impact (GWP 0.33 kg CO2 eq/kg tomato), performing worse than unheated greenhouses with long-distance transport (GWP 0.21 kg CO2 eq). Conversely, open-field zero-miles production was the most environmentally favorable option (GWP 0.12 kg CO2 eq), and product travel distance was less important than transport efficiency. Urban Agriculture was not environmentally superior to zero-miles agriculture carried out in rural areas.

Antonia Lippert, Karina Pallagst, Patricia Hammer · Ra Ximhai · Germany (Dessau)

This bachelor thesis examines the revitalization of urban brownfields in shrinking cities, using the "Urban Farm Dessau" project as an example. It defines brownfields, revitalization, and urban farming, and details the GIAGEM project which develops alternative solutions for brownfield revitalization meeting bio-economic requirements. The "Urban Farm Dessau" project in Dessau-Roßlau is analyzed through a preliminary study and evaluated using a criteria grid, forming the basis for recommendations on its transferability to other cities.

Scattareggia, Florent, Ancion, Nicolas, Jijakli, Haissam, Crutzen, Nathalie · Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Liège) · Global

This article discusses rooftop greenhouses (RTGs) as a potential solution to global land consumption and increasing food demand. RTGs utilize existing urban roof space, avoiding competition for land, and can form synergies with supporting buildings by using waste heat, CO2, urine, and rainwater, offering environmental benefits. Additionally, urban farming, including RTGs, can provide employment and educational opportunities in urban areas.

Julia Wójcik-Madej, Barbara Sowińska-Świerkosz · Sustainability · Poland (Lublin)

A case study in Lublin city, Poland, applied objective criteria referring to seven societal challenges to 24 types of pre-existing interventions. All analyzed interventions met at least two challenges, with protecting wetlands, public parks, and allotment gardens showing the greatest challenge-orientation potential, while nesting boxes for bats and insect hotels showed the lowest. Interventions responded most to human health, climate change, and ecosystem degradation, and least to food security and socioeconomic development. The study concluded that the scale of intervention type is too general for challenge-orientation assessment.