Research & reports

Deni Ruggeri · ˜The œGeojournal 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.

Christine 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.

Dr.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.

Gundula Proksch, George Lee · · United States

Based on data from the Chicago Urban Agriculture Mapping Project, this study used GIS mapping to investigate urban agriculture typologies and their distribution in the Chicago metropolitan area. It showed that small-scale non-profit gardens are integrated closely with communities, while commercial controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operations utilize existing infrastructure and buildings in commercial and industrial corridors. Both types of urban agriculture serve different needs, providing various benefits to the urban population, from social services to fresh food production and economic development.

Inger‐Lise Saglie · ˜The œGeojournal library · Norway

This study investigated the motivations for urban agriculture policies in Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim, Norway, identifying five categories of motivations. These include urban "green" development, food production and alternative food systems, provision of social meeting places and community building, municipal welfare services (work training, integration, health promotion, knowledge sharing), and active citizenship and co-creation of city development. While motivations were similar across cities, their emphasis varied.

Bruna Trevisan Negri, Antônio Nivaldo Hespanhol · Geography Department University of Sao Paulo · Brazil (São Paulo)

This article compares urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in Regente Feijó, Brazil, and Centre Wellington, Canada, to understand their particularities and contributions to food security and local food supply. Data from interviews with farmers revealed that while production purposes differ—predominantly self-consumption in Regente Feijó and commercialization in Centre Wellington—UPA significantly improves food security and local supply in both areas. A key challenge identified is the inadequate government support for UPA in both studied regions.

Nuri Kartini · Jurnal Abdisci · Indonesia

The Adiwiyata School program, an Indonesian government initiative, encourages schools to implement sustainability and environmental protection principles, focusing on waste management, energy saving, and natural resource use. Schools targeted by the program are very enthusiastic about its phased implementation. Successful implementation requires local government policies, rewards for schools, strong commitment from all stakeholders, and good cooperation and synergy among related parties.

Nordregio, Luciane Aguiar Borges, Ana de Jesus · · Global

This report discusses the barriers and drivers of Urban Agriculture (UA) within the framework of the Horizon 2020 project 'SiEUGreen,' across environmental, technological, economic, social/cultural, and regulatory/institutional aspects. Based on insights from five showcases in Norway, Denmark, Turkey, and China, the results suggest that city food provision and UA systems can be designed considering circular economy regenerative cycles. However, key barriers limiting UA uptake include the need for more evidence-based research, further experimentation for innovative technological developments, high investments, difficulties accessing financial support, underdeveloped business cases, limited recognition of UA's benefits, and behavioral/cultural barriers.

Gustavo [UNESP] Nagib · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (São Paulo)

This chapter examines the relationship between urban activism and the establishment of non-commercial community gardens in public spaces within São Paulo, Brazil, since 2010. It details the formation of the "Hortelões Urbanos" activist network in 2011 and the subsequent creation of the "União de Hortas Comunitárias de São Paulo (UHCSP)" in 2018, which unites community garden initiatives. The analysis highlights how these gardens, despite the absence of municipal public policy, promote health, healthy eating, autonomy, and urban biodiversity through low-consumption practices.

Monsuru Adekunle Salisu, Che Rus Ridzwan, Yusuf Opeyemi Oyebamiji, Norhanizan Usaizan, Abiodun Emmanuel Abioye, Idris Fadheelah Biola, Nurudeen Babatunde Bamiro, Ahmed Kayode Omowunmi, Hussain Luqman · AIMS Agriculture and Food · Global

This systematic literature review, incorporating 37 articles, examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global agri-food sector. The pandemic profoundly impacted all facets of the agri-food system. The review identified several measures to mitigate disruptions and enhance resilience, including robust policy, promotion of urban agriculture, support for small-scale farmers, enhancement of the international market, and technological innovations.

Exzolvildres Queiroz Neto, Gilson Brandão de Oliveira Junior, Marcelha Silva de Andrade, Suncar Dabo, Geisiane Michelle Zanquetta de Pintor · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil

This article presents reflections on the practice of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (AUP) and its impact on land use and occupation in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. The research raised several questions concerning rural-urban dynamics, the specificities of urban family farmers, and the complexity of land use in the municipality. Diagnostic results from a semi-structured research guide will be used as an empirical basis for further reflection, and the abstract does not state specific research findings or critical findings regarding governance.

Wasifah Hanim · Jurnal Akuntansi Bisnis dan Ekonomi · Indonesia (Bandung)

This study aims to formulate urban farming development strategies to promote a circular economy in Bandung City, Indonesia. Using SWOT analysis to identify internal and external factors, the research found that urban farming development strategies for realizing a circular economy integrate weaknesses with threats by collaborating with the education department and the women's empowerment and child protection department to introduce urban farming activities.

Maula Fadhilata Rahmatika, Agus Suman, Wildan Syafitri, Sri Muljaningsih · Journal of Ecohumanism · Indonesia

This study examined socio-demographic factors influencing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) participation among 385 Indonesian non-participants. Findings reveal that urban residents and larger households are more likely to join CSA due to better information access and convenience. Income showed a near-significant impact, while education showed no effect, highlighting awareness gaps.

Roberta Bulgari, Erdona Demiraj, Calogero Schillaci, Ahlem Tlili, Yushu Xia · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global

This special issue examines urban and peri-urban soil and plant management, highlighting that soil-related factors in urban agricultural systems pose unique challenges. Issues such as soil fertility, soil biodiversity, and soil contamination require further investigation to enhance urban agriculture's contribution to livability. The issue collects studies supporting sustainable soil management and crop diversification, and explores remote sensing and deep learning for soil health monitoring and plant disease detection related to contamination.

Kheir Al‐Kodmany, Madhav Govind, Sharmin Khan, Anita Pinheiro, Chittaranjan Kole · · Global

The issue of urban agriculture's overlooked role in urban sustainability discussions amidst urbanization and climate change is addressed. This book aims to bridge the "brown" agenda, which prioritizes human well-being and social justice, with the "green" agenda, focusing on environmental health and ecosystem protection, within the context of urban agriculture and sustainability.

Ada Górna · · Global

This chapter presents the specific nature of urban agriculture in cities of the Global North and Global South, based on an analysis of published research and the author's field observations. It identifies main problems and common denominators in urban agriculture across different environmental, socioeconomic, and political conditions. The chapter discusses issues in the Global South (Latin America, South, East and Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa) and the Global North.

María Dolores Sánchez Moya, Araceli Tárraga Guillén · Constelaciones Revista de Arquitectura de la Universidad CEU San Pablo · Denmark

This article traces the thinking of landscape architect Th. Sørensen on public space design, who was involved in major Danish collective social housing programs from the 1930s to 1950s. It studies Sørensen's six most outstanding collective gardens to highlight the design strategies that have consolidated them into spaces of high civic value, still suitable today. The analysis is structured in three approaches based on building spatial patterns and dispersion, examining the use of topography and vegetation to define character, clear spatial order, and reconcile public and human scales.

Ivonne Weichold · · Global

This paper re-conceptualizes infrastructure as hybrid systems where human and ecological elements intersect, merging infrastructure and landscape to create new productive urban spaces. It proposes redesigning infrastructure as complex socio-ecological systems, or "infrastructural ecologies," which can support urban agriculture and food system infrastructure in interstitial urban spaces like vacant lots. The research uses observations of everyday food system activities and interviews in New York and Brazil to inform design scenarios.

Desi Sri Pasca Sari Sembiring, Ahmad Nadhira · Jurnal Ekonomi Bisnis Manajemen dan Akuntansi (JEBMA) · Indonesia

This study aimed to identify urban farming development strategies to prevent climate change mitigation in Medan Timur District, Indonesia, using SWOT analysis. The SWOT analysis results indicated that cooperation between the government and farmers is necessary for the food crop and horticulture sub-sectors. Other strategies include increasing the added value and competitiveness of organic urban agricultural products, enhancing human resources through urban agriculture extension, and empowering farmer groups with training.

Moye Eric Kongnso · International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology · Cameroon

A mixed-methods study in the West Region, Cameroon, examined compost use in urban farming through 265 household surveys, 11 in-depth interviews, and one focus group. While compost availability and technical assistance favor its use, small-scale farmers face significant technical, knowledge, financial, institutional, and policy constraints. State extension services prioritize mineral fertilizers over compost, and the current regulatory framework does not encourage compost use, leading to the persistence of traditional practices.

Michael Hardman, Lydia Hubbard, Hayley Watson · The Professional Geographer · United Kingdom

This article reflects on urban agriculture (UA) in the United Kingdom, focusing on its relationship with green social prescribing (GSP). It highlights the increased impact of UA schemes that adopt GSP practices. The article aims to raise awareness among key actors about opportunities and challenges, and encourage geographers to engage with GSP.

Maicol Negrello · TECHNE - Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment · Global

This paper outlines the state of the art in technological innovation and how it, along with design, has reshaped norms in indoor urban agriculture, driven by the need to reconfigure supply models for future climate and demographic scenarios. Technological acceleration over the past decade has led to the emergence of new urban architectures and metabolisms, often created within regulatory gaps and constraints from obsolete zoning plans or building regulations.

MVV Satyaveni · South Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences · Global

This article explores how AI technologies are reshaping urban green infrastructure and optimizing horticultural planning to address challenges from urbanization and climate change. Using a mixed-methods approach including a literature review (2010-2024), meta-analysis, and case studies, the research found that AI integration improves plant health monitoring, precision irrigation, predictive biodiversity modeling, and spatial planning of green zones. AI also enables real-time responses to climatic shifts, strengthening ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and cooling effects.

Olabimpe Banke Akintuyi · Open Access Research Journal of Biology and Pharmacy · Global

This paper reviews the architectural integration of vertical farming systems in urban environments and their impact on food security. It explores design strategies like green walls and modular systems, emphasizing the role of technology such as AI and robotics in enhancing efficiency and scalability. Vertical farming is presented as a method to reduce reliance on long-distance transportation and mitigate climate variability, contributing to stable food production in urban centers.

Silvius Stanciu, Simona Beatrice MANOLACHE, Mihaela Pila · Communications of International Proceedings · Romania

This paper analyzes the evolution of urban green spaces in Romania, using open-access articles and data from the National Institute of Statistics. The research indicates that while cities like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara have seen significant progress through investments in expanding parks, creating green corridors, and promoting community gardens and green roofs, many localities face constraints. These constraints include high population density, rapid urban infrastructure development, and a lack of coherent, well-funded environmental policies, leading to difficulties in maintaining and expanding green areas despite growing awareness of their importance.