Research & reports

Prinia, Hill · PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) · China

A new study by Feng et al. investigated how public environmental concern (PEC) enhances agricultural sustainability across 235 Chinese cities between 2011 and 2022. This research suggests that the collective voice of citizens influences urban sustainability.

Chen Li, Jin ZUO, Tao Lin, Xiao Wang · Landscape Architecture · China

This study, focused on the central urban area of Tianjin, China, presents a method for extracting potential green roofs and assessing ecological network reconstruction. It synthesizes four suitability characteristics — flat roof features, roof color, additional structures, and building height — into a deep learning model with attention mechanisms and multi-scale feature fusion to identify potential green roof areas, then proposes a framework based on a Least-Cost Path model for incorporating potential green roofs into urban ecological network reconstruction. The results identified 21,244 roofs with greening potential in central Tianjin, covering a total of 1,345.22 hectares (average 633 m², largest 24,927 m²), showing a "polycentric and dispersed" spatial distribution. Integrating potential green roofs with existing green space increased the number of source patches from 100 to 131 and total area by 302.35 hectares, with potential green roofs directly contributing 126.28 hectares.

Ni Wayan Mutia Dewi Artawati, Tri Martini, Siwi Gayatri, Forita Dyah Arianti, Retno Widiyawati, Cahyo Prasetyo, N A Sasongko, Dany Juhandi, Nur Faizah, Vina Eka Aristya · Evergreen · Indonesia

In Kampung Sawah Mijen, Mijen District, Semarang City, Indonesia, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was used to identify local resources and challenges, and Multiaspect Sustainability Analysis (MSA) assessed a sustainability index across six dimensions. Farmers produced an average of 4.6 tons of rice per hectare per growing season, with most already using environmentally friendly practices; the sustainability index was 50.14, highest in the social dimension (69.44) and lowest in the technological dimension (41.67). Green manufacturing practices — composting rice straw and manure, reusing aquaculture wastewater for irrigation, and energy-efficient post-harvest techniques — were introduced and evaluated as part of an agro-edutourism model developed with local communities, academics, business and media, pointing to a need for further technological sustainability innovation.

Imam Mashudi, Muhammad Fakhruddin, Satworo Adiwidodo, Sulistyono Sulistyono, Vinan Viyus, Moh. Hartono · Jurnal Pengabdian Polinema Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia

A community service program in RW 04, Karangbesuki, Malang City, Indonesia, provided training and installation of solar panels for the water circulation pump of a tilapia fish pond urban farming business, aiming to improve energy efficiency and business sustainability. Local residents were trained on solar energy concepts, installation, and system maintenance, and a site survey assessed technical and environmental factors for optimal panel placement; installing solar panels on the pond's circulation pump reduced reliance on conventional energy, optimized pond operations, and evaluation showed increased productivity and energy efficiency, while also strengthening the local community's capacity to manage renewable energy systems.

Fetty Dwi Rahmayanti, Andi Gunawan, Anas Miftah Fauzi, Edi Santosa · Journal of Tropical Crop Science · Indonesia

A study of East Jakarta, Indonesia, one of the cities where urban farming practices have been implemented, analyzed environmental risk control for sustainable urban agriculture development in 2025. Environmental risks caused by biotic and abiotic factors were identified across 17 question categories and assessed on low, medium and high risk scales. Air dust was found to carry the highest risk among the biotic and abiotic factors examined. Respondents were found to have reasonably effective knowledge of environmental risks, but the study concluded that deeper understanding and increased knowledge are needed to achieve sustainable urban agriculture.

Dinesh Kumar, Abhishek Ranjan, Mahendra Sharma, Sanoj Kumar, Vishnu Ji Awasthi, Anshu Kumari, Ramesh Kumar Sahni, Ananya Rai, Krishna Murari, Shilpi Kumari, S. Paswan, Kushwaha Abhijeet · Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · India

A trial at the College of Agricultural Engineering, Ara, Bihar, India (November 2024-March 2025) used a randomized block design with six replications to test drip irrigation on Indra capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) grown on a rooftop. Drip irrigation produced greater plant height, more leaves and flowers, an average of 21.3 fruits per plant, fruit length of 67.2 mm, fruit weight of 79.81 g and yield of 3.52 kg/plant, while saving about 75-80% of water compared with conventional irrigation at a water-use efficiency of 9.2 kg/m³, and yield increased 10-15% over yields typically observed with traditional irrigation methods.

Anthony Steven, Iriani Atrika, Doris Febriyanti, Siti Zubaidah · Government & Resilience · Indonesia (Palembang)

This case study examines collaborative governance between local authorities and community stakeholders in Palembang, Indonesia, a low-lying delta city on the Musi River facing recurrent flooding, food insecurity and disrupted supply chains driven by urban expansion, poor drainage infrastructure and climate-related rainfall variability. It analyzes local policy responses, community-led initiatives such as floating vegetable gardens, and urban farming on flood-resilient land, finding that while municipal disaster agencies provide early warning and evacuation support, food access and distribution during floods are primarily sustained by grassroots networks and community-organized food banks.

V. S. Manivasagam, G. V. Saai Shreyaa, Shriienidhie Ganesh · Computational Urban Science · India

This study built a geospatial framework using open-access geospatial datasets to assess the economic feasibility of rooftop gardening, rainwater harvesting, and photovoltaic installations across 368,748 rooftops in Coimbatore, India. Projected revenue estimates were ₹28.58 billion for photovoltaic systems, ₹15.79 billion for rooftop gardens, and ₹0.34 billion for rainwater harvesting; a crop-specific analysis found chillies the most profitable rooftop crop, with potential revenue of ₹38.51 billion, and coriander the least profitable at ₹4.57 billion.

Xintao Lin, Jianping Qian, Jian Chen, Qiangyi Yu, Liangzhi You, Qian Chen, Jiali Li, Pengnan Xiao, Jingyi Jiang · Resources Environment and Sustainability · China

A study of Beijing and Shanghai, China (2025) modeled decarbonization from adjusting the local-sourcing share of seven perishable food categories — vegetables, poultry, aquatic products, beef, and lamb among them — incorporating both production and cold-chain logistics emissions across multiple localization scenarios. Each 1% increase in localization of vegetables, poultry, and aquatic products cut 2020 emissions by 0.4-1.9 tCO2e, while the same 1% increase for beef and lamb raised emissions by 0.2-2.9 tCO2e; localization reduced the cold-chain emission share for every food category. A constrained "balancing strategy" cut 2020 emissions by about 0.76 MtCO2e (5%) in Beijing and 0.44 MtCO2e (2%) in Shanghai, and an unconstrained scenario maximizing urban agriculture use achieved 3-4 times more reduction. Under a business-as-usual projection, the strategy was estimated to offset over 90% of Beijing's added emissions by 2035, with a further 0.44 MtCO2e reduction possible in Shanghai. The findings indicate that importing more carbon-intensive ruminant meat while reallocating urban resources toward vegetables, poultry, and aquatic products could produce more sustainable food supplies in megacities.

Jannatul Nayma Bona, Md. Zaki Faisal, Durjoy Hur, Saniya Afrin Swarna, Md. Muntaseer Al Mamun · Agriculture Archives. · Asia

In the Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh, a mixed-methods study of 100 randomly selected rooftop gardeners drawn from a target population of 250 used structured interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews between March and May 2024 to examine the environmental and nutritional benefits of rooftop gardening (RTG). 49% of respondents perceived moderate environmental benefits and 25% perceived high benefits, with increased rooftop vegetation (mean perception index 245), reduced indoor temperatures and improved biodiversity as ecological outcomes. On nutrition, 65% reported significant benefits, 63% reported healthier dietary habits and 75% reported meeting a substantial share of their vegetable needs through rooftop cultivation; both environmental and nutritional benefits correlated positively with respondents' education level (r=0.628 and r=0.544) and gardening experience (r=0.946 and r=0.532) at the 1% significance level. Over half of participants, however, cited limited technical knowledge (perception index 231), seasonal water scarcity, high input costs and pest management difficulties as challenges.

Ery Suhartanto, Mohammad Bisri, Ussy Andawayanti, Suwanto Marsudi, Evi Nur Cahya · TEKAD Teknik Mengabdi · Indonesia (Malang)

A 6-month "River Flow Conservation" activity was implemented in RW-01, Kasin Village, Klojen District, Malang City, Indonesia, to mitigate flood impact. Activities included river dredging, greening (urban farming), and establishing fish cages. This initiative resulted in RW-01 becoming a green, comfortable, and sustainable area, positively impacting flood reduction, environmental quality improvement, and water resource utilization.

Armansyah Armansyah, Sri Rum Giyarsih, Apit Fathurohman, Ade Latifa Soetrisno, Andy Ahmad Zaelany, Bayu Setiawan, Dani Nur Saputra, Muamar Haqi, Lamijo Lamijo · Jurnal Kawistara · Indonesia

A qualitative study in Palembang City, Bandung City, and Denpasar City, Indonesia, explored the interconnection of urban farming and urbanization in realizing sustainable urban development. The research collected data through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation from 30 urban farming actors, 10 from each city, selected via purposive sampling. Analysis revealed a positive interrelation between urban farming and urbanization across nine dimensions: economy, social, environment, health, culture, food, education, tourism, and technology, indicating that urban farming's positive impacts can minimize urbanization's negative impacts.

Iqbal Rifa’i Berutu, Soraya Masthura Hassan, Dela Andriani · Jurnal Syntax Fusion · Indonesia (Lhokseumawe City)

This abstract discusses how buildings significantly contribute to global warming and environmental degradation throughout their life cycle. It highlights issues such as environmentally unfriendly material selection, energy-inefficient designs, carbon emissions during construction, and habitat damage. The abstract concludes that a more sustainable approach in architecture and construction is necessary to mitigate these negative impacts.

Indar Sugiarto, Astri Yogatama, Setyono Yudo Tyasmoro · Jurnal Inovasi Hasil Pengabdian Masyarakat (JIPEMAS) · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A hydroponic garden at KRPL Tambakrejo in Surabaya, Indonesia, was dysfunctional due to water supply difficulties, rat infestations, limited electricity, and suboptimal marketing. Through a community development initiative, the conventional hydroponic garden was transformed into an IoT-based, solar-powered smart hydroponic garden. This transformation resulted in a minimum annual profit of IDR 4,032,000, significantly reduced electricity consumption, enabled internet-based monitoring, and eliminated rat pests.

Qatrunnada Widhia Nugraha, Rahmawati Rahmawati, Riska Riska, Asep Kadarohman, Wiwin Sriwulan · Jurnal Pengabdian Isola. · Indonesia (Jawa Barat)

This study implemented school garden creation and environmental awareness activities for 27 students at a school in West Java. Environmental awareness was measured using questionnaires before and after the activities. Results showed that students recognized the benefits of the school garden, leading to an increase in the average environmental awareness score across all evaluated aspects.

Jie Ye, Renshan Xie, Xingwei Deng, Minling Lin, Yang Chen, Ketao Lin, Jianzhou Yang · Agricultural Economics (Zemědělská ekonomika) · China (Fujian Province)

In Fujian Province, China, marginal agricultural abatement costs were estimated based on 2010–2020 data, and the potential for agricultural carbon emissions reduction was assessed using an index model considering equity and efficiency. Marginal abatement costs showed regional disparity, ranging from EUR 0.6526 × 10^8 to EUR 1.3771 × 10^8 per 10^4 tonnes, with general upward inter-annual trends. The assessment revealed four distinct developmental tiers for carbon emissions reduction potential.

Soo-Young Moon, Dae-Hee Jang · KIEAE Journal · South Korea

This study investigated whether green roof soil, originally artificial, could evolve into natural soil suitable for urban agriculture over time. Researchers analyzed the composition of rooftop greening soil from a 20-year-old testbed at KICT in South Korea. The analysis revealed that the rooftop greening soil had gradually transformed into natural soil, confirming that long-term maintained rooftop greening on artificial grounds can evolve into an environment quantitatively similar to natural soil.

P. K. R. Deka, Nibir Pratim Choudhury · Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension Economics & Sociology · India

This article analyzes the challenges and opportunities in urban and peri-urban horticulture in India. It identifies issues such as urbanization encroaching on agricultural land, resource competition, land-use disputes, food security, and environmental sustainability. The paper also explores conventional growing methods like home gardening and community gardens, as well as novel alternatives such as soilless cultures and indoor farming systems.

June Ekawati, Herdi Sofari, Winda Rahmawati, Suci Indah Permata, Edo Setiawan · Journal of Architectural Design and Urbanism · Indonesia (Bandung)

This qualitative-descriptive research explored various problems and impacts of climate change in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, as well as community mitigation efforts to reduce carbon emissions and create a livable city, through interviews and field observations in four urban village settlements. The study found several spatial and environmental problems hindering the achievement of a livable Bandung City. Community mitigation efforts included adding and managing green open spaces, independent waste management, managing Buruan sae (urban farming) programs and vertical gardens, creating bio pores and absorption wells, maintaining environmental cleanliness, and establishing collaboration with related institutions.

Shunxiang Fan, Min Yan, Linfei Yu, Bowei Chen, Li Zhang · Ecological Indicators · China (Beijing)

A framework integrating ecosystem service supply-demand and landscape ecological risk assessment was developed for urban planning in Beijing, China's plain area. This study quantified the supply and demand of five ecosystem services (biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, water conservation, food production, and landscape recreation) and identified landscape ecological risks. Findings revealed an imbalance in total ecosystem service supply-demand and a high level of landscape ecological risk in Beijing's plain area, with protection priority areas accounting for 10.39% and restoration priority areas for 19.94% of the total area. Land use, distance to settlements, and vegetation cover were identified as primary influencing factors.

Maria Vika Wirastri, Mikael Ariko Mandaladewa, Patric Chrisna Yuansha Putra · International Journal of Architecture and Urbanism · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)

This study evaluated the impact of urban farming modules on the urban heat island phenomenon in Ngampilan sub-district, Yogyakarta City, Indonesia. A 3D model was developed using Sketchup, and analysis was conducted with Envi-met software. The results showed that the urban farming module contributed to a reduction in mean radiant temperature (MRT) by up to 3.9 degrees Celsius in the surrounding area.

Rini Fitri, Achmad Yozar Perkasa, Hinijati Widjaja, Olivia Seanders, Reza Fauzı · Tekirdağ Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This research evaluated the sustainability of urban farming development in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, using a descriptive qualitative methodology and Multi Dimension Scaling (MDS) approach. While urban residents generally have knowledge and support for urban agriculture, the analysis of four dimensions (ecological, economic, social, technological) indicated that urban farming in Petamburan is not sustainable. The sustainability index was very low, categorized as destructive and unsustainable across ecological (14.55%), economic (13.85%), social (13.94%), and technological (13.43%) dimensions.

Girish Visvanathan, Kailas Patil, Yogesh Suryawanshi, Vishal Meshram, Shrikant Jadhav · Scientific Reports · India (Chennai)

A study conducted in Chennai, India, from April to June 2023, assessed temperature dynamics on a building's terrace by comparing a well-maintained garden area with an exposed region using temperature and humidity sensors. Findings indicated a significant reduction in internal room temperatures in areas with rooftop gardens, ranging from 4 to 11 °C, compared to rooms with fully exposed roof configurations. Simulation studies suggested that optimizing soil beds and plant density could yield an additional 3-4 °C reduction, resulting in an overall difference of up to 14-15 °C.

M. S. (Muhammad ) Ramadhan, R. (Renny) Nurhasana · Neliti · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This qualitative case study in East Jakarta, Indonesia, investigated urban farming as a means to balance urban life. Field observations, interviews, and documentation identified several obstacles: a lack of community awareness, limited facilities, and challenges from extreme weather. Proposed solutions include community empowerment, improved facilities, and better climate control and supply chain systems.

Ehsan Rahimi, Chuleui Jung · Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment · South Korea

This study developed a methodology to identify optimal urban locations for pollinator-dependent crops in South Korea. Researchers generated habitat suitability maps for 243 pollinating insects across 10 major cities using species distribution models and Graphab 2.8 software. The analysis found a strong positive correlation between green space cluster modularity and pollinator distribution, indicating that areas with higher modularity have richer pollinator populations and are suitable for urban agriculture.