Research & reports

Jinrong Tong, Dongsheng Feng, Xia Wang, Min Wang, Mei-Lian Chen, Yanfen Chen, Yingqing Ma, Bo Mei, R. Chen, Mengfeng Gao, Siwen Shen, Hongkang Wang, Weiyi Zhang · Heliyon · China (Shanghai)

A study investigated pesticide residues and dietary intake risk in 7028 vegetable samples grown under modern urban agriculture in Shanghai from 2018 to 2021, analyzing 68 types of pesticides. Pesticide residues were detected in 29.21% of samples, with 0.47% exceeding China's national maximum residue limits (MRLs). The target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) for detected pesticides were all less than 1, suggesting there may be no obvious health hazard for residents.

悦来 刘, 安锌 周 · Landscape Architecture · China

To explore the healing value of community gardens from a public health perspective, a study was conducted on four projects. Through literature review and questionnaire surveys, it was shown that community gardens promote individual healing, group therapy, and the repair and reconstruction of social relationships. This effect is realized through a three-layer mechanism: natural output services and physical space creation, individual physiological and psychological healing, and social relationship repair through community network building.

Aji Saputra, Oekan S. Abdoellah, Gemilang Lara Utama · Jurnal Ilmu Lingkungan · Indonesia

A systematic literature review aiming to identify the methods used for sustainable urban agriculture in Indonesia and to assess the main opportunities and challenges of using it to achieve environmental, social, and economic goals. Using the PRISMA method, the review screened articles from the Scopus database and analysed 25 studies on the relationship between urban agriculture and sustainability. It reports that urban agriculture offers economic, social, and environmental benefits within sustainable urban environments, and concludes that realising its full potential requires coordinated efforts through policy development, community involvement, and overcoming existing obstacles.

Mahsa Tarashkar, Salman Qureshi, Zhifang Wang, Akbar Rahimi · Sustainable Futures · Asia

This study examined factors shaping preferences for front-yard greenhouse urban horticulture in Iran. It found that greenhouse design influences urban horticulture preferences, and that urban dwellers prioritize cultural ecosystem services over regulating and provisioning services when engaging in urban horticulture activities. Anticipated ecosystem services differed among socio-demographic groups, and different greenhouse elements evoked distinct perceptions of ecosystem services, though certain greenhouses were found to improve overall perception of ecosystem services due to strong correlations between different service types.

Sri Suwarni, Odilia Dea Christina, Harum Sitepu, Tessa Trimonica · BESIRU Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia

This 2024 community-service report documents an urban farming team's project, together with youth and elderly residents, converting unused yard land (pekarangan) in Kalisegoro village, Gunungpati district, Semarang, Indonesia, into a "Herbal Smart Garden." The activity began with training on types of medicinal plants, followed by hands-on instruction in seedling propagation using polybag media, soil preparation, and planting. Information on the plants' medicinal uses and processing is shared through an information system or e-catalog of the medicinal plants grown in the garden. The formerly idle land was put to use as a source of medicinal plants for minor ailments and for supporting residents' immunity.

G Charan Tej, P. Lakshmi, B. Savitha, A Meena · International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development · India

A study in Telangana state, India, examined the adoption of terrace gardening as a response to urban space scarcity. Adoption was found predominantly at a moderate level (48.33%), driven by enthusiasm, a desire for chemical-free produce, and cost-saving motivation, with education, health consciousness, and media exposure (notably YouTube) playing roles in uptake. Among specific practices, potting-mixture proportions and harvesting at recommended stages showed high adoption, while removing virus-infected plants ranked lower, possibly reflecting limited awareness of disease spread.

Rahul B. Hiremath, Sheelratan S. Bansode · Practice, progress, and proficiency in sustainability · India

This book chapter examines the use of treated urban wastewater to support agricultural resilience in Indian cities amid rapid urbanization that strains water supplies for farming. Using an interdisciplinary approach, it evaluates current practices, policy frameworks and stakeholder engagement to assess the practicality and efficiency of incorporating treated wastewater into urban agricultural systems, addressing both the potential benefits and the difficulties involved rather than reporting a specific measured outcome.

Syamsudduha Syahrorini, Andriani Eko Prihatiningrum, Denny Irawan, Yanik Purwanti, Agus Hayatal Falah, Shaza Dyah Ayuni, Akhmad Mulyadi, Andika Wahyu Nugraha, Fajrian Moch Bintang · Community Empowerment · Indonesia

This community service program in Wedoro Village, Indonesia, worked with elderly residents and posyandu health-post cadres, whose most common health issues were diabetes, high blood pressure, and temperature-related concerns, providing education and training to enable independent health checks alongside outreach and urban farming training aimed at cultivating organic plants as an alternative medicine source. The program reports increased awareness of common metabolic diseases among the elderly and states that the urban farming training brought them joy and promoted improved health through greater activity and productivity, without presenting measured before-after health data.

Rioaldi Sugandhy, Ayi Yustianti, Yoga Nugraha, Rizky Prananda, Yuli Andriani · Indonesian Journal Of Aquaculture Medium · Indonesia

This literature-based, qualitative content-analysis study examined filtration systems used to maintain water quality in small-scale aquaculture ("urban farming" aimed at self-sufficient food security), covering mechanical media (cotton, dacron), biological media (bio balls, ceramic rings) and chemical media (activated carbon, zeolite). It found that the type of filter media used affects water quality, fish growth and survival, and that using vegetables as supplementary filtration also affected water quality.

Andree Wijaya Setiawan, Yohanes Hendro Agus, Nugraheni Widyawati, Endang Pudjihartati, Maria Marina Herawati, Suprihati Suprihati, Djoko Murdono, Kezia Natalia, Jonathan Galih Raka Kusuma, Sabrina Ayu, Exvaricha Exvaricha, Yuliana Pratiwi Asti · JMM (Jurnal Masyarakat Mandiri) · Indonesia

In Semarang Regency, Indonesia, a community-service programme delivered adult-learning (Andragogy) lectures and hands-on practice in urban-agriculture-based appropriate technologies to 50 participants, including high school students, high school teachers, PKK (family welfare) members and village officials, to address household-level stunting prevention. Post-activity questionnaire evaluation found 84% of participants gained knowledge related to the material, and 86% became skilled and wanted to apply what they had learned.

Maira Mubashir, Romaina Iqbal, Sabahat Naz · Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association · Asia

A commentary in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association argues that 82% of adolescents are at risk of non-communicable diseases due to physical inactivity and low fruit and vegetable intake, citing a Karachi study in which schoolchildren's consumption of discretionary foods exceeded their vegetable intake. The piece presents school kitchen gardens as a strategy to promote dietary diversification and vegetable consumption, describing them as an interactive platform where children plant, tend, and harvest produce while learning about vegetable types, growth, and nutritional value, and cites a prior systematic review reporting improved children's knowledge of food, nutrition, gardening, and science.

Yang Tingting · The World of Chinese · China

This article profiles Clover Nature School, led by Professor Yuelai Liu, which is converting abandoned urban spaces across China into community gardens. The initiative has established over 1,000 gardens nationwide, with Shanghai aiming for 2,040. In one Urumqi case, a neighboring restaurant's monthly revenue rose from 120,000 to 180,000 yuan after a garden was created.

· Water, Air, & Soil Pollution · China (Beijing)

A study assessing the concentrations, potential sources, and risks of soil heavy metal(loid)s pollution in Beijing, China.

Bhardwaj P., Sharma R. K., Chauhan A., Ranjan A., Rajput V. D., Minkina T., Mina U., Tripathi A. · Water · India

Evaluates amending soil with municipal solid waste compost at different ratios and its effect on growth and yield of brinjal, tomato and okra, assessing heavy metal distribution and health risk for sustainable urban agriculture.

Myeong Seok Jeong, Mina Lee, Chaw Su Lwin, Kwon-Rae Kim · 한국토양비료학회지 · Korea (Jinju)

This study investigated heavy metal concentrations in soil and crop leaves from 23 urban gardens in Jinju, Korea, to assess suitability for cultivation. While average concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn generally did not exceed Korean guidelines, the Geoaccumulation Index indicated ongoing contamination by Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. A significant amount of Pb was introduced into some soils from the atmosphere, and continuous monitoring for heavy metals in urban garden soils is required for food safety.

Theodorus Hugo Carvallo, Richardus Daton, Yuliana Bhara Mberu · Journal of Architecture and Human Experience · Indonesia (Kupang)

This study explored the planning and design of "Vertical Urban Farming" in Kupang City, Indonesia, to address food demand challenges such as climate change, population growth, and land-use changes. According to Riskesdas 2018, the prevalence of stunting in toddlers in East Nusa Tenggara was 42.6%, the highest in Indonesia, prompting the use of new technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Using SWOT analysis, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the Vertical Urban Farming Center's planning and design were discussed, indicating the area's potential for development.

G Charan Tej, P. Lakshmi, B. Savitha, A. Meena · International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development · India (Telangana)

A survey was conducted in Telangana state, India (Hyderabad, Warangal, and Karimnagar) to assess urban dwellers' knowledge of terrace gardening. Among 120 respondents, 52.50% showed a high level of knowledge, but gaps were identified regarding terrace gardening layout (54.17% unaware), crop rotation benefits (53.33% unfamiliar), seedling trays (52.50% lacked knowledge), drainage hole uses (50.83% unaware), and protecting plants from harsh weather (47.50% lacked understanding).

Sri Oetami, Bea Anggraini, Dwi Handayani · Abdi Dosen Jurnal Pengabdian Pada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This community service activity, conducted in the Rungkut Barata residential area of Surabaya, Indonesia, focused on empowering the elderly. The activity disseminated techniques for pot farming, hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical gardens, with participation from elderly farmer groups. As a result, a vegetable garden was established, and its products were sold to the local elderly group.

Oekan S. Abdoellah, Yusep Suparman, Kinanti Indah Safitri, Rahma Maulia Fadli Basagevan, Nafa Destri Fianti, Indri Wulandari, Teguh Husodo · Sustainability · Indonesia (Bandung)

This study investigated the food security of urban agricultural households (subsistence, semi-commercial, and commercial) in North Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. A study of 321 households found that the average calorie adequacy for all urban agriculture types was 84.53%, and 53.89% of respondents were categorized as food-vulnerable, indicating low household food security.

Weisong Chen, Weixuan Xian, Guiying He, Zhongye Xue, Shaomin Li, Wenyan Li, Yongtao Li, Yulong Zhang, Xingjian Yang · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · China (Guangzhou)

A study in seven districts of Guangzhou City, China, evaluated the large-scale occurrence and spatiotemporal distribution of 16 PAHs and 14 OPAHs in urban agricultural soils. Average concentrations of ΣPAHs and ΣOPAHs during the flood season (59.6 ± 31.1-213 ± 115.5 μg/kg) were significantly higher than during the dry season (42.1 ± 13.3-157.2 ± 98.2 μg/kg). Coal combustion and traffic emissions were identified as the dominant sources for these contaminants in both seasons.

Suswadi, Norbertus Citra Irawan · Kufa Journal for Agricultural Sciences · Indonesia

This study investigated urban communities' perceptions of how ethnobotanical practices and urban farming relate to planet, people, and profit in achieving "city healing," surveying 150 respondents in five major Indonesian cities. Analysis using structural equation modeling and partial least squares showed that people, planet, and profit generally have excellent and significant effects on urban farming ethnobotany, and the use of ethnobotanical practices has a considerable and beneficial impact on urban health.

Vivi Eriyanti, Arimurti Kriswibowo · NeoRespublica Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This qualitative descriptive study examined the implementation of an urban agriculture program by the Surabaya City Government within the Subur Makmur farmer group in Pagesangan Village, Jambangan District, Surabaya. Using observation, interviews, and documentation, and Korten's three-element theory, the research found that the program's implementation by the target group yielded good results in improving community welfare and empowerment. The program aims to optimize family economy, health, and living standards by utilizing vacant land for urban farming.

Setiyono, Roswan, Randy Napitupulu · Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat Darma Saskara · Indonesia (Depok)

In the RT10/RW03 Tirtajaya Depok area of Indonesia, approximately 1500 m2 of unused land was utilized for organic vegetable cultivation to meet local household food needs. Corn was intercropped with vegetables such as pokcoy and mustard greens, with land preparation conducted by local residents in collaboration with Gunadarma University's Agrotechnology team. This initiative is expected to yield results in about three months, supporting the local economy, environmental health, and community cohesion.

Do-Eun Kim, Gwang-Ryul Son, Ga-Hyoun Yu, Yong-Hoon Son · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea (Seoul)

This study aimed to identify participation constraints perceived by school community members in urban farming activities using hydroponics and understand the structural relationships of variables influencing decision-making. Participation constraints were categorized into intrinsic, interpersonal, and structural factors. Hypothesis model verification results showed that interpersonal constraints significantly influenced participants' willingness to participate and their expected behavior.

MS Alam, Silpa Mullakkalparambil Velayudhan, Debpriyo Kumar Dey, Chiamaka Adilieme, Pradeep Kumar Malik, Raghavendra Bhatta, Sven König, Eva Schlecht · Tropical Animal Health and Production · India (Bengaluru)

A study in Greater Bengaluru, India, interviewed 151 dairy farmers and analyzed 97 forage samples from 10 lakes and vegetable leftovers to assess urbanization's impact on cattle health. While lake fodder was nutritionally high-quality, 43% of samples contained toxic heavy metals above critical levels. Logit models showed that insufficient drinking water and lake fodder negatively impacted cattle health, despite 60% of farmers believing their cows were healthy.