Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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438 results(4 / 18)
Urban Agriculture as a Catalyst for Food Security and Sustainability in Ghana's Rapidly Urbanizing Cities
2025Christian Kofi Sarpong, Romanus Dogkubong Dinye, Alex Donbeinaa, Vera Nyarko Amoako · Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research · Ghana
This study assessed the role of urban agriculture in Ghanaian cities through a systematic literature review of publications from 2000 to 2024. Urban agriculture was found to significantly contribute to food security, nutrition, and income, and to bolster environmental sustainability. However, challenges such as land tenure insecurity, unsafe irrigation practices, weak institutional support, and limited policy integration persist.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsHealthOrganic cyclePolicyCommunityLearning with compost: digging down into food waste, urban soils and community
2024Edwards F., Mercer H. · Local Environment (Taylor & Francis), 29(10) · Global
An ethnographic study of ShareWaste, an online community-composting platform in Sydney and Canberra that connects food-waste donors directly with households hosting compost heaps to divert waste from landfill. Drawing on environmental humanities and discard studies, it explores the relationships among people, soil, compost, and food waste and the community-building these practices foster.
CompostOrganic cycleFood lossCommunityUrban rewilding for sustainability and food security
2024Alessio Russo · Land Use Policy, 149, 107410 · Global
A conceptual paper extending the ecological-restoration paradigm of rewilding into urban and food contexts, arguing that multispecies-based 'urban rewilding' can simultaneously enhance climate resilience, biodiversity recovery, food-system robustness, water sensitivity and community participation. It also flags trade-offs such as green gentrification and land availability, opening new debate within productive green infrastructure.
BiodiversityCommunityFood educationOrganic cycleUsing Recycled Construction Waste Materials with Varying Components and Particle Sizes for Extensive Green Roof Substrates: Assessment of Its Effects on Vegetation Development
2024· Sustainability · Global
Evaluates crushed brick and crushed concrete of varying particle sizes as extensive green roof substrates through simulated drought and rooftop experiments, turning low-value construction waste into a growing resource.
DIYOrganic cycleGreen Roof Systems within the Framework of a Circular Economy: A Scoping Review
2024· Recycling · Global
A scoping review of 68 open-access articles from 24 countries (2012–2022) mapping the reuse and recycling of alternative materials in green roof structures within a circular economy framework.
DIYOrganic cycleUrban Agriculture: Exploring Its Potential, Challenges, and Socio-Economic Impacts
2024· Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · Global
Comprehensive analysis of urban agriculture's potential, challenges, and socio-economic impacts. Examines successful citizen-driven models and barriers to scaling.
CommunityWelfareFood educationOrganic cycleUrban food waste for soil amendment? Analysis and characterisation of waste-based compost for soil fertility management in agroecological horticultural production systems in the city of Rosario, Argentina
2024Terrile R., Martinez N., Brunotto F., Rizzi M., Scarpeci T., Tornaghi C. · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Rosario, Argentina
Analyses and characterises urban waste-based composts used on two city farms in Rosario, evaluating their use for soil fertility management in agroecological horticultural production.
Food lossCompostOrganic cycleRooftop Gardening: The Future of Urban Agriculture
2024Urban Agriculture Research Group · ResearchGate · Global
Investigates how rooftop gardening practices utilize small and unconventional spaces to increase cities' self-reliance in food production
Organic cycleAgroforestry Systems as Carbon Sinks: Quantifying Sequestration Potential
2024Lima, P., Mwangi, E., Sousa, H., Park, J. · Nature Climate Change · Global
Global analysis of 250 agroforestry systems showing 4-8 tons CO2/ha/year sequestration compared to 0.5-1 ton for monoculture. Scaling could sequester 3-4 gigatons CO2 annually.
Organic cycleEconomicsGrowth Characteristics and Quality of Cherry Tomatoes Planted with Nasturtiums, as a Companion Plant, in Building-Integrated Urban Agriculture
2024Sun Yeong Lee, H. S. Lee, Yong-Han Yoon, Jin-Hee Ju · Journal of people, plants, and environment · Global
This study analyzed the growth and quality of cherry tomatoes (CTs) and nasturtiums planted at different ratios (CTs only, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, nasturtiums only) on rooftops and walls in building-integrated urban agriculture. Cherry tomatoes planted alone showed significant growth compared to companion planting. The 2:1 ratio of CTs to nasturtiums (C2N1) resulted in the highest plant weight and sugar concentrations for CTs on rooftops and walls, and nasturtiums also had larger leaves and flowers in this ratio. CTs generally grew better on walls than rooftops when companion planted with nasturtiums.
DIYBiodiversityOrganic cycleAnthroponics: Application and effects on growth of parsley, rhipsalis, coriander, and basil fed with urine fertiliser
2024Weonjung Sohn, Ibrahim El Saliby, Andrea Merenda, Sherub Phuntsho, Stefano Freguia, Jing Guan, Li Gao, Sungyun Lee, Ho Kyong Shon · Desalination and Water Treatment · Global
This study investigated the efficiency of urine-derived fertilizer compared to commercial fertilizers using three growing systems: nutrient film technique, pot-drench, and deep-water culture. The research found comparable growth responses in parsley, rhipsalis, coriander, and basil across various parameters like biomass and nutritional composition. Urine-derived fertilizers showed potential as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers.
Organic cycleClimate changeUrban–rural linkageAbiotic and biotic factors influencing small-scale corn production along a shade spectrum in arid urban agriculture settings
2024Brittany R. Kruger, Joshua Sackett · PLoS ONE · Global
This study assessed abiotic and biotic factors affecting sweet corn production in six arid urban agricultural plots with varying shade levels (n=18 plots). Corn successfully matured in 50% of the plots. Microbial richness and diversity were high and not a hindrance. Corn success metrics positively correlated with average daytime light intensity (r=0.74-0.84) and soil organic matter (r=0.77-0.89), but negatively correlated with soil calcium, magnesium, sodium, and sulfate (r=-0.71 to -0.90).
Organic cycleClimate changeBiodiversityCombination of composted poultry manure and inorganic fertilizers enhance growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in a rooftop growing system
2024Moomtahina Rahman, Md. Alauddin, G. M. Mohsin, Md. Amirul Alam, M. K. Rahman · The Journal of Phytology · Global
An experiment investigated the combined impacts of composted poultry manure (CPM) and inorganic fertilizers on tomato growth and yield under rooftop growing conditions. The experiment used a completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replications. NPK fertilizers alone and CPM combined with NPK fertilizers greatly improved tomato plant growth and fruit yield, with maximum yields (68 t ha-1) and economic benefits achieved with 4 t ha-1 CPM and 100% recommended doses of NPK fertilizers.
CompostOrganic cycleDIYBotanical extracts for insect management: lessons from participatory research in peri-urban horticultural systems of central Argentina
2024María Amparo Gaona Flores, Martín Videla, Gerardo Serra, Luis Narmona, Jorge Gabriel Barbero, Milene Rocío Barcenilla, Evangelina Beatriz Argüello · Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · Argentina
This study evaluated botanical insecticides as a technological device for synthetic input substitution in peri-urban horticultural systems of central Argentina. A Participatory Action Research (PAR) framework was used to assess the performance of garlic extracts (GE) for pest and natural enemy regulation in lettuce crops in conventional and agroecological contexts. Through three PAR cycles, GE effectiveness on aphids, thrips, and natural enemies was observed, and context-specific adaptations were noted: GE was useful near harvest in conventional systems and highlighted biodiversity's relevance for system redesign in agroecological systems.
Peri-urban agricultureOrganic cycleBiodiversityCommunityAgricultura Urbana en la Finca Aranjuez: Análisis de Investigaciones Agroecológicas (2016-2020)
2024Josue Bejarano Chumacero, Manuel Horacio Jiménez Huamán · AGRO - ECOLÓGICA · Bolivia
This study reviewed 16 research papers on urban agriculture conducted at the Aranjuez Occupational Therapy Farm in Sucre, Bolivia, between 2016 and 2020. The review focused on agroecological practices in horticulture (37%), cereals and forages (31%), fruit growing (19%), and livestock production and soil improvement (13%). Findings indicate these practices contribute to local food security and sustainable agroecological approaches, with harvested products used by the therapy center itself. The study also highlighted both advances and limitations in adopting sustainable agricultural technologies in urban and peri-urban settings.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityOrganic cycleSustainable nature‐based solutions require establishment and maintenance of keystone plant‐pollinator interactions
2024Nicole E. Rafferty, Christopher T. Cosma · Journal of Ecology · Global
A literature search on nature-based solutions (NBS), including urban greenspaces and agriculture, found that 0%–3% of papers considered pollinators or pollination, with 12.5% in agricultural NBS papers. The study emphasizes that NBS success depends on resilient pollinator communities and calls for identifying keystone plants and pollinators to promote NBS functioning under future climatic conditions. It advocates for phylogenetic trait-based analyses to understand keystoneness.
BiodiversityPollinatorsOrganic cycleUrban Agriculture and Food Security
2024Aashna Sinha, Kailash Bisht, Digvijay Singh · · Global
This article explores vertical hydroponic farming, noting its benefits like reduced space and water use, and enhanced robustness with Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms (PGPMs). However, it also demonstrated that the system's ecological impact is significantly affected by growing media, pots, electricity use, and transportation. The study suggests potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and abiotic resource decline by using fiber as growing medium and paper containers.
Environmental trade-offsDigital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsOrganic cycleImpact of zinc on arbuscular mycorrhizal-mediated nutrient acquisition in urban horticulture
2024Miles P.A. Bate-Weldon, Jill L. Edmondson, Katie J. Field · iScience · Global
This study investigated the effect of urban environmentally relevant concentrations of zinc in soils on nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and pea plants using radio-isotope tracing. It found that at higher zinc concentrations, the transfer of phosphorus from fungi to plants and carbon from plants to fungi dramatically decreased. The results suggest that while urban horticulture has potential for food production, the unchecked presence of contaminants like zinc in urban soils may critically hinder its realization.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleClimate changeMultifunctional approach in ecosystem-centred urban planning and urban living labs in landscape conservation
2024Anna Ternell, Bosse Lagerqvist, Anders M. Nilsson, Mauricio Sagastuy Klie, Martin Berg, Martin Andre-Bae Pedersen, Maciej Lasocki, Márta Kreidlmayer, Csaba Oláh, Zoltán Szekér, Sándor Némethy · Ecocycles · Global
This study investigated the integration of ecosystem-centred urban planning and multifunctional land use into landscape conservation strategies to foster sustainable and resilient urban environments. A mixed-methods approach combined a comprehensive literature review, case study analysis from various European cities, and the development of a conceptual framework and a novel urban metabolism model. The results demonstrated how urban agriculture and ecosystem-centred planning can be effectively utilized to enhance landscape conservation and urban sustainability.
PolicyClimate changeOrganic cycleCommunityVermicompost (Traditional Methods) is an Important Component of Agricultural Productivity and an Efficient Tool for Environmental and Economic Sustainability
2024Muniya Naik M, Chandra Mohan K, K Janardhana, C. Aruna, Rama Mohan M, R. Uday Kiran · International Journal of Biological and Environmental Investigations · Global
This paper investigates the production, economics, and sustainability of vermicompost, an organic fertilizer made by vermicomposting organic waste with earthworms. Vermicomposting is presented as a sustainable waste management and organic agriculture option that can be economically profitable, depending on consumer awareness, distribution, and production scale. It contributes to sustainability by reducing landfill waste and promoting soil health.
CompostOrganic cycleEconomicsClimate changeSoil properties and agronomic effects of repeated biochar amendment and fertilization in an urban horticultural system of Burkina Faso
2024Delphine Manka’abusi, Nongma Armel Zongo, Désiré Jean‐Pascal Lompo, Christoph Steiner, Bernd Marschner, Andreas Buerkert · European Journal of Agronomy · Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)
This four-year study in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, investigated the medium-term effects of repeated biochar, ECOSAN, and inorganic fertilization on urban vegetable production. Repeated biochar application at 20 t ha−1 increased soil organic carbon (SOC) by 51% under farmers' practice, while mineral fertilization alone decreased SOC by 32% and caused soil acidification. Biochar increased cabbage yield by 32% four years after application but had no effect on amaranth, and repeated application only benefited the first crop after reapplication.
Organic cycleCompostPeri-urban agricultureEvaluate the Growth and Production of Celery in Different Substrate Systems
2024· Middle East Journal of Applied Sciences · Egypt (Giza)
An experiment in Giza, Egypt, during 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, evaluated celery growth and production in different substrate systems (pot vs. shallow beds) and planting densities (15, 18, 21 plants/m2). Celery grown in pots showed higher values for plant height, leaf number, root weights, head weight, and total yield per m2. For planting density, 15 plants/m2 resulted in the highest plant height, leaf number, root weights, and head weight, while 18 plants/m2 yielded a higher total yield per m2.
DIYOrganic cycleGreen urban transition: interdisciplinary insights on green façades design in hot climates as one of crucial strategies for low-carbon development
2024Katarzyna Chojnacka, Barbara Widera, Marcel Macarulla, Anastasios Drougkas, Andreu Balastegui, Els Van de moortel, Cansu Iraz Seyrek Şık, Kajetan Sadowski, Joana Fernandes, Ricardo Gomes, Paulo Ferrão · Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy · Global
This study aimed to present interdisciplinary insights on vertical green systems (VGS) design in hot climate zones. Based on an in-depth study of green façade performance in hot climates, methods from various scientific fields were identified that, when combined, effectively protect plants from excessive solar radiation. The main finding was the identification of the most effective combination of methods supporting healthy VGS growth, including façade orientation correlated with appropriate plant selection, shading strategies like passive and kinetic shields, and organic fertilizers supporting plant resilience.
Climate changeOrganic cycleDIYUrban Soil Health Check and Strategies for Monitoring and Improvement
2024Kushal Sachan, Anshul Saxena, Suneel Kumar, Abhishekh Mishra, Archana Verma, Divyanshi Tiwari, Anil Kumar · Journal of Diversity Studies · Global
This article provides an overview of the importance of urban soil health monitoring and its improvement strategies. It highlights that urban soils may harbor diverse contaminants from industrial activities, vehicular emissions, and improper waste disposal, posing risks to human health and ecosystem functioning. Implementing effective monitoring protocols using soil testing kits, remote sensing, and citizen science is crucial, while phytoremediation, composting, biochar application, green infrastructure, urban forestry, and community gardens are suggested as improvement strategies.
Organic cycleCommunityHealthKompost-o-scen
2024· Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) · Global
"Compost-o-Scene" is an installation created with the ÖK Allotment Garden, featuring microbe compost developed under Jenny Salmson's guidance and daily care by "Compost Turners." The installation includes Salmson's compost recipe and care instructions, Malin Lobell's microscope photographs and screen-printed workwear, and Janna Holmstedt's video fieldnotes and soundscape, alongside tools and an art publication.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunity