Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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A Green(er) Roof over the Head: Reflecting on Strategies Targeting Homelessness with Urban Agriculture for Cape Town, South Africa
2026Louis Lategan, Charné Erasmus · REAL CORP Repository (University of Southampton) · South Africa (Cape Town)
This qualitative study, using semi-systematic literature reviews, explored strategies targeting homelessness with urban agriculture (UA) in Cape Town, South Africa. The research found that very few published case studies link UA and homelessness in developing contexts, and information on such strategies in Cape Town remains limited despite its substantial homeless population. In the global South, UA approaches largely prioritize food security, poverty alleviation, and entrepreneurship.
Equity & displacementWelfareCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceApresentação do Dossiê – V ELAUP e I LAGRURAL
2026Flamarion Dutra Alves, Juan David Delgado Rozo · Revista Campo-Território · Colombia (Bogotá)
The 5th Latin American Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Meeting (ELAUP) and the 1st Latin American Rural Geography Seminar (LAGRURAL) took place in Bogotá, Colombia, from November 25 to 28, 2025. The central theme of the event was 'Contemporary Ruralities and the Challenges of Food Security in Latin America'. The event was organized by the Geography Department of the National University of Colombia in partnership with the Federal University of Alfenas and the Network of Agrarian Studies.
Urban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceSchool Gardens in Vanuatu—Promoting Local Traditional Knowledge and Agricultural Resilience
2026Matthias Kowasch, Pierre Metsan, Adeline Mweleul, Helena Tischler · Geo Geography and Environment · Vanuatu
This paper investigates how school gardening contributes to the re-valorization of local knowledge and the decolonization of the educational system in Vanuatu. An empirical study in five secondary schools on Efate and Tanna islands, combined with curriculum analysis and participatory observation, revealed that most students regularly work in school gardens, cultivating various crops using mixed cropping and fallow land. Students are familiar with the yam seasonal calendar, but while sustainability topics are in curricula, discussions of traditional worldviews are lacking. School gardening enhances agricultural resilience, connection to land, kastom, and food sovereignty, leading to recommendations for stronger inclusion of local knowledge, field trips, and collaboration with kastom schools.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeAI-Powered Direct Farm-To-Consumer Marketplaces in Pune's Peri Urban Agriculture
2026Dr. Akbar Ahmed Sayyed, Mr. Huzef Aslam Patel · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · India (Pune)
A study of 200 farm-gate entrepreneurs in Pune's peri-urban agriculture found that AI-driven "Demand Aggregators" and Blockchain-verified traceability increased farmer realization by 35% and reduced "Farm-to-Fork" transit time from 48 to 6 hours. Farmers in clusters like Saswad, Mulshi, and Narayangaon previously lost 30–40% of value due to logistical delays and intermediary margins. Predictive harvest forecasting allows farmers to pre-sell 70% of their yield.
Digital agriculturePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceConceptualizing indigenous food sovereignty in Aotearoa New Zealand
2026Nikki Renall, L. Te Morenga · Global Perspectives on Nutrition · New Zealand
This study, guided by Kaupapa Māori research principles, explored how the revitalization of mahinga kai practices (traditional foodways) in Aotearoa New Zealand can advance wellbeing, socioeconomic equity, and food sovereignty for Māori. Conducted in two phases, the research identified three themes explaining how mahinga kai enhances Māori wellbeing: reclaiming mātauranga, reconnecting to ancestral whenua, and restoring Papatūānuku. Food sovereignty was understood as an adaptive system where cultural meaning lies in how food is produced, shared, and sustained within Māori values and knowledge systems, leading to the development of "The Mahinga Kai Framework: Enacting Food Sovereignty."
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthWelfareUtilization of Developer's Corporate Real Estate Resources for Agricultural Production Contributing to National Food Security: A Conceptual Study
2026Nur Afiqah Auni Kamaruzzaman, Rohaya Abdul Jalil, Maimunah Sapri, Zafirah AB. Muin, Siti Radiaton Adawiyah Zakaria, Fatin Afiqah Md Azmi, Norhidayah Md Yunus, Nurul Hamizah Jamalludin, Nurul Azreena Nabila Khairul Anuar · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science · Malaysia
This conceptual study proposes temporarily utilizing developers' corporate land banking assets in Malaysia for fast-yield agricultural production to enhance national food security. It addresses the challenge of reduced arable land due to urbanization and speculative land banking by suggesting strategic repurposing of underutilized developer-owned land. The study uses a literature-based approach to identify factors influencing the practicality of temporary agricultural activities on corporate land.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageResearch trends and knowledge gaps in sustainable urban agriculture: a scientometric analysis
2026Taline Carvalho Martins, Thais Queiroz Zorzeto Cesar, Fábia Barbosa da Silva, I. M. R. Guedes, Edson Luiz Sochie, Caíke da Rocha Damke, Vinício da Cunha Doro, Fabiano Guimarães Silva · Discover Sustainability · Asia
This scientometric and qualitative analysis investigated how temperature was addressed in 244 urban agriculture documents from 2020-2025, with 20 articles having high thematic relevance. Research showed a strong concentration in Asia-Pacific countries and rapid expansion after 2022. Studies were classified into open (15%), building-integrated (30%), and fully controlled indoor systems (55%), with the latter focusing on high-technology. Temperature-focused studies remain limited, revealing gaps in empirical validation and multi-scale integration.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureUrban agrivoltaics enhance crop resilience and food-energy synergies in a changing climate
2026Caroline Merheb, Joshua S. Caplan, Pralad Phuyal, Jordan Macknick, Nicholas C. Davatzes, Sujith Ravi · npj Urban Sustainability · Global
This study evaluated ground-based agrivoltaics in an urban context. It demonstrated that while early-season yields may decline due to light reduction in temperate climates, productivity rebounds during periods of extreme heat, extending harvest windows and enhancing crop resilience.
Limited or null effectClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsUrban–rural linkageImpact of homestead gardening on dietary diversity in Tongan adults
2026E. Mitchell, S. Patolo, T. Tukia, L. Pomana, B. Dixson, S. Underhill, S. Burkhart · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · Tonga
A survey in October 2024 of 363 Tongan adults involved in homestead gardening across four islands investigated dietary diversity. While 79% of participants achieved a dietary diversity score of 5 or higher, a negative significant association was found between dietary diversity and both garden participation length and knowledge of nutrient composition for iron and vitamin C. No statistical significance was found between dietary diversity and garden location by island, but an effect by district location was observed.
HealthCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceNurturing Resilient Urban Animal Agriculture for Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Triad Approach to Social, Economic, and Environmental Sustainability
2026Never Assan, Justice Sibanda, Betty Mukuwapasi, Reason Rumbidzai Charachimwe, Edmore Masama · Journal of Frontiers in Multidisciplinary Research · Sub-Saharan Africa
Urban animal agriculture (UAA) in Sub-Saharan Africa is presented as a solution for food security but faces challenges including gender inequality, climate change, inadequate legislation, and environmental degradation. While UAA aims to enhance household food security and alleviate poverty, it also encounters environmental issues such as resource competition, water resource strain, improper manure management, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and nuisance. Sustainable UAA requires semi-intensive silvopastoral and mixed crop and livestock systems to reduce environmental impact and enhance local food production.
Environmental trade-offsFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareClimate changePolicyAporte de la implementación de huertos urbanos en el cantón Babahoyo, provincia de los Ríos
2026Daniela Elizabeth Vera Ochoa, María Paulina Brito Ochoa · INNOVA Research Journal · Ecuador
This study in Babahoyo canton, Los Ríos province, Ecuador, evaluated the contribution of urban garden implementation to food security, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion using a mixed-methods approach. Results showed that 72% of households increased food variety and 65% reduced food expenses. Additionally, 38% of producers sold surpluses for complementary income, 61% practiced composting, and 58% used effective irrigation methods.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsHealthAn assessment of participation in climate smart agricultural practices among urban women farmers in Mbarara city Western Uganda
2026Kidist Abebe Mersha, David Osiru, Wycliffe Tumwesigye, Rebecca Kalibwani · Discover Sustainability · Uganda (Mbarara City)
This study assessed the participation in Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices among urban women farmers in Mbarara City, Western Uganda, and the factors influencing it. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 150 women farmers and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a Multivariate Probit model. Results indicated that 74.15% of women farmers had adopted at least one CSA practice, with most being low or medium adopters. Age, membership in social groups, farming experience, farm size, income, access to credit, access to weather information, and marital status positively influenced participation, while family size had a negative effect.
Climate changeCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsThe Multifunctionality of Community Gardens: A Case Study in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey, México
2026Carlos Alberto Garza Alonso, María de Jesús Ordóñez Díaz, Flor Esthela Sánchez Cortés, José Carmen García Flores · Journal of Ethnobiology · Mexico
This study analyzed the multifunctionality of 40 community gardens in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area, Nuevo León, México, using literature review, participant observation, interviews, questionnaires, and systematic tours. It recorded 80 species, predominantly used for food and medicine, and found that people possess significant traditional ecological knowledge applied in garden management. The study concluded that community gardens positively contribute to sustainability, food production, self-consumption, and social fabric.
CommunityBiodiversityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceThe impact of urban vegetable production on household poverty reduction during the Tigray War (2020–2022): Evidence from Mekelle City, Ethiopia
2026Azeb Gebreegziabher Zeru, Aregawi Beyene Bsrat, Zenebe Abraha Kahsay, Tsahaynesh Hagos, Yahansu Girmay, Guesh Endrias, Gebremedhin Mamoy Hadush, Abrhaley Redae, Abrhaley Gebrehiwot, Wolie Gebremicheal · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Ethiopia (Mekelle)
In Mekelle City, Ethiopia, 264 households adopted urban vegetable production as a survival strategy during the Tigray War (2020–2022). Household survey data analyzed using propensity score matching showed that participation in urban vegetable production was strongly associated with poverty reduction. Vegetable producers exhibited relatively low poverty incidence, depth, and severity, suggesting that urban vegetables served as a critical resilience mechanism for households.
WelfareEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePolicyUrban Sack Farming: Economic and Environmental Implications in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria
2026Chimka Owhorkaire Emenike, Ajoku Bright Chika · Iconic Research and Engineering Journals · Nigeria
A study was conducted in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, involving 204 participants in urban sack farming. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed that urban sack farming offers economic benefits such as reduced household food costs, increased profitability, job generation, and enhanced savings. It also contributes to environmental advantages like reduced pollutants, water efficiency, and soil conservation, serving as a viable livelihood strategy for urban residents, particularly in densely populated and economically disadvantaged areas.
EconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT MELALUI INOVASI PERTANIAN PERKOTAAN DI WILAYAH RT 10/RW 03, KELURAHAN SOBO, KECAMATAN BANYUWANGI, KABUPATEN BANYUWANGI, JAWA TIMUR
2026Mohammad Suyanto, Taufiq Hidayat, Joko Priyono · Abdi Massa. · Indonesia
This community service activity aimed to educate the Drangrang farmer group in Sobo Village, Banyuwangi, East Java, on tips and tricks for successful urban farming. Discussions and interviews focused on utilizing narrow urban land to create more beneficial value for residents and the environment, covering food security, cultivation of medicinal herbs, and Trigona honey bee farming. The participating farmer group showed great enthusiasm, leading to extensive Q&A sessions.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceHealthUrban mushroom farming for future foods: safety considerations and nutritional benefits
2026Malsha Samarasiri, Wei Ning Chen · Sustainable Microbiology · Global
This review discusses advances in urban mushroom farming, its integration with computer-based technologies, safety considerations, and the potential of mushrooms and mycelium-based foods as future foods. Key safety considerations for urban mushroom farming systems include biological hazards, mycotoxins, heavy metal accumulation, and potential allergenicity. Macrofungal mycelium-based foods may be regarded as novel foods and require evaluation under novel food safety regulations.
Contamination & food safetyFood sovereignty & justiceHealthCommunityDigital agricultureUrban Horticulture: Cultivating Greener Cities for a Sustainable Future
2026Sujatha A. Nair2 Chandana S1* · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
Urbanization has brought economic growth and improved living standards, but also environmental challenges such as shrinking green spaces, rising temperatures, air pollution, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity. With the global urban population projected to reach nearly 68% by 2050, urban horticulture is emerging as a solution for building greener, healthier, and more sustainable cities.
Climate changeHealthFood sovereignty & justiceGrowing Greens in Cities for Healthy Lives and Spaces: The Case of Community Gardens in Chicago, Illinois Imparted to Philippine Situation
2026R P Mula, Molly Doane, Gabrielle Powell, Myer G. Mula · Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension Economics & Sociology · United States (Chicago)
This study visited, documented, and described 15 community gardens in Chicago, Illinois, and interviewed their leaders. It found the utmost importance of saving traditional crop seeds (heirlooms) for diversity, climate change mitigation, and health, as these are grown organically. Insights include reorienting mindsets, crafting garden requirement manuals, consolidating the value chain, and educating health workers on promoting community gardening.
CommunityHealthEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceHeirloom & landraceClimate changeUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agriculturePengembangan Budidaya Sawi sebagai alternatif untuk Meningkatkan Ketahanan Pangan Masyarakat
2026Siarwi Siarwi, Adi Sofyana Latif, Yunus Nurhasan, Rananda Septanta · Jurnal PKM Manajemen Bisnis · Indonesia (South Tangerang)
This community service program, conducted on April 11, 2026, at Pamulang Permai Housing, South Tangerang, aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of 20 local women in cultivating mustard greens. Implemented by 10 lecturers from Pamulang University, the program used lectures, hands-on practice, discussions, and Q&A sessions. Results indicated a significant improvement in participants' understanding of cultivation techniques and their ability to apply these practices independently, contributing to increased awareness of household food security and promoting sustainable urban farming.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceImportance of Vegetables in Home Food Gardening in Modern Cities: Advances and Future Perspectives
2026Yugamaya Pegu, Rimli Gogoi, Jumi Saikia, Nayanmoni Buragohain · International Journal of Plant & Soil Science · Global
This review assessed the importance of vegetables in Home Food Gardening (HFG) in modern cities. Vegetables constitute a major part of HFG due to their rapid production, ease of maintenance, high yield in small spaces, and high nutritional benefits. Common HFG practices include yard, rooftop, balcony, community, and street/plot gardens, with innovations like better crop varieties and hydroponics increasing productivity. However, issues such as space constraints, expensive setup costs, lack of knowledge, poor soil, and insufficient light persist.
DIYCommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureUrban and Community Food Forests and Forest Gardens
2026Catherine Bukowski, Kate MacFarland, Katherine Favor · · United States
This Agroforestry Note describes urban and community food forests and edible forest gardens in the United States, which integrate trees, shrubs, and perennial plants with community-driven design. These systems, rooted in traditional ecological knowledge, are found in public parks, vacant lots, and other public-facing spaces, including privately held properties open to the public. They are designed to maximize resources and address community needs, creating ecologically productive and socially engaging spaces.
CommunityBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justicePELATIHAN TEKNOLOGI BUDIDAYA AQUAPONIK UNTUK MENINGKATKAN EKONOMI DAN KETAHANAN PANGAN MASYARAKAT DESA TARABAN BREBES
2026Nota Ali Sukarno Nota, Afif Hendri Putranto, Siska Irma Budianti, Ferdian Yudha Fariezki, Rifqi Efendi, Putri Olivia Nurman, Slamet Wiarso, Julianto Ibnu Natan · Perwira Journal of Community Development · Indonesia
This community service program, conducted on August 10, 2025, in Taraban Village, Indonesia, with 31 participants, provided training on aquaponics cultivation technology for limited land to improve the economy and food security of residents. Results showed partners learned cultivation, directly practiced aquaponics technology, experienced food sufficiency with chemical-free plant and animal protein, and could improve family economy. 65% of the participants who attended the training were able to create an aquaponic system.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityFood educationUrban agriculture as an interface for policy–practice integration: a landscape-informed, multi-layer framework across Havana, New York city and Chongming Island
2026Yu Huan, Steffen Nijhuis, Nico Tillie · Landscape and Urban Planning · Global
This study developed a landscape-informed coupling framework and content-analysis pipeline to evaluate urban agriculture policy-practice alignment in Havana, New York City, and Chongming Island. A PRISMA-ScR literature synthesis (n=3145) informed a five-domain, 40-keyword evaluation matrix applied to policy documents. Findings indicate human-centered approaches effectively address social equity and food provisioning but have limited spatial integration, while nature-based approaches advance ecological targets but underperform on participation. The landscape-informed model achieved more balanced alignment across domains, though inter-layer connectivity gaps remain.
PolicyCommunityBiodiversityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePlural pathways to food systems change
2026Alissa Overend, Sheena Rossiter, Josie Moises · Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation · Canada (Alberta)
This research provides a comparative content analysis of 141 alternative food networks (AFNs) in Alberta, Canada, contributing to discussions on food systems change. It examines the programming and initiatives of these AFNs to analyze their potential for instilling food systems change. The study argues for a nuanced understanding of AFNs, focusing on their hybridity, complexity, and diversity, rather than binary classifications.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityCSA & Teikei