Research & reports

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) · IPCC Working Group III, Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) · Global

This annex to the IPCC AR6 Working Group III report defines GWP100 (100-year global warming potential) values, units, and conventions. Methane's GWP100 differs by source: 27 for biogenic methane and fossil methane from combustion, and a higher 29.8 for fossil methane from fugitive and process sources.

横浜市港北区 · 横浜市港北区 · Japan

The rooftop garden at Kohoku Ward Office in Yokohama reopened on April 1, 2022 after waterproofing and flowerbed renovation work. It is positioned as a measure against the heat island effect, for energy savings, CO2 reduction, and environmental education, with about 20 "green supporters" active Tuesdays 10am-12pm. The ward's green coverage ratio is reported to have fallen from 33.4% in fiscal 1992 to 24.1% in fiscal 2019.

David Pearlmutter, Bernhard Pucher, Cristina Sousa Coutinho Calheiros, Karin A. Hoffmann, Andreas Aicher, Pedro Pinho, Alessandro Stracqualursi, Alisa Koroļova, Alma Pobrić, Ana Galvão, Ayça Tokuç, Bilge Baş, Dimitra Theochari, Dragan Milošević, Emanuela Giancola, Gaetano Bertino, Joana Castellar, Julia Flaszynska, Makbulenur Onur, Mari Carmen Garcia Mateo, Maria Beatrice Andreucci, Maria Milousi, Mariana Fonseca, Sara Di Lonardo, Veronika Gežík, Ulrike Pitha, Thomas Nehls · Water · Global

This paper proposes a new paradigm for closing urban water cycles using nature-based solutions, specifically green roofs and vertical greening systems (VGS). Simulations of VGS evapotranspiration performance in six cities (Copenhagen, Berlin, Lisbon, Rome, Istanbul, Tel Aviv) showed that VGS could recycle 44% (Lisbon) to 100% (Berlin, Istanbul) of rainwater roof runoff, with greywater bridging dry month shortages. Additionally, 27–53% of building greywater could be managed on greened surfaces.

K. Wróblewska, Byoung Ryong Jeong · Environmental Sciences Europe · Global

This review presents the effectiveness of plants and green infrastructure in ambient particulate matter (PM) removal. It describes the mechanisms of PM capture by plants and factors influencing PM reduction in the atmosphere. The review refers to the effectiveness of plant utilization in various forms of green infrastructure, including trees, grasslands, green roofs, living walls, water reservoirs, and urban farming. Additionally, methods to increase PM removal by plants, such as species selection, biodiversity increase, PAH-degrading phyllospheric endophytes, transgenic plants, and microorganisms, are presented.

Tolessa Deksissa, Harris B. Trobman, Kamran Zendehdel, Hossain Azam · Sustainability · Global

This study reviews literature on integrating urban agriculture (UA) and stormwater green infrastructures (GIs) within a circular economy framework. It explores how cities can combine these developments to overcome barriers and enhance ecosystem services. The findings indicate that integrating UA with GIs can improve urban food production while simultaneously protecting urban water quality.

Thulani Dube, Saziso Sibanda, Phibion Chiwara · Cogent Social Sciences · Zimbabwe (Bulawayo)

This study investigated farmers' perceived effects of climate change on peri-urban agriculture in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and their adaptation methods. Using a sample of thirty peri-urban plots, findings revealed that farmers perceived significant climatic changes negatively impacting their farming activities, including reduced precipitation, increased atmospheric temperature, and diminishing borehole yields. Adaptation methods included repeated planting, watering plants at night, renting animal space in other farms with more water sources, and purchasing supplementary feed for livestock.

Alba Canet-Martí, Rocío Pineda‐Martos, Ranka Junge, Katrin Bohn, Teresa A. Paço, Cecília Delgado, Gitana Alenčikienė, Siv Lene Gangenes Skar, Gösta F. M. Baganz · Water · Global

This paper examines nature-based solutions (NBS) for urban agriculture (UA) in circular cities, focusing on input/output streams. It identifies that the understanding of I/O streams for different NBS is insufficient to fully leverage their potential for strengthening circularity in UA. The study pinpoints gaps that hinder UA's development as an opportunity within the Circular City framework, emphasizing the need for a broader understanding of food-related urban streams.

Sumita Ghosh · · Global

This research conducted a desktop review and analyzed six international case studies of rooftop urban farms, community gardens, and home gardens. The analysis found that productive landscapes already exist on city rooftops, contributing positively to community, environment, ecology, economy, and society. Planning and designing rooftop gardens in dense urban areas could foster place-making through urban agriculture.

Ambrogio Zanzi, Valentina Vaglia, Roberto Spigarolo, Stefano Bocchi · Land · Italy (Milan)

This study assessed the sustainability of eight agri-food start-ups in a peri-urban area of Milan, Italy, using the FAO's Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems (SAFA) framework. The application of SAFA indicators revealed positive aspects but also some limitations typical of unstructured enterprises.

Carlos Tapia, Linda Randall, Shinan Wang, Luciane Aguiar Borges · Sustainable Cities and Society · Denmark (Aarhus)

This study presents a novel indicator-based evaluation framework for urban agriculture, tested in Fællesgartneriet Brabrand, a community garden in Aarhus, Denmark. The framework aims to capture the contribution of gardening practices to urban sustainability, acknowledging that urban agriculture may also have social and environmental externalities depending on prevalent farming practices.

Marco Medici, Maurizio Canavari, Alessandra Castellini · Journal of Cleaner Production · Italy

This study investigated the status and evolution of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Italy, examining its social, environmental, and economic benefits. Using CSA data, participant observation, thematic network analysis, and interviews with CSA representatives, it found that Italian CSA generally meets sustainability goals, though with varying levels of member involvement, economic viability, and environmental impact across communities. The lack of policy support is hindering further CSA diffusion and consolidation.

Susana Toboso‐Chavero, Cristina Madrid‐López, Gara Villalba, Xavier Gabarrell, Arne Björn Hückstädt, Matthias Finkbeiner, Annekatrin Lehmann · The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment · Global

A comprehensive environmental and social life cycle assessment of perlite, peat, and coir growing media, imported to Spain from Turkey, Germany, and the Philippines respectively, was conducted for urban rooftop farming. Environmentally, coir had the lowest burden, while perlite had the highest impacts due to mining and transport. Socially, peat performed best, but coir showed the worst scores in community infrastructure and human rights, and perlite performed lowest in health and safety.

Fatima Haque, Rafael M. Santos, Yi Wai Chiang · Environmental Science & Technology · Global

This viewpoint article proposes incorporating enhanced rock weathering (ERW) into urban farming as an additional climate stabilization measure. Urban farming utilizes extensive urban surface areas for food production and atmospheric CO2 sequestration through air-to-soil contact. Combining this with ERW offers a further opportunity for this negative emissions technology to gain greater utilization.

Bruno do Nascimento Macedo, Fernanda Nogueira Comas, Amarílis Lucia Casteli Figueiredo Gallardo · Journal of Urban Technology and Sustainability · Brazil (São Paulo)

This study discussed the main environmental services and disservices associated with urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in São Paulo, Brazil, using a systematic literature review and spatial analysis. It identified 12 environmental services and 5 disservices, mapping 197 UPA initiatives. The research concluded that UPA has the potential to offer environmental benefits, but can also exert negative pressures on the environment, including in areas that should be protected.

Gendraya Rohaini, Sukendi Sukendi, Sofyan Husein Siregar, Dessy Yoswati · Jurnal Zona · Asia

This research aimed to plan an integration strategy between green open space (GOS) and an urban agriculture program in Duri City, Indonesia, a petroleum-producing city. Using a GIS-AHP approach, the study found that strategic integration of private GOS with urban agriculture contributes 14.134% to private GOS availability in Duri City, exceeding the 10% requirement mandated by the Spatial Arrangement Act.

Mia Arvizu · Ethnic studies review · United States

This paper introduces "Cocoon: a series" by independent artist Mia Arvizu. This initial series challenges white supremacy culture and assimilation, serving as a stepping stone to spark conversations that spread resistance against patriarchy, capitalism, and colonialism. Arvizu is currently working in a fellowship with the National Park Service (NPS) and Groundwork, USA, focusing on communications for community-based projects such as community gardens.

Diana Maria Reyes Avalo, Misterbino Borgès Garcìa · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba (Jiguaní)

This study in Jiguaní municipality, Granma province, Cuba, aimed to enhance the sustainable production and diversification of yam cultivation under agricultural drought conditions using biotechnological seeds. The accelerated yam seed production technology, combining biotechnological and conventional methods, was implemented in urban, suburban, and family agriculture. This led to the successful implementation of certified yam seed technology, increasing plant numbers from 2000 to 6000 in 2018 for a total area of 0.6 ha, and contributing to local development.

Hayley Q McGough · DigitalCommons - CalPoly (California State Polytechnic University) · Global

This paper investigates why plant façades on buildings frequently die, preventing them from fully realizing benefits like urban heat island reduction and improved air quality. Through interviews with landscape architects, it examines factors for maintaining plant façades and assesses if new approaches, such as earlier integration of landscape architects or biocurtains, can address the high mortality rates. The study highlights that these plant façades often fail, leading to waste and unfulfilled potential.

Yang Deng · Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters · Global

While rainwater harvesting (RWH) is considered a sustainable irrigation method for urban agriculture, contaminants in rainwater pose challenges to RWH practices due to potential threats to crop, soil, and human health. Based on literature data, principal pollutants such as particles, toxic metals like cadmium, copper, and zinc, synthetic organic chemicals like agrochemicals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and waterborne pathogens were identified as likely exceeding irrigation quality criteria. This study identifies challenges, knowledge gaps, and research needs for RWH irrigation, offering a basis for technical strategies.

Fábio Suzart de Albuquerque, Heather L. Bateman, Cameron Scott Boehme, Daniel C. Allen, Luis Cayuela · Land · Global

This study investigated the effects of land-use and land-cover (LULC) types, vegetation greenness, and climate on avian seasonal variation abundance and richness in urban desert ecosystems, using avian community data collected seasonally (winter and spring) from 2001 to 2016. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) indicated that LULC was the most important predictor of avian abundance and richness. Avian abundance was highest in urban riparian and urban LULC types, followed by agriculture. Avian richness was highest in riparian environments (urban and desert), followed by agriculture, urban, and desert.

Lifei Xi, Mengyuan Zhang, L. Zhang, Tedrick Thomas Salim Lew, Yeng Ming Lam · Advanced Materials · Singapore

This review discusses how novel materials are crucial for advancing urban farming, offering benefits like controlled release of nutrients, improved seed health, and better water retention in substrates. Singapore is presented as an example where urban farming, supported by materials science, can address food production challenges in land-scarce cities. The paper highlights potential research directions and challenges in the field.

Ivanka Puigdueta, Eduardo Aguilera, José Luis Cruz, Ana Iglesias, Alberto Sanz-Cobeña · Global Food Security · Spain (Madrid)

A study in Madrid, Spain, used a five-year online survey to assess how urban gardening activities impact food consumption and carbon footprint. Findings indicated a potential reduction of up to 205.1 kg CO2e/year per person, or 12.1%, primarily through decreased consumption of animal source foods. This suggests urban gardens may foster pro-environmental behavior and greenhouse gas mitigation.

Leandro Pessoa Lucena, Fernanda Mariano Massuia · urbe Revista Brasileira de Gestão Urbana · Singapore

This post-doctoral research investigated the evolution and impacts of urban agriculture models in Singapore as public policy for sustainability, food security, and ecological economy. The study used bibliographic investigations and field research at high-tech soilless urban farms to estimate CO₂ emission reductions from modern urban agriculture. Results showed Singapore intensively uses urban agriculture, including vertical, indoor, and rooftop farms, all demonstrating technological innovations, high productivity, organic certification, and contributions to CO₂ emission reduction.

Masato Kobiyama, Karla Campagnolo, Marina Refatti Fagundes · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Global

This study briefly evaluated the history of institutional and scientific aspects of hydrology, noting its increasing proximity to society and focus on urban areas. It revisited the concept of "ruralization of urban areas," proposed in 2000, from hydrological, philosophical, and applied practice perspectives. Ruralization actions like urban storage, rainwater harvesting, and urban agriculture were detailed, emphasizing their implementation with data from school-basins.

黄甘霖 HUA Yeyu 华野毓 · Acta Ecologica Sinica · China (Beijing)

Ecosystem services from peri-urban organic farms in Beijing, China, were evaluated as of 2019. It was found that there were 271 organic farms in the suburbs of Beijing, covering a planting area of 10,900 hectares, accounting for 5.1% of the arable land in Beijing. Provision services were valued at 1.612 billion Yuan, regulation services (soil carbon sequestration) at 21.4 million Yuan, and cultural services (picking, farmers' markets, education activities) at 118.9 million Yuan. Organic farms also reduced energy use and emissions compared to conventional farms of the same area.