Research & reports

Timothy A. Woods, Matt Ernst, Stan Ernst, N. C. Wright · · United States

This report summarizes the major findings from a 2009 survey of 205 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) producers across nine states in the United States (IL, IN, OH, MI, PA, WV, KY, MO, TN). The survey focused on the business and marketing practices employed by these CSA operations. It notes the growing popularity of CSA as a direct farm marketing channel, driven by increased consumer interest in local and organic produce.

Qian Jing · 现代农业 · China (Beijing)

This article discusses the integration of urban agriculture, ecological tourism, and cultural creative industries as an inevitable trend for the upgrade of suburban industrial structures and the development of modern urban agriculture, citing Beijing as an example. It states that this integration holds significant economic, aesthetic, and ecological value, characterized by the unification of resources, industries, products, and functions. The article identifies the diversity of urban agricultural functions as a basic condition for integration, and the rapid upgrade of urban consumption levels as a prerequisite, suggesting that the government should promote this integration by creating favorable policy and market environments, and talent supply.

Joël Sotamenou · · Cameroon (Yaounde)

This paper identifies determinants of domestic waste recycling and use in three swamp areas of Yaounde, Cameroon, based on data collected from 126 farmers between August and September 2005. Findings indicate that vegetable production, short farm-to-home distance, use of recycled livestock waste, education level, and farm surface positively influence the decision to use domestic waste. Conversely, farmer age has a negative effect.

Zhen Zhong · Ecological Economy · China (Beijing)

This article analyzes the mechanism by which tourism agriculture influences farmers' income in Beijing suburbs, China. It examines the macro-level urban and rural economic processes and micro-level farmers' livelihoods, concluding that tourism agriculture directs income streams to rural areas and farmers. This process also fosters rural product innovation, maximizes family labor utilization, enhances rural capital yield, and improves market integration, leading to increased peasant income.

Delia Nicoleta Vieru · · Global

This text discusses organic waste reduction, noting that over 50% of household waste is organic and often leads to pollution. It explains the importance of managing compost processes for quality compost, emphasizing a 30:1 carbon to nitrogen ratio for efficient decomposition. The text proposes school-based compost production as a method to engage the school community in environmental efforts, promoting resource recirculation, education on compost benefits, waste attitude change, reduction of school canteen waste, student involvement, and the creation of fertile soil for school gardens.

Benjamin Shepard · · United States

This study argues that access to space for dialogue is fundamental for democracy to thrive. It states that citizens acting together, sharing opinions, and organizing and supporting spaces for social, cultural, and political engagement should be considered within a framework of democratic participation.

Katie Shaw · Providence College Digital Commons (Providence College) · Global

This study analyzes how urban agriculture, specifically community gardens, addresses rising global pressures on urban areas by rebuilding local networks. It presents community gardening as a solution to the global food crisis and compares community garden projects in five cities: Accra, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, Havana, and Philadelphia. The research also examines the demographics of community gardeners, particularly their impacts on marginalized members of society, and highlights community gardens' role in city planning and green design.

Kasaka Kizito, Okumu Mukulu, Sserunkuma Ndegeyi · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Uganda

This mixed-methods study investigated the effectiveness of community gardens in reducing obesity among 200 Senegalese adolescents aged 15-18 in Uganda. Initial analysis suggests that community gardens significantly reduced the proportion of adolescents with obesity by 30%, indicating a positive impact on dietary habits and physical activity levels. While these preliminary findings are promising, further longitudinal studies are needed.

· International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management · Global

This publication presents a table of contents for multiple papers addressing interdisciplinary aspects of climate change. Topics include the impacts of climate change on electricity generation and consumption, the role of cross-disciplinary models in the Irish housing sector, urban agriculture as a way to adapt modern cities, experiences in climate change policy-making, a climate stabilization fund, social learning on climate change among regional agents, costs and effectiveness of mitigation policies, campaign strategies by environmental NGOs, the role of sustainable buildings, quantifying vulnerability and adaptability of natural ecosystems, farming community concerns, local government risk assessment, approaches to resolving climate change, impacts on flood events, municipal solid waste management's impact on greenhouse gas emissions in Estonia, conducting interdisciplinary workshops, public opinion on climate change, and innovative multi-stakeholder approaches.

Dzodzi Tsikata · · Sub-Saharan Africa

This chapter examines urban women's livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa since the 1990s, focusing on economic liberalization and the expansion of the informal economy. Urban agriculture, including home gardens, is identified as an increasingly important activity within this informal sector. Many women in the urban informal economy are employed by others or have been in the past, while industrial subcontracting, a source of informal employment, has been significant only in a few industrialized Sub-Saharan African countries.

Olufunke Cofie, Adeoluwa Olugbenga, Philip Amoah · Urban Agriculture Magazine · Nigeria; Ghana

This study introduces human urine as an alternative fertilizer source for urban agriculture, presenting case studies from Nigeria and Ghana. It suggests that proper collection and use of human urine can improve urban environmental sanitation and reduce crop production costs. The approach integrates agriculture, environment, and sanitation sectors.

Diana Lee-Smith, M. C. Campbell · Urban Agriculture Magazine · Canada (Toronto)

This article describes the "Carrot City" initiative, which began in Toronto in 2006 when Ryerson University architecture students focused on buildings incorporating urban food production. The concept expanded to include other architecture, planning, design, and landscape architecture schools across Canada and internationally, promoting the integration of urban agriculture into design and planning.

Femke Hoekstra, R. van Veenhuizen · · Global

This article focuses on the role of urban agriculture in linking relief, rehabilitation, and development following disasters or emergency situations. It notes that many people in refugee situations establish small-scale gardening or micro-technologies like container gardening to improve food security. The article highlights urban agriculture's multiple functions, including community building and sustainable environments.

Yujie Jiang · Tianjin Agricultural Sciences · Global

This article researched the technical features of urban agriculture. It proposed a new technological innovation model primarily based on cooperative innovation, supplemented by independent and imitative innovation, and outlined choices for implementing this model.

许光中 · 北京科技大学学报：社会科学版 · China (Qinghai Province)

This study examines urban agriculture in Qinghai Province, China, as a solution to urban ecological crises exacerbated by rapid urbanization. Urban agriculture, defined as modern agriculture integrating production, services, and consumption based on modern technology and diversified operations, can expand urban green spaces, improve urban ecology, and strengthen urban functions.

陈凯, 史红亮, 续华梅 · 技术经济与管理研究 · China

This study aimed to measure the modernization level of urban agriculture in China and analyze the causes of its disparities and influencing factors. Using the analytic hierarchy process, the research evaluated the modernization level of urban agriculture in 11 major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The analysis revealed the mechanisms and pathways for urban agricultural modernization.

O Beatriz Vera · Revista Urbano · Chile (Valdivia)

This study characterized 22 urban agricultural micro-enterprises in Valdivia, Chile, focusing on their economic, productive, and commercial aspects, and the employment they generate. Using the Snowball method to identify urban farmers, the research found that urban agriculture is a significant source of permanent employment in Valdivia, also providing temporary work during the summer season.

Sunday Ichima · Pranjana The Journal of Management Awareness · Nigeria

This paper examines urban farming as an important component of food security measures in Nigeria. It highlights the genesis of urban farming in Nigeria and the various types of urban farms, explaining how their products have contributed to food security.

Carlos Humberto Gómez Arciniegas · Revista M · Global

This article from 2009 investigates the primary features and opportunities of peri-urban agriculture, a practice at the transition between rural and urban areas. The study aims to identify 'agricultural strategies' from significant experiences to encourage future territorial planning practices in other peri-urban contexts. The research seeks to recognize recent experiences where peri-urban agriculture has coordinated economic and social activities and integrated with other activities aimed at valorizing local resources.

Shahzad Kouser, Mr. Abedullah, Abdus Samie · The Pakistan Development Review · Pakistan (Faisalabad)

This study, conducted in 2006 with 200 farmers in two peri-urban villages of Faisalabad, Pakistan, estimated the economic values of negative health externalities from wastewater use in cauliflower production. While wastewater use appeared profitable without considering externalities, factoring in health costs strongly discouraged its use. The health externalities for a three-month cauliflower crop on 741 acres amounted to Rs 3.2 million, and for 5,283 acres of vegetables cultivated with wastewater in Faisalabad, the annual total was Rs 90.7 million. The findings indicate a significant economic loss due to wastewater use, suggesting that installing a water treatment plant is a viable option to minimize these external effects.

Minna Mikkola, Bent Egberg Mikkelsen, Gun Roos · · Global

These Proceedings compile preliminary empirical research, Master's theses, projects on implementing organic school meals and school gardens, and educational visions for future food education for sustainability. Published halfway through the iPOPY project, this report presents some of the outcomes achieved and outlines ongoing work towards more sustainable food systems.

Abegunde A. A, Emmanuel Olufemi Omisore, O. F. Oluodo, D O Olaleye · African Journal of Agricultural Research · Nigeria (Lagos)

A study in the Eti-Osa local government area of Lagos, Nigeria, investigated the socio-spatial effects of urban horticultural gardens. Of 75 identified gardens, 63 managers were interviewed, revealing that 79.4% of gardens were profit-oriented. Gardens had inadequate setbacks (mean 1.45 m) from roads, leading to off-street parking and traffic congestion. Only 20% of horticulturists aimed to improve urban aesthetics, indicating a need for urban planners to educate them to prioritize urban aesthetics over economic gain.

Abena Boampongwa, Esi Amagatso, Efua Asarekwai · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Ghana

This study in urban Ghana used a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, focus groups, and observational studies over one year, to assess the impact of community gardens. It found that community gardens significantly increased (p<0.05) the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among community members, improving dietary diversity and reducing reliance on processed foods. The findings suggest community gardens can enhance food security and public health outcomes in urban settings, especially with integrated educational programs.

Richard Beckwith, Sharon Greenfield · · Global

This ethnographic study investigated how teachers use school gardens for agricultural education and how farmers learn on farms, aiming to define needs for a mobile educational application. The research sought to inform the development of a mobile device with video, connectivity, and sensors, capable of generating inferences for computer vision and other applications. Future work will explore how such devices can influence learning and teaching.

Qinglan Chen · · China (Yixing)

This paper begins with the connotation of urban agriculture, analyzing the necessity and feasibility of developing urban agriculture in Yixing, China. It discusses the patterns and layouts of urban agriculture, combining Yixing's natural conditions with experiences from other areas, and proposes measures and advice for its advancement.