Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
3623 results(42 / 145)
Dancing through the vege patch
2023Gregory Lorenzutti, Julie Ann Minaai, Brenton Surgenor · Choreographic Practices · Australia (Melbourne)
"Dancing through the vege patch" is an artist essay by choreographer Gregory Lorenzutti, reflecting on "Theatrum Botanicum," an interdisciplinary project combining dance and holistic urban farming commissioned by the Victoria College of the Arts, University of Melbourne in 2022. Lorenzutti offers insights into the relationship between knowledge production, place-based dance pedagogy, and interdisciplinary practice in tertiary education. The essay reveals how creative methodologies can invigorate practice and deepen the connection between body, space, and place.
Food educationCommunityAGRICULTURA URBANA E ESTÉTICA AMBIENTAL: UM MAPEAMENTO DE AUTORES INSPIRADO POR J. DOUGLAS PORTEOUS.
2023Claudia Rochael Oliveira, Eneida Maria Souza Mendonça · Geografia (Rio Claro) · Global
This article aimed to map authors discussing environmental aesthetics in urban agriculture research, inspired by Porteous's work. Using a bibliographic survey and visual representations, the study found no publications intersecting urban agriculture and environmental aesthetics. Research on urban agriculture and landscape was notably greater than on urban agriculture and aesthetics, and studies applying aesthetic theory to urban agriculture were very limited, especially in high-tech contexts like vertical farms.
Methodological critiqueUrban–rural linkageCommunityBiodiversityGardens for the People
2023Clive R. Hollin · · Global
This research shifts focus from individual gardening to collective gardening activities shared by groups of people, examining communal gardens that benefit groups such as hospital residents, school pupils, or prison inmates. These "gardens for the people" take various forms, including allotments primarily for food production, school gardens for academic and social purposes, prison gardens for prisoner well-being and rehabilitation, gardens tended by immigrant populations, and guerrilla gardening.
CommunityFood educationWelfareA Bibliometric Analysis of Current Knowledge Structure and Research Progress Related to Urban Community Garden Systems
2023Hua Zheng, Min Guo, Qian Wang, Qinghai Zhang, Noriko Akita · Land · Global
This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 487 papers on community gardens from the Web of Science database to understand their knowledge structure and research development. Research papers in this area significantly increased from 2012, with the United States contributing the most and high-income countries accounting for 93.22% of studies. "Health" was the most frequent keyword, and "ecosystem services" gained popularity, with three major research themes identified: "ecosystem services and disservices," "multidimensional association," and "sustainable garden systems."
CommunityHealthBiodiversityPolicyThe Work that Work does: How intrinsic and instrumental values are transformed into relational values through active work participation in Swiss community supported agriculture
2023Stefan Geissberger, Mollie Chapman · People and Nature · Switzerland
This paper explored how active labor participation in Swiss solidarity agriculture cooperatives influences members' values and behavior. Qualitative interviews with 21 members of three cooperatives revealed that participation and work practices fostered new relational connections to food, farmers, and nature, transforming intrinsic and instrumental values into relational values. The study concludes that values, particularly relational values, can form and change through lived experiences.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthStimulating and developing sustainable urban local economies: The role of urban agriculture
2023James Kwame Mensah · Development Southern Africa · Ghana
This research examined the role of urban agriculture in the urban local economy in Ghana, addressing a lack of empirical evidence from a Local Economic Development (LED) perspective. Data was gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews with urban agriculturalists and local authorities in two assemblies in the Greater Accra region. The findings suggest that with proper support, urban agriculture can improve the local economy by providing employment, income, and enhanced livelihood and food security.
EconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityAssessment of Land Use Efficiencies of Ghanaian Cities: Case Study of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis
2023M. S. Aduah, Saviour Mantey · South African Journal of Geomatics · Ghana
This study used geospatial techniques, multi-temporal land use maps, and population data to estimate urban land use efficiency (LUE), changes in built-up area per capita, and urban sprawl speed (SS) in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan area of Ghana. While LUE generally improved from 2002 to 2016, it deteriorated slightly between 2016 and 2021. Critically, agricultural land or grassland in the city has been converted to built-up land, posing a challenge for urban agriculture.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageAnalysis of Urban Maize Yield Response to Urban Sprawl in a Changing Climate: Case of Harare Metropolitan City
2023Herbert Mandigo, Teddious Mhizha, Terence Darlington Mushore · Applied Sciences · Zimbabwe (Harare)
This study investigated the implications of urban growth on maize yield in Harare metropolitan city, Zimbabwe, from 1984 to 2018 using Landsat data. Cropland area was reduced from 11,120 ha in 1984 to 2631 ha in 2018. Consequently, the estimated average maize yield decreased significantly from 52,264 tons in 1984 to 12,366 tons in 2018, demonstrating that urban growth has the potential to compromise food security.
Limited or null effectUrban–rural linkageClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsAGRI|gen: Analysis and Design of a Parametric Modular System for Vertical Urban Agriculture
2023Iyad Ghazal, Reema Mansour, Marie Davidová · Sustainability · Palestine (Nablus)
This research investigated the potential of farming on facades and roofs across an entire neighborhood. A case study of 22 multi-floor residential buildings in Nablus, Palestine, was conducted using developed parametric tools. Findings indicated that existing facades could provide 28,500 m2 of farming area, with half of facades and all roofs suitable for daylight-based farming. The study found that facades could fulfill 350% of tomato and 237% of cucumber consumption, while roofs could produce over 315 times the local sweet pepper consumption. A modular facade system was designed with an average system cost of $55.2/m2 and a total cost of $1.7M.
Urban–rural linkageEconomicsDIYBibliometric Mapping of School Garden Studies: A Thematic Trends Analysis
2023Dante Castillo, Alejandro Vega-Muñoz, Guido Salazar-Sepúlveda, Nicolás Contreras-Barraza, Mario Torres-Alcayaga · Horticulturae · Global
This study analyzed thematic trends in school garden research over the past few decades using a bibliometric methodology on 392 articles and review articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. It investigated research trends and found a critical mass of scientific research on school gardens. The analysis revealed thematic trends in discussion journals, terminology, classic papers, and novel authors, suggesting a refocusing on the effects of school gardens beyond educational aspects.
Food educationCommunityHealthLa huerta escolar: un escenario de aprendizaje y desarrollo del pensamiento crítico
2023Fernando Arturo Romero Ospina · Ciencia e Interculturalidad · Global
This text emphasizes the importance of school gardens as a setting for promoting critical thinking in multi-grade schools. It uses a qualitative approach to describe critical thinking and its promotion through creation, interpretation, and experimentation based on the See-Think-Ask thinking routine. The study infers that school gardens are valuable for students to share knowledge, work on various school subjects, and for teachers to reflect on pedagogical processes.
Food educationCommunityStrategi Desain Integrasi Rumah Susun dan Fasilitas Pertanian Perkotaan berbasis Self-sufficiency
2023Abhinaya Ramadhikka, Ofita Purwani, Sri Yuliani · Arsitektura · Global
This paper focuses on implementing energy and food self-sufficiency in residential buildings by integrating urban agricultural facilities. It aims to fill a literature gap by discussing self-sufficiency specifically in residential buildings with urban agriculture on a microscale. The study formulates how to apply the self-sufficiency concept by calculating residents' food and energy needs and outlining how to achieve them.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityWastewater driven trace element transfer up the food chain in peri-urban agricultural lands of Lahore, Pakistan
2023Muhammad Luqman, Muhammad Uzair Awan, Shaukat Khan, Razzaq Ahmed, Hsi‐Hsien Yang, Muhammad Rizwan Goraya · Agricultural Water Management · Pakistan (Lahore)
A study in Lahore, Pakistan, investigated trace element (TE) contamination in water, soil, fodder, and buffalo milk due to the use of untreated wastewater from the Hudiara drain for agriculture. Samples collected along the drain showed that TE contamination, including Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn, increased from upstream to downstream sites. Concentrations of these elements in water, soil, fodder, and milk surpassed permissible limits, indicating a significant transferability risk up the food chain and high Hazard Index values for irrigation water, fodder, and milk.
Contamination & food safetyHealthIMPACTS ENVIRONNEMENTAUX ET CHANGEMENTS URBAINS DANS LA COMMUNE DE HAMMA BOUZIANE (CONSTANTINE, ALGÉRIE)
2023Institut de Gestion des Techniques Urbaines, Université Larbi Ben M’hidi, MERIEM BENLAHRECHE, Saïd Mazouz, Département d’architecture, Université Larbi Ben M’hidi · Revue Roumaine de Géographie / Romanian Journal of Geography · Algeria
This article aims to explain urban phenomena in Hamma Bouziane, Algeria, a city known for its fertile land. The study indicates that the peri-urban agriculture of Hamma Bouziane is suffering negative repercussions due to unbridled urban expansion and socio-economic changes.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageClimate changeEconomicsAGRICULTURE URBAINE : POURVOYEUSE DE DENRÉES ALIMENTAIRES ET SOURCES DE NUISANCES SANITAIRES AU QUARTIER SODEPRA À KORHOGO (NORD DE LA CÔTE D’IVOIRE)
2023Moussa Coulibaly · International Journal for Advanced Studies and Research in Africa · Côte d'Ivoire (Korhogo)
This study in Logokaha, Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire, aimed to show the impact of urban agriculture on food production and the health of farmers. Despite contributing to the empowerment of farmers, urban agriculture exposes them to health hazards. The methodology involved documentary research and field surveys.
Contamination & food safetyHealthFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityInformation and analytical support for the formation of the city farm business plan
2023Yu. N. Katkov, N. A. Starostina, A. A. Romanova, М. К. Dzhikуa, I. O. Aidlin · Buhuchet v sel skom hozjajstve (Accounting in Agriculture) · Global
This article theoretically substantiates information and analytical support for city farm business plans, aiming to enhance food security by providing organic and eco-friendly agricultural products. It presents author's models for accounting and analytical systems and information support for city farm business plans. These models are intended to aid import substitution in agricultural products and contribute economically.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleCombination of observational and functional trait-based approaches in developing a polyculture design tool
2023Pavlo Ardanov, Annette Piorr, Alexandra Doernberg, Sonja Brodt, Jennifer B. Lauruol, Iryna Kazakova, Valentyna Movchan, Lucas A. Garibaldi · Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · Global
This study assessed information from multiple sources to design diversified cropping systems with vegetables and spice crops for cold temperate climates, integrating trait and observational data from databases, farmer surveys, and literature reviews. While farmers achieved medium to good levels of their main goals, they failed to reach desired multifunctionality with their polycultures. None of the individual data sources provided a comprehensive dataset, but combining them increased crop combination options while also increasing planning and management complexity.
Limited or null effectCSA & TeikeiDIYBiodiversityHarmonizing Urbanization and Food Security: A Novel AI-Driven Approach for Sustainable Urban Agriculture
2023Divyam Jindal · International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) · Global
This research introduces an AI-based model that uses satellite imaging, machine learning, and demographic projections to optimize urban agriculture. The model integrates soil analysis, water availability prediction, crop recommendations, and population growth projections for informed decision-making. It aims to optimize land use and balance urbanization, food security, and environmental sustainability.
Digital agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeUrban–rural linkageSoil-Borne Pests in Urban Agricultural Areas.
2023Şener Tarla, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülcan TARLA · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
This paper defines urban agriculture and discusses its benefits, including food production, resource contribution, and addressing economic, environmental, and social problems in cities. It notes that the global pandemic highlighted urban agriculture's importance for food safety, access, and ecosystem maintenance.
BiodiversityOrganic cycleEffect of an Integrated School Garden and Home Garden Intervention on Anemia Among School-Aged Children in Nepal: Evidence From a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
2023Ghassan Baliki, Dorothee Weiffen, Pepijn Schreinemachers, Akina Shrestha, Rachana Manandhar Shrestha, Monika Schreiner, Tilman Brück · Food and Nutrition Bulletin · Nepal
A cluster randomized controlled trial in rural Nepal (n=680 school children aged 9-13 across 30 schools) investigated whether an integrated school and home garden intervention improved hemoglobin levels and reduced anemia. The intervention did not lead to a direct significant reduction in anemia, as nutritional improvements were not strong enough to impact hemoglobin levels. However, the program indirectly improved hemoglobin levels for children under 12 by increasing good food and hygiene practices at home, particularly for girls, young children, and those with literate caregivers.
Limited or null effectFood educationHealthCommunity7P Marketing Mix in Processed Farm Products by Urban Farming Businesses
2023Nurdiana, Muhammad Hasan, Miranda, Muhammad Ihsan Said Ahmad, Citra Ayni Kamaruddin, Thamrin Tahir · International Journal of Social Science and Business · Global
This qualitative study analyzed the implementation of the 7P marketing mix for processed agricultural products by the Orchid Women Farmer Group, using observations, interviews, and FGDs with 4 informants. The 7P marketing mix was generally implemented, with supporting factors including self-confidence, cooperation, and encouragement from agricultural extension workers. Inhibiting factors were identified as lack of literacy and limited time, which affect the implementation process.
Economic viabilityEconomicsCommunityUrban agriculture, local economic development and climate change: conceptual linkages
2023James Kwame Mensah · International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development · Global
This study examined how the concepts of urban agriculture (UA), local economic development (LED), and climate change can be treated in unison. Based on a review of credible published papers on UA, LED, climate change, and nature-based solutions (NBS), a conceptual framework was developed to show their linkages. The paper established that UA could boost LED, build resilient urban settlements, and promote social inclusiveness, but it also comes with social challenges.
EconomicsClimate changeCommunityPolicyIntegrating Urban Agriculture into Neighborhood Planning for Sustainable Development: People’s Perceptions of the Potentials of the Al-Bastanah in Al-Za'faraniya, Iraq
2023· International Society for the Study of Vernacular Settlements · Iraq (Baghdad)
This case study explored the potential of urban agriculture in the Al-Bastanah neighborhood of Al-Za'faraniya, Baghdad. It investigated how urban agriculture can be integrated into neighborhood planning processes.
PolicyCommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceA campus-based community clinic and food-shelf join efforts to reduce food insecurity using a One Health approach toward building a vibrant living system
2023Clara Godoy-Henderson, Ellen Hiestand, Emma Schluter, Erica Olsen, Jennifer Tacheny, Ambria Crusan, Mary O. Hearst · Journal of American College Health ·
This report describes a One Health approach addressing food insecurity among college students and Latine adult patients at a campus-based community health clinic. Organic community gardens on and near campus, pollinated by campus beehives, contribute local produce to a campus food shelf. This system aims to increase food security and nutritional health for both populations through multidisciplinary collaboration.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityAGRICULTURE URBAINE: POURVOYEUSE DE DENREES ALIMENTAIRES ET SOURCES DE NUISANCES SANITAIRES AU QUARTIER SODEPRA A KORHOGO (NORD DE LA COTE DIVOIRE)
2023COULIBALY Moussa · International Journal of Advanced Research · Côte d'Ivoire (Korhogo)
This study in Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire, surveyed 81 farmers to assess the impact of urban agriculture on food production and farmer health. It found that urban agriculture, predominantly practiced by women (85.19%) with no formal education (71.61%), involves the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with non-adherence to application intervals. A significant portion of farmers (59.26%) discard chemical packaging in the environment. Despite contributing to empowerment, this practice exposes farmers to health problems including fatigue (53.09%), injuries (25.92%), skin burns (11.11%), dry coughs/colds (32.10%), and diarrheal diseases (19.75%).
Contamination & food safetyHealthFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunity