Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1129 results(43 / 46)
Local economic development and marketing of urban produced food
2006Paule Moustier, George Danso · Agritrop (Cirad) · Global
This report discusses urban agriculture's role in addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges of rapid urban growth in developing countries. It notes that while urban agriculture attracts attention, its viability and need for political support remain debated. The report highlights arguments against targeting scarce public resources towards urban agriculture, citing high land costs in urban areas and insufficient evidence of its economic viability.
Economic viabilityEconomicsPolicyPeri-urban agricultureLa Gestión del Hábitat Articulada a Iniciativas Productivas para los Sectores de Bajos Recursos en Rosario (Argentina).
2006Marcelo Salgado, Sabrina Cáceres, Marta Basuino, Nora Gancedo, Claudio Vizia, Sebastián Rodríguez, Laura Gurría · Revista INVI · Argentina (Rosario)
This paper focuses on social housing projects connected with productive undertakings for low-income sectors in Rosario, Argentina, developed through the articulation of various social actors. Productive initiatives, supported by municipal organisms, emerged to alleviate unemployment due to the past decade's crisis and poverty in slums. The research is oriented to formulate recommendations for the participating management of social housing and its articulation with productive undertakings.
WelfareEconomicsPolicyCommunityA COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COMMUNITY GARDEN SYSTEMS IN GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES AND THEIR ROLE IN CREATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
2006James T Larson · Arboricultural Journal · Global
This comparative study explores the benefits and key features of German allotment gardens and American community gardens, with a view to their possible implementation into inner city derelict and brownfield regeneration in the UK and other countries. The study considers whether community gardens have a role in helping to create sustainable communities that positively impact the negative social, economic, and environmental issues associated with derelict sites in inner city neighborhoods.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageResearch on Industry Orientation of Urban Agriculture in City
2006HU Yue-xiao · Nongye xiandaihua yanjiu · Global
This study on the industry orientation of urban agriculture, including trade, marketing, business model, and organizing orientations, identified problems such as industry parking, blurred functional orientation, and a lack of overall planning during urban agriculture orienting programs.
Governance failureEconomicsPolicyCenso de agricultores urbanos de la zona metropolitana de Montevideo: desafíos para los programas de la Universidad de la República y del Municipio de Montevideo
2006M. García de Souza, J. Álvarez, J. P. Dieste, M. Rachetti · Agrociencia · Uruguay (Montevideo)
The first census of urban gardens in the Montevideo metropolitan area was conducted in early 2004, revealing that residents initiated gardens in response to economic and social crises. The findings indicated that most ventures were family-organized, triggered by the 2002 crisis, and primarily aimed at self-consumption. Community ventures by non-family groups were also identified, and while productive practices showed strengths like high biodiversity and self-produced seeds/organic fertilizer use, unresolved issues included poor equipment, precarious land tenure, and lack of irrigation water sources.
CommunityEconomicsWelfareFarmers’ and Consumers’ Beliefs About Community-Supported Agriculture in Australia: A Qualitative Study
2006Emma Lea, Jodi Phillips, Madeleine Ward, Anthony Worsley · Ecology of Food and Nutrition · Australia (Victoria)
This qualitative study interviewed 20 consumers and 12 farmers in Victoria, Australia, to examine their knowledge, perceived benefits, and barriers regarding Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). The study found that knowledge of CSA was limited among both groups. Consumers perceived fresh food as a benefit but cited lack of produce choice as a barrier, while farmers saw financial benefits but were concerned about risk-sharing.
Limited or null effectCSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsUrban Agriculture as a Global Economic Activity with Special Reference to the City of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
2006Nyumbaiza Tambwe · African and Asian Studies · Democratic Republic of Congo (Lubumbashi)
Based on semi-structured interviews conducted in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, from November 2004 to March 2005, and documentary sources, factors driving engagement in urban agriculture were identified. Structural adjustment programs, declining world prices of primary commodities, economic crisis, low wages, unemployment, rapid population growth, war, and poverty push urban dwellers into agricultural activities, while urban agriculture also serves as a source of food, income, and employment.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareAgriculture urbaine et subsistance des ménages dans une zone de post-conflit en Afrique centrale
2006André Mfoukou-Ntsakala, Michel Bitémo, Niko Speybroeck, Guido Van Huylenbroeck, É. Thys · Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) · Congo (Brazzaville)
This study analyzed the technical and socio-economic specificities of urban agriculture and its role in household subsistence in a post-conflict region in Central Africa. It was based on a 2002 survey of 710 randomly selected households in Brazzaville, Congo. About one-third of Brazzaville households engage in urban agriculture, with 29.5% in crop production and 8.8% in animal production, predominantly aviculture. The 1997 conflict negatively impacted urban agricultural production, especially animal production, and urban agriculture is dominated by subsistence and poor households. While crop production is mainly for subsistence, animal production is more income-driven, and constraints like input provision, theft, and soil degradation limit productivity.
CommunityWelfareEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban agriculture in less developed countries
2006Mengjie Xu · Urban Problems · Global
This paper summarizes the types and characteristics of urban agriculture (UA) in less developed countries (LDCs), distinguishing it from UA in developed countries. It elucidates both the positive and negative effects of UA in LDCs, including impediments arising from its negative impacts. The study discusses the necessity of developing UA in LDCs and details measures to regulate its development, highlighting governance challenges.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsCommunityUrban–rural linkageAplicación de biofertilizantes como alternativa nutricional, ambiental y económica en la agricultura urbana
2006Ramón Liriano González · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Cuba (Matanzas)
This study evaluated the effect of organic matter and biofertilizers (Azospirillum sp and Mycorrhizae) on horticultural crops and their economic effectiveness in Matanzas, Cuba. Two experiments were conducted: one at the University of Matanzas and another at the 'La Dignidad' urban garden, both using 13 treatments including varying organic matter doses and biofertilizer combinations. The study details the application methods and experimental design, but the abstract does not state the findings.
Organic cycleEconomicsHealthMaraîchers à Khartoum : entre intégration et marginalisation étude des capacités intégratrices de l'agriculture urbaine
2006Alice Franck · Revue internationale des études du développement · Sudan
This study of market gardeners in Khartoum, Sudan, reveals limitations in the integrating capacity of urban agriculture. Uncontrolled urbanization in the capital creates intense competition for property, restricting the potential integration of farm-workers in the downtown area. This activity is strictly commercial and primarily carried out by a migrant population.
Equity & displacementEconomicsCommunityUrban–rural linkageContinuous Productive Urban Landscapes: Designing Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Cities
2005André Viljoen, Katrin Bohn, Joe Howe · Architectural Press / Routledge · Global
A pioneering work proposing the concept of 'Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes (CPUL)' that integrates urban agriculture into urban spatial planning. It frames urban agriculture as green infrastructure linking food-producing sites with other open spaces into a continuous linear landscape across the city, and has become a theoretical starting point for productive green infrastructure and edible-city research.
CommunityBiodiversityFood educationEconomicsDesign and fabrication of adjustable red-green-blue LED light arrays for plant research
2005· BMC Plant Biology · Global
A technical report presenting build plans and circuitry to inexpensively fabricate tunable red-green-blue LED arrays, with two fixture designs (small-scale and expandable growth-chamber versions) for adjustable plant lighting.
DIYEconomicsBuilding Relationships, Accessing Resources: Mobilizing Social Capital in Community Garden Contexts
2005Troy D. Glover, Diana C. Parry, Kimberly J. Shinew · Journal of Leisure Research · Global
This study aimed to understand how social relationships formed within community garden settings assist community garden leaders in accessing resources. Findings suggest that "leisure episodes" are particularly important for building strong ties, which are a common source of social capital. These episodes therefore serve as the social lubricant for social capital production, aiding the preservation and advancement of grassroots associations.
CommunityEconomicsHealthL'agriculture périurbaine à Yaoundé: ses rapports avec le réduction de la pauvreté, le développement économique, la conservation de la biodiversité et de l'environnement
2005LDK. Awono, Sebastian Bernal Hernandez, J. Gockowski, T. Dongmo, Mbang à Moudon · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cameroon (Yaounde)
This study examines peri-urban agriculture in Yaounde, Cameroon, highlighting its importance for employment and food security due to rapid urbanization and underdeveloped systems. It supplies perishable goods like leafy vegetables and bulky items such as fresh cassava, and provides employment for over four thousand women in marketing. Major constraints include pests, diseases, lack of producer credit, and inadequate extension services.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityRe‐valuing the Fringe: Some Findings on the Value of Agricultural Production in Australia's Peri‐Urban Regions
2005Peter Houston · Geographical Research · Australia
This study used Agricultural Census data to calculate the economic value of agricultural production in Australia's peri-urban regions. The analysis suggests these regions in the five mainland States produce almost 25% of Australia's total gross value of agricultural production, though other evidence indicates this may be an underestimate. The study notes that peri-urban agriculture is poorly served by the Agricultural Census and often overlooked in public policy deliberations.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsPolicyCommunity Gardening Impact Measurement in Accra's Urban Food Security Initiatives: A Scholarly Review of 2005 Literature Context
2005Nkawkaw Afriyie, Kofi Adziri, Yaw Asare, Amoako Gyamfi · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Ghana
A thematic analysis synthesized existing studies on community gardening impact measurement in Accra, Ghana, focusing on methodologies. While varied methods were reported, a notable theme emerged regarding the mixed results and challenges in accurately gauging the impact of community gardening on urban food security indicators, such as vegetable consumption rates among participants. This review underscores the importance of empirical data for understanding the effectiveness of urban agricultural interventions, but highlights methodological inconsistencies.
Methodological critiqueCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthEconomicsThe Primary Discussion on the Landscape Construction in the Tourism Development of Urban Agriculture
2005Guo Chun-hua, Hongbin Li, Pingsheng Leng · · Global
This study analyzed the principles of landscape construction for urban agriculture tourism. It discussed how to construct an ideal urban agriculture landscape, focusing on settlement landscapes, rural scenery, and agricultural gardens for tourism.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkageAspectos socioculturales en la eficiencia productiva del ganado menor en el municipio de Florencia, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba
2005Ángela Borroto, Águeda C. Arencibia, J.L. López, Liliam J. Leyva, Carlos Mazorra, Gladys E. Dopico, R. Maurelo, A. Caraballoso · Redalyc (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México) · Cuba
A two-year study in Florencia, Cuba, examined 32 randomly selected backyard producers involved in urban agriculture. While 90% applied scientific techniques to animal feed, only 10% kept records, and no sustained work was done with animal species in existing associations. Productive results were encouraging, but achieved with low productive efficiency, and sustainable management methods for breeding and waste were unknown in practice.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceFactors Influencing Career Choice Of Urban Agricultural Education Students
2005Levon T. Esters, Blannie E. Bowen · Journal of Agricultural Education · Global
This study investigated factors influencing career choices among graduates of an urban agricultural education program. While former students identified parents and friends as influential, and cited various reasons for their career paths, a discriminant analysis model could not distinguish between those who chose agricultural careers and those who did not after completing the secondary agricultural program.
Methodological critiqueFood educationEconomicsFrom informal to formal acceptance: leaps and bounds of urban agriculture in the development sphere
2005Ranasinghe · The International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management · Sri Lanka
This paper expands knowledge on urban agriculture through literature analysis and feedback from implementing the Family Business Garden concept in Sri Lanka. It argues that traditional home gardening distracts urban planners from the economic and social value of small-to-medium agro-entrepreneurship. The paper emphasizes the necessity of formal acceptance for micro-farming activities by mainstreaming urban agriculture in the development sphere.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyUrban Agriculture: Small, Medium, Large
2005Gil Doron · Architectural Design · Global
This paper by Gil Doron explores urban agriculture's potential ecological, economic, and social benefits for city dwellers. It notes that horticulture, often overlooked by architects, exists at various scales in most cities globally, from window boxes to large farms. The author suggests urban agriculture could be a significant design revolution.
CommunityEconomicsClimate changeHealthPolicyParticipatory rural appraisal of dairy farms in the north west province of Cameroon
2005P. H. Bayemi, M. J. Bryant, David Puewoh Pingpoh, H Imele, Jean Claude Mbanya, Tanya Tanya, D. Cavestany, J Awoh, A Ngoucheme, D Sali, F Ekoue, H. NJAKOI, E.C. Webb · CentAUR (University of Reading) · Cameroon
A Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was conducted in dairy farms of the North West Province of Cameroon to understand prevailing dairy systems, identify problems, and set priorities for research and development to improve production. The research team visited farmers' groups and conducted farm and village walks, noting direct observations. Results showed five small-scale dairy production systems (transhumance, improved extensive, semi intensive, zero grazing, and peri-urban) exist in the region, with agriculture well integrated into dairying. Main constraints, in order of importance, included poor marketing opportunities, limited grazing land, poor reproductive management, inadequate knowledge in processing and milk preservation, and limited health control.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsCommunity"Urban versus rural" no longer matches reality: An early public agro-residential development in periurban Santiago, Chile
2004Madaleno I.M., Gurovich A. · Cities · Chile (Santiago)
Using periurban Santiago's La Pintana district as a case study, this paper demonstrates that the urban–rural dichotomy is inadequate for capturing agro-residential realities, where cooperative smallholder farming coexists with urban uses in what the authors call a living ecocity laboratory.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsSocial Capital in the Lived Experiences of Community Gardeners
2004Troy D. Glover · Leisure Sciences · Global
This 2004 global narrative inquiry explored a community garden as a social context for social capital among gardeners. The study found that social capital can be both a benefit and a cost, depending on an individual's position within the social network. This suggests a potential for inequitable or corrupt application of social capital within community garden groups.
Equity & displacementCommunityEconomics