Research & reports

Maryam Jahed, Seyed-Abbas Yazdanfar, Saeid Norouzian‐Maleki · فصلنامه علوم محیطی · Global

This study is a systematic review aimed at identifying physical design solutions for urban agriculture in allotment areas to facilitate its implementation. It analyzed 18 relevant sources extracted from six databases: Web of Science, Springer, IEEE, JSTOR, Science Direct, and Magiran. The lack of physical design solutions for urban agriculture is identified as a main obstacle hindering its expansion.

Maya Andini, Ova Candra Dewi, Annisa Marwati · International Journal of Built Environment and Scientific Research · Global

This study investigated the effects of urban farming in limited spaces during the pandemic on people's health and well-being, using literature review and case studies. Urban farming was found to be beneficial for maintaining people's health and well-being, in addition to supporting food security and benefiting the surrounding environment.

Naudé Malan · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Global

This reflective essay describes iZindaba Zokudla, a public innovation lab that uses stakeholder engagement to create opportunities for urban agriculture within a sustainable food system. iZindaba Zokudla functions as an extra-institutional means to govern the water, land, energy, and waste nexus. The article generalizes how its activities can be used to govern this nexus for sustainability, demonstrating how it has achieved progressive governance by facilitating its Farmers' Lab and website, creating participation opportunities, and enabling critical reflection.

Laura Vanesa Martínez Gordillo · South Florida Journal of Development · Colombia (Bogotá)

This document reflects on a social and ecological project in Barrio La Concordia, Bogotá, Colombia, which uses vertical urban agriculture and graffiti on facades. The project, "Germinating Networks," encourages residents to adopt sustainable practices and reconnect with nature using reusable materials for hanging pots. It aims to foster cooperative relationships and cultural changes around organic food, influencing neighborhood identity.

Caroline Goodson · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Global

This chapter examines the economic context of urban food production in the Middle Ages, focusing on household-scale cultivation. It explores the emergence of urban food markets and the absence of evidence for them before the eleventh century. In the absence of commercial farming, household-level cultivation was the primary food source for most city-dwellers, with food gardens and their exchange through family networks highlighting the role of family links in urban food production.

Ilona Liliána Birtalan, Ágnes Neulinger, György Bárdos, Adrien Rigó, József Rácz, Szilvia Boros · British Food Journal · Global

This study qualitatively examined the influence of local food communities, specifically Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) participation, on health-related adaptivity and self-management practices. Based on semi-structured interviews with 35 participants, the findings suggest that local food communities can influence health in themes such as awareness of product origins, enhanced food-management capability, expanding applicability and usability of the food environment, and strengthening one's food-related self-image.

Claudia Marani, A. Lighezzolo, C. Bisio, Beatriz Giobellina, Diego Pons · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Argentina

This report, part of the SAT-CV-CBA Project, aims to inform provincial authorities and the community about the estimation of horticultural areas affected by extreme weather events in Córdoba, Argentina, at the end of January 2021. It estimates the number of farms, crop losses based on vulnerability, and storm intensity. The information is expected to be useful for supporting affected producers.

Tarsila Lampert, Joana Costa, Osvaldo Santos, Joana Sousa, T. Ribeiro, Elisabete Freire · PLoS ONE · Global

This systematic review synthesized literature on physical and mental health outcomes associated with community gardening, focusing on quantitative studies. Eight eligible studies were reviewed, with seven rated as good methodological quality. The review found that community gardeners had significantly better outcomes than non-gardening neighbors in life satisfaction, happiness, general health, mental health, and social cohesion.

Sandra Austin · Education 3-13 · Ireland

This qualitative study aimed to describe how school gardens are used and valued in Irish primary schools, using site visits and interviews with program drivers. Schools utilize gardens imaginatively for children's development, with key factors driving success. Teachers value gardens as learning arenas, spaces for pastoral care, and focal points for school and community involvement.

Sandra Patricia Montenegro Gómez, Yulian Adalberto Sepúlveda Casadiego · Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia eBooks · Colombia

This paper contextualizes relevant experiences and technical tools for implementing urban and peri-urban agroecological orchards in Colombia. It notes that urban and peri-urban agriculture can alleviate food insecurity and create jobs, but currently, Colombia lacks government policies to support these processes. The study aims to transfer knowledge on crops to communities to strengthen food security through vegetable production.

Anne Forbes, Vinesh Chandra, Linda Pfeiffer, Rachel Sheffield · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Australia

'STEM Education in the Primary School' introduces pre-service teachers to the theory, skills, and practice of teaching STEM through a project-based learning approach. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics elements are integrated with the Australian Curriculum through a school garden project case study. This textbook connects current research in STEM education to teaching practice through detailed discussions of topics including assessment, learning spaces, community, and STEM futures.

Majid Amani-Beni, Gaodi Xie, Qingjuan Yang, Alessio Russo, Mohammad Reza Khalilnezhad · Land · Iran

This qualitative field study investigated whether the spatial and structural layout of six historic Persian gardens in four Iranian provinces is suitable for modern urban food gardening. The research suggested that combining elements of formal landscape design, non-edible decorative plants, and traditional artwork would increase the Persian gardens' attractiveness. It was found that separating productive units containing edible plants from public units using a central meeting spot populated by aesthetic plants and items may attract ordinary visitors interested in gardening without disturbing anyone's activities. The Persian gardens' multifunctionality, aesthetic value, and health-promoting qualities constitute a considerable historic achievement in garden design, making them a suitable model for edible urban gardening.

Mkwela Hawa · Journal of Geography and Regional Planning · Tanzania

This study used a qualitative approach to examine land injustices faced by urban farmers in Mbweni-Mpiji, a sub-urban area of Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Findings indicated that farmers experience constant pressure from land insecurity, inferior land rights, informal land access, stiff competition from other land users, degrading land quality, and a continuous decrease in agricultural land size. These factors negatively impact the daily livelihoods, including food security, social status, and income, of those entirely dependent on urban farming.

Cecília Delgado · RPER · Portugal

This article examines the potential for urban agriculture practices to foster food policy formulation and implementation in Portugal. An inquiry involving 16 local municipalities identified constraints and opportunities for local initiatives. The study argues that Portuguese civil society's relative fragility, compared to other countries, may explain the lack of local public food policies, despite confirming national and local opportunities.

Fernando Almeida, Nuno Miranda, Bruno Vieira · Advances in environmental engineering and green technologies book series · Global

This chapter presents a mobile application designed for farmers to manage municipal urban gardens. The app provides information on crop status, products to grow, and required maintenance, aiming to simplify the production process. It also seeks to enhance the sustainability of urban agriculture activities across economic, social, and logistical dimensions.

Helena Guerreiro, Tânia Fernandes, Madalena Bettencourt da Câmara · Annals of Medicine · Global

This abstract discusses the potential for urban gardens to improve communities by enabling a supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, thereby contributing to food security, health, well-being, and financial sustainability. Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with health benefits, and urban gardens can contribute to conscious decisions about eating and lessen the health costs of populations.

Véronique Saint-Gès · Innovations Technology Governance Globalization · Global

A study of 25 market and production business organizations (OEMP) in urban agriculture identified and analyzed their business models, prioritizing the economic dimension. The study revealed the originality and diversity of OEMP activities and highlighted keys to success, such as partnerships, technical skills, and sustainability-focused activities. Marketing is characterized by short supply chains to diverse clients.

Wouyo Atakpama, Madjouma KANDA, Fousséni Folega, Denis Talate LAMBONI, Komlan Batawila, Koffi AKPAGANA · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Togo

This study mapped agricultural spaces, characterized participants, practices, and species, and evaluated the socio-economic importance of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in Lomé, Togo. Using Google Earth, field inventories, and surveys of 89 producers, it found that indigenous, married landowners were most involved. Maize (57.7%) and cassava (39.0%) were the most frequently cultivated among 34 identified species.

Eranjana Kathriarachchi, Dinuka Wijetunga · Sri Lanka Journal of Management Studies · Global

Consumer citizenship has gained attention, with consumers exhibiting citizenship behaviors in non-consumption arenas, beyond choice, purchase, and use. Such behaviors are evident in consumer involvement in organized movements related to organic farming and consumption, like Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS). Guided by Self-Determination Theory and current literature, this paper presents three propositions on how consumers may be motivated to engage in citizenship behaviors outside the domain of consumption, such as volunteering as evaluators in PGS.

Brenda B. Lin, Monika Egerer, Jonathan Kingsley, Pauline Marsh, Lucy Diekmann, Alessandro Ossola · Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment · Global

This letter explores whether there was a renewed global interest in gardening during the initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. It notes that gardening, in various forms from private yards to community gardens, has the potential to counteract negative physical and mental health impacts of lockdowns and reduced human-nature interactions. Media reports indicated spikes in gardening interest, with sold-out seeds and plants in stores.

Naji Meidani Ali Akbar, Ismaila Rimi Abubakar, Ayesha Agha Shah, Wafa Al-Madani · Land · Global

This research explores how the ecologically embedded settlement patterns, building configurations, urban agriculture and home gardening, and water conservation of the Maya-built environment can offer insights for mitigating contemporary urban sustainability challenges. The Mayans' respect for nature guaranteed sustainable habitats, featuring mixed land use and residences constructed with native and recyclable materials. The study suggests that Mayan principles, such as protecting vegetation, conserving water, and listening to environmental feedback, have significant implications for urban land-use planning and policies today.

Anne Forbes, Vinesh Chandra, Linda Pfeiffer, Rachel Sheffield · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Australia

This textbook, "STEM Education in the Primary School," introduces pre-service teachers to the theory, skills, and practice of teaching STEM using a project-based learning approach. It integrates STEM elements with the Australian Curriculum through a school garden project case study and explores popular STEM topics with age-appropriate examples. The text connects current research to teaching practice, covering assessment, learning spaces, and community engagement.

Alexander V. Rusanov · Population and Economics · Russia

This article studies second home land development in Russia using data from All-Russian agricultural censuses. It identifies two processes: residential dachas in horticultural non-profit partnerships (HNP) with residential, recreational, and agricultural functions, and agricultural dachas (vegetable gardens) in gardening non-profit partnerships (GNP) with only agricultural functions. HNPs show a strengthening of recreational and residential functions, while GNPs are decreasing in scale but remain relevant, especially during crises, due to their unique localization and traditions.

Marcelo Salgado, Sabrina Cáceres, Marta Basuino, Nora Gancedo, Claudio Vizia, Sebastián Rodríguez, Laura Gurría · · Argentina (Rosario)

This paper focuses on social housing projects linked with productive undertakings for low-income groups in Rosario, Argentina. It examines experiences such as the Urban Agriculture Program, Rosario Habitat Program, and Housing Cooperatives, which integrate habitat with productive initiatives. The research aims to formulate recommendations for the participatory management of social housing and its articulation with these undertakings, including the promotion of multidisciplinary teams through training workshops.

Nourhan Ashraf, Ghada Farouk, Marwa Khalifa · Engineering Research Journal · Egypt

This study conducted a comparative analysis of the physical applicability and social acceptability of urban agriculture (UA) retrofitting in residential buildings in New Cairo and Nasr City, Egypt. Site visits and face-to-face questionnaires were used, revealing spatial alternatives for UA applicability. The results also showed residents' needs for more green areas and their differing preferences and concerns regarding UA retrofitting within residential buildings.