Research & reports

Marta Camps‐Calvet, Santiago Gorostiza, David Saurı́ · Antipode · Spain (Barcelona)

This study examined social reproduction practices surrounding food in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. Core findings informed the role of women in food provision and production through individual subsistence agriculture, involvement in Barcelona’s anarcho-syndicalist agricultural collective, and participation in agriculture education and training programs. The research was based on original archival data, historical press, and interviews with witnesses of the war.

Elias Danyi Kuusaana, Isaac Ayurienga, Joyce A. Eledi Kuusaana, Joseph Kwaku Kidido, Ibrahim Abu Abdulai · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Ghana (Bolgatanga)

A study in Bolgatanga Township, Ghana, used field surveys, key informant interviews, and GIS mapping to examine urban agricultural practices. It found that agricultural lands significantly decreased in size and contiguity since 1996 due to urban sprawl, forcing farmers to use segregated plots and undeveloped residential areas which are easily lost to development. The study concluded that urbanization exacerbates food production challenges without policies to protect agricultural lands.

Ristina Siti Sundari, Lies Sulistyowati, Trisna Insan Noor, Iwan Setiawan · IntechOpen eBooks · Indonesia

Urban farming is expanding globally due to large urban areas, population density, and the demand for local, healthier food. Limited urban space drives the adoption of soilless culture, such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics, for cultivating agricultural commodities, often in vertical farming. Urban farmers, typically with limited skills but high curiosity, primarily engage in urban farming for household self-demand rather than commercial agribusiness.

Manuela Alves da Cunha, Ryzia de Cássia Vieira Cardoso · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (Salvador)

A descriptive study collected data from urban garden farmers in Salvador, Brazil, to assess the contribution of urban gardens to food and nutritional security and sustainable development. Urban gardens were shown to provide work and income for families, contributing to food supply and security. Beyond producing fresh vegetables for the local population, the activity also contributes to ecosystem balance and sustainability.

Richard Kofi Asravor, Paul Adjei Kwakwa · African Geographical Review · Ghana

This study compared the food security status of urban dwellers in Accra, Ghana, before and after the COVID-19 lockdown, using a sample of 340 respondents. The research found a significant difference, with 36.4% of households being 'High food secure' prior to COVID-19, but 12.35% becoming 'Very low food secure' post-lockdown. The findings indicate a decline in urban household food security following the lockdown.

Sina Razzaghi Asl, Anahita Azadgar · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Iran (Tehran)

A study in Tehran, Iran, mapped the spatial distribution and socio-economic attributes of 26 urban community gardens using semi-structured interviews, qualitative analysis, and secondary data from the 2020 Tehran statistical yearbook. The findings revealed a geographical distribution imbalance, with most gardens located in the southern part of the city. Community gardens were mainly placed in areas with lower average land prices, lower median household income, and higher education graduates, indicating an uneven distribution that favors socio-economically disadvantaged areas.

Giorgio Jivanka, Petrus Rudi Kasimun · Jurnal Sains Teknologi Urban Perancangan Arsitektur (Stupa) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This study analyzes the application of a hybrid concept in a residential project in Jakarta, Indonesia, focusing on simple rental flats (Rusunawa) and urban farming. It aims to address land degradation and poverty by integrating urban plantations to support residents' economic aspects, alongside considering social adaptation needs. The hybrid concept, guided by criteria like project scale and function diversity, serves as a design criterion for work-based residential buildings.

Lulu Fara, Muhammad Yafi Fadhillah, W. Dea Fadhilah, Kalonika Izzati, Nita Wahyuni, Nabila Triyuliani Hasdania, Alda Agustina, Dwi Librina Suhardi, Annisa Nur Yasin, Amos Adrian Sembiring Pelawi, Fadel Saleh Basobih · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Nusantara · Indonesia

This paper discusses the realization of the Budikdamber urban farming concept in Simpang Tiga Village, Pekanbaru City, Indonesia. Service students implemented Budikdamber activities as a solution to limited cultivation land and decreasing water quality, aiming to address challenges posed by increasing population growth and land function shifts. The initiative also serves as a platform for entrepreneurship.

Arlene M. Rosen · Risk, systems and decisions · Global

This paper suggests that modern Western communities can learn from small-scale societies' long-term sustainable living strategies in dryland environments. These societies developed resilience over thousands of years, rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge, enabling them to thrive through shifting environmental conditions. While not directly applicable to large cities, their solutions can inform ground-up approaches for smaller urban segments like neighborhood collectives, urban gardening, and water conservation methods.

Hastati Hastati, Haji Saediman, Idrus Salam · Jurnal Ilmiah Membangun Desa dan Pertanian · Indonesia

This study, using a sample of 80 urban farming households in Kendari City, Indonesia, analyzed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on staple food consumption types and frequency. It found that rice remained the dominant staple food before and during the pandemic, followed by sago and cassava, with local foods serving as complementary. The type and frequency of staple food consumption did not change significantly during the pandemic.

Raktima Ghosh · · India (Kolkata)

This study examined the roles and emergent risks of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, India, using a mixed-method approach combining empirical findings and geospatial techniques. Field observations and land use land cover (LULC) mapping validated land conversion patterns and the spatial shrinkage of UPA in the Kolkata metropolis. The study revealed current socioecological changes and governance patterns in the context of UPA, indicating that UPA faces multiple challenges arising from land-use transformations, privatization of lands, and changing social equations in the city.

André Ruoppolo Biazoti, Marcos Sorrentino · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (São Paulo)

This ethnographic study investigated political engagement in community gardens in São Paulo, Brazil, through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The research found that community gardens foster affections that empower individuals to engage in territorial management, leading to the formation of expanded collectives that establish unique management forms challenging institutional powers.

Lenon Musosa, Munyaradzi Davis Shekede, Isaiah Gwitira, Innocent Chirisa, Daniel Tevera, Abraham R. Matamanda · African Geographical Review · Zimbabwe (Harare)

This study mapped the spatial and temporal distribution of cropland in Harare Metropolitan, Zimbabwe, between 1985 and 2019 using Landsat 5 imagery and the Random Forest classifier in Google Earth Engine. The results revealed considerable fluctuations in the cultivated area over this period, influenced by several factors. The study demonstrates the increasing importance of remote sensing for assessing urban cropland and its contribution to food security.

Sri Utami, Endah Ratnaningsih, Yeni Indra Kumalasari, Rahayu Widowati · Rahmatan Lil Alamin Journal of Community Services · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)

In Bener village, Tegalrejo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, a community service activity was conducted to introduce urban farming and the practice of fruit cultivation in pots (Tabulampot). The activity included urban farming socialization, planting media preparation, introduction of guava varieties, and transplanting and maintenance practices. The practical planting and direct mentoring proved effective in encouraging residents to implement urban farming in their environment.

Bethuel Sibongiseni Ngcamu · Environmental & Socio-economic Studies · Africa

This literature review explored the effects of urbanization on food security in Africa by reviewing eleven empirical journal articles. Findings indicate that rapid, unplanned urbanization has led to increased food insecurity, environmental degradation, and unsustainable food security, exacerbated by ill-prepared and incompetent governments. Key issues identified include poor government interventions, inadequate land-use planning, and high incompetency among urban planners.

Nick ten Caat, Martin Tenpierik, Andy van den Dobbelsteen · Sustainability · Global

This study introduced the FEWprint platform's diet shift component, simulating a theoretical community-wide diet shift from conventional to vegan while maintaining protein intake in Amsterdam, Belfast, and Detroit. Results showed the largest total carbon mitigation potential in Detroit (-916 kg CO2eq/cap/year), followed by Belfast (-866 kg) and Amsterdam (-509 kg). In relative terms, Belfast had the largest carbon reduction potential (-25%), followed by Amsterdam (-15%) and Detroit (-7%).

Miriam Bertrán-Vilà, Ayari G. Pasquier Merino, Jéssica Geraldine Villatoro-Hernández · Sustainability · Mexico (Mexico City)

This study described the conditions of 60 peri-urban farmers in Mexico City working with agroecological schemes, analyzing the role of social and cultural capital in consolidating their projects and consumer links. Based on field visits and interviews, the research argued that the social and cultural capital of production units are key elements in determining the viability of the agroecological transition.

Monika Egerer · Anliegen Natur · Global

A global survey explored the importance of urban gardens during the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey showed that gardening is an effective outdoor strategy for stress relief, food provision, and increasing feelings of safety during uncertain times.

Jia Qi Cheong · · Malaysia

Almost 10 million Malaysians face food insecurity, leading to the emergence of initiatives supporting alternative food sources, though challenges persist. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of urban food supply chains, with Malaysia experiencing cooking oil price spikes in February 2022.

JAVIER DE LEON, ARACELLY VEGA RÍOS · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Panama

This report details a virtual workshop on sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture. The workshop was conducted as part of the APY-CENPEN-2018-012 SENACYT project, focusing on "Sustainability in the Use of Natural Resources in the Western Region of Panama."

Haslynda Syah, Muhammad Hasan, Citra Ayni Kamaruddin, Nurdiana Nurdiana, Nurjannah Nurjannah · Ideas Jurnal Pendidikan Sosial dan Budaya · Indonesia

This qualitative descriptive study investigated food security strategies within an urban farming program in Bara-baraya Village, Indonesia, focusing on the Orchid Women Farmers Group (KWT). Data from interviews and observations revealed that one realized strategy by the government and community members is the development of a Sustainable Food House Yard Area Model.

Siwei Hu, MI Chang-hong, SHI Rongguang, YANG Yanying · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global

This study analyzed the frontiers, hot topics, and trends of sustainable agriculture development using CiteSpace, based on 2,217 papers published in Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from 2000 to 2019. Frontiers focused on "food system resilience and food security," "ecological intensification and sustainable intensification," "agricultural multi-functionality and urban agriculture," and "trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services in agroecosystem." Hotspots included climate change impacts on agricultural systems and adaptive management, ecosystem services management in agro-ecosystems, and environmental impact assessment of agricultural activities and integrated sustainability assessment of agricultural systems.

Gabe Arif Ditama Sinaga, Yani Kurniawan, Ayuni Kusumawati · Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Humaniora · Indonesia (Malang)

This reflective study, conducted with 30 informants in Malang City, Indonesia, investigated factors driving urban farming success during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous research identified external constraints, such as minimal government intervention, and internal issues, like low public enthusiasm. However, this study found that during the pandemic, urban farming conditions, public enthusiasm, and government intervention increased. The research also correlated communal society and local cultural elements with urban farming activities, suggesting optimal practice when implemented at a community scale and linked to local culture.

Qazi Shafayetul Islam, Nasima Akter · European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety · Canada (Toronto)

This qualitative study, involving nine community organization representatives and 15 volunteers in Toronto's priority neighborhoods, identified significant barriers to providing and receiving free food support during COVID-19. Community members faced a lack of information, language barriers, social stigma, and fear of COVID-19. Organizations struggled with insufficient information on needs, limited transportation, storage space, committed volunteers, and funding, highlighting systemic and financial challenges in effective food support programs.

Ndeyapo Nickanor, Lawrence N. Kazembe, Jonathan Crush · · Namibia

A household survey of 853 households in Namibia's Oshakati-Ongwediva-Ondangwa (OOO) urban corridor found 77% household food insecurity and a mean dietary diversity of less than 5. The most common coping strategies were relying on less preferred and less expensive foods (67%) and rural-urban food transfers (55%). Urban agriculture was found to be very limited in this region.