Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2531 results(49 / 102)
A Socially-Based Redesign of Sustainable Food Practices: Community Supported Agriculture in Italy
2021Alessandra Piccoli, Adanella Rossi, Angela Genova · Sustainability · Italy
To understand the potential of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model in Italy, two investigations were conducted in 2019 and 2020, analyzing structural and organizational aspects, and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Findings indicate that CSAs represent a radically innovative experience capable of redefining production and consumption practices, demonstrating remarkable resilience due to their common value basis and strong interdependence and solidarity among members.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsConstructing Organic Food through Urban Agriculture, Community Gardens in Seville
2021Mario Jordi Sánchez, Antonio Luis Díaz Aguilar · Sustainability · Spain (Seville)
Through observation and qualitative analysis of community urban gardens in southern Spain (Andalusia), this paper notes that the people who cultivate allotments within these community gardens attribute a wide variety of different meanings to their practices. This plurality of meanings moves beyond the rational-technical dimension of the act of growing, while at the same time redefining the act of consuming organic food, because of its connection with productive and social activities.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthLegal Instruments to Support Local Food Systems in United States Law
2021Anna Kapała · Comparative Law Review · United States
This study analyzed federal, state, and local regulations in US law to identify instruments supporting local food systems (LFS), including food safety, zoning, tax law, and federal programs. It found that US law lacks a systematic approach to LFS support, but identified legislative tools such as food safety exemptions, sales tax exemptions, local zoning laws for urban agriculture, and federal grant programs.
PolicyCSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceConclusion
2021Christina Ergas · · Global
This concluding chapter summarizes lessons from urban agriculture and ecovillages, defining radical sustainability as socially and ecologically transformative and regenerative. It identifies tools for radical sustainability, including community care and skill sharing. The chapter offers practical, community-oriented solutions for socioecological crises, particularly for those unable to implement urban farming, and discusses the potential for large-scale structural change or collapse.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changePolicyExperiencias relevantes de agricultura urbana y periurbana en Colombia
2021Ramón Antonio Mosquera Mena, Yolvi Prada Millán · Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia eBooks · Colombia
Urban and peri-urban agriculture in Colombia offers benefits such as alleviating food insecurity and creating jobs, but currently lacks government policies to support these processes. This paper contextualizes relevant experiences and technical tools for implementing agroecological orchards, emphasizing environmental and social sensitivity. It also notes that agricultural research in Colombia is still emerging, requiring more applied research for technological development to benefit communities and farmers.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyCommunityFrom the researched to co-researchers: including excluded participants in community-led research on urban agriculture in Cape Town
2021Nicole Paganini, Silke Stöber · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension · South Africa (Cape Town)
This long-term study in Cape Town, South Africa, developed and employed a co-research approach with urban farmers, using mixed methods including focus groups, farming diaries, and surveys. Participants perceived the research process itself as more important than the results, as they developed agency for change. The mutually developed results were used by co-researchers to establish a representative body advocating for small-scale farmers' needs.
CommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceFood educationIMPLEMENTASI PROGRAM KAMPUNG IKLIM: URBAN FARMING MELALUI HIDROPONIK DAN BUDIKDAMBER DI KELURAHAN SIALANG PALEMBANG
2021Trecy Austin, Marleni Marleni · Jurnal Abdimas Indonesia · Indonesia (Palembang)
This community empowerment activity in Sialang Village, Palembang City, Indonesia, involved training and direct practical assistance to implement urban farming, specifically hydroponics and BUDIKDAMBER (fish and vegetable cultivation in buckets). The program aimed to enhance food security and support the Climate Village Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants from RT 19 and RT 65 RW 13 gained understanding of urban farming methods and their health and economic benefits, showing readiness to adopt these practices in their households.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeHealthHousehold and Community Gardens Surge in the Philippines and Senegal during COVID-19
2021Halie Kampman, Shun-Nan Chiang, Salam Sawadogo · Gastronomica The Journal of Food and Culture · Philippines; Senegal
This study compares the surge in household and community gardening in the Philippines and Senegal during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on urban and peri-urban areas. It analyzes how government policies and community responses shaped this increased interest, noting that Philippine policy promotes citizen food growing for national self-sufficiency, while Senegalese policy favors large-scale, commercially oriented modernization. The research highlights contrasting visions for future food systems in these two Global South countries.
CommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceLocal food development in the Moose Cree First Nation: taking steps to build local food sustainability
2021Celeste Ferreira, Janice Cindy Gaudet, Anthony Chum, Michael A. Robidoux · Food Culture & Society · Canada
This paper explores local food initiatives in Moose Cree First Nation, a remote northern community in Ontario, Canada, focusing on a community garden project. It documents steps taken to build local food capacity and understand the challenges and opportunities the community faces in regaining autonomy over its food system. The findings are based on community-based participatory action approaches.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthUrban–rural linkage[Implementasi Urban Farming Berdasarkan Perspektif Political Ecology] : Review
2021Margareth Margareth, Oekan S. Abdoellah, Martha Fani Cahyandito, Kinanti Indah Safitri · Prosiding Seminar Nasional Fakultas Pertanian UNS · Indonesia (Bandung)
This qualitative study examines the implementation of urban farming in Bandung City, Indonesia, from a political ecology perspective, focusing on market, service, and institutional interactions, and product marketing chains. The research identifies policy failures, where city government agricultural policies were insufficient to meet residents' food needs, necessitating top-down urban farming innovations. It also notes market failures due to public dissatisfaction with available products, driving bottom-up urban farming initiatives by independent organizations. Funding sources and operational cost efficiency strategies differ between government-led and independent urban farming efforts.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceFamily Centered Approaches to Stunting Prevention
2021Fadly Umar · Journal of Health Literacy and Qualitative Research · Global
A systematic review of studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar explored family-based interventions for stunting prevention globally. The review found that maternal education, paternal involvement, and household food security, including urban farming, significantly influence child nutrition and growth outcomes. Challenges to implementation include caregiver time constraints, inconsistent nutritional knowledge, and cultural barriers.
HealthFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityTransformative potential from the ground up: Sustainable innovation journeys, soft change and alignment of interests in urban food initiatives
2021Damian Maye, Paul Swagemakers, J.S.C. Wiskerke, Heidrun Moschitz, James Kirwan, Ingrid Jahrl · European Urban and Regional Studies · Europe
This study utilized the 'sustainable innovation journeys' concept to trace urban food initiatives in Rotterdam (Netherlands), Vigo (Spain), and Zurich (Switzerland) over a six-year period from 2013 to 2018. While micro-level innovation practices can induce sustainability shifts, particularly when aligned with policy interests, the study also observed potentially negative impacts due to a lack of alignment at the initiative or city-region levels.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceRestinga Comestible: una propuesta socio ambiental dentro del paisajismo urbano
2021Mariana Castañeda Díez, Rita de Cássia Martins Montezuma · Sociedade & natureza · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
This paper addresses two problems in Rio de Janeiro: environmental issues from native restinga fragmentation due to urban development, and food shortages in low-income communities. It proposes edible landscaping for public spaces on Rio's west side to tackle these issues. The research involved theoretical framework analyses, geo-technological tools, and local visits for biophysical, urban, and architectural analyses to select suitable public spaces for the edible landscape proposal.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityClimate changeAgricultura urbana, governança territorial e planejamento urbano em área protegida de Manaus – Brasil
2021Camila Garcia Fernandes de Souza Margem, Néliton Marques da Sílva · Cadernos Metrópole · Brazil (Manaus)
This article analyzed the feasibility of implementing urban agriculture (UA) on idle land within the Tarumã – Ponta Negra Environmental Protection Area in Manaus, Brazil, as a tool for territorial governance and urban planning. Semi-structured interviews and card sorting techniques were applied to the target population. The study found that the use of idle land for UA is not envisioned as a territorial governance instrument, a situation exacerbated by municipal authorities hindering the legitimization of bills for such land use.
Governance failurePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageAgricultura urbana e agroecologia no território do extremo sul do município de São Paulo
2021Angélica Campos Nakamura, Valéria de Marcos · Estudos Avançados · Brazil (São Paulo)
Since the 2000s, urban and peri-urban agriculture activities have gained momentum in São Paulo, Brazil, directly impacting the city's agricultural sector. In the far south, public authorities, the University of São Paulo, and several NGOs promoted agroecological practices, leading to the establishment of Cooperapas, São Paulo's only farmers' cooperative. This expanded the production and commercialization of agroecological foods for the city.
Food sovereignty & justicePolicyCommunityEconomicsEscalamiento de la agroecología desde el huerto escolar y la importancia de reconocer la cultura, los alimentos y lugar
2021Helda Morales, Bruce G. Ferguson, Kimberly Chung, Ronald Nigh · Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente · Mexico (Chiapas)
This study explored the potential and limitations for agroecological scaling through formal educational structures, using the LabVida school gardens program in Chiapas, Mexico as a case study. Through training, educators gained an appreciation of agroecology and applied practices in their school gardens, although their understanding of agroecological principles and scientific process remained limited. The program's greatest impact was on educators’ eating habits and their perception of the value of local knowledge and its relevance to schoolwork.
Limited or null effectFood educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceThe potential of bio-intensive market gardening models for a transformative urban agriculture
2021Noémie Maughan, Nathalie Pipart, Barbara Van Dyck, Marjolein Visser · · Belgium (Brussels)
This chapter shares insights from the establishment of the Brussels-based Cycle Farm, a reflexive research process involving various stakeholders. It highlights the need for small, local food producers to develop competitive advantages in the context of organic food sector industrialization, as emphasized by Eliot Coleman. The research involved workshops and focused on enhancing the resilience of the Brussels Region, with SPIN Farming concentrating on high-value crops.
EconomicsCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agricultureUrban agriculture in times of crisis: the role of home food growing in perceived food insecurity and well-being during the early COVID-19 lockdown
2021Bethan R. Mead, Jessica Davies, Natalia Falagán, Sofia Kourmpetli, Lingxuan Liu, Charlotte A. Hardman · Emerald Open Research · United Kingdom
A cross-sectional online survey of 477 UK adults (March-April 2020) investigated the role of home food growing during the early COVID-19 lockdown. Participants engaged in home food growing reported lower perceived food insecurity and higher well-being than non-growers. There were no differences in opinions of urban agriculture compared to pre-pandemic data from a separate sample (N=583).
DIYHealthWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceAgroecología situada: contexto, proceso y masificación del Programa de Formación en Agroecología en Venezuela
2021Olga Domené-Painenao, Francisco Herrera · Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente · Venezuela
In Venezuela, the Bolivarian Revolution since 1999 has seen the unfolding of harsh class and food system contradictions. While the Program Degree in Agroecology (PDA) at the Bolivarian University of Venezuela has trained over a thousand graduates who contribute to agroecological scaling and urban agriculture, the abstract highlights the persistent "harsh class and food system contradictions" within the country. This indicates ongoing equity challenges despite agroecological efforts.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justicePolicyCommunityFood educationAspek Sumber Daya Manusia yang Kompeten Sebagai Pendukung Utama Urban Farming
2021Institut Teknologi Bandung, Ernawati Ernawati, Indratmo Soekarno, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Joko Sıswanto, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Yadi Suryadi, Institut Teknologi Bandung · Jurnal Keteknikan Pertanian Tropis dan Biosistem · Indonesia
This study discusses the need for competent human resources to support urban farming in Indonesia, given limited land and busy urban populations. It notes that only 24% of the community intends to engage in urban farming, and only 2% actually do, resulting in suboptimal outcomes. The research emphasizes that strong cooperation between the government and community is essential for urban farming to contribute to food security.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureThe Existence of Subsistence, Semi-Commercial and Commercial Urban Agriculture in Bandung Metropolitan, Indonesia
2021Kinanti Indah Safitri, Oekan S. Abdoellah, Yusep Suparman, Akhmad Zainal Mubarak, Margareth · International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning · Indonesia (Bandung)
The existence of subsistence, semi-commercial, and commercial urban agriculture in Bandung Metropolitan, Indonesia, was investigated through qualitative research. Data was collected via observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation with 50 individuals from farmer groups and local government. Findings indicated that each category of urban agriculture had distinct characteristics and motivations, with subsistence agriculture in intra-city areas aiming to reduce food dependence, and semi-commercial and commercial agriculture in surrounding regencies focusing on economic development or profit maximization. The study concluded that policy instruments for sustainable agricultural management are needed for urban agriculture in Bandung Metropolitan.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityFood for Thought: Addressing Urban Food Security Risks through Urban Agriculture
2021Jorinda Steenkamp, Elizelle Juaneé Cilliers, Sarel S. Cilliers, Louis Lategan · Sustainability · Global
This paper proposes urban agriculture as an intervention for planners to support sustainable food production and supply chains, addressing the neglect of food security in planning. A multiple-case study analyzed four urban agriculture examples in the Global South. The findings indicate urban agriculture's potential to improve food security for at-risk populations and mitigate urban risks like unemployment, community decline, and food deserts through its multifunctionality.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeCommunityWelfareEconomicsLocavorismo: uma análise de suas contradições à luz de experiências de agricultura urbana em São Paulo
2021Manuela Maluf Santos, Paulo Eduardo Moruzzi Marques · Estudos Avançados · Brazil (São Paulo)
This article conceptually explores the "locavorism" food activism movement, noting that its practical application can have diverse and even antagonistic effects. To analyze these contradictions, two farmer organizations in São Paulo involved in local consumption circuits were interviewed to understand the potential social and environmental effects of this purchasing model. The abstract does not present the findings of these interviews.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsUrban–rural linkagePrácticas agroecológicas en la implementación de huertos urbanos y periurbanos
2021Sandra Patricia Montenegro Gómez, Yetfersson Arley Serrato Velosa, Yolvi Prada Millán · 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. While urban and peri-urban agriculture yields positive results in food security, sustainability, and resilience, Colombia currently lacks government policies to support these processes. The paper aims to transfer knowledge on crops to various communities to strengthen their food security through vegetable production.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyEconomicsPKM BUDIDAYA MANDIRI URBAN FARMING SISTEM HIDROPONIK UNTUK MEMAKSIMALKAN PEMANFAATAN LAHAN PEKARANGAN DI PERKOTAAN
2021Novisrayani Kesmayanti, Abdul Aziz · Journal of Community Service · Indonesia (Palembang)
This community service activity (PKM) in Palembang, Indonesia, addressed challenges faced by PKK RT 19 RW 05 community members, including limited yard space and farming knowledge. The program provided education, technology transfer, demonstrations, and assistance for independent hydroponic urban farming. The activity successfully helped community members maximize the use of narrow yard spaces, transforming them into productive environments for family food supply through hydroponic cultivation.
DIYCommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justice