Research & reports

Sitong Liu, Meili Feng, Linjun Xie, Faith Ka Shun Chan · Nature-Based Solutions · China

This study systematically reviewed 464 global publications, including 85 focused on China, to address gaps in understanding urban green infrastructure (UGI) for carbon neutrality. It categorized UGI's carbon mitigation mechanisms and aligned them with quantification methods across carbon sequestration, thermal regulation, and urban agriculture, highlighting strengths and limitations. The research identified critical factors influencing mitigation outcomes, assessed methodological trade-offs, and explored UGI-related carbon initiatives in China, offering policy recommendations.

La Ode Muhammad Noval Alfrizi La Ode, Djusdil Akrim, Luisa Ángela, Jilan Tsamara, Ronatio Napitupulu, Chatarina T.P, Muhammad Aufa · JEBE Journal of Environment Behavior and Engineering · Indonesia (Makassar)

The Integrated Urban Farming System (IUFS) in Makassar City, Indonesia, utilizes mosque ablution water and community land for vertical farming and aquaponics. This system is estimated to produce up to 1 quintal of vegetables and 50 kg of catfish per cycle while saving approximately 15% of water. The project aims to strengthen local food security and promote Makassar's image as an ecological city through academic-community partnerships and micro-financing.

Endah Tisnawati, Ferida Yuamita, Anang Saptoto, Sagio Sagio, Yunita Firdha Kyswantoro, Desrina Ratriningsih · SPEKTA (Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat Teknologi dan Aplikasi) · Indonesia

This community service program aimed to strengthen the institutional capacity of urban farmer groups in Kemantren Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta. A methodology combining participatory mapping, exhibitions, and focus group discussions (FGDs) was employed. Results showed that participatory mapping increased collective awareness of available resources, while structured FGDs supported the formulation of institutional strategies, improving group cohesion, managerial transparency, and access to external support. The program demonstrates the crucial role of integrating participatory methods and public interaction in strengthening urban farming groups' capacity.

Rahoyo Rahoyo, Teti Susilowati, Sri Purwantini · Economics Development Analysis Journal · Indonesia (Semarang)

This research explored the economic viability of community gardens in Semarang City, Indonesia, using a qualitative approach with 24 participants. Findings indicate that most community gardens operate at a financial loss, showing weak economic viability. However, these gardens continue to function sustainably, driven not by profit but by government programs, social cohesion, and environmental concern.

Ilana Herold, Buhm Soon Park · International Journal of Urban and Regional Research · South Korea (Daejeon)

Ethnographic case studies of three urban community gardens in Daejeon, South Korea, illustrated how urban agriculture (UA) serves as a platform for civil society groups, national government, and local governments to advance their political and sociocultural goals. The study argued that while national UA legislation was passed to advance top-down sustainable development goals, local actors challenge the functions of UA and ideas of expertise through their practice.

Rahmalisa Rahmalisa, Wiratmadinata Wiratmadinata, Anhar Nasution · Jurnal MEDIASAS Media Ilmu Syari ah dan Ahwal Al-Syakhsiyyah · Indonesia (Aceh)

This study analyzes criminal liability in cases where electrified cables, installed to protect crops from wild animals in community gardens, resulted in fatalities in the Aceh region of Indonesia. Using a normative legal research approach, the study of death cases in Bireuen and Aceh Timur showed that the installation of electrical cables leading to loss of life was caused by the perpetrator's negligence in adhering to safety standards, fulfilling elements of criminal negligence under Indonesian criminal law. The resolution pattern for these cases follows the litigation route.

Jyotsana Agarwala · · India

This case study examines the potential of rooftop organic farming and novel supply chain tactics in Badlapur, Maharashtra, India. It evaluates a rooftop organic farming initiative, assessing elements like input procurement, farming methods, logistics, and technological innovations. Research indicates that decentralized food production, such as rooftop gardening, diminishes reliance on rural agriculture, lowers carbon emissions, and improves urban food sovereignty. The study also identifies obstacles including scalability, standardization, legal impediments, and insufficient customer awareness.

Siti Dharmawati, Aam Gunawan, Sugiarti Sugiarti · Jurnal Abdi Insani · Indonesia

A community service program in Banjarbaru City, Indonesia, aimed to empower 22 women farmers from the Nusa Indah Women Farmers Group to diversify duck meat products into duck soy sauce. The program, part of an urban farming initiative, involved technical guidance, outreach, and practical training. Participation was high, with 100% attendance and over 70% active engagement. While 68.19%-100% understood the material, only 27.27% expressed a strong desire to develop and market the product. Organoleptic tests showed positive feedback on the soy sauce's color, aroma, and taste.

Rafi Haikal, Thoriqi Firdaus, Herdis Herdiansyah, Rizqi Shafira Chairunnisa · Sustainability · Indonesia

This study investigated the relationship between urban planning policies and architectural design in fostering sustainable food systems in 75 smart cities in Indonesia, using a mixed-methods approach. Key findings revealed that food security is significantly undermined by the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), indicating distributional inequalities, high food expenditure, and a lack of clean water. Conversely, access to electricity improves resilience.

T. JHANSI, Kamaruddin Rani, T. S. Swapna · ˜The œBioscan. · India (Tenali)

This thesis explores the strategy of transforming derelict spaces in Tenali into green urban landscapes for sustainable urban regeneration. The study aims to identify underutilized areas and propose their redevelopment into green urban landscapes such as parks, community gardens, and recreational zones, to enhance the city's ecological footprint, social cohesion, and urban aesthetics. It will provide a framework for transforming these spaces through a comprehensive analysis of existing derelict sites, green space design principles, community involvement strategies, and sustainable urban design approaches.

Hongmei Lu, Yanliu Lin, Pieter Hooimeijer, Yuelai Liu · Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning · China

This study investigates emerging coproduction transforming neglected vacant lands into community gardens in underserved neighborhoods in China, focusing on how collectivism influences civic engagement. Employing mixed methods including surveys, interviews, and field observations, the research explored how factors like motivation, legitimacy, and challenges manifest in a collective context. Findings revealed that residents prioritize neighborhood well-being over individual benefits, civic initiators use collectivism to legitimize garden land use, and residents frame community gardens as collective endeavors with broad societal benefits.

Prinia, Hill · PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) · China

A new study by Feng et al. investigated how public environmental concern (PEC) enhances agricultural sustainability across 235 Chinese cities between 2011 and 2022. This research suggests that the collective voice of citizens influences urban sustainability.

Amandita 'Ainur Rohmah, Falik Wardana, A. Riyan Rahman Hakiki, Sidharta Adyatma · PAKIS (Publikasi Berkala Pendidikan Ilmu Sosial) · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)

A qualitative approach using a literature review was employed to identify the role and contribution of urban agriculture in Yogyakarta City and analyze innovations and social strategies for achieving food stability. The literature review indicates successful implementation of urban agriculture in Yogyakarta City through two flagship programs, Kampung Sayur and Lele Cendol, and that various community innovations allow for the development of an integrated urban farming system.

Kurnia Dewi, Yusuf Hariyoko, Hasan Ismail · Presidensial · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A qualitative descriptive study investigated stakeholder synergy in urban farming programs in Surabaya, Indonesia. Data was collected through interviews, documentation, and observation involving the DKPP, agricultural extension officers, farmer groups, and the local community. Strong commitment, competence, awareness, and continuity were identified as driving factors for successful implementation, but challenges include declining active farmer groups and limited facilities.

Chen Li, Jin ZUO, Tao Lin, Xiao Wang · Landscape Architecture · China

This study, focused on the central urban area of Tianjin, China, presents a method for extracting potential green roofs and assessing ecological network reconstruction. It synthesizes four suitability characteristics — flat roof features, roof color, additional structures, and building height — into a deep learning model with attention mechanisms and multi-scale feature fusion to identify potential green roof areas, then proposes a framework based on a Least-Cost Path model for incorporating potential green roofs into urban ecological network reconstruction. The results identified 21,244 roofs with greening potential in central Tianjin, covering a total of 1,345.22 hectares (average 633 m², largest 24,927 m²), showing a "polycentric and dispersed" spatial distribution. Integrating potential green roofs with existing green space increased the number of source patches from 100 to 131 and total area by 302.35 hectares, with potential green roofs directly contributing 126.28 hectares.

Ansar Amir, Mohammed Haruna · Interdisciplinary Social Studies · Indonesia (Makassar)

The Tanami Tanata Movement in Makassar City, Indonesia, was studied using a qualitative descriptive approach involving interviews, observations, and documentation to examine public administration innovation integrating organic waste management with urban farming. The movement was found to significantly reduce organic waste generation while strengthening family food security, achieved through multi-actor collaboration, participatory governance platforms, local circular economy implementation, and service digitization via the 'Sampah Tukar Sayur' (waste-for-vegetables) program; integrating waste management with urban farming created a sustainable cycle turning waste into productive resources with ecological, social, and economic benefits, and also spurred urban-agriculture-based micro businesses and greater public awareness of zero-waste principles.

Fetty Dwi Rahmayanti, Andi Gunawan, Anas Miftah Fauzi, Edi Santosa · Journal of Tropical Crop Science · Indonesia

A study of East Jakarta, Indonesia, one of the cities where urban farming practices have been implemented, analyzed environmental risk control for sustainable urban agriculture development in 2025. Environmental risks caused by biotic and abiotic factors were identified across 17 question categories and assessed on low, medium and high risk scales. Air dust was found to carry the highest risk among the biotic and abiotic factors examined. Respondents were found to have reasonably effective knowledge of environmental risks, but the study concluded that deeper understanding and increased knowledge are needed to achieve sustainable urban agriculture.

Arum Sekar Kedhaton, Prince Clinton Immanuel Christian Damanik, Hizwatin Maulidya, Yuliana Devina Angela Jane, Juwari Juwari · Prosiding Seminar Nasional Pembangunan dan Pendidikan Vokasi Pertanian · Indonesia (Samarinda)

A 2025 study analyzed and compared the physical characteristics of soil in two areas of Samarinda City, Indonesia — Samarinda Ulu and Samarinda Utara sub-districts — as a basis for evaluating urban farming potential, using a descriptive-comparative approach to examine soil texture, structure, color and consistency. Results showed the soil in Samarinda Ulu had a fine sandy loam texture, small crumb structure and olive brown color (2.5Y 4/4), while soil in Samarinda Utara had a somewhat coarser texture, angular blocky structure and reddish brown color (5YR 4/4). These differences indicate variation in water retention and drainage capacity that affects crop suitability: Samarinda Ulu soil was found more suitable for horticultural crops, while Samarinda Utara soil suited drought-tolerant plants. The study is intended to inform the development of sustainable urban agriculture in humid tropical regions.

Lin Ye, Shuang He, Yong Li, Zhaohui YAN, Lei Huang · Landscape Architecture · China

Against the backdrop of China's evolving urban community governance—from the danwei (work unit) system under the planned economy, through the neighborhood committee system of market reform, to the current community-based governance model—which has eroded kinship-based ties and left communities more fragmented with declining residents' sense of belonging, this research examines how green space development, including community gardens and urban agriculture programs, can build social cohesion and resident wellbeing while facing persistent challenges around sustainable funding models, quantifiable outcomes, and equitable access across socioeconomic groups. The methodology combines CiteSpace visual mapping analysis with inductive and deductive review methods in a three-stage process that analyzes countries with the largest research output and tracks changes in key research topics over time.

Widowati Widowati, Cahyo Budiman, Meiny Suzery, Jafron Wasiq Hidayat, Sutrisno Sutrisno, Eka Triyana, Taleb Gaber · International Journal of Community Engagement and Development · Indonesia

An article reports on a community activity strengthening local food security through sustainable, integrated urban farming in Rowosari Village, Tembalang District, Indonesia. It combines hydroponic cultivation with catfish aquaculture in limited spaces such as home yards, rooftops and vertical surfaces, and integrates waste management and plant nutrition. The activity involved lectures and discussions plus hands-on training on vertical hydroponic installations and catfish pond cultivation in the village, followed by monitoring and evaluation.

Anthony Steven, Iriani Atrika, Doris Febriyanti, Siti Zubaidah · Government & Resilience · Indonesia (Palembang)

This case study examines collaborative governance between local authorities and community stakeholders in Palembang, Indonesia, a low-lying delta city on the Musi River facing recurrent flooding, food insecurity and disrupted supply chains driven by urban expansion, poor drainage infrastructure and climate-related rainfall variability. It analyzes local policy responses, community-led initiatives such as floating vegetable gardens, and urban farming on flood-resilient land, finding that while municipal disaster agencies provide early warning and evacuation support, food access and distribution during floods are primarily sustained by grassroots networks and community-organized food banks.

Ika Oktaviani, Agusmidah Agusmidah, Affila Affila · Jurnal Kajian Konstitusi · Indonesia

This normative-juridical legal study examines the North Labuhanbatu Regency Government's authority over plasma (community garden) development, a legal obligation for plantation companies renewing their Right to Cultivate, in the context of a land dispute with PTPN IV Regional 1 in South Merbau. It finds that the regency government, through its Agriculture Office, has not imposed administrative sanctions on the plantation company that failed to develop plasma gardens for the South Merbau community, and concludes the government appears to have failed to exercise its authority to secure community welfare.

Judy Thomas, Nedumaran Swamikannu, R. Vijaya Kumari, Jyosthnaa Padmanabhan · CABI Agriculture and Bioscience · India

A survey of 330 peri-urban farm households in Hyderabad, India, using multi-stage sampling and a Double Hurdle Model to analyze the decision to diversify farm activities and the intensity of that diversification. Results show the initial decision to diversify is strongly shaped by socio-environmental factors — proximity to urban areas, sole reliance on farming for income, household size and risk attitudes — while diversification intensity is largely determined by farm-specific resource conditions such as soil fertility and farmers' subjective assessment of production and market uncertainty. The study concludes that peri-urban farms in India are moving toward diversification, but at low intensity, particularly among small and semi-medium landholdings.

Fetty Dwi Rahmayanti, Andi Gunawan, Anas Miftah Fauzi, Edi Santosa · Jurnal Agronomi Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Agronomy) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

A mixed-methods study assessing biodiversity risk from urban agriculture activities in East Jakarta, Indonesia, combining a literature review with a field survey of questionnaires on respondents' perceptions of biodiversity risk to flora and fauna. The results showed the p-value exceeded the alpha level (0.05), indicating that urban agriculture in East Jakarta does not significantly affect biodiversity risks to flora and fauna.

Hanik Endang Nihayati, Retno Indarwati, Elida Ulfiana · Jurnal Masyarakat · Indonesia

Aimed at creating urban green space and food production through urban farming — framed as an innovative strategy for food security amid rapid urbanization — this Indonesian initiative built urban greening through collaboration among community groups, the PKK women's welfare movement, and village (kelurahan) government officials. It was carried out as a five-stage, one-year mentoring program (socialization, trial, implementation, evaluation, and harvest festival) starting in April 2018. The urban farming program, which involved community members, particularly women, was found to improve quality of life by providing access to quality vegetables in the city center and creating a greener environment. The program is described as providing real benefits to the community, the village government, academics, and higher-education institutions, and as needing to be expanded to other regions with active involvement of women to broaden its impact.