Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
855 results(5 / 35)
Participatory science in urban soil research: A framework for overcoming challenges and expanding public engagement
2025Anna Paltseva · iScience · Global
This article presents a participatory science framework for urban soil research, engaging communities in soil monitoring and management through co-designed projects and educational outreach. The framework integrates digital tools and real-time mapping to enhance data accuracy and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to improve urban soil health. Demonstrated through case studies, this approach aims to build capacity for sustained community involvement and equitable environmental decision-making.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityClimate changeFood educationRancho (r)evolution A strategy for reinventing urban gardening in Plovdiv
2025Popov, Velian · reposiTUm (TU Wien) · Bulgaria (Plovdiv)
This study examines the disappearing phenomenon of informal urban gardening, known as Rancho, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, focusing on its socio-historical factors. Despite its authentic, decades-long existence, Rancho is neglected and considered outdated, with a lack of legal regulation and its informal character endangering its future. The study proposes a gradual transformation of these areas into community urban gardens with new infrastructures to raise awareness and encourage authorities to reintegrate Rancho into the urban context.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageClimate changeUrban Farming for Sustainable Urban Livelihoods in Mbarara City, Western Uganda
2025Elias Nuwagaba, Murindwa Rutanga · East African Scholars Journal of Education Humanities and Literature · Uganda (Mbarara City)
This study explored how state-initiated, unplanned urbanization in Mbarara City, Western Uganda, affects the sustainability of urban farming and urban livelihoods. The research found that rapid, haphazard urban expansion, lacking strategic planning, has led to significant challenges. These include the emergence of slums, illegal land occupations, destruction of wetlands and riverbanks causing water pollution, and inadequate waste management, all negatively impacting public health and urban farming sustainability.
Governance failureEconomicsPolicyClimate changeUrban–rural linkageDisentangling food transformation narratives: a Q-method analysis on pathways to sustainable food systems and their implications
2025Meredith L. Mull, Mario Torralba · Frontiers in Nutrition · Global
This exploratory Q-methodology study investigated how university students in sustainability programs conceptualize sustainable food systems. Analysis revealed five distinct narratives, with consensus on food security and transparent governance. However, elements like urban agriculture, GMOs, and food traditions were consistently deprioritized by the participants. The findings emphasize incorporating plural perspectives and context-sensitive approaches in food system research and policy.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeFood educationPolicyAssessing the Potential of Revegetating Abandoned Agricultural Lands Using Nature-Based Typologies for Urban Thermal Comfort
2025zahra nobar, Akbar Rahimi, Alessio Russo · Land · Global
This study assessed the efficacy of nature-based solutions in revegetating abandoned urban agricultural lands to enhance outdoor thermal comfort, using ENVI-met 4.4.6 and Ray-Man 3.1 simulation models. Simulation results showed that species like Quercus spp. (broadleaf) and Cupressus arizonica (evergreen) substantially reduced the Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt) index by up to 26.76 °C, primarily due to their shading effects and large canopies. Combining these vegetation types with crops emerged as the most effective strategy to mitigate heat stress and optimize land-use.
Climate changeBiodiversityUrban–rural linkagePertanian Perkotaan, Solusi Inovatif untuk Ketahanan Pangan di Tengah Kota
2025Marni Putri Gea, Restu Jaya Zendrato, Septian Oktani Telaumbanua, Ayler Beniah Ndraha · Flora Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Pertanian dan Perkebunan · Global
This literature review indicates that urban agriculture, utilizing modern techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, and rooftop gardens, is an innovative solution for food security in urban areas. Urban agriculture reduces distribution costs, minimizes environmental impact, and offers social and economic benefits. The review concludes that urban agriculture contributes significantly to improving food security and provides a sustainable alternative for the global food system.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsCommunityMachine Learning–Based Climate-Adaptive Smart Gardening System for Sustainable Urban Agriculture
2025Zakhro Sodikova · International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science Engineering and Information Technology · Global
This research proposed and aimed to design and implement a Machine Learning-Based Climate-Adaptive Smart Gardening System for sustainable urban agriculture. The system uses environmental sensors to record soil moisture, air temperature, humidity, solar exposure, and light intensity in real-time. It employs machine learning models like Gradient Boosting, Random Trees, and LSTM to predict irrigation needs, plant stress, and environmental changes, adjusting gardening conditions to mitigate climate impacts.
Digital agricultureClimate changeDIYFour Archetypes for Future Food Systems
2025Paul Β. Thompson · · Global
This chapter outlines four archetypal characterizations for future food systems over the next half-century, influenced by climate change and resource scarcity. These archetypes include technological modernization, sustainable intensification, regional agrarianism, and urban agriculture, each driven by distinct ethical orientations and approaches to food production, processing, distribution, and consumption.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePolicyThe Rise of Urban Agriculture and Its Implications for Food Systems
2025Godswill Ntsomboh Ntsefong · IntechOpen eBooks · Global
This chapter examines the global growth and implications of urban agriculture. While urban agriculture enhances food security, it also introduces food safety risks from contaminated soils and infrastructure gaps. Challenges related to heavy metals, waste, and inadequate land planning are evaluated, and barriers such as land access and limited training for producers persist.
Contamination & food safetyFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthEconomicsPolicyClimate changeSustainability composite indicator for the assessment of resilient urban agriculture and urban development
2025Jairo Guzman-Molina, Gustavo Carrazana-Rosales, Daniel Karthe, W. C. Tabares Rodríguez, Serena Caucci · Environmental and Sustainability Indicators · Colombia (Bogotá)
To assess the sustainability of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture (UPA) in Bogotá, Colombia, a Composite Indicator (CI) integrating 43 variables from an in-depth survey of over 3,500 households was developed. The study revealed that UPA significantly contributes to Bogotá's environmental resilience, particularly in soil conservation and integrated water management. However, while UPA promises food security, its unstructured value chain limits its impact on economic sustainability.
Economic viabilityClimate changeEconomicsPolicyPerceived benefits and challenges of urban rooftop gardening in Dhaka city
2025Muhammad Ziaul Hoque, Md. Enamul Haque, Md. Roknuzzaman, Md. Safiul Islam Afrad, Md. Shamim Hossain, Md Farhad Hossain, Foyez Ahmed Prodhan · Annals of Bangladesh Agriculture · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
This study surveyed 63 rooftop gardeners in Uttara and Mirpur of Dhaka Metropolitan Area to assess their perceptions of urban rooftop gardening. Respondents were mostly old-aged retired professionals with postgraduate education and moderate experience. Key perceived benefits included safe and nutritional food, improved air quality, and enhanced family mental health. Major challenges identified were concerns about losing open spaces for children, difficulties in sourcing quality seeds, and a lack of training and technical guidance.
DIYHealthClimate changeFood educationInitiatives for Advancing Planetary Health Through Sustainable Food Systems: An Umbrella Review
2025Carmen Vargas, Danielle Brooke, Carolina Venegas Hargous, Rubén Fernández‐Rodríguez, Rebecca Bennett, Felice Jacka, Steven Allender · Obesity Reviews · Global
This umbrella review, covering 2015-2024 and including 20 systematic and scoping reviews, explored food system initiatives and their relationship with human health and sustainability outcomes. Most reviews focused on sustainable diets, food security, and urban agriculture. No clear trends emerged between intervention topics and outcomes, and only 15% of reviews reported on all three sustainability outcomes (economic, social, environmental) combined. The review identified a need for further holistic, multidisciplinary research on food system sustainability.
HealthClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsUrban Greenery and Urban Agriculture
2025Ariva Sugandi Permana · · Global
This article describes urban greenery and urban agriculture as components of modern city planning, outlining their roles in environmental sustainability, food security, and public health. Urban greenery is presented as improving air quality and reducing the urban heat island effect, while urban agriculture is noted for enabling local food production and fostering community engagement. The text also discusses their benefits for mental health, carbon sequestration, and economic development, emphasizing the need for policies and regulations.
CommunityPolicyHealthClimate changeApproaching the study and understanding of urban agriculture from a systemic perspective
2025Juan Camilo Fontalvo-Buelvas, Oswaldo Rahmses Castro-Martínez · Horticulture International Journal · Global
This essay aimed to analyze the contributions of systems thinking to the understanding and management of urban agriculture. Three analytical domains—physical, biophysical, and human-biophysical—were examined, and teleomatic, teleonomic, and teleological processes were discussed as explanatory frameworks for the internal dynamics of urban gardens. The essay concludes that a holistic systems perspective enables a deeper understanding of the structure, emergent properties, and functional dynamics of urban agriculture.
PolicyCommunityOrganic cycleClimate changeA Review of Roof Top Agro-Voltaic System Development: Integrating Renewable Energy and Urban Agriculture
2025M.Saeed Sheikh, A. G. Mohod, Prasad Chavan, R. T. Thokal, K. G. Dhande, PB Sanap · Advances in Research · Global
This global review examines the development of rooftop agro-voltaic systems (RAVs), which integrate photovoltaic panels with rooftop farming. While RAVs offer benefits like energy production, improved agricultural yields, and environmental conservation, challenges such as efficiency trade-offs, financial constraints, and regulatory gaps limit their widespread adoption. Pilot projects in India demonstrate dual benefits, but these limitations hinder broader implementation.
Governance failureClimate changeEconomicsPolicyDevelopment of urban organic farming
2025V. Movchan, N. Iliuk, O. Melezhyk, N. Zinchuk · Balanced nature using · Global
This article studies current trends, problems, and prospects for the development of urban agriculture, including organic farming, as a component of sustainable food systems and urban ecosystems. It analyzes the environmental, social, and economic benefits of urban organic farming, as well as key risks and barriers to implementing organic practices in urban areas. The study identified main factors affecting urban farming effectiveness and outlined opportunities for innovative technologies.
Organic cycleClimate changeEconomicsPolicyUrban Farming in Vacant Land for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Review
2025Liu Shan, Mohd Johari Mohd Yusof, Mohammad Mujaheed Hassan, Gao Lihui · ALAM CIPTA International Journal Of Sustainable Tropical Design & Practice · Global
This systematic review assessed the contribution of urban farming in vacant land to sustainable development. It showed that over the last decade, research in this area has focused almost exclusively on sustainability, published mainly in the United States and some European countries. Food security and improved nutrition were the most discussed topics, followed by urban sustainability, while quality was least mentioned. Although there is a substantial basis for positive benefits, gaps remain in quantitative assessments and in-depth case studies on sustainable contributions.
Urban–rural linkageEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeՙՙUrban Agriculture and Sustainable Communities՚՚: An Analytical Study of Urban Agriculture as a Tool for Achieving Food Security and Sustainability in Modern Cities
2025dalia shalaby eldamaty, Ahmed Mahmoud Nagi · التصميم الدولية · Global
This analytical study discusses urban agriculture as a tool for food security and sustainable development in cities. It reviews the benefits of urban agriculture, including improved environmental quality, enhanced local economy, and increased social interaction. The research analyzes successful global experiences and provides recommendations to promote urban agriculture, such as developing supportive policies and strengthening community partnerships.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsPolicyCommunityMicrogreens and Their Role in Sustainable Urban Food Systems
2025Acharya, Sumit, Nayak, Priti Smita, Pramanik, Kartik · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
This article highlights microgreen cultivation as a solution for sustainable urban and peri-urban horticulture, addressing challenges from urbanization and demand for nutrient-dense foods. Microgreens are young seedlings harvested within 7–21 days, offering high concentrations of nutrients. They are suitable for urban environments due to minimal resource requirements, rapid growth, low water usage, and high yield, contributing to food security, reduced carbon footprints, and ecological balance by minimizing chemical inputs.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsExploring the significance of treated wastewater reuse in urban agriculture and resilient cities: a bibliometric analysis
2025S. Louis, Johanes A. Belle, Zachariah Haruna Mshelia, Tinashe Lindel Dirwai · Water Reuse · Global
This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 960 articles from the Scopus database published between 2008 and 2024 to explore trends in treated wastewater (TWW) reuse in urban agriculture. The analysis found that wastewater reclamation and treatment had the weakest strength and fewest occurrences, indicating a research gap in the use of TWW for urban agriculture.
Climate changeOrganic cyclePolicySmart Irrigation Systems Using AI to Optimize Water Usage
2025Belghachi Mohammed · Advances in environmental engineering and green technologies book series · Global
Smart irrigation systems, integrating AI, machine learning, sensors, and IoT, aim to revolutionize agricultural water management by optimizing water usage tailored to crop needs and environmental conditions. While these systems offer benefits such as water conservation and improved yields, their implementation faces significant challenges including high costs, the need for technical expertise, data management complexities, and connectivity issues. Future prospects focus on advanced AI models, better sensors, renewable energy, and policy support to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of these systems.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePotential for urban agriculture: Expert insights on sustainable development goals and future challenges
2025Margarethe Karpe, Jeremías Lachman, Lili Wang, L.F.M. Marcelis, E. Heuvelink · Sustainable Production and Consumption · Global
A Delphi survey with 108 experts explored urban agriculture's potential contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under a scenario of 30% urban food self-sufficiency. Experts identified SDG 7.2 (renewable energies) as a key challenge due to high energy use, and agreed that none of the evaluated SDG targets for urban agriculture will be met by 2030. They also noted a lack of regulations and public policies for innovative agricultural systems.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicySustainable Practices in Urban Health
2025Richa Joshi, Jagneet Kour, Raino Bhatia · · Global
This chapter will investigate sustainable practices, including green infrastructure like urban forests and community gardens, to improve urban environments and address intertwined challenges. It will examine how green infrastructure enhances air and water quality, creates recreational spaces, and fosters community well-being. The chapter will also explore integrating environmental policies with public health initiatives through sustainable urban planning to create resilient communities with equitable access to green spaces, enhanced public transportation, and clean energy.
HealthCommunityPolicyClimate changeEnhancing Post-Disaster Food Security Through Urban Agriculture in the Context of Climate Change
2025Yanxin Liu, Victoria Chanse, Fabricio Chicca · Land · New Zealand (Wellington)
This study evaluated the role of urban agriculture (UA) in enhancing post-disaster food security in Wellington, New Zealand, a region highly prone to earthquakes. It calculated vegetable self-sufficiency by mapping potential productive land, estimating vegetable yields, and assessing post-disaster food demands across multiple scenarios. Potential productive land accounted for 0.3% to 1.5% of the total area, primarily distributed in the eastern part of the city. Results indicate that Wellington's vegetable self-sufficient rates through UA range from 3% to 75%, with higher rates for displaced and vulnerable populations. Realizing this potential will require stronger policy support and integration with urban planning and disaster preparedness.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeCommunityEconomicsEffect of urban agriculture on the quality of urban life: A review
2025Babatunde S. Adedotun, Martin Binde Gasu, Ismail A. Oyerinde, Dele Sunday Ogundahunsi, Oluwatoyin David ADEDOTUN · The Journal of Agriculture and Development · Global
This research conducted an extensive literature review on the correlation between urban agriculture and the quality of life of urban residents, synthesizing 20 peer-reviewed scholarly papers published between 2010 and 2022 from databases like Scopus. Urban agriculture was shown to offer economic benefits, community engagement, health improvements, environmental benefits, and cultural connections, but also presented negative externalities such as resource exploitation, contamination, and ecosystem disruption.
EconomicsCommunityHealthClimate change