Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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3144 results(5 / 126)
A systematic review of the barriers to urban agriculture at a global scale
2026Chris Blythe · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) · Global
This systematic review aims to explore the barriers to urban agriculture at a global scale. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in systematic reviews concerning urban agriculture's health benefits, motivations for participation, and sustainability elements. This study will focus on the challenges and obstacles in implementing urban agriculture.
Governance failureUrban–rural linkagePolicyEconomicsCommunityUrban agriculture as regenerative infrastructure on a university campus in Brazil: challenges, opportunities and design requirements
2026Anelise Anapolski, Ana Passuello, Miguel Aloysio Sattler · International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education · Brazil
This study investigated urban agriculture (UA) as regenerative infrastructure on a university campus in Brazil, assessing challenges and opportunities before project implementation and proposing design requirements for future projects. Data collected from 120 questionnaires and 9 interviews revealed key challenges including maintenance, stakeholder engagement, risk of discontinuity, and lack of institutional support. The academic setting offers opportunities through integration with teaching, research, and outreach, and the campus community positively associates UA with innovation.
Governance failurePolicyFood educationCommunityUrban–rural linkageUrbanisation and sustainable farming in smallholder farming communities of the Northern region of Ghana: A policy narrative
2026Adan Iddrisu · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Ghana
This policy brief explored the causes of farmland loss and its effects on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana due to rapid urbanization. Using data from focus group discussions, findings revealed that loss of farmland reduces productivity, increases household food security vulnerability, and threatens the livelihoods of farmers.
Governance failurePolicyUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsWomen in urban and peri-agriculture: sustaining livelihoods in the Cape metropolitan area
2026Human Sciences Research Council · Human Science Research Council SA · South Africa
This article explores how urban women participate in urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA), the constraints they face, and the policy support they need, using evidence from a sample of farming projects around the Cape Metropolitan Area. Urban women farmers primarily access land through social networking and work collectively. Almost all projects engage in in-kind donations to schools and HIV/AIDS patients, with women-only projects distributing 25% of their output as social responsibility.
CommunityWelfareEconomicsPolicyPeri-urban agricultureThe potential roles of vertical urban agriculture to promote the right to food in Brazil
2026Felipe Jardim, Eduardo Alberto Manjarrés Trelles, Caren Freitas de Lima · Revista de Direito da Cidade · Brazil
This study investigated the role of vertical urban agriculture in promoting the right to food in Brazil, considering the food system crisis as a problem affecting the right to the city. An inductive method with a qualitative approach, including literature review, documental research, and case studies from Japan, Singapore, Germany, the USA, and Brazil, revealed that vertical urban agriculture has "cons" when appropriated as a profitable system with restricted access products, and "pros" such as occupying vacant urban land and being produced by or supporting poor families.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsDigital agricultureStrategi Pemberdayaan Petani Melalui Program Urban Farming di Kelompok Wanita Tani Guyup Rukun Sonopakis Lor, Ngestiharjo, Kasihan, Bantul, Yogyakarta
2026Tanaya Niscala Hanan Armi, Agus Wartapa, Siti Nurlaela Nurlaela · Jurnal Sains Agro · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)
A study analyzing the implementation of an urban farming program in the Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) Guyup Rukun in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, found that implementation in various farmer groups still faces obstacles such as low member participation, weak group institutionalization, and suboptimal program sustainability. SWOT analysis placed KWT Guyup Rukun in the Growth Strategy quadrant, and QSPM analysis identified increasing member capacity through training, cultivation assistance, processing, and institutional strengthening as a priority strategy.
Governance failureCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsACTION RESEARCH ON COMMUNITY GARDENS INSTALLED ON BOTH SIDES OF A SIDEWALK
2026Kenjiro MATSUURA, Hana Yamaguchi, Maya HAIJIMA, Keibi KA, Toshiya HIROE · AIJ Journal of Technology and Design · Japan
This action research reports on the Nishi-Chiba Urban Farming (NUF) project, a community garden spanning public and private land on both sides of sidewalks. Findings suggest that considering multiple sites and starting small before gradual expansion is effective, and early relationship-building facilitated collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Local residents positively evaluated NUF, with participants valuing agricultural learning, community engagement, and social interaction.
CommunityFood educationPolicyCommunity gardens as locally embedded nature-based solutions: a comparative study of Budapest and Turin
2026Luca Battisti, Adrienne Csizmady, Federico Cuomo, Luca Kristóf, Boldizsár Megyesi · Sustainability Science Practice and Policy · Hungary (Budapest)
This study examined how community gardens in Budapest and Turin function as locally embedded nature-based solutions (NbS) through the everyday practices of urban residents. Based on a qualitative analysis of 47 semi-structured interviews conducted in five gardens in Budapest and two in Turin, findings showed that gardeners practice NbS-aligned approaches. Socially, they foster well-being, inclusion, and community cohesion; technically, they adapt to resource constraints through low-tech experimentation and collaborative problem-solving; and ecologically, they support biodiversity, soil regeneration, and microclimate regulation through organic cultivation and composting.
CommunityBiodiversityCompostOrganic cycleHealthPolicyBuilding Resilience to Food Insecurity in Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe: Lessons for Best Practice
2026Thulani Dube, Bright Chisadza, Nkululeko Mpofu, Abel Mungure, Nancy N Manase · Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition · Zimbabwe (Bulawayo)
A study in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, investigating urban food insecurity resilience strategies through 200 household surveys, found that 50.5% of households experienced food insecurity, primarily driven by hyperinflation and unemployment. Current interventions, including urban agriculture, showed mixed effectiveness due to fragmented coordination and rural-biased programming, indicating governance challenges.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyCommunityEconomicsGrowing food and radical hope in Glasgow: A review of The Practice of Collective Escape
2026Rose Jennings · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United Kingdom (Glasgow)
Helen Traill's book, "The Practice of Collective Escape," presents ethnographic work over six years in Glasgow, Scotland, following two community growing sites. The book critically examines urban agriculture projects as "Petri dishes for individual and community transformation," exploring concepts of inclusion, individual escape, and political activism, and highlighting social complexities and issues of inclusion and exclusion.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyHealthFood sovereignty & justiceEcological landscape planning in earthquake-prone regions: Integrating agriculture, water systems and green ınfrastructure
2026ŞEVVAL KARATAŞ, Mustafa Artar · Scientific Works · Global
This study, based on a literature review, examines ecological landscape planning approaches for enhancing urban resilience in earthquake-prone regions. It proposes integrating agricultural areas, water systems, and green infrastructure as complementary ecological components within a holistic planning model. The findings indicate that this integrated approach enhances ecological integrity, supports biodiversity, regulates surface water, reduces the urban heat island effect, and strengthens communities' adaptive capacity in post-disaster phases.
Climate changeCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyValerie Dumser
2026Valerie Dumser, Emma Kudelka · Digital Commons at Illinois Wesleyan University (Illinois Wesleyan University) · United States (Bloomington)
This oral history interview explores the history and evolution of the West Bloomington Revitalization Project (WBRP), co-founder Valerie Dumser's experiences living in and serving the West Side community, and the longstanding partnership between Illinois Wesleyan University and the WBRP. Dumser founded the WBRP Community Garden and has remained actively involved in the organization's growth and development.
CommunityFood educationPolicyMultifunctional zoning optimization of agricultural land use by coupling Bayesian belief network with density peaks clustering – a case study in Guangdong, China
2026Hao Yang, Zijin Wang, Yueming Hu, Zhengxi Tan, Runyan Zou, L. Wang, Xiaoyun Mao · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · China (Guangdong)
A study in Guangdong Province, China, coupled a Bayesian belief network with density peaks clustering to analyze agricultural land resources. The research identified significant synergies between food production function and other functions, but also a trade-off with food cleanliness. Consequently, Guangdong agricultural land was zoned into five functional zones.
Environmental trade-offsPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageUrban Agriculture and Participatory Budgeting for Sustainable Cities: Evidence from Vegetable-Related Projects in Warsaw
2026Kinga Kimic, Magdalena Błaszczyk · Sustainability · Poland (Warsaw)
This study identified and assessed vegetable cultivation projects submitted to the Warsaw Participatory Budget (WPB) between 2015 and 2023. The research classified projects into six types and evaluated them across social, functional, ecological, and economic dimensions. The results showed that vegetable-related projects in the WPB were decidedly niche, with only 101 initiatives submitted and 31 implemented, primarily focusing on education for children rather than direct food access.
Limited or null effectPolicyCommunityEconomicsClimate changeStrategic Directions for Regenerative Urban Tourism in North Jakarta: An SLR-FGD and TOWS-Based Assessment
2026Dewi Gita Kartika, Ismayanti Ismayanti, Emilia Agustina, Fernando Adiputra Kadajaya Bos · E-Journal of Tourism · Indonesia (Jakarta)
This study examined how regenerative urban tourism can be strategically developed in North Jakarta, Indonesia, using a systematic literature review, focus group discussions with stakeholders, and TOWS analysis. North Jakarta was found to have relatively strong internal capacity (IFE = 3.04) and a favorable external environment (EFE = 3.16), placing it in a "grow and build" position. Strategic priorities include developing eco-tourism and urban farming based on community greening initiatives, strengthening cultural and heritage-based tourism, enhancing MSME digital capacity, and addressing environmental and infrastructure constraints like waste management and flooding.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyEquity-oriented GIS-MCDA mapping of urban rooftops for green roofs and photovoltaic systems: competition and synergies in Padua, Italy
2026Abdullah Ahmadi, Daniele Codato, Francesca Peroni, Massimo De Marchi · Urban Climate · Italy (Padua)
The Rooftops for Equity and Sustainability (RT4ES) model, a GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis, was applied to Padua, Italy, to map suitable urban rooftops for green roofs and photovoltaic systems. The model identified 11.67 km² of suitable rooftops across 29,493 buildings, with rooftop greening offering 10.94 km² of additional vegetated surfaces and rooftop PVs potentially generating 302% of municipal household electricity. RT4ES prioritizes underserved neighborhoods by integrating social and environmental vulnerability.
CommunityClimate changeBiodiversityPolicyWhat drives participation in urban agriculture? Evidence from Türkiye
2026Coşkun Şerefoğlu, Duhan Kalkan · İDEALKENT · Türkiye
This quantitative study in Türkiye used a structured survey and binary logistic regression to examine factors influencing urban agriculture participation intention. Findings showed prior agricultural experience was the strongest determinant, and COVID-19's impact on food perceptions positively influenced intention. Education level and policy awareness, however, did not significantly explain participation, revealing a gap between awareness and behavioral engagement.
CommunityPolicyHealthLand-market drivers of peri-urban land transformation in Mpingu and Malingunde extension planning areas, Lilongwe District, Malawi
2026Jabulani Nyengere, Frank Tchuwa, Harineck Mayamiko Tholo, Allena Laura Njala, Chawanangwa Mwakisalu, Lucius Malalu, Chikondi Chisenga, Patson Nalivata, Weston Mwase, Msaiwale Kathewera, Brenda Matewere, Lackson Jamu, Jones Kanjira, Macdonald Chabwera, D. J. Kachamba, Andrew Jamali, Takudzwa Musekiwa, Clement Nyirenda, Henry Kadzuwa, Precious Masuku, Agnes Mwangwela · Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · Malawi (Lilongwe)
In Mpingu and Malingunde Extension Planning Areas of Lilongwe District, Malawi, the drivers of peri-urban land transformation were investigated using land use and land cover maps for 2004, 2014, and 2024, alongside household survey data from 279 farming households. Spatial analysis revealed substantial landscape transformation over two decades, with natural woodland declining by approximately 66%, cropland expanding by approximately 459%, and built-up settlement areas increasing by approximately 127%. A multinomial logit model analysis found that land markets, spatial accessibility, and institutional conditions were the primary drivers of land transformation.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageEvaluating a Healthcare Rooftop Garden: Post-Occupancy Insights into Evidence-Based Design Processes and Governance Considerations
2026Nina Oher, Anna Bengtsson, Patrik Grahn · Land · Global
This study aimed to understand the evidence-based design process behind a rooftop garden at an urban Memory Clinic. Through focus group interviews with healthcare professionals and an interview with the landscape architect, findings showed that while the garden exceeded expectations regarding aesthetics, restorative qualities, and staff use, it was not used for patient-oriented therapeutic activities as intended. This divergence was linked to governance issues such as organizational change, loss of key actors, insufficient documentation of design intentions, procurement disruptions, shifting clinical priorities, and maintenance arrangements.
Governance failureHealthCommunityPolicyThe Productive Carrier / 生产性载体 / Le Squelette Productif
2026Pierre Camugli · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · China
This trilingual working document proposes a valuation model for revitalizing dormant real estate assets in Chinese Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The model is based on converting unfinished or underutilized buildings into urban industrial agriculture units. It explores three strategic trajectories (5–7 years, 20–30 years, 30+ years) for transforming these structures into "Productive Carriers."
EconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageAttributes of Thriving School Gardens in the US
2026Jennifer Morrison Daspin, Mariela Jiménez-Rivero, Bonnie Martin, Michele Hockett Cooper, Katie Nikah, Lyndsey Waugh, J. N. Davis · Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · United States
A cross-sectional survey of 364 US school administrators, teachers, and garden coordinators identified attributes predicting thriving school gardens. Logistic regression analyses showed that each additional subject and grade taught increased the odds to thrive by 21-22%, an annual budget over $1,000 by 42 times, and higher administrative support by 42 times. Administrative support, budget, volunteer support, and garden workdays are integral to garden sustainability.
Food educationCommunityPolicyEconomicsIntegrating Spatial Data and Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Resilient Urban Planning: Lessons from South Africa
2026Thembani Moyo, Vuyiswa Letsoko, Mhlalisi Gavu Mndzebele, Siphiwe Mbatha, Nonpumelelo Mzobe, Trynos Gumbo · · South Africa (Johannesburg)
In Johannesburg's marginalized settlements, limited infrastructure resources negatively impact household livelihoods, necessitating the development of planning support systems. Urban agriculture has emerged as a critical approach to enhancing food security and economic empowerment, and this study employed a mixed-method approach combining indigenous knowledge systems with spatial data to assess land suitability. The findings presented a land suitability index demonstrating how integrating GIS and citizen science strengthens urban resilience through adaptive land use, improved local food systems, and climate change mitigation.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyClimate changeStrategi Kebijakan Pemerintah Kota Bandar Lampung dalam Penguatan Urban Farming dan Ketahanan Pangan
2026Eliza Eliza · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (Bandar Lampung)
This study analyzed the Bandar Lampung City Government's policy strategies for strengthening urban farming as an instrument of urban food security in Indonesia. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach and secondary data, key issues identified were households' high dependence on markets, suboptimal development of backyard and community-based urban farming, and weak integration of urban farming with the city's food security policies.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityAdaptive livelihood strategies of evicted peri-urban farmers in the newly metropolitan city of Ethiopia
2026Abie Assres Fenta, Habtie Anmaw · Discover Sustainability · Ethiopia (Debre Markos)
This qualitative study explored the adaptive livelihood strategies of evicted peri-urban farmers around the metropolis of Debre Markos, Ethiopia. Findings confirmed that farmers tend to hand over their land with insufficient compensation and are compelled to adapt to new livelihoods after losing farmlands. Many displaced young farmers experienced bankruptcy in new businesses due to a lack of business skills, and aged displaced farmers faced challenges adapting to new ways of life. The government did not provide adequate attention to training evicted farmers in technical, financial, and business planning.
Equity & displacementPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageEconomicsPolicyBusiness Strategies of Small Urban Farmers for Financial Sustainability and Growth: Basis for a Strategic Action Plan
2026Exequiel Campomanes, Ma. Rossdie Etis, Job Leroi Santiago, Reigne Tumbado, Mark Joseph Villamil, Jake Bitulia, Divina Gracia Cabaddu · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Philippines
This qualitative study in the Philippines examined the profiles and business strategies of small urban farmers for financial sustainability and growth. It found that urban farming can be profitable, with all informants generating positive returns despite variations in techniques and capitalization. However, urban farmers faced challenges including personal, organizational, financial, operational, commercial, and fundamental issues, which they resolved through strategic analysis and implementation.
EconomicsCommunityPolicy