Research & reports

Megan Marshall · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Global

"A Recipe for Gentrification" is an edited volume exploring the complex relationship between intent and impact at the intersection of alternative food systems and urban development. The book aims to unpack how food systems can both drive and resist gentrification. It shows that well-intentioned efforts to increase food access in a neighborhood can be an early initiator of gentrification, and urban agriculture and public green spaces are frequently co-opted for development efforts.

Angie Sassano, Christopher Mayes, Yin Paradies · Urban Policy and Research · Australia

In Australia, COVID-19 accelerated reliance on resiliency for post-pandemic urban recovery. This study examined the use of resilience in urban agriculture proposals for cities after COVID-19, drawing on critical literature. It argues that the current pandemic conditions for urban agriculture risk perpetuating urban colonial governmentality. The paper calls for a rethinking of urban agriculture for future cities by radically disrupting the foundational colonial logics of urban spatiality.

Putu Adi Wiratenaya, Ni Nyoman Yuliarmi · Jurnal Penjaminan Mutu · Indonesia (Bali)

This research investigated strategies to improve urban agriculture quality for food security in Bali Province, Indonesia, using a literature study method. The findings revealed that urban farming in Bali faces many obstacles, including the absence of regulations on urban farming, the lack of an institution to protect urban farming communities, and ineffective marketing methods. Government support is needed for the agricultural sector.

Yangzixian Yang · Journal of Architectural Research and Development · United Kingdom (Birmingham)

This paper aims to assess Birmingham's suitability for flat rooftop farming in the United Kingdom. It explores two examples of rooftop farms, Brooklyn Grange in New York and Thammasat University, the largest rooftop farm in Asia, and proposes converting the tops of buildings at Birmingham City University into a flat roof farm.

Amy Trauger · · Global

The contemporary industrial food system is problematic, producing diverse foods for a small elite and replicating past labor injustices rooted in colonialism. Urban agriculture is a growing global trend and is expected to be the future of food production. The future of food will also diversify what we eat, including aquaponic tilapia, sprouts, algae, fungus and yeast-derived foods, and imitation meats.

Tong Zou, Ali Cheshmehzangi, Ayotunde Dawodu, Eugenio Mangi · Journal of Resilient Economies (ISSN 2653-1917) · Global

This study investigated how urban agriculture can improve the sustainability and resilience of the urban food system through the analysis of existing literature. The literature review, conducted on April 11, 2022, on the Web of Science database, included bibliographic coupling, co-citation analysis, and co-occurrence analysis. Findings highlighted that urban agriculture alone cannot substitute large-scale food systems in the short term, but it could be a promising approach in the future.

Renata Jati Nirmala · GEMA PUBLICA · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)

This study described the adaptation of the Bausasran Vegetable Village community in Yogyakarta during the COVID-19 pandemic through urban farming, using community empowerment theory. Data was collected via interviews, observation, and literature study. Findings indicated that urban farming maximized the use of yards, walls, green spaces, streets, and alleys for vegetable cultivation. Key actors included government, NGOs, community, farmers, companies, donors, activists, volunteers, and academics, with social, institutional, economic, ecological, spatial, and natural conditions identified as supporting factors for success.

Madziatul Churiyah, Buyung Adi Dharma, Sholikhan · PRIMA PORTAL RISET DAN INOVASI PENGABDIAN MASYARAKAT · Indonesia (Malang)

This study aimed to describe the agricultural management skills of an urban farming group (20 people) in Keben Permai village, Malang, Indonesia, after receiving empowerment through mentoring and training in agricultural management. Conducted as action research, skill data was obtained through observation sheets. The results showed that the agricultural management skills of the Keben Permai urban farming group were in the "very good" category, indicating that members possess very good skills to manage agriculture.

Francesco Orsini, Michele D’Ostuni · Frontiers for Young Minds · Global

Urban agriculture, which involves growing food in cities, promotes local and sustainable food systems to address global challenges such as growing urban populations, climate change, and natural resource scarcity. Farming in cities positively impacts the environment, ecosystem, and climate, while also bringing communities together and improving citizens' health.

Md. Abdul Quddus · Horticulture International Journal · Global

This review study investigated the scenario, advantages, and challenges of rooftop farming in urban communities. Rooftop gardening provides fresh, nutrition-rich food for urban dwellers, serves as an alternative land use, improves the urban atmosphere, and offers household recreation. Previous research indicates that insight and consciousness of roof gardening enrich wellbeing, social value, and enjoyable farming for building residents.

Ro'fatul Maulaa, Niken Kusumarini, Dian Triastari Armanda · BIOLOGICA SAMUDRA · Indonesia (Semarang)

The potential and constraints of urban farming development on the railroad border in Bangetayu Wetan Village, Genuk District, Semarang City, Indonesia, were investigated through observation, interviews, and documentation. The approximately 1 to 2-hectare area cultivated crops such as corn, cassava, and sugarcane, with yield predictions sufficient to meet food needs. However, the presence of pests, diseases, and weeds were identified as constraints, indicating challenges for urban farming development.

Abdul Muis Muhammad, Dompak Napitupulu, Suandi Suandi · Jurnal Pembangunan Berkelanjutan · Indonesia (Jambi)

This study analyzed the decrease in food land and its relationship with the foodstuffs balance and expected food pattern in Jambi City, Indonesia, during 2001-2020. Jambi City's food land decreased by 24.77 percent per year, totaling -19018 hectares or 96.01 percent. The correlation between food land and foodstuffs balance was 0.416 kg/cap/year for every 1 ha, and the correlation between foodstuffs balance and expected food pattern was 0.125 per 1 kcal/cap/day for Energy Adequacy Number and 0.361 per 1 g/cap/day for Protein Adequacy Rate.

Rachel Laws, Megan Adam, Emma Esdaile, Penelope Love, Karen Campbell · Nutrients · Global

This rapid review synthesized evidence on what works to improve nutrition and food sustainability across the first 2000 days of life. Most systematic reviews (n=60) and grey literature (n=27) focused on interventions targeting the behavior of parents and caregivers, with no reviews focusing on food supply-chain activities. Most reviews were rated as critically low (n=28, 47%) or low (n=21, 35%) quality using AMSTAR 2.

Mawuna Donald Houessou, B.G.J.S. Sonneveld, Augustin K. N. Aoudji, Fréjus THOTO, D. J. Snelder, Anselme Adégbidi, Tjard de Cock Buning · Development in Practice · Benin

A survey of 88 urban poor individuals in Benin investigated their profiles and constraints affecting participation in allotment gardens. Findings revealed low educational and income levels, overcrowded and unsanitary housing, and limited access to social services and health facilities among the participants. Furthermore, 76% of them experienced food insecurity, and engaging them in allotment gardens was constrained by requirements for farming skills, financial capital, and safety issues.

Denise Arroyo-Lambaer, Luís Zambrano, Miguel Rivas, Diana Laura Vázquez-Mendoza, Fernanda Figueroa, Martha B. Puente-Uribe, Ana Cecilia Espinosa‐García, Marco A. Tapia-Palacios, Marisa Mazari-Hiríart, Daniel A. Revollo-Fernández, Alaíde Jiménez-Serna, Marco Covarrubias, Carlos Sumano · Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · Mexico (Mexico City)

This study investigated the needs and commercialization challenges of chinampa producers in Xochimilco, Mexico City, to assess the potential of a green label. The analysis, based on a literature review and producers' mental model analysis, found that unresolved issues like commercialization problems, consumers' unwillingness to pay fair prices, soil degradation, and poor irrigation water quality persist. These issues make it difficult for most producers to bear certification costs, indicating that implementing a green label would likely fail to deliver its intended benefits.

Birgit Hoinle · Revista Iberoamericana de Economía Solidaria e Innovación Socioecológica · Colombia (Bogotá)

This chapter explores the emancipatory potential of urban agroecology in Bogotá, Colombia, and its surrounding Sabana region. Based on participatory action-research conducted between 2014 and 2017 with agroecological groups, it develops a theory of spatial empowerment. The study highlights the potential of solidarity economy within the urban agroecology movement to foster spatial empowerment, discussing both contributing and hindering factors.

Arnim Wiek, Stefanie Albrecht · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · United States (Phoenix)

A multiyear transdisciplinary project in Phoenix, United States, analyzed the development of a sustainable urban food forest enterprise. The project built a coalition of supporters, secured a suitable site, codeveloped a vision and action plan, and fundraised a major start-up donation. However, research findings indicate that despite achieving success factors to some extent, an underdeveloped sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem jeopardizes long-term success and multiplication efforts.

Antônio Carlos Ribeiro Araújo Júnior, Roberto Xavier da Costa, Mirian Pereira dos Reis Oliveira · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil

The "Programa Planta Roraima" project, initiated by the civil society organization Movimento ID, proposes establishing a Reference Center for Food and Nutritional Security in the Cidadão Housing Complex. This center will create an urban community garden to promote sustainable integration among immigrants, refugees, and socially/economically vulnerable nationals. The project aims to understand access to knowledge for food production, transformation, distribution, and consumption in small urban spaces, and to analyze access to income-generating technologies for vulnerable populations. Based on an analysis of the "PROJETO PLANTA RORAIMA: Minha Horta Comunitária Cidadã" developed by SETRABES, the project is relevant as it provides basic technical training in food production, fostering autonomy and integrating vulnerable populations as productive citizens, and demonstrates that idle urban spaces can be valuable for collective uses like community gardens.

DANDARA TEIXEIRA MALVINO · DIGNIDADE RE-VISTA · United States (Champaign)

This article aims to analyze the strategies created by low-income Black communities in Champaign, Illinois, to confront food deserts through the creation of urban community gardens, as a form of resistance to food insecurity.

Jiefu Wang, Yuepeng Sun, Kang Xia, Allison Deines, Ross Cooper, Karen Pallansch, Zhi‐Wu Wang · Water Environment Research · Global

This review examines the potential pivotal role of Urban Water Resource Reclamation Facilities (WRRFs) in sustainable urban agriculture. It highlights that reclaimed water can offer higher quality and less variable supply than other sources, while biosolids from wastewater treatment can be used as fertilizers or soil amendments. Additionally, WRRFs can produce renewable electricity, heat, CO2, and bioplastics, serving as essential resources for urban agriculture operations.

Ramon Majé Floriano · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Colombia (Pitalito Huila)

The STEM community gardens project aims to contribute to food security in the San Francisco, Santa Inés, and Holland villages of the Pitalito Huila municipality in Colombia. This report describes the project's development through three phases: immersion, transfer, and communication.

Felix Zoll, Caitlin K. Kirby, Kathrin Specht, Rosemarie Siebert · Agriculture and Human Values · Germany

A quantitative study (n=790) among Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) members in Germany used a multiple regression model to identify factors predicting trust in CSA and its farmers. The analysis found that "reputation," "supply of information," "direct social interaction," and "duration of CSA membership" influenced trust. Conversely, "certification status of the CSA farm" and "attitudes toward organic certification" did not significantly predict trust.

David Calderón, Fredi Portilla · · South America

This abstract discusses the isolation faced by older adults in modern society and the lack of recognition for their traditional knowledge, particularly concerning urban agriculture. It notes that the contributions of older adults are overlooked in a technology-driven contemporary society.

Kamari Maxine Clarke · Anthropologica · United States (Philadelphia)

This paper discusses the MOVE organization, founded by Vincent Leaphart (John Africa) in West Philadelphia in the early 1970s. MOVE combined philosophies of Black nationalism, raw foods, urban farming, and opposition to modern science and capitalism. This community formation came to an end on May 13, 1985.

El Syabrina, Rosmaina Rosmaina, Risqiana Dani, Purwati Purwati, Nadya Hermantika Sari · JIA (Jurnal Ilmiah Agribisnis) Jurnal Agribisnis dan Ilmu Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian · Indonesia (Pekanbaru)

A descriptive qualitative study in Pekanbaru City in August 2022 surveyed 102 urban farming managers to assess their perceptions and interest in urban farming. Respondents generally agreed with the social, economic, and ecological benefits of urban farming, scoring 3.17 on a Likert scale, with social benefits (3.34) being highest. The study suggests that commercializing urban agriculture on vacant land could maximize community socialization and boost economic and ecological benefits.