Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2091 results(52 / 84)
Global urban agriculture; convergence of theory and practice between north and south de Antoinette Winklerprins
2018Martha G. Bell · Espacio y Desarrollo · Global
This abstract introduces urban agriculture (AU) as an ancient practice that has gained significant attention recently from the general public, academics, and municipal authorities. It notes that various sources contribute to this increased focus. The abstract is incomplete, ending abruptly.
CommunityPolicyTreeHugger as edible landscape
2018Marie Davidová, Ondrej Michalek, Katerina Horak Goryczka · ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) · Global
This work expands the edible landscape concept from the COLridor I project to the "Non-Anthropocentric Refreshments" event at Maker Faire Prague. It involved preparing a seed bombing picnicking cuisine and installing a QR code mapping game with fast food-oriented prototype recipes. These concepts embed information-generative and self-iterative agendas into urban landscapes using low-tech technologies that leverage personal devices and internet connections.
DIYCommunityThe monitoring of soils on the land areas as information support for the register of soil resources at the local level
2018D.V. Belobrova, Д. А. Шаповалов · Dokuchaev Soil Bulletin · Russia
This study conducted large-scale (1:5000) soil mapping of garden non-commercial partnerships in the Meshchera lowland of Noginsk district, Moscow region. Investigations revealed that initial soils underwent significant transformation since their creation, with soddy podzolic and boggy soils changing into agro-soddy podzolic soils and agrozems due to intensive development and fertilizer use. While these changes reflect increased productivity and quality of allotment soils, the transformed soils are characterized by neutral pH and high/medium mobile phosphorus content, but are poor in exchangeable potassium compared to natural soil profiles.
Environmental trade-offsOrganic cycleCompostCommunityPresent Scenario and Problem Confrontation of Rooftop Gardening and its Efficacy inAmbient Environment Reclamation in Khulna City
2018Manabika Sheel, Mohammad Bashir Ahmed, Shamim Ahmed Kamal Uddin Khan, Md. Matiul Islam · Fundamental and applied agriculture · Bangladesh (Khulna City)
A study in Khulna City from March to April 2018 interviewed 60 rooftop gardeners to analyze the scenario and problems of rooftop gardening. The study found that gardeners earned very poor economic benefits compared to their expenditures, with most preferring it as a hobby (98.33%) or for aesthetics (90%). Severe problems included excessive heat (91.67%), lack of proper nourishment (87.08%), and roof load (72.92%).
Limited or null effectDIYCommunityUrban–rural linkageClimate changeEthics of agricultural landscapes and food production
2018Isis Brook · · Global
This chapter examines the interface between landscape and food in agriculture, which is undergoing massive change from both technological innovation and socio-political critique. It discusses how responses such as agroecology, biodynamics, organics, permaculture, and urban agriculture contribute to the creation of meaningful landscapes that respect cultural diversity and biodiversity. The chapter also looks at traditional ethical approaches and four new developments in ethical thinking—animal ethics, permaculture ethics, ecofeminism, and the theory of responsive cohesion—as ethical articulations of the caring and embodied flourishing that land and animal husbandry at its best represents.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityOrganic cycleAgricultura urbana: seu atual uso
2018Ana Cristina Manjabosco · · Global
This work explores urban agriculture, its concepts, and importance in achieving urban sustainability and responding to environmental imbalances. It provides examples of current urban agriculture uses, including the Dragonfly project in New York, Paris's incentives, and a vertical farm design contest in Sao Paulo. The study also offers guidelines for successful urban agriculture project implementation, covering location choice, cultivation systems, consumption incentives, and secondary benefits, framed as political and social guidelines.
PolicyCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePossibilidades de relacoes socioambientalmente mais justas no contexto urbano de uma metropole
2018Luísa Melgaço, Marina R. Ribeiro, Heloísa Soares de Moura Costa · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Global
This essay reflects on the complex reality of urban agriculture, discussing the different paradigms of the Green Revolution and Agroecology within the urbanization process. It aims to evidence the permanent and conflicting dispute between the industrial capitalist model and the non-hegemonic rationality of Agroecology. The essay is intended to advance the construction of bridges between the agroecological field and urbanization processes.
Food sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleCommunityPolicyOpportunities and Challenges of Urban Agriculture for Sustainable City Development
2018Erwin van Tuijl, Gert-Jan Hospers, Leo van den Berg · European Spatial Research and Policy · Global
This paper explores the concept of Urban Agriculture (UA) and discusses its locational and strategic dimensions. Using case examples from cities worldwide, it shows that UA can contribute to the social, environmental, and economic pillars of sustainable city development; however, there are limitations that cities investing in urban agriculture should consider.
Limited or null effectPolicyEconomicsClimate changeCommunityGemeinschaftsorientierte Ernährungsinitiativen – Neue Chancen für eine nachhaltige Ernährungswirtschaft?
2018Irene Antoni-Komar · HiBiFo – Haushalt in Bildung & Forschung · Global
Civil society food initiatives and transformative enterprises like urban gardening projects, CSA, and food co-ops are considered pioneers for a sustainable food supply. These initiatives test community-oriented economics in the form of empowerment, solidarity, and prosumerism for a socio-ecological food transition.
CommunityCSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCULTIVATED EDGE: Mediating rural and urban gaps in informal settlements
2018Camila Hellebuyck · DigitalCommons - Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw State University) · Colombia (Bogotá)
This project addresses urban farming in Ciudad Bolivar, an informal settlement in Bogotá, Colombia, where it emerged due to food scarcity and poverty. It proposes design placemaking strategies to improve the built environment and social cohesion by integrating agriculture from the initial design stages. The concept includes farming gardens, food markets, and a community hub to create a "performative edge" that mediates between rural and urban contexts.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageWelfareSocial Change for Sustainable Localised Food Sovereignty: Convergence between Prosumers and Ethical Entrepreneurs
2018Rachel Reckinger · SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO · Luxembourg
This study examines four community-driven alternative food network initiatives in Luxembourg, where low organic agricultural rates contrast with high consumer demands. Using qualitative interviews and participant observation, the research describes these initiatives, which combine agroecology and circular economy practices. These initiatives, ranging from an established one with 200 employees to more recent, smaller cooperatives, focus on regenerative land use and foster consumer integration, representing a cultural shift towards a more resilient food system.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsOrganic cycleTrees and Shrubs Prevailing in the Urban Green Spaces of the Gaza City in Palestine
2018Abdel Fattah N. Abd Rabou · IUG Journal of Natural Studies · Palestine (Gaza City)
This six-month study (October 2016 – March 2017) identified and recorded woody components in three selected urban green spaces in Gaza City, Palestine: Gaza Municipality, Barcelona, and Al-Azhar parks. A total of 50 tree and shrub species, belonging to 26 families and 14 orders, were identified. Angiosperms accounted for 92.0% of species, with Fabales being the largest order. The study recommends selecting woody species adapted to local environmental conditions.
BiodiversityCommunityWild nature, biodiversity, habitats and species
2018Claire Freeman, Yolanda van Heezik · · Global
This chapter describes urban environments as spaces where other species live and the characteristics of species able to thrive in human-dominated environments. It explores the potential of different modified urban habitats to support biodiversity and how animals respond to urban challenges. The urban landscape consists of numerous small patches of diverse habitats that vary in their capacity to support wildlife populations. Urban agriculture takes many forms, including private gardens, community or allotment gardens, rooftop farms, and urban orchards.
BiodiversityCommunityUrban Agriculture: The Role of Knowledge among Farmer in Malaysia
2018Milah Zainal, Siti Rabaâah Hamzah · International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences · Malaysia
This study aimed to identify important knowledge regarding urban agriculture activities among farmers in Malaysia. Urban agriculture is introduced as a strategy to increase food productivity in response to rising living costs in cities, but farmers' acceptance is influenced by their cognitive, affective, and behavioral levels.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceGreen Green: a Community Gardening Story
2018Cynthia Frazier · ScholarsArchive (Brigham Young University) · Global
This story describes the transformation of a garbage-filled empty lot into a beautiful green space through community effort. It illustrates how community gardens and green spaces can spread throughout a neighborhood, from parks to rooftops. The narrative inspires people to create community gardens and highlights the importance of bees and butterflies.
CommunityBiodiversityDIYFood educationPolitics of urban gardening
2018Marit Rosol · · Global
This chapter discusses the politics of urban community gardening, positioning it ambiguously between neoliberal/austerity urbanism and progressive urban politics. It argues that urban community gardening can reinforce neoliberal urbanism through land use struggles and gentrification, the role of volunteering in neoliberal urban governance, and governing through community and technologies of the self. The continuous emphasis on self-help in urban green spaces is problematic when civic engagement focuses exclusively on certain groups and values.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsClimate changeTrends of Garden Based Learning Approach: Example of School Garden Applications (2000-2015)
2018Mustafa Ürey · DergiPark (Istanbul University) · Global
A descriptive content analysis of 162 articles published between 2000 and 2015 in 21 journals examined trends in school gardening practices. The analysis found that school garden practices aim to develop academic performance and healthy living skills, primarily involving pre-school and primary school students. These practices were found to positively affect academic performance, healthy living skills, and individual and social skills development.
Food educationCommunityHealthTingkat Partisipasi Masyarakat Dan Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Keberhasilan Program Urban Farming
2018Nizzatul Amaliyah · Studi Pustaka · Global
This study investigated the level of community participation and factors influencing the success of urban farming programs. Urban farming is presented as a community empowerment program to address urban food issues, stating that its success requires the community to be able to provide food independently and to be involved in the planning, implementation, supervision, and evaluation processes. Factors influencing success include community perception and socio-economic factors.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsEstablishing Inner City Urban Agriculture in Stockholm: Exploring social and political logics at work in the public park Bellevue
2018Ida Åberg · · Sweden (Stockholm)
This study explores the social and political logics at work in establishing inner-city urban agriculture in Stockholm, focusing on the public park Bellevue. It notes that access to public space embodies highly valued normative democratic values, where anyone can participate and communicate politically.
PolicyCommunityCharacteristics of Urban Farmers
2018Kwaku Obosu-Mensah · · Ghana (Accra)
This study examined the general characteristics of urban farmers in Accra, Ghana. It showed that people of all socio-economic statuses are involved in urban agriculture. Farmers were found to be reluctant to approach government officials, and the most important reason for urban farmers to quit farming was sickness or death.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyRecherche, sélection et valorisation pédagogique de documents audiovisuels portant des thématiques de développement durable : Agriculture urbaine et Alimentation.
2018Rachelle Toinette · · Global
This paper describes an internship experience at the FReDD association, which works on disseminating and valorizing audiovisual materials as a means of raising awareness and educating the public on sustainable development and environmental issues. The internship involved tasks such as video transcription, audiovisual research, participation in various events, and notably the creation of educational sheets for a young audience on the themes of food and urban agriculture, addressing sustainable development challenges.
Food educationCommunityClimate changeGovernance in urban agriculture: challenges and opportunities
2018Isabel de Felipe · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Global
This paper describes urban agriculture as an activity gaining new support but facing difficulties due to inadequate governance. The research identified eight instruments for sustainable urban agriculture, including food security and economic development. It concludes that each city requires specific governance to achieve synergies.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsHealthCommunityCarving out space for community gardens in Australia
2018Alec Thornton, Kristen Lyons, Scott Sharpe · · Australia
This chapter examines how urban spaces in Australia are being transformed for community gardens through social movements and community interventions for the expansion of urban agriculture. It focuses on community gardeners as part of active social movements, exploring the urban context driven by the challenges of urbanization. The study applies Lefebvre's framework on the social production of space and discusses findings from qualitative interview data collected from two city case studies.
CommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceForest School is for everyone
2018Hannah Powell · Educating Young Children: Learning and Teaching in the Early Childhood Years · Australia
Kurilpa Community Child Care in West End operates a multi-age forest school program weekly at a local community garden's wild-space native plants area. This initiative enables children from a highly urbanized area to develop meaningful relationships with the environment and benefit from ongoing exposure to local green spaces.
CommunityFood educationHealthIn the Shadow of a Willow Tree: A Community Garden Experiment in Decolonising, Multispecies Research
2018Kate Wright · Cultural Studies Review · Australia (New South Wales)
A postdoctoral project involving collaboratively planting and maintaining a community garden on land that was once part of the East Armidale Aboriginal Reserve in New South Wales, Australia, began in 2014. This research offers a personal narrative of involvement in an anti-colonial multispecies research project within the confines of a neoliberal university, interrogating the potential and limitations of anti-colonial projects undertaken from colonial subject positions predicated on social and environmental privilege.
Governance failureCommunityFood educationPolicy