Research & reports

Yichen Jiang, Axel Timpe, Frank Lohrberg · Journal of Urban History · China (Xuanhua)

A case study of traditional urban grape gardens in Xuanhua, China, examined existing issues and external factors impacting the area. The study found that while traditional farming techniques and the urban fabric of courtyards with grape funnels have been preserved, the area still lacks social concerns, and some households need to optimize their business models.

Ana Clara Aparecida Alves de Souza, Fernando Dias Lopes · Cadernos EBAPE BR · Brazil (Porto Alegre)

This article analyzes an urban collective garden, Horta da Formiga, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, through a two-year participatory investigation using Pierre Bourdieu’s framework. The study found that the more protagonists of Horta da Formiga align with capitals considered legitimate by the state, the more they can reconcile contradictions in this field. However, despite individual agency, participants face structured conditions that do not allow for more organic and diverse forms of contradiction reconciliation.

Elias Danyi Kuusaana, Isaac Ayurienga, Joyce A. Eledi Kuusaana, Joseph Kwaku Kidido, Ibrahim Abu Abdulai · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Ghana (Bolgatanga)

A study in Bolgatanga Township, Ghana, used field surveys, key informant interviews, and GIS mapping to examine urban agricultural practices. It found that agricultural lands significantly decreased in size and contiguity since 1996 due to urban sprawl, forcing farmers to use segregated plots and undeveloped residential areas which are easily lost to development. The study concluded that urbanization exacerbates food production challenges without policies to protect agricultural lands.

Ristina Siti Sundari, Lies Sulistyowati, Trisna Insan Noor, Iwan Setiawan · IntechOpen eBooks · Indonesia

Urban farming is expanding globally due to large urban areas, population density, and the demand for local, healthier food. Limited urban space drives the adoption of soilless culture, such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics, for cultivating agricultural commodities, often in vertical farming. Urban farmers, typically with limited skills but high curiosity, primarily engage in urban farming for household self-demand rather than commercial agribusiness.

Norma Wong, Marte C. W. Solheim · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · Norway

This case study details Tugushan Alp's entrepreneurial journey in Norway, where he pioneered hydroponic lettuce production in a bomb shelter. Alp faced multiple hurdles, including battling regulatory bodies for a legal premise. Despite these challenges, he achieved success and recognition for his innovative urban farming method.

Kayla Danielle Staley · Digital Archive @ GSU · United States

This quantitative study explored the relationship between community gardens and community vitality indicators (median household income, educational attainment, business establishment, occupied housing units) using U.S. Census Bureau data at the census tract level. While all community garden census tracts showed an increase in median household income by 2013, no direct association was found between community gardens and educational attainment. The research suggests a loose association between community gardens and increased median household income, but the garden's presence cannot be solidified as the sole reason.

Manuela Alves da Cunha, Ryzia de Cássia Vieira Cardoso · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (Salvador)

A descriptive study collected data from urban garden farmers in Salvador, Brazil, to assess the contribution of urban gardens to food and nutritional security and sustainable development. Urban gardens were shown to provide work and income for families, contributing to food supply and security. Beyond producing fresh vegetables for the local population, the activity also contributes to ecosystem balance and sustainability.

Richard Kofi Asravor, Paul Adjei Kwakwa · African Geographical Review · Ghana

This study compared the food security status of urban dwellers in Accra, Ghana, before and after the COVID-19 lockdown, using a sample of 340 respondents. The research found a significant difference, with 36.4% of households being 'High food secure' prior to COVID-19, but 12.35% becoming 'Very low food secure' post-lockdown. The findings indicate a decline in urban household food security following the lockdown.

Sina Razzaghi Asl, Anahita Azadgar · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Iran (Tehran)

A study in Tehran, Iran, mapped the spatial distribution and socio-economic attributes of 26 urban community gardens using semi-structured interviews, qualitative analysis, and secondary data from the 2020 Tehran statistical yearbook. The findings revealed a geographical distribution imbalance, with most gardens located in the southern part of the city. Community gardens were mainly placed in areas with lower average land prices, lower median household income, and higher education graduates, indicating an uneven distribution that favors socio-economically disadvantaged areas.

Giorgio Jivanka, Petrus Rudi Kasimun · Jurnal Sains Teknologi Urban Perancangan Arsitektur (Stupa) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This study analyzes the application of a hybrid concept in a residential project in Jakarta, Indonesia, focusing on simple rental flats (Rusunawa) and urban farming. It aims to address land degradation and poverty by integrating urban plantations to support residents' economic aspects, alongside considering social adaptation needs. The hybrid concept, guided by criteria like project scale and function diversity, serves as a design criterion for work-based residential buildings.

Lulu Fara, Muhammad Yafi Fadhillah, W. Dea Fadhilah, Kalonika Izzati, Nita Wahyuni, Nabila Triyuliani Hasdania, Alda Agustina, Dwi Librina Suhardi, Annisa Nur Yasin, Amos Adrian Sembiring Pelawi, Fadel Saleh Basobih · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Nusantara · Indonesia

This paper discusses the realization of the Budikdamber urban farming concept in Simpang Tiga Village, Pekanbaru City, Indonesia. Service students implemented Budikdamber activities as a solution to limited cultivation land and decreasing water quality, aiming to address challenges posed by increasing population growth and land function shifts. The initiative also serves as a platform for entrepreneurship.

Ratna Wardhani, Wuryantoro Wuryantoro · International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science · Indonesia (Madiun-City)

A descriptive study conducted in three districts of Madiun-City, Indonesia, aimed to identify the potential of yard fruit plants as agro-industry raw materials and analyze the added value of processed products. The study found eight types of fruit plants in yards, but only four—Mango, Banana, Papaya, and Guava—were utilized as raw materials for processed products. These were processed into Mango Syrup, Banana Chips, Papaya Sauce, and Guava Juice, yielding specific added values per kilogram.

Doni Sahat Tua Manalu, Ade Astri Muliasari, Hidayati Fatchur R, Faranita Ratih L · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Pemberdayaan Inovasi dan Perubahan · Indonesia

This community service activity aimed to socialize digital marketing for ornamental plants and vegetables from urban farming during the Covid-19 pandemic in Cihideung Ilir Village, Indonesia. It was found that many digital marketing platforms are easily usable by participants, supported by the increasing number of internet users in Indonesia. Participants primarily grew plants to increase household income and consumption, and 100% stated the activities increased their knowledge and were important.

Hastati Hastati, Haji Saediman, Idrus Salam · Jurnal Ilmiah Membangun Desa dan Pertanian · Indonesia

This study, using a sample of 80 urban farming households in Kendari City, Indonesia, analyzed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on staple food consumption types and frequency. It found that rice remained the dominant staple food before and during the pandemic, followed by sago and cassava, with local foods serving as complementary. The type and frequency of staple food consumption did not change significantly during the pandemic.

Raktima Ghosh · · India (Kolkata)

This study examined the roles and emergent risks of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, India, using a mixed-method approach combining empirical findings and geospatial techniques. Field observations and land use land cover (LULC) mapping validated land conversion patterns and the spatial shrinkage of UPA in the Kolkata metropolis. The study revealed current socioecological changes and governance patterns in the context of UPA, indicating that UPA faces multiple challenges arising from land-use transformations, privatization of lands, and changing social equations in the city.

Lenon Musosa, Munyaradzi Davis Shekede, Isaiah Gwitira, Innocent Chirisa, Daniel Tevera, Abraham R. Matamanda · African Geographical Review · Zimbabwe (Harare)

This study mapped the spatial and temporal distribution of cropland in Harare Metropolitan, Zimbabwe, between 1985 and 2019 using Landsat 5 imagery and the Random Forest classifier in Google Earth Engine. The results revealed considerable fluctuations in the cultivated area over this period, influenced by several factors. The study demonstrates the increasing importance of remote sensing for assessing urban cropland and its contribution to food security.

Nilesh L. Patil, Anjali A. Kulkarni, Dinesh Amalnerkar, Swapnil C. Kamble · South African Journal of Botany · South Africa

This study assessed the growth and nutrient values of wheatgrass cultivated in soil, hydroponics, aeroponics, and paper-pulp based potting mix soil. Plantlets from potting mix soil showed the highest height (88.67 cm), weight (15.13 gm), and overall nutrient content. Cost analysis over six months revealed that potting mix soil systems were 17x and 23x cheaper than hydroponics and aeroponics, respectively, making them the most productive for long durations.

Jun Surjanti, Rahayu Dewi Soeyono, Winarsih Winarsih · INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This phenomenalistic research mapped intergenerational family business potentials among 193 SMEs in the urban agricultural community of Surabaya, Indonesia, using questionnaires. The study found the highest potential among women who graduated from senior high school, with 1 to 5 years of start-up experience in the food industry, primarily employing family members. These businesses were intended to be inherited by their children and managed by the women of the family.

Runrid Fox-Kämper, Specht Kathrin, Caputo Silvio, Hawes Jason K., Lélièvre Agnès, Cohen Nevin, Poniży Lidia · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global

This roadmap identifies policy recommendations for a desirable future for urban agriculture in 2050, based on policy reviews, interviews, and workshops. It assesses how policy can be developed to create synergies between urban agriculture and cities' food, energy, and water nexus, drawing from existing policies in five city regions in France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The recommendations are based on the most positive outcomes for urban agriculture, cities, and citizens.

Bethuel Sibongiseni Ngcamu · Environmental & Socio-economic Studies · Africa

This literature review explored the effects of urbanization on food security in Africa by reviewing eleven empirical journal articles. Findings indicate that rapid, unplanned urbanization has led to increased food insecurity, environmental degradation, and unsustainable food security, exacerbated by ill-prepared and incompetent governments. Key issues identified include poor government interventions, inadequate land-use planning, and high incompetency among urban planners.

Alexandra Peña, M. Rosa Rovira‐Val, Joan Manuel F. Mendoza · Journal of Cleaner Production · Global

This paper analyzed the economic viability of tomato production in an innovative rooftop urban agriculture system using a life cycle cost methodology. Data was collected from direct measurements and various sources. Results showed that the main cost drivers for tomato production were labor (24.7%), the rooftop greenhouse structure (15%), external pest control (12.6%), and rainwater consumption (9.5%), totaling 61.8% of costs.

Grete Swensen, Vebjørn Egner Stafseng, Véronique Karine Simon · International Journal of Heritage Studies · France (Bordeaux)

This comparative case study examines two regeneration projects, the Darwin Ecosystem Project in Bordeaux, France, and Dr. Dedichen’s Greenhouse in Oslo, Norway, to understand how heritage combined with urban gardening can enhance areas requiring regeneration. The study notes that conflicting economic, political, and cultural views are likely to affect the heritage discourse in marginalized urban areas. It describes how old buildings and historical fragments can be integrated into urban planning initiatives, with residents, artists, and citizen groups cooperating with planning authorities to transform neighborhoods.

Nick ten Caat, Martin Tenpierik, Andy van den Dobbelsteen · Sustainability · Global

This study introduced the FEWprint platform's diet shift component, simulating a theoretical community-wide diet shift from conventional to vegan while maintaining protein intake in Amsterdam, Belfast, and Detroit. Results showed the largest total carbon mitigation potential in Detroit (-916 kg CO2eq/cap/year), followed by Belfast (-866 kg) and Amsterdam (-509 kg). In relative terms, Belfast had the largest carbon reduction potential (-25%), followed by Amsterdam (-15%) and Detroit (-7%).

Jia Qi Cheong · · Malaysia

Almost 10 million Malaysians face food insecurity, leading to the emergence of initiatives supporting alternative food sources, though challenges persist. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of urban food supply chains, with Malaysia experiencing cooking oil price spikes in February 2022.

Muhammad Adryan Okuputra, Taqiya Rooshida Faramitha, Isnawati Hidayah, Vina Noya Siregar, Galih Dwi Prastio · Jurnal Manajemen · Indonesia (Malang)

A study analyzed hydroponic urban farming as an entrepreneurial development effort in Karangwidoro Village, Malang Regency, Indonesia, where the project has been running since early 2020. Using a community-based research method and SWOT analysis, the study found that Karangwidoro village agriculture has a great opportunity to be developed as a profit business.