Research & reports

Pulido Guerrero, Ana María · · Colombia (Bogotá)

This project characterized ethnobotanical aspects of food and medicinal plants in urban gardens in Bogotá, Colombia, by visiting ten family gardens and ten community gardens across five locations. It found that 80% of the gardens had more food plants than medicinal plants, and 80% of registered plants were introduced species. Community gardens showed greater species richness and social purposes, while family gardens focused on self-consumption and social cohesion. No correlations were found between species richness and socioeconomic variables due to urban heterogeneity.

任婷婷 Ren Tingting, 周忠学 ZHOU Zhongxue · Acta Ecologica Sinica · China (Xi'an)

This study investigated the impact of agricultural type transformation on agricultural ecosystem services and human well-being in two villages in the Xi'an metropolitan area, China, using household surveys. From 2000 to 2017, Majia Village, focused on grain cultivation, saw its ecosystem service value decrease by 17.13%, while Huojian Village, focused on vegetable cultivation, experienced a 141.08% increase. Human well-being was 89% higher in Huojian Village, indicating that a shift from traditional grain cultivation to modern urban agriculture can enhance well-being, with agricultural net income being the most significant factor.

Fiona M. Asigbee, Annie K. Markowitz, Matthew J. Landry, Sarvenaz Vandyousefi, Reem Ghaddar, Nalini Ranjit, Judith L. Warren, Jaimie N. Davis, Alexandra van den Berg · Current Developments in Nutrition · United States (Texas)

This study analyzed baseline data from 1325 3rd-grade students and their parents in 28 low-income Texas schools to assess the relationship between child cooking involvement (CCI), parental support, vegetable preference (VP), and fruit/vegetable intake. Children who never cooked with their families preferred fewer vegetables (7.0 vs. 8.7/9.4), consumed less vegetables (1.9 vs. 2.6/3.5 servings/day), and ate less fruit (1.2 vs. 1.5/2.09 servings/day) compared to those who sometimes or always cooked. The findings suggest a positive association between cooking involvement and dietary intake.

Simone Betti · U-PAD Unimc - Open Digital Publications (University of Macerata) · Global

Urban horticulture, traditionally a marginal activity for the elderly, is gaining popularity in post-modern society for educational, rehabilitation, or hobby purposes. This growing interest in urban gardening, manifesting in various forms globally and locally, addresses needs beyond food production, often promoting social inclusion and the restoration of urban green areas. Gardens serve as spaces for reconnecting with nature, stress relief, social interaction for the elderly, outdoor classrooms for children, and therapeutic support in healthcare facilities.

Anna Janis-Chorosińska · Problemy Drobnych Gospodarstw Rolnych / Problems of Small Agricultural Holdings · Global

This article presents and compares well-functioning urban agriculture models from Havana (Cuba), Todmorden (England), and Bergamo (Italy), noting their differences in climate, area size, origins, objectives, organization, and financing. The analysis identifies various potential and effective functions, including educational, integration, therapeutic, aesthetic, job creation, and food autonomy. The study suggests these models could be implemented in Małopolska, Poland, to address multiple crisis situations.

Yolar Blandine N., Lawrence F. Fombe, Mokwe Bea Patrick J., Nuipokoh Oscar M. · Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal · Cameroon (Bamenda)

A study examining the impact of diseases and health on wetland populations in the Bamenda urban area of Cameroon found that increased human investment in wetlands enhances inhabitants' vulnerability to flood hazards and diseases like malaria, cholera, and typhoid. The wetlands in Bamenda are rapidly degrading due to population pressure, leading to reclamation, pollution, and urban agriculture, which exacerbates the proliferation of disease vectors.

Surendra K. Pradhan, Olufunke Cofie, Josiane Nikiema, Helvi Heinonen‐Tanski · Sustainability · Global

This research determined the fertilizer value of sawdust and fecal sludge (SDFS) pellets and compared their effect on lettuce cultivation with other fertilizers in a greenhouse and open field. SDFS pellets, with or without enrichments, resulted in higher saleable fresh weight lettuce yields than commercial compost, poultry manure, mineral fertilizer, or no fertilizer. Open field cultivation yielded more than greenhouse cultivation. While no helminth eggs were detected, some fecal coliforms were found in lettuces fertilized with almost all tested fertilizers, including NPK and the non-fertilized control.

Maria Lúcia da Silva Sodré, Ubirani Oliveira Santos, Altemar S. Dias · Revista GeoNordeste · Brazil

This study demonstrated the experience of vegetable production and consumption at an elderly home in Cruz das Almas, BA, Brazil. Field research, including semi-structured interviews, was conducted after the vegetable garden was built. The main results indicated that the produced food provided access to agrochemical-free consumption, ensuring food and nutritional security. It also portrayed the inmates' life histories, family memories, and recollections of past agricultural activities, leveraging their cultural background in the urban territory.

Navin Ramankutty, Vincent Ricciardi, Zia Mehrabi, Verena Seufert · Agricultural Economics · Global

A review was conducted on the production, environmental, and socioeconomic performance of three alternative farming systems: organic, smallholder, and urban agriculture. Organic agriculture offers environmental, livelihood, health, and nutritional benefits but is hampered by lower yields and higher prices. Smaller farms exhibit higher yields and biodiversity but result in lower incomes for farmers. Urban agriculture can alleviate pressure on rural landscapes, provide nutritional benefits to the urban poor, and engage urban dwellers in food system challenges, but it cannot scale up to be a substantial solution on its own.

Greg Zandrow, Samir Malkani, Kerri Gosselin · PEDIATRICS · Philippines

A community garden program in a rural Filipino village, involving families of 67 children, aimed to assess the impact of community gardens and education on plant care and proper diet on malnutrition and food security. The study found that while the program helped reduce malnutrition, it also led to an increase in obesity.

Nicolette Tamara Jonkman, Esmee D. Kooijman, Karsten Kalbitz, Nicky Pouw, Boris Jansen · SOIL · Kenya (Kisumu)

This study in Nyalenda urban gardens, Kisumu, Kenya, investigated how female farmers' knowledge and practices influence soil nutrient status. Soil analysis revealed that intercropped fields had significantly lower total soil nutrients than fields with only manure, despite cowpeas theoretically increasing soil N. Female farmers' knowledge was limited to practical and sensory aspects, and intercropping did not increase soil nutrient content due to socioeconomic factors like poverty.

Alana Bowen Siegner, Charisma Acey, Jennifer Sowerwine · Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · United States (California)

This paper analyzed survey responses from 35 East Bay urban farms through an agroecology lens. The analysis documented how these diverse farms form part of a fragile system that produces important spaces of food, community, health, and culture. It is noted that public investment for urban agriculture in U.S. cities remains both inequitable and inadequate, resulting in uneven and ad hoc outcomes for urban agriculture initiatives.

Honorine Ntangmo Tsafack, Émile Temgoua, Thomas Njiné · International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences · Cameroon

This in situ study in Dschang, West Cameroon, monitored the survival time of E. coli, parasite eggs, and cysts on lettuce, carrot, and eggplant irrigated with polluted urban wastewater for one week. Despite significant E. coli reductions (73-99% over seven days depending on crop and season), E. coli levels on lettuce and carrot remained above health thresholds (10^3 E. coli/g). Positive samples for eggs and cysts ranged from 0-25% on lettuce and carrot, and 0-8% on eggplant, posing a danger to consumers of raw vegetables.

Kathryn Markham-Petro · Scholarship@Western (Western University) · Canada

This qualitative study explored the social and emotional practices of primary grade students (kindergarten through grade five) in urban elementary schools in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, through gardening experiences. Data was collected from 14 educators across six schools. Findings indicated that gardening experiences benefited most students, especially those with diverse needs, and increased social and emotional skills related to collaboration and conflict resolution.

Caroline Rains, Kristen Giombi, Anupama Joshi · Translational Behavioral Medicine · United States (Oregon)

Oregon's Farm to School Education Grant Program aimed to increase knowledge of and preference for fruits and vegetables among children in low-income school districts. The study analyzed Oregon Department of Education Farm to School Baseline and Progress Reports from school year 2015-2016 and conducted interviews with education grantees. Education grants reached over 20,000 students in 30 districts, including 25 low-income districts. Reported activities included nutrition and food-based lessons, school gardens, and farm field trips, leading to students eating fruits and vegetables, trying new foods because of gardens, and learning about growing produce.

Wasana De Silva · International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics · Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura)

This research examines urban agriculture in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, arguing it forms a 'performing system' that connects people with the city's topography and promotes wellbeing. It explores how daily life, intertwined with agriculture and irrigation around reservoirs and paddy fields, fosters spiritual experiences and contributes to a healthy and sustainable city, drawing on phenomenology, anthropology, and Buddhist philosophy.

Abdulla Ambusaidi, Rashid Al‐Yahyai, Subhashni Taylor, Neil Taylor · Science education international · Oman

A pilot school gardening project involving Grade 2 students in Oman used a quasi-experimental mixed-method design. While findings were somewhat mixed and tentative, they suggest that school gardens in Oman could provide affective and possible health benefits for students. Given that the study was a pilot, these findings need to be treated tentatively.

Jan Hassink, Lenneke Vaandrager, Yvette Buist, Simone R. de Bruin · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · Global

A global study characterized nature-based adult day services (ADSs) for people with dementia (PwD) in urban areas and identified challenges. Interviews with 17 ADS providers revealed five types of services: social entrepreneurs, nursing homes, social care organizations, community gardens by citizens, and hybrid initiatives. General challenges included the availability of green urban spaces and acquiring funding. Specific challenges varied by type, including a lack of commitment among nursing staff in nursing homes, difficulty finding knowledgeable volunteers for community gardens, and work culture differences in hybrid models.

Kouassi Joseph Kouakou, Ahoua Edmond Sika, Seu Jonathan Gogbeu, Koffi Bertin Yao, M. Bounakhla, Denézon Odette Dogbo, Yves‐Alain Bekro · · Africa

This study compared the accumulation potential of five trace metals (cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, and nickel) in lettuce, spinach, and amaranth grown at market gardening sites in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Using principal components analysis, it was found that lettuce had a greater capacity for accumulating these metals compared to spinach and amaranth. Amaranth and spinach from the three sites showed nearly identical metal accumulation capacities.

Zebenay Shitaye · Developing Country Studies · Ethiopia

This study investigated the role of Urban Agriculture (UA) in improving household income and dietary diversity in Bure and Finoteselam Towns, Ethiopia. A survey was conducted with 242 respondents from two Kebeles, selected based on their UA potential and existing training, and data were analyzed using SPSS. Major reasons for UA engagement included earning additional income (57.6%) and employment opportunities (18.5%). UA significantly enhanced dietary diversity for practitioners, particularly in the consumption of tuber roots, vegetables, fruits, eggs, legumes, and milk. However, constraints included inadequate extension support and training, shortages and high costs of inputs, inconvenient working places, lower product prices, transportation problems, and price manipulation by middlemen.

Ika Norcahyanti, Antonius Nugraha Widhi Pratama, Dwi Koko Pratoko · Dedication Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia

This community service program in Jember, East Java, Indonesia, aimed to prevent stunting by facilitating residents of Posyandu Aster 138A through education, hydroponic urban farming, child-friendly play areas, and supplementary food training. Activities conducted from July to September 2019 increased knowledge and experience among cadres and members regarding hydroponic urban farming and making iron-rich cookies and nuggets. The program was well-received by the target community.

Rebecca S. Lewis · Digital Commons @ Butler University (Butler University) · United States (Indianapolis)

This project aimed to test if common urban farming management processes increase soil ecosystem health in Indianapolis. Researchers analyzed organic matter composition, carbon and nitrogen percentages, carbon-nitrogen ratio, soil pH, and bulk density from soil samples collected at multiple sites across the city. The study hypothesized that soil samples from actively farmed land would show increased health indicators, making them more similar to naturally established ecosystems than unfarmed controls.

Erik Engel, Karin Fiege, Anja Kühn · · Africa

The UFISAMO project analyzed urban agriculture (UA) in Maputo and Cape Town. In Maputo, UA is the main income source for about 5% of the population, though it often does not cover monthly food costs, and a major challenge is the uncontrolled application of pesticides due to mono-cropping. In Cape Town's townships, UA plays a negligible role in income and food security due to small plots, sandy soils, water stress, and weak market links.

Yi-Yu Huang, Tien-Jih Ma · Energies · Global

This study conducted a four-stage field experiment on a dormitory's flat rooftop in a subtropical climate during summer to measure the surface temperature and heat amplitude reduction of extensive green roofs using edible plants (Ipomoea batata) and lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA). Roofs with Ipomoea batata showed a significantly higher passive-cooling effect than those without, and roofs with 10%–40% LECA exhibited a slightly higher cooling effect than those with conventional garden soil. The combined effects of LECA and Ipomoea batata significantly reduced the bare rooftop's average temperature by an additional 10.19 °C.

August John Hoffman · Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community · Global

This quasi-experimental study examined the psychosocial and ecological impact of community service activities utilizing green space environments, such as community gardens, labyrinths, and urban forestry programs, on individual perceptions of community service learning programs and associated democratic processes. Sixteen volunteers subjectively reported their experiences, including appreciating living things, experiencing kinship with plants and animals, and a sense of belonging to nature, through engagement with various green spaces. Participants were interviewed on how these experiences shaped their views on the importance of nature and green spaces in urban settings and influenced their personal perceptions of belongingness and connectedness to both their communities and nature.