Research & reports

Sheila Savitri · Jurnal Perpustakaan Pertanian · Indonesia

A bibliometric study of the Buletin Pertanian Perkotaan (Urban Agriculture Bulletin), published by BPTP Jakarta (Indonesia's agricultural technology assessment center) over its first six years, 2011–2016, examining author profession distribution, subject distribution, article distribution, citation currency, citation source distribution, author collaboration levels, and author productivity, using bibliometric methods and the Subramanyam formula for collaboration level. Across 2011–2016 the bulletin published 56 articles by 46 authors, both from within and outside BPTP Jakarta; researchers were the most common author type (25 people: 19 from BPTP Jakarta, 6 external), and agricultural cultivation was the leading subject with 25 articles. Article output peaked in 2013–2015, at 10 articles per year each. Citation currency needs improvement: per LIPI's 2012 guideline requiring cited references to be five years old or newer, the majority of references in the bulletin's articles—701 of them—were over five years old. By subject, socio-economic agriculture articles drew 43% of their citations from sources under five years old, while post-harvest articles were dominated (43.8%) by citations over ten years old. Citations from scientific journals accounted for only 46.5% of citation sources, well below LIPI's required 80% threshold.

Hok Bun Ku, Yan Hairong · · China

China's food-security crisis, caused by unsustainable development, has diminished the country's farmland through large-scale land acquisitions, ecological restoration projects, agricultural structural adjustments, natural disasters, and pollution, among other factors. This chapter argues that local producers and consumers are not passively waiting for government policy changes but, organized by green social workers, are actively searching for alternatives to achieve self-sufficiency and food security through a new initiative called the "rural–urban alliance." Framed within the social economy perspective advocated by green social work as a way to rethink economic development and consider alternatives to capitalism, the rural–urban alliance and community-supported agriculture (CSA) are positioned as a potential new route for China's sustainable development that could change the pathway of economic development forms that cause inequality and undermine livelihoods. This is a proposed, forward-looking argument, however; the abstract does not report empirical evidence that CSA or the rural–urban alliance have actually mitigated the food-security crisis.

Hae Sun Paik, Young Hwan Lee · Journal of the Korean housing association · South Korea

A South Korean study, set against the November 2011 enactment of the Act on Development and Support of Urban Agriculture, examined whether urban agriculture could help offset the negative image of public rental housing complexes and ease residents' relative sense of loss. Because criteria and systems for establishing community gardens within housing complexes were judged insufficient, the study sought ways to improve the relevant system and regulations. It conducted field studies and manager interviews at 18 domestic housing complexes with community gardens, identifying construction type, garden type and location, and operating systems. The case studies found that community gardens have a positive effect on activating resident community life, and the study concludes that regulatory improvement is needed to formally include community gardens as a type of communal facility.

Taipei City Government · Taipei City Government · Taiwan

This Taipei City Government article introduces the city's 'Garden City' initiative, converting idle land and school grounds into farming plots. It aims to give residents land and growing guidance, foster children's understanding of local food, and promote physical and psychological wellbeing through contact with plants and soil. It reports that 230 schools have received approval to enter the trial phase.

Turreira-García N., Vilkamaa A. M., Byg A. · Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society · Thailand

Documents 55 leafy vegetable species (32 families) in Chiang Mai fresh markets and assesses, via interviews with sellers, residents, and traditional practitioners, how diversity, use, and knowledge persist amid urbanisation.

Vu M.H., Kawashima H. · Habitat International · Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)

A comparative study of suburban districts in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City finds mixed livelihood outcomes following agricultural land acquisition for urbanization, with early non-farm diversification aiding adaptation in Hanoi but elderly and low-education farmers facing unemployment and insecurity.

· Journal of Cleaner Production · China (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei)

A study assessing the water footprint of the Jing-Jin-Ji (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) urban agglomeration in China, highlighting pressure on water resources from agricultural and industrial production.

· Landscape Architecture Frontiers · China (Shanghai)

Presents Shanghai's Clover Nature School community gardens, describing how an 'urban permaculture' approach fosters public participation and community building through edible landscapes.

Kim H., Kim K., Kim W. · Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology · South Korea

Urban agricultural soils near heavily trafficked roads showed elevated nickel and chromium, and unwashed Chinese cabbage leaves collected roadside carried higher heavy-metal levels from deposited traffic-related particles.

Kees Krul, Peter Ho · Sustainability · China

A study in urban China examined the role of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in addressing food safety and sustainability issues through surveys and interviews with key stakeholders. The CSA model demonstrated an innovative approach to dealing with these issues and future food demands. However, the movement's structural embeddedness is bound by several limitations and contradictions.

Reni Amaranti · ETHOS (Jurnal Penelitian dan Pengabdian) · Indonesia

This community service activity provided assistance to communities in Indonesia to manage organic waste at the local Rukun Tetangga (RT) level. The aim was to support urban farming programs by addressing the uneven spread of knowledge and low public participation in waste utilization. The activity focused on helping communities utilize their existing potentials and resources for waste management.

위사양, 문보희, 김선영, 오충현 · 한국환경생태학회 학술발표논문집 · South Korea

This study aimed to derive urban forest creation and management plans considering urban biodiversity enhancement for Goyang Ecological Park in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The research analyzed the park's current status using SWOT analysis, reviewed domestic and international cases, and conducted a GAP analysis to derive strategic directions and management plans. Proposed measures include re-zoning internal spaces, enhancing connectivity between ecosystems, promoting biodiversity through artificial management, and indirectly enhancing biodiversity through environmental education.

Muhammad Solihin · MINDA BAHARU · Indonesia (Batam)

This community service program in Sei Pelungut, Sagulung District, Batam City, Indonesia, aimed to promote urban farming and educate residents on hydroponic cultivation methods due to high vegetable prices. Using a descriptive qualitative method with observation and interviews, the program involved introducing hydroponic growing media, seedlings, planting techniques, and harvesting times. The community, particularly women from Kavling Flamboyan, showed high enthusiasm and participation in the activities.

Geneva Rawlins · · United States (Gary, Indianapolis)

This study aimed to examine how three urban agriculture programs in Gary and Indianapolis, United States, impact high school students' academic performance and future goals. Questionnaires were used to collect qualitative data from program leaders, organizational partners, and upper-class students. Due to low participant levels, there was insufficient data to draw definitive conclusions regarding academic performance. However, the study captured a snapshot of positive attitudes among student participants and identified commonalities among the programs.

Manisha Wadhwa nee Dabas · · India

This research studied Class III and V primary school children in India, sensitizing them to environmental awareness and cleanliness through classroom activities like observing school gardens and recycling. It found that environmental consciousness can be developed among primary school children. A common reason for littering was the unavailability of garbage bins in schools, and the study noted the school's role is limited within a larger social context.

Dwi Iriyani, Pangesti Nugrahani · Universitas Terbuka Repository (Universitas Terbuka) · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This study aimed to compare the vitamin C content of spinach, water spinach, and mustard greens produced by urban agriculture in three areas of Surabaya, Indonesia. Vitamin C analysis was performed using the DCPIP titration method. The results showed no significant difference in vitamin C content among the three types of vegetables, but differences in planting locations caused variations in vitamin C content.

Muhammad Arif · · Indonesia

This study aimed to plan the implementation of a smart garden concept on the landscape of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung campus. The smart garden was proposed as a facility for learning about science and technology. The concept generated themes including a forest garden for the Dean's Building area, agroforestry for the Forestry Department Building area, a homy garden for the Seed Laboratory area, a nursery for the Postgraduate Building area, aquaponics for the Fisheries and Marine Department Building area, urban farming for the Agricultural Engineering Department Building area, and hydroponics for the Agrotechnology Department Building area.

Dan Luo, Haifeng Zheng, Ye Chen, Philippe Deleporte, Tianpeng Xie, Siobhán Staunton, G. Wang · Soil Use and Management · China (Fujian Province)

A large-scale survey across 515 sites and 24 crop species in Fujian Province, SE China, assessed nickel (Ni) accumulation in food crops and associated dietary health risks. Crop Ni content was influenced by both soil Ni (DTPA-extractible) and plant species, though PCA did not show strong correlations between soil-to-crop transfer factors and soil properties. The study concluded that dietary intake of foods with mean Ni content could lead to health risks, particularly for children, and that sandy soils rich in organic matter with high Ni content are unsuitable for growing rice and legumes.

Nur Faizah Marwan, Bagas Setiono, Nur Indah · Jurnal Ilmiah Penalaran dan Penelitian Mahasiswa · Indonesia

Code Village in Indonesia faces severe river pollution, with heavy metal levels at 6-9 mg/l, exceeding the 3 mg/l standard. This paper proposes the "ECOBLUE" concept, which combines Blue Open Space (BOS) optimization with urban farming, prioritizing waste management to improve living standards. The concept involves managing organic waste for fertilizer and recycling plastic for vertical gardens, aiming to enhance health, education, and prosperity in Code Village.

Sunil Goria, Sanjay K. Bihani, K. L. Mahawar · · India

This paper discusses the current status of rural and urban agriculture in India, along with the Indian agriculture extension system and its activities. It explores the use of various digital media, including social media and web/app-based services, advocating for the development of urban agriculture in India through digital media and empowering farmer communities to achieve SDGs.

Arfan Fauzi Sujana, Udjianto Pawitro · Repository Tugas Akhir Prodi Arsitektur Itenas · Indonesia (Bandung)

Rumah Susun Hejo Teuneung Bandung is a residential building designed for low-to-middle income communities, utilizing natural potential as part of its concept. This apartment building attempts to combine two functions, residential and farming, aiming to provide new knowledge, recreation, interaction, and additional income for residents, promoting self-sufficiency in food needs.

Fika Mayrlina Anggrayni, Dini Ririn Andrias, Merryana Adriani · Media Gizi Indonesia · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This observational study, conducted in Surabaya, Indonesia, analyzed differences in food security and coping strategies between agriculture and fisheries urban farming households. Among 62 households, 64.7% of the agriculture group were food secured, while 75% of the fishery group were food insecure with severe hunger. There was no statistical difference in household food security between the agriculture and fisheries urban farming groups (p=0.255). However, a difference in coping strategy was found (p=0.021), with agriculture urban farming households being more food secure and rarely employing coping strategies compared to fishery urban farming households.

Guo-sheng MA, Juan Chen · DEStech Transactions on Engineering and Technology Research · China (Suzhou)

This study analyzed the current problems and strategic objectives of modern urban agriculture in Suzhou, China. It proposed measures including optimizing the spatial form of "four million acres," building a modern agricultural industry system, cultivating modern agricultural management entities, and enhancing agricultural technology and ecological protection. The aim was to improve agricultural specialization, innovation, and leisure tourism.

Nadia Belinda, Dian Rahmawati · Jurnal Teknik ITS · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This study in Semampir District, Surabaya City, Indonesia, aimed to develop urban farming based on community preferences. It identified potentials and problems using theoretical descriptive techniques, identified community preferences using confirmatory factor analysis, and formulated development directions using qualitative descriptive analysis. The study found that urban farming activities in Semampir District had not developed optimally due to the suboptimal role of the community and local institutions.

Abdullah, Abdullah, Gufran Darma Dirawan, Nurlita Pertiwi · Eprints (Universitas Negeri Makassar) · Indonesia (Makassar)

A study analyzing the sustainability level of urban farming in Makassar City, Indonesia, found that the overall urban farming sustainability index was 48.52%, indicating a "less sustainable" status. The ecological dimension was rated 42.66% as "less sustainable," while the economic dimension was 50.69% as "fairly sustainable."