Research & reports

Gagas Purwo Adi, Nareswarananindya Nareswarananindya, Dian Pramita Eka Laksmiyanti · Tekstur · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This study proposes the application of sustainable architecture for urban farming facilities in Surabaya City, Indonesia, to address basic needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The design integrates communal spaces and cultivation facilities with household waste processing and efficient resource maximization. It utilizes a slab building form with indoor cultivation areas oriented towards the sun, supported by solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems, based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods.

Norbertus Citra Irawan, Suswadi Suswadi, Mahananto Mahananto, Agung Prasetyo · Jurnal Ilmiah Hijau Cendekia · Indonesia (Surakarta)

This study investigated changes in the urban farming community in Surakarta, Indonesia, using the AIDP model analysis approach, surveying 50 community members. Results showed varying success rates across strategy stages; evaluation strategies like partnerships with local traders and financial institutions, vertical land use, and open dialogue performed poorly. Furthermore, improving financial literacy and sustainable waste management systems were unsuccessful, and agricultural product brand promotion and innovative institutional models also performed poorly.

Xiaojing Wang, Xiaoguang Zhang · Applied Sciences · China (Qingdao)

This study evaluated the agricultural production potential of urban rooftop spaces in Shibei District, Qingdao, China, using GIS spatial analysis. After analyzing inventory standards for idle rooftop space and conducting statistical analysis, the research found that the rooftop area of urban buildings in Shibei District is 383.3 hectares, with an annual vegetable production potential of 25,800 tons, capable of supplying 184,300 urban residents. It concluded that the idle rooftop area in cities and its potential for agricultural production are significant.

Tien Sugihartini, Dedi Djuliansah, Zulfikar Noormansyah · JURNAL ILMIAH MAHASISWA AGROINFO GALUH · Indonesia

This study was conducted in 10 districts of Tasikmalaya City, Indonesia, involving 100 urban farming actors. It aimed to analyze the performance of urban farming and its influencing factors in Tasikmalaya City, and to formulate a sustainable urban farming development model using SEM WarpPLS 7.0. The findings indicate that urban farming performance in Tasikmalaya City positively influences sustainable agriculture, and that actor characteristics and supporting institutions affect urban farming performance.

Byunghoon Park, Jayoo Seo · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea

This study designed and constructed a model garden at the Sejong National Arboretum, South Korea, to provide scientific data on the carbon-reducing functions of gardens. The experimental area was divided to analyze carbon reduction effects based on biochar amount, planting density, and plant species. The model garden incorporated rainwater utilization facilities and low-carbon certified materials, with the carbon reduction effect of each facility and construction method compared.

Weisong Chen, Weixuan Xian, Guiying He, Zhongye Xue, Shaomin Li, Wenyan Li, Yongtao Li, Yulong Zhang, Xingjian Yang · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · China (Guangzhou)

A study in seven districts of Guangzhou City, China, evaluated the large-scale occurrence and spatiotemporal distribution of 16 PAHs and 14 OPAHs in urban agricultural soils. Average concentrations of ΣPAHs and ΣOPAHs during the flood season (59.6 ± 31.1-213 ± 115.5 μg/kg) were significantly higher than during the dry season (42.1 ± 13.3-157.2 ± 98.2 μg/kg). Coal combustion and traffic emissions were identified as the dominant sources for these contaminants in both seasons.

Chomchid Phromsin, Orasa Suksawang · Sustainability · Thailand (Phayao)

This research surveyed 80 farm households in Huay Lan Subdistrict Municipality, Thailand, between December 2018 and January 2019, to examine socio-economic and environmental conditions and the potential of urban agriculture for food security. The study found uncertainties in future food security due to labor shortages, low productivity, low income, and chemical use. Spatial clustering identified weaknesses and development opportunities, suggesting a farmer coalition could enhance food security through collective efforts.

Muhammad Abbi Fahrezy Sutikno, Dwi Rahmawati, Yonika Sindiana Prahmani, Amnan Haris, Tiara Dwi Wulandari, Desy Fitria Astutianingtyas · Jurnal Pemberdayaan Masyarakat · Indonesia (Semarang)

Tugurejo Village in Semarang City, Indonesia, faces disaster risks due to land use changes. A community service program was implemented to enhance the climate village program in this area. Through qualitative data collection and program formulation, four programs were successfully developed: urban farming, urban aquaculture, rainwater harvesting, and waste bank programs.

Qiuling Yuan, Shuo Mi, Fanxin Meng, Jiaqi Hou, Yutong Sun, Hui Li, Aamir Mehmood Shah · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · China (Beijing)

This study applied a "farm-to-table" emergy method to analyze the environmental sustainability of two typical urban farms in Beijing, China: a suburban greenhouse farm and an aquaponics farm. The aquaponics farm demonstrated a lower environmental loading ratio and a higher emergy sustainability index compared to traditional greenhouse farming, but it required more emergy inputs.

Kyunghun Min, Jisoo Ahn, Eunseok Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · South Korea

This study analyzed exemplary cases from the US and Canada to identify factors for the active use of rooftop greenhouses (RTGs) in Korea. Despite international interest in RTGs for carbon neutrality and food security, their implementation in Korea is limited by a lack of relevant legal bases and policies. Essential factors for stable RTG operation include long-term support, initial capital, differentiated distribution, and a review of laws and regulations, highlighting the need for legal and policy frameworks.

Yuchong Long, Zhengwei Cao, Yan Mao, Xinran Liu, Yan Gao, Chuanzhi Zhou, Xin Zheng · Land · China (Shanghai)

This study constructed an evaluation system for urban agriculture green bases in Shanghai. Using a Bayesian network, intervention, and counterfactual inference, typical green bases in six agricultural districts of Shanghai were evaluated to analyze the correlation and importance of indicators. The results showed that while there are differences among bases in various indicators, they all reach a high overall level, and base construction, production, and ecological construction elements are the main factors affecting their level.

Shifa Ma, Bin Ai, Haiyan Jiang, Yunnan Cai, Dixiang Xie · Ecological Indicators · China

This study developed a framework to explore urban agglomeration growth patterns in the terminal urbanization stage, integrating inertial driving factors, spatial development strategy, and urbanization cycles represented by constrained S-curves. The framework was applied to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a case study. Results showed that planning strategy can reshape growth patterns, subregional constrained S-curves can reasonably predict urban quantity, and the coupled model provides a referable simulation pattern for urban agglomeration.

Nurgiantoro Nurgiantoro, La Ode Hadini, La Ode Agus Salim Mando, Armayanti Aris, Septian Jackrianto, Farid Restu Firmansyah, Hikma Wati · Sewagati · Indonesia (Kendari)

This community partnership program in Wundumbatu Village, Kendari City, focused on mitigating climate change impacts by reducing the urban heat island effect through edible landscape vegetation. The program educated the community via Focus Group Discussions and planted 450 edible plant seedlings, including mulberry and turmeric, in partner yards. Monitoring showed that the edible plants grew well, and community understanding of edible landscapes improved.

Vudipong Davivongs, Sigit D. Arifwidodo · Urban Ecosystems · Thailand

This study surveyed six orchards in Bangkok's Inner Orchard (BIO) to analyze forest structure and tree diversity. It found 98.64% forest canopy cover, an average tree height greater than common orchard trees, and mid-range diversity (Shannon index 2.53). Older orchards showed greater fruit tree species diversity, while newer ones had less.

Pooja Krishna Jayakrishnan, Jayalekshmi Gopalakrishnan Nair, Archana Raghavan Sathyan, Ashutosh Jena, Manju Prem Shiva Reddy · Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension Economics & Sociology · India

This study, conducted from 2019 to 2023 in six agro-ecological units of Kerala's Coastal plains, India, assessed the climate resilience of peri-urban agriculture. Researchers developed a Climate Resilience Index (CRI) based on 72 indicators across absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities. The mean CRI was 0.563, with absorptive and transformative capacities contributing most, and water sufficiency and sustainable practices identified as key determinants of resilience.

Liling Huang · Sustainability · Taiwan (Taipei City)

This study analyzed the practice of community gardens and their relevance to urban health and human well-being, using the development process of Jiuzhuang Community Garden in Taipei City as a case study. Using qualitative methods such as participatory observation, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews, the study demonstrated co-beneficial relationships and synergistic effects on physical and mental health. This research presents a pathway for community gardens to support place-based health concepts and respond to urban complexity.

Norbertus Citra Irawan, Haryuni Haryuni, Tyas Soemarah Kusuma Dewi, Sapto Priyadi, Suswadi Suswadi · Journal of Community Capacity Empowerment · Indonesia (Surakarta)

This community service activity, conducted on Jalan Slamet Riyadi in Surakarta, Indonesia, involved plant clinic consultations, demonstrations of sustainable maintenance, and seed distribution during car-free days. These activities increased urban communities' understanding and confidence in plant care, stimulated interest in gardening, and promoted greenery. The activity confirmed that direct approaches with communities, through clinics, demonstrations, and active participation, are effective in addressing urban environmental challenges and raising awareness of sustainable agriculture.

Ikarini Widayati, Ika Kustiani, Panji Kurniawan · Seminar Nasional Insinyur Profesional (SNIP) · Indonesia (Pringsewu)

This study investigated the potential development of urban farming as a strategy for urban greening in Pringsewu Regency, Indonesia, by utilizing spaces in homes, idle land, and residential roads. Its objectives are to create more pleasant, healthy, and clean dense urban residential environments, apply urban farming concepts, and provide economic and environmental benefits to selected communities. Pringsewu urban area still has 1,856.36 hectares with non-urban characteristics, and urban farming is developing to anticipate decreasing urban land.

Suman Kumar Sourav, C. T. Subbarayappa, D. C. Hanumanthappa, Mudalagiriyappa, Prem José Vazhacharickal, Andrea Mock, Mariko Ingold, Andreas Buerkert · Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems · India

This study investigated how three rates of mineral nitrogen addition combined with rainfed versus irrigated conditions affected CO2 emissions from typical crops during the wet (Kharif) and dry (Rabi) seasons on a Nitisol in Bengaluru, South India. Two two-factorial split-plot experiments were conducted under rainfed and irrigated conditions from 2017 to 2021, using maize, finger millet, and lablab, and the vegetables cabbage, eggplant, and tomato or chili. CO2 emissions were measured with a Los Gatos Research multi-gas analyzer from 7:00-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-6:00 p.m., with CH4, NH3, and N2O found negligible. Regardless of irrigation, season, crop, or nitrogen level, afternoon CO2 emission rates were 2-128% higher than morning rates. Diurnal differences ranged from 0.04-1.61 kg CO2-C/ha/h in the irrigated field and 0.20-1.78 kg CO2-C/ha/h in the rainfed field. In the rainfed field, high-nitrogen plots emitted 56.4% more CO2 than low-nitrogen plots, versus only 12.1% more in the irrigated field. A linear mixed model showed nitrogen fertilization enhanced CO2 emissions, most strongly in rainfed crops; soil moisture enhanced emissions in rainfed crops but decreased them under irrigation, while soil temperature at 5 cm depth enhanced emissions in both fields.

Ananda Rizqullah, Bilqis Tsurayya, Paul Aldo Purba, Helki Ginting, Alya Putri Natandini, Dicky Andrea Sembiring · International Journal of Architecture and Urbanism · Indonesia

This paper proposes NeoHada, an adaptive urban building design concept for Indonesia that integrates solar-piezoelectric technology and rooftop farming, developed in response to urban flooding challenges. The concept is based on three principles — climatic, energetic, and productive architecture — using a rain-harvesting system on building rooftops to prevent flooding and provide an alternative water source, solar panels combined with piezoelectric technology for independent electricity generation, and rooftop farming aimed at urban food self-sufficiency. The paper frames the proposal in relation to Sustainable Development Goals covering zero hunger, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities, and climate action.

Dinda Nur Haliza · Jurnal Teknologi Pangan dan Ilmu Pertanian · Indonesia (Jakarta)

Motivated by the risk that conversion of agricultural land in Jakarta, Indonesia, poses to food security, this study developed a conceptual model integrating rainwater harvesting with automatic irrigation for a rooftop greenhouse, based on a literature review of 12 journal articles and 3 textbooks on land conversion, irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting and greenhouse design. The resulting conceptual model shows rainwater collected in an underground reservoir could be supplied via automatic irrigation to crops in a rooftop greenhouse, though the authors state further study is needed on soil moisture requirements for specific plant types and direct testing of the model.

Christian Nindyaputra Octarino · ATRIUM - Jurnal Arsitektur · Indonesia

A study examined how effective urban farming and greenery integrated into a residential area are at maintaining microclimate quality, using field measurement and ENVI-MET simulation in the Tompeyan district of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The results show vegetation in outdoor spaces has a significant effect on surface and air temperature. The ENVI-MET simulation showed an increase in the thermal comfort index in vegetated areas, although it had not yet reached the ideal value.

Taufik Zarkasya Sastrawinata, Ilhamdaniah, Agara Dama Gaputra · Prosiding Temu Ilmiah · Indonesia

A report on an apartment design project — a final-year architecture thesis at UPI — sited at Bandung Teknopolis within the Summarecon Bandung residential development in West Java, Indonesia. Located in a tropical climate, site analysis found that most of the solar exposure received from 9am to 5pm, east to west, was disadvantageous. The design applies sustainable landscaping, sun shading, cross ventilation, renewable energy through photovoltaic panels, an alternative water source via rainwater harvesting, and urban farming, with an environmental focus as the project's central sustainability strategy.

Devisri S.S. Senthilkumar, Moumita Malakar · Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability · India

This review examines "public gardens" — green spaces holding diverse plant collections for public enjoyment, education, and biodiversity conservation — as a potential option for climate change hazard mitigation, drawing on recent built-environment interventions in non-agriculture-based rural cities in India that use urban gardening. It notes a deficit in public awareness and understanding of climate information and governance systems, including technical knowledge, and compiles knowledge on how urban gardening approaches feature in climate change programs that seek to legalize green infrastructure implementation.

Poonam Bewtra · Current Agriculture Research Journal · India

Food forests involve planned agroforestry. The abstract states that, like a real forest, a food forest requires no pesticides, herbicides, weeding, crop rotation, mowing, or digging, and ensures the sustainability of flora, fauna, birds, animals, and particularly bees. This is a case study of one such food forest, Vanya Organic, realized by one of its owners, Mr. Patanjali Jha, who grew native trees, creepers, and shrubs in combination with symbiotic vegetation to maximize carbon sequestration, forest cover, and usable by-products. A key component is Vetiver grass, and Jha argues that food forests and vetiver plantations should be planned and established together, terming the combination a "Regenerative Food Forest." The abstract states that Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) or Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), described as a "green fuel," can be derived from the agricultural waste and other biomass that regenerative food forests produce in abundance; a CBG plant produces sulphur-stripped, automotive-grade methane along with a high-quality organic fertilizer by-product approved for regular use by the Ministry of Agriculture, and the abstract argues for linking CBG plants with regenerative food forests to provide jobs, increase farm incomes, and bring sustainable changes to air, water, and soil quality over time. The case study is stated to have been prepared with the owner's consent and approval.