Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
168 results(6 / 7)
Harvest to harvest
2016Rosanne Wielemaker, Jan Weijma, G. Zeeman · Resources Conservation and Recycling · Netherlands (Rotterdam)
This paper assesses the match between supply from New Sanitation (NS) systems and demand from Urban Agriculture (UA) for nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter in Rotterdam. Using the Urban Harvest Approach, the research found that UA's demand for nutrients and organic matter can be minimized by 65–85%, achieving 100% self-sufficiency for phosphorus and partial self-sufficiency for nitrogen and organic matter. The integration of NS and UA maximizes urban self-sufficiency.
Organic cycleCompostClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceTinjauan Filosofi, Konsep, dan Prinsip Perencanaan Kawasan Sungai Manzanares di Kota Madrid, Spanyol
2016Monika Larasati P E, M.Eng. Ir. Sudaryono · · Spain (Madrid)
This study describes the planning of the Manzanares River area in Madrid, Spain, focusing on its philosophy, concepts, and principles. It notes that the river, once overlooked due to the M-30 highway, is now part of efforts to restore urban ecological elements. The research used a deductive qualitative method with content analysis of relevant literature and texts.
PolicyUrban–rural linkageClimate changeSocial Actions Transformed in a Post-Carbon Transition: The Case of Barcelona
2016Jesús Viçens · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · Spain (Barcelona)
This chapter investigated which social actions in modern urban neighborhoods aid the transition to a post-carbon society and mitigate global warming effects, examining a neighborhood in Barcelona. Data was collected through eight semi-structured interviews (averaging 70 minutes), and Nonaka and Takeuchi's (1995) knowledge creation model was used for analysis. The study is based on the capacity of communities to support innovative social actions through experiential knowledge creation.
CommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agriculture as key driver to sustainability. A planning project in an Alpine city
2016Corrado Diamantini · City Territory and Architecture · Italy
This article discusses the role of peri-urban agriculture in maintaining the identity and sustainability of Alpine cities, which face challenges such as urban sprawl. It emphasizes that peri-urban territories in the Alps can be crucial for sustainable urban development. As evidence, a planning project for the Rotaliana Königsberg territory north of Trento, Italy, is presented, which aims to restore its agro-food vocation through the creation of a vast agricultural park encompassing much of the urbanized area.
Peri-urban agriculturePolicyClimate changeUrban–rural linkageSoilless Urban Temporary Agriculture as a Strategy for Brownfield Site Renewal
2016Leonardo Boganini, Chiara Casazza · · Italy
The ongoing Ur.C.A. research project in Italy's Tuscany region aims to identify the possibilities of integrating agriculture into urban settlements, especially brownfield sites and marginal areas, utilizing hydroponic technologies. The project analyzes the potential for requalification of these urban contexts through urban agriculture, focusing on legislative and technological feasibility. It seeks to develop an innovative hydroponic growth cell system suitable for urban unused areas, integrating renewable energy and rainwater collection.
Climate changeEconomicsPolicyIn Pursuit of a Participatory Society: The Role of the participatory agent
2016Beatriz Pineda Revilla, A.J.J. van der Valk · Urban Agriculture Magazine · Netherlands
This article examines the role of a participatory agent, a civil servant in Amsterdam East, Netherlands, whose primary task is to bridge the interests of citizens and local government within a community garden. The study focuses on citizen-led initiatives in Dutch cities.
CommunityPolicyClimate changeCivil Society Actors as Drivers of Socio-ecological Transition? Green Spaces in European Cities as Laboratories of Social Innovation. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 102
2015Judith Schicklinski · WIFO Studies · Europe
Across Europe, self-organized civil society movements are emerging to address local challenges, particularly in maintaining and developing green spaces where local governments face budget constraints. Initiatives like urban gardening demonstrate people's ability to cooperate, organize, and take responsibility for green spaces, introducing practices that support socio-ecological transition. These activities contribute to urban sustainability by providing ecological benefits and recreational opportunities.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityClimate changeVers la mise en place d’une agriculture urbaine ou périurbaine dans les espaces ouverts des villes métropolitaines du Nord et du Sud. Le cas de Saragosse en Espagne et de Lima au Pérou
2015Flor Ccorahua balboa, Sylvie Clarimont · · Spain
This abstract discusses the re-evaluation of nature's role in and around cities, driven by global sustainable development challenges like environmental preservation and food security. It notes that agriculture is increasingly used to reconcile urban and natural spaces due to its recognized multifunctional character. The emergence of new agricultural spaces in intra-urban and peri-urban areas of major cities in both developed and developing countries reflects a shift in local policies towards integrating cities with nature.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justicePolicyClimate changePotential of community gardens for sustainable urban development in Izmir, Turkey
2015Hanife Vardi Topal · · Turkey (Izmir)
Community gardening was evaluated as a tool for sustainable urban development in the Izmir Metropolitan area, Turkey. The potential of existing community gardens was investigated at two case study sites in Bornova and Buca, focusing on the social, economic, and environmental qualities of the region. A mixed method approach, incorporating historical research, interviews, and diagramming, was used. After evaluating findings from site observations, open discussions, and interviews, the data was used to illustrate a conceptual community garden network in Izmir.
CommunityEconomicsClimate changeAgricultura urbana, condición para el desarrollo sostenible y la mejora del paisaje
2015M. Antonio Zárate Martín · Anales de Geografía de la Universidad Complutense · Spain (Madrid)
This paper is based on investigations for urban greenspace planning and the opportunities of urban agriculture for feeding a growing population. It also results from urban environmental improvement activities conducted with the School of Engineer Agronomists of the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Through urban agriculture cases, the paper analyzes alternatives for recovering constructed spaces and increasing inhabitants' quality of life.
Food sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageCommunityClimate changeCivil society actors as drivers of socio-ecological transition?: Green spaces in European cities as laboratories of social innovation
2015Judith Schicklinski · Econstor (Econstor) · Europe
This article examines the role of civil society movements in managing green spaces across European cities, particularly in the context of socio-ecological transition and tight public budgets. It highlights how self-organized initiatives like urban gardening contribute to maintaining and developing biodiverse green spaces, offering recreational, ecological, and climate resilience benefits. The discussion explores how citizen groups can expand green spaces and which policy frameworks foster collaboration for innovative urban food production and green-space management.
CommunityPolicyClimate changeMonitoring the Urban Tree Cover for Urban Ecosystem Services - The Case of Leipzig, Germany
2015Ellen Banzhaf, Helen Kollai · The international archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences · Germany (Leipzig)
This study monitored urban tree cover in Leipzig, Germany, over a decade to understand its distribution and changes for sustainable urban development. Using digital orthophotos, a digital elevation model, and a digital surface model, an object-based image analysis scheme was employed for detailed tree mapping. The results demonstrated high accuracy in tree detection and effective avoidance of misclassification caused by shadows.
CommunityBiodiversityClimate changePolicyApplication of the Green Revolution Game
2015Maria Boștenaru Dan · Open Journal of Ecology · Italy (Pavia)
The Green Revolution Game is employed in teaching at Karlsruhe University in Germany and Ohio University in the US. This game is used not only for simulation but also as a basis for generating data for study projects, analyzing educational approaches, the applicability of game theory for simulating water scarcity hazards in rice cultivation, and its transferability from India to the context of high-yield rice and urban agriculture in Pavia, Italy.
Food educationUrban–rural linkageBiodiversityClimate changeThe Role of Urban Gardening for European’s Ageing Societies
2015Runrid Fox-Kämper · REAL CORP Repository (University of Southampton) · Europe
This paper explores the functions of urban gardening for European cities, with an emphasis on ageing societies. It presents research on living preferences of aged persons in four German cities, indicating the importance of green space access and social functions of urban gardens. The paper also includes a literature review on urban gardening's functions in European cities and initial results from the COST Action on urban allotment gardens.
ElderlyCommunityHealthClimate changeProductive Synergies in the City
2015Greg Keeffe · Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) · United Kingdom
This chapter focuses on developing sustainable growing infrastructure at two scales: a large-scale city-wide fuel-productive landscape using algae arrays in Liverpool and a hyper-localized neighborhood food production system in Salford, UK, utilizing a closed-cycle aquaponic system. The author proposes a three-part model for urban agriculture implementation—hardware, software, and interface—concluding that urban agriculture should be viewed as a process rather than a static design, with benefits extending beyond physical outputs like energy and food.
Organic cycleCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeThe Agricultural District of Milan (Dam) and the peri-urban agriculture at ‘Parco delle Risaie'
2015Gioia Gibelli · TERRITORIO · Italy (Milan)
Agriculture has long been an important resource for Milan and its surroundings, with its significance increasing in recent years. Agricultural areas near the city can enhance urban metabolism and citizens' quality of life through ecosystem and landscape services, providing cultural and environmental services, and improving urban resilience. In this context, two important initiatives, the Agricultural District of Milan (DAM) and 'Parco delle Risaie', have been underway in Milan since 2008.
Peri-urban agricultureCommunityPolicyBiodiversityClimate changeEffets de l’apport de produits résiduaires organiques sur le stockage de carbone, les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et la lixiviation du nitrate dans les sols agricoles périurbains
2014Emmanuelle Vaudour, Christine Aubry, Liliane Bel, Laëtitia Bréchet, Philippe Cambier, Yves Coquet, Karim Dhaouadi, Veronique V. Etievant, Benoît Gabrielle, Jean-Marc J.-M. Gilliot, Jean Christophe Gueudet, Dalila Hadjar, Jonas Hamiache, Sabine Houot, Christophe Labat, Patricia Laville, Raia Silvia Massad, Joël Michelin, Paul Emile Noirot Cosson, Jean-Noël Rampon · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · France
The PROSTOCK project aimed to spatially assess the potential of recycling organic waste (exogenous organic matter, EOM) to improve soil organic carbon stocks (SCS) in peri-urban agricultural areas. It also evaluated the impacts of EOM use on greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching. The Versailles Plain and Alluets Plateau (221 km²) were chosen as the study region, with field and lab measurements collected from over 250 point locations. The project advanced the use of imaging data for estimating topsoil organic carbon content (SOC) from soil reflectance spectra, but found that medium spatial resolution multispectral satellite images do not discriminate changes in SOC resulting from EOM applications.
Organic cycleCompostClimate changePeri-urban agricultureUrban Environmental Quality and Sustainable Food Sourcing: A Spatial Approach Using Italian Provincial Data
2014Massimiliano Agovino, Antonio Garofalo, Angela Mariani · RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA · Italy
This paper assessed and compared the urban environmental quality performance of Italian provinces using the Legambiente Index and the Local Moran Transition Probability Matrix. The results revealed a persistent dualism between Northern and Southern Italy and a lack of positive environmental spillover among neighboring provinces. The study suggests that Southern Italy should prioritize improving sustainable food sourcing for urban development.
HealthPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeVertical farming and urban agriculture
2014Mike Nichols · Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses · United Kingdom
The International Conference on Vertical Farming and Urban Agriculture was held at the University of Nottingham, England, on September 9-10, 2014. This event gathered scientists, engineers, industrialists, and policymakers to discuss current ideas, technologies, commercial applications, and research opportunities in vertical farming and urban agriculture. It served as a forum to evaluate benefits, opportunities, risks, and challenges, and to foster collaboration between academic and commercial sectors.
PolicyEconomicsClimate changeProyectos de Investigación europeos y congresos internacionales sobre agricultura urbana y periurbana
2014H. Renting · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Europe
This contribution highlights a growing research interest in urban and peri-urban agriculture and related public policies, particularly within Europe and internationally. It presents major European research projects and relevant recent international conferences focusing on urban and peri-urban agriculture. The paper outlines proposed debate topics and analytical approaches used in these initiatives.
PolicyPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeIs Growing Food Within the City Sustainable? Urban Agriculture in Montpellier (France)
2014Pascale Scheromm, Coline Perrin, Christophe‐Toussaint Soulard · Espaces et sociétés · France (Montpellier)
A study of urban agriculture in Montpellier, France, utilized policy analysis, spatial analysis, and an analysis of urban agricultural actors' practices and representations. The research revealed a great diversity in urban agriculture and a gap between its perception in urban policy and its spatial realities. Traditional agriculture is declining despite occupying more land, while new forms like gardens and agriparks are emerging, fostering interactions between public actors and citizens.
PolicyCommunityUrban–rural linkageClimate changeUrban Gardening. Eine soziokulturelle Betrachtung neuer Gartenformen
2013Marta Bobowski · Facta Simonidis · Germany
This article addresses the phenomenon of urban gardening, with a specific focus on Germany. Part I defines and categorizes the main forms of non-economically motivated gardening in urban public space, outlining its core attributes and historical background. Part II indicates how the culture of a historical period affects the shape of green areas and clarifies the correlation between urban gardening and present political, social, and ecological discourses.
CommunityPolicyClimate changeProductive Landscapes and Resilient Cities
2013Meliz Akyol, Hayriye Eşbah Tunçay · · Turkey (Istanbul)
This study explores the role of productive landscapes, specifically urban agriculture, in creating resilient cities. Istanbul, Turkey, is presented as a case study, noting the historical influence of food on the city's image and traces of agricultural uses along the Theodosian Walls and in old neighborhoods. Despite agricultural lands being transformed into settlement areas due to rapid urbanization, the study suggests that combining agriculture with new technology, architectural trends, and sustainable master plans will encourage urban agriculture and create more resilient urban environments.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changePolicySuccesfactoren voor klimaatadaptatie : Effectief beleid voor open bodem en groen in Europese voorlopersteden
2013Schram-Bijkerk He, Dirven-van Breemen Em, Otte Pf · Rivm (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) · Europe
This report identifies self-reported local and shared success factors for introducing green space and urban agriculture in several European cities to mitigate climate change effects. Key factors include national legislation promoting nature conservation, strong cooperation between local authorities and the public, and incorporating minimum green space requirements into zoning plans and housing projects. Urban agriculture has been adopted as part of green policy in cities like Manchester, Lyon, and Paris to ensure a supply of healthy food.
PolicyClimate changeCommunityEntwerfen mit anderen Freiräumen
2013Michael Koch, Martin Köhler · · Germany (Hamburg)
This paper discusses how new types of open spaces, beyond officially designated ones, are gaining focus in urban planning discussions in Hamburg, Germany, particularly concerning urban densification and new partnerships for maintaining urban open spaces. These spaces, including traffic junctions, railway embankments, industrial fallow land, and private gardens, serve as venues for trends like urban gardening and urban explorations. The study, presented in four volumes for Hamburg, explores the actual and potential contributions of these spaces to the open space provision for the entire urban population, not just in inner-city areas or by young urban milieus.
CommunityPolicyClimate change