Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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855 results(6 / 35)
The influence of payments and time payments: Preconditions to implement nature-based solutions in Austrian cities
2025Ulrike Pröbstl‐Haider, Magdalena Feilhammer, Alice Wanner · Cities · Austria
This paper analyzed opportunities and barriers for implementing nature-based solutions (NBS) in Austrian cities. A survey of 1055 urban residents investigated conditions under which NBS reduce particulate matter, NO2, and air temperature. Results highlighted the relevance of design types like green corridors and community gardens, and the importance of direct and time payments, indicating that a €45 payment with a 10-minute walking distance to home was acceptable if high environmental benefits were achieved.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsClimate changeThe Contribution of Urban Agriculture to the Sustainable Development of Cities
2025Katarina Đurić, Mirjana Lukač Bulatović, Mihaela Kavran, Rajna Duletić, Nikola Puvača · Journal of Agronomy Technology and Engineering Management (JATEM) · Global
This paper argues that urban agriculture can serve as a significant tool for achieving sustainable urban development during intensive urban growth. Applying methods of analysis, synthesis, and descriptive research, it systematizes the economic, environmental, and social benefits provided by urban agriculture, including community gardens. The paper also highlights the most significant challenges currently faced by urban agriculture.
CommunityEconomicsClimate changeThe development of RBL-STEM learning materials to improve students' environmental literacy in solving urban farming problems using locating metric coloring and STGNN
2025Khusnul Hotimatus Agustina, Dafik Dafik, Arika Indah Kristiana · World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews · Global
This research and development study focused on creating RBL-STEM learning materials to improve students' environmental literacy in solving urban farming problems. The developed learning tools, including assignment designs, worksheets, and tests, met a 93.8% validity requirement. A trial with 35 students showed the RBL-STEM resources were effective (95.22%) and practical (95.82%), leading to increased environmental literacy levels based on pretest and posttest results. The study identified high, medium, and low proficiency levels and validated findings through statistical and image analysis, N-Vivo, and word cloud.
Food educationCommunityClimate changeSustainable Urban Agriculture New Frontier
2025Asifa Asifa, Muhammad Azizan · Urban Policy and Research · Global
Rapidly growing urbanization presents complex socio-economic and environmental challenges, necessitating a sustainability approach that encompasses social well-being (the brown agenda) and ecological protection.
Climate changeEconomicsCommunityA comprehensive review of urban agriculture in a changing climate: Technological innovations and policy frameworks
2025Peng Gao, Shuochen Xiao, Fara Diva Mustapa · Climate Risk Management · Global
This comprehensive review synthesized research on urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) globally, specifically within the context of its advantages, challenges, and climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, including technological innovations and policy frameworks. The review demonstrated UPA’s ability to advance social interactions, improve urban microclimates, mitigate the urban heat island phenomenon, and provide essential ecosystem services. However, UPA is limited by scarce land resources and soil contamination, along with water management challenges and regulatory frameworks.
Contamination & food safetyClimate changePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureUse of climate smart agriculture technologies in West Africa peri-urban Sahel in Niger
2025Tinawaen Tambol, Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, Moussa Soulé · Scientific Reports · Niger
This study investigated peri-urban farming systems in West African Sahel cities. A mixed-method research design, including field and household surveys of 142 peri-urban smallholder farmers, was employed. Results showed that biopesticides/crop and pest management were the most used Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies (CSAT) in dry-season farming (p = .002). Other technologies included fertilizer micro-dose, organic manure and compost application, flood-tolerant improved varieties, and green energy-based irrigation.
Peri-urban agricultureClimate changeDigital agricultureCompostUrbanAgri: a transfer learning-based plant stress identification framework for sustainable smart urban growth
2025Upinder Kaur, M. Kaur, Aparna Kumari, Deepika Shukla, Rajan Datt, Mehar Chand · Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · Global
This paper proposes a deep learning model, UrbanAgri, integrating ResNet101 and the Sparrow Search Optimization (SSO) algorithm, to identify plant stress in urban agriculture environments. Trained on a heterogeneous dataset of urban crop images, the model achieved an F1-score of 98.9 and ROC-AUC of 0.989, outperforming traditional approaches. This framework aims to reduce crop waste and promote sustainable urban agriculture by accurately detecting biotic and abiotic stress factors.
Digital agricultureClimate changeField diagnosis of farmers’ adaptation challenges to climate change in the agricultural urban landscapes
2025Henry Mensah · City and Environment Interactions · Ghana (Kumasi)
This study investigated adaptation practices and challenges among 85 urban farmers across three locations in Kumasi, Ghana. Farmers employed strategies like planting local crop varieties, expanding farms, and relocating. However, these strategies are hindered by institutional and technological limitations, financial constraints, lack of climate information, and delays in extension support, indicating significant governance challenges.
Governance failureClimate changePolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageSoil extraction facilitates climate change adaptation and alters urban ecosystem services
2025B. Constance, Adrienne Grêt‐Regamey, Andoniaina Valérie Andriamanga, Dominic A. Martin, Nicolas Salliou · Ecosystems and People · Madagascar (Antananarivo)
This study investigated the motivations and consequences of soil extraction for brick-making in Antananarivo, Madagascar, through 263 interviews with farmers and brick-makers. Findings indicate soil extraction serves as a climate change adaptation strategy, leading to a decline in flood regulation capacity but also a shift to more resilient cultivation practices like raised gardens. Climate change, with shorter rainy seasons, intensifies soil extraction.
Climate changePeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageBiodiversityUrban Agricultural Land Revitalization and the Creation of Edible Parks Toward Sustainable Urban Development
2025Zahra Nobar, Akbar Rahimi · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
This study explores the revitalization of urban agricultural lands and the creation of edible parks as nature-based solutions for sustainable urban development. It highlights urban agriculture's role in addressing food demands and its social and environmental implications. Edible parks, utilizing public and private spaces, are presented as a strategy to build sustainable urban infrastructure, promote social interaction, and strengthen community bonds.
Climate changeCommunityBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceBenefits from circular economy
2025Rolf Morgenstern, Bernd Pölling · · Global
This chapter explores the economic benefits and challenges of integrating nature-based solutions (NBS), including urban farming, into circular economy frameworks in urban environments. Using the proGIreg framework and an Economic and Labour Market Questionnaire, it reveals financial impacts of NBS implementations. Case studies from Zagreb, Turin, and Dortmund illustrate diverse economic outcomes, demonstrating both direct financial returns and broader economic value created by NBS.
EconomicsBiodiversityPollinatorsClimate changeFuture climate risks and sectoral vulnerabilities shaping resilience in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana
2025Yaw Agyeman Boafo, Bob Offei Manteaw, Philip Antwi‐Agyei, Portia Adade-Williams, Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Kofi Asare, Doreen Larkailey Lartey, Bernard Ayittiah · Discover Cities · Ghana
This study assesses future climate risks and sectoral vulnerabilities in Ghana's Cape Coast Metropolis using meteorological data and downscaled climate projections through 2100. Findings indicate significant warming trends and heightened rainfall variability, which render peri-urban agriculture highly susceptible to crop failure, fishery declines, and water scarcity. Informal economic sectors are also at risk from infrastructure damage and income impacts.
Limited or null effectClimate changePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsIoT-enabled smart garden monitoring and irrigation system
2025Dhirendra Kumar Shukla, Arvind Dagur, Shabir Ali, Akhilesh Kumar · · Global
This paper presents an IoT-enabled Smart Garden Monitoring System that integrates an ESP32 microcontroller with DHT11, soil moisture, and LDR sensors to automate and optimize irrigation. Experimental results show approximately 30% water savings and full real-time monitoring, surpassing traditional systems. This system supports sustainable urban gardening with minimal effort and offers enhanced efficiency over prior irrigation technologies.
Digital agricultureDIYClimate changeSolar-powered urban farming
2025Arun Kumar, Sandhya Prajapati · · Global
Urban farming has emerged as a viable approach that encourages intensive farming techniques and urban wastewater to sustainably generate food. This approach optimizes available urban spaces like rooftops, vacant lots, and vertical structures to cultivate food within city boundaries. It lessens reliance on lengthy supply chains and promotes a clean, sustainable environment by minimizing resource consumption, including fresh water and pesticides.
Climate changeBiodiversityFood miles & supply chainUrban–rural linkageShort-term forecasting and predictive control of rooftop greenhouse microclimate using multi-horizon machine learning models
2025Joaquim Cebolla-Alemany, Yunyao Cheng, Laia Pintó-Espín, Michele Albano, Marcel Macarulla, Santiago Gassó · Smart Agricultural Technology · Global
A data-driven framework for rooftop smart greenhouses was developed, combining environmental data, meteorological inputs, and actuator states for short-term temperature forecasting. Seven machine learning models were compared, with the best performing model achieving R² > 0.98 and MAE between 0.280 and 0.311. A fuzzy logic-based predictive control system demonstrated over 60% energy savings while maintaining climate stability, though challenges for generalization include dataset size and geographical variability.
Digital agricultureClimate changeEvaluating Production of Five Leafy Greens under Opaque and Thin Film Semitransparent Photovoltaic Arrays
2025Armando Villa-Ignacio, Maria Y. Chavez, Jennifer Bousselot · HortTechnology · Global
A two-year study at two locations evaluated five leafy greens (arugula, kale, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard) under opaque and 40% semitransparent photovoltaic (PV) modules and full sun. Four of the five crops, excluding spinach, showed higher fresh and dry weight under 40% semitransparent modules compared to other treatments and full sun. While most leafy greens under PV modules had lower stomatal conductance, lettuce and Swiss chard under semitransparent modules showed higher stomatal conductance.
Climate changeUrban–rural linkageÅ øke ambisjonene for urbant landbruk i det offentlige rom: å fremme urban agroøkologi og planetær helse
2025Chiara Tornaghi · · Global
This chapter, based on 15 years of research, identifies key shortcomings in urban planning policy that prevent urban agriculture from reaching its full potential for human and non-human health. These include the failure to recognize urban agriculture as food production, the invisibility of soil and its role, and the neglect of soil care and food production specialists in public land design and soil management. The chapter suggests that agroecological considerations can enhance urban agriculture's ambition in public spaces.
Governance failurePolicyHealthCommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceA food‐energy‐water nexus lens on urban food ecosystem: Benefits, barriers, and solutions
2025Jannat Bahanni, Katia Sakihama Ventura, Emine Fidan, Ashlyn Anderson, Sara Mulville, Jie Zhuang · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global
This study examines the benefits, barriers, and solutions for urban food ecosystem sustainability through a food-energy-water (FEW) nexus lens. A review of recent literature and case studies identified cross-sector barriers, including post-harvest losses, weak cold-chain infrastructure, and fragmented governance. FEW-efficient strategies, such as integrating precision technologies and renewable energy-powered urban agriculture, are proposed to enhance cost-effective production and renewability of urban food ecosystems.
PolicyClimate changeFood lossFood sovereignty & justiceConclusion: Cultivating Middle Ground
2025· The MIT Press eBooks · Global
This book examines community farms in Latin America, Australia, and China, highlighting tensions between local identities and global transformation. It finds that while industrial expansion in export agribusiness generates macroeconomic benefits, it incurs micro-level costs such as the replacement of peri-urban farms by plantations, loss of biodiversity, and groundwater contamination from pesticides and fertilizers. The study suggests that food system intermediaries are crucial in connecting rural migrants with urban farms and resources.
Environmental trade-offsCommunityPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityClimate changeIntegrating Intelligent Irrigation Systems Across Morocco’s Cultivated Spaces: A Strategic Assessment for Sustainable Water Management
2025Anass El-Aabssi, Abdelhadi Assir · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Morocco
This study assessed the potential integration of Intelligent Irrigation Systems (IIS) across four agricultural categories in Morocco—protected agriculture, traditional open-field farming, urban agriculture, and natural ecosystems—for sustainable water management. The evaluation considered infrastructural readiness, technological compatibility, economic feasibility, environmental impact, and social consequences. Findings indicated that traditional open-field farming, which accounts for 85% of cultivated area and 70% of irrigation water, holds the greatest potential for water savings, up to 70%, through precision irrigation technology.
Digital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsPengembangan Model Random Forest Regressor untuk Prediksi Kelembaban pada Pertanian Perkotaan Berkelanjutan
2025Miftah Farid Adiwisastra, Saeful Bahri, H. Syahwani Umar · Jutisi Jurnal Ilmiah Teknik Informatika dan Sistem Informasi · Global
This study aims to develop an IoT and AI-integrated smart farming system operating via edge computing. The prototype system collects real-time environmental data using pH, TDS, temperature, humidity, and water level sensors, processing it with the Random Forest Regressor algorithm to determine optimal conditions. Test results showed the model has very high accuracy in predicting humidity (R² = 0.99; RMSE = 0.65) and temperature (R² = 0.99; RMSE = 0.17), though discrepancies were noted under extreme conditions.
Digital agricultureClimate changeCommunity connectedness and sustainable eating
2025Michela Lenzi, Andrea Scatolon, Luciana Carraro, Margherita Guidetti, Valentina Carfora · Current Opinion in Psychology · Global
This review explored how community connectedness influences sustainable eating, particularly meat consumption. It found that while community ties can encourage pro-environmental behaviors and support plant-based diet initiatives, a strong connection to one's community may also hinder the adoption of environmentally friendly diets by reinforcing meat-heavy culinary traditions. The potential for community connectedness to promote sustainable eating depends on factors like environmental awareness.
Limited or null effectCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeImpacto del cambio climático en la seguridad alimentaria en regiones urbanas de Colombia
2025Piedad Margarita Montero Castillo, Diofanor Acevedo Correa, Yesid Alejandro Marrugo Ligardo · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Colombia
This study examines the impacts of climate change on food security for vulnerable social groups in urban areas of Colombia. Using documentary analysis and hermeneutic valuation, it considers the negative impacts of climate change on food production. Sustainable urban agriculture is analyzed as a contribution to providing access to nutritious and healthy food for vulnerable groups, fostering adaptability and resilience.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareHealthThe importance of digital record-keeping among urban agriculture communities: a review
2025Noryana Ahmad Khusaini, Munifah Siti Amira Yusuf · Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository (Universiti Putra Malaysia) · Global
This review examines the significance of digital record-keeping in urban agriculture, focusing on its impact on efficiency, productivity, market access, economic benefits, sustainability, and environmental benefits. The review identifies challenges such as a lack of digital skills, high implementation costs, inadequate technological infrastructure, limited connectivity, data privacy, and security. These challenges hinder the adoption of digitalization in urban agriculture.
Governance failureDigital agricultureEconomicsCommunityClimate changePOSITIVE EFFECTS OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN BUILDINGS ON URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
2025R Mohammadzadeh · Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction · Global
This qualitative secondary study, based on a structured literature review, examined the role of green infrastructure (GI) integrated into buildings for urban sustainability. Findings indicate that GI supports climate change adaptation, improves air quality, promotes urban biodiversity, and enables energy-efficient design. However, the paper also recognizes limitations related to cost, maintenance, and structural requirements for implementing building-based GI.
Economic viabilityClimate changeBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomics