Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1993 results(6 / 80)
Transforming Household Food Waste into a Community-Based Composting and Urban Food Production System: Basis for a Sustainable Food-to-Soil-to-Food Innovation Framework
2026Edmond P. Freo · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Philippines (Quezon City)
This study in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Philippines, assessed the feasibility of an integrated Food-to-Soil-to-Food innovation model using a quantitative approach with 85 household residents. Respondents showed very high awareness of food waste segregation, composting, and urban gardening, and a general willingness to participate, though with some hesitation regarding consistent daily segregation. While a significant positive relationship between awareness and innovation acceptability was found, critical structural barriers included lack of tools, limited community support, and urban space constraints. The study concludes that transforming urban food waste into a circular production system is highly feasible with institutional and logistical support.
CompostCommunityOrganic cycleFood lossA IMPORTÂNCIA DAS HORTAS AGROURBANAS COMO INSTRUMENTO DE SAÚDE BÁSICA: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
2026Giovane Sampaio dos Santos, Yuri César Miranda Soares, Guilherme Alves Barroso Araújo, Lorena Oliveira Pereira, Daniel Viana Ferreira, Mariana Aragão Machado Santos Neves, Vanilson Furtado Pereira, Sandra Regina Cardoso Vitorino · Revista Tópicos. · Global
This integrative literature review analyzed recent scientific evidence on community gardens as a tool for promoting basic health, focusing on articles published in Portuguese over the last five years. The review found that community gardens offer benefits related to physical and mental health, food security, strengthened social relations, environmental preservation, income generation, and urban space revitalization.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceInsights from Japanese Urban Policies for Sustainable City Planning in Nepal
2026Sunil Babu Shrestha · NCWA Annual Journal · Nepal
This article discusses critical urban issues in Nepal, including climate change impacts, informal settlements, and infrastructure deficiency, based on a review of secondary data. With over 66% of its population in urban municipalities, Nepal faces challenges in creating sustainable cities and requires integrated urban planning. The article suggests that Nepal can address these issues by learning from Japan's city policies and practices, such as comprehensive land-use planning, community participation, disaster resilience, and the promotion of green spaces and urban agriculture.
PolicyClimate changeCommunityThe Scientific Approach to Cultivating Scientific Attitudes in Early Childhood
2026Theresia Alviani Sum · ThufuLA Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan Guru Raudhatul Athfal · Global
This qualitative case study, gathering data from educators at ten institutions over three months (January–March 2024), examined the implementation of the scientific approach in early childhood education under resource constraints. Findings indicate that while teachers have a conceptual grasp of the scientific approach, enactment is inconsistent, and institutions lack dedicated laboratories, leveraging natural settings like school gardens instead. Curricular goals are not consistently realized in practice, and budget and time limitations restrict experimentation and professional development.
Food educationCommunityDecolonizing the Narrative of Indigenous Food Sovereignty: A Scoping Review
2026Ines Sebai, G. Berron Cadenas, C. Furgal, A. Argumedo, T. Delormier · Current Developments in Nutrition · Global
This scoping review explores Indigenous food sovereignty (IFS) as a decolonizing framework grounded in Indigenous cultural, spiritual, and ecological values. By synthesizing existing literature, the review identifies core IFS principles such as community governance, revitalization of traditional practices, and respectful environmental relationships. Examples like community gardens and traditional hunting illustrate how Indigenous communities adapt these principles to foster cultural renewal and sustainability. The findings emphasize the need for policy advocacy and support for Indigenous rights, including land restoration and protection of traditional knowledge.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityBiodiversityHeirloom & landraceDeterminants of Urban Farmers’ Acceptance of Faecal Sludge Compost in Urban Agriculture: Evidence from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
2026Isabela Thomas Mkude · TANZANIA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the utilization of faecal sludge derived compost (FSDC) by urban farmers remains limited due to farmers' prejudice and hesitance. This study investigated factors influencing FSDC acceptance through a cross-sectional survey of 76 urban farmers. Results indicated that garden location in communal areas, income generation as the primary farming purpose, and accessibility of soil inputs were significantly associated with FSDC acceptance. Farmers' awareness and experience also played important roles.
Limited or null effectCompostOrganic cycleCommunityEconomicsCultivar saberes na EJA: uma revisão sistemática sobre educação, trabalho e sustentabilidade
2026Manoel Hélio Sousa Santos, Bruno Matos de Farias · RCMOS - Revista Científica Multidisciplinar O Saber · Global
This systematic qualitative literature review, following the PRISMA 2020 protocol, analyzed 20 documents to understand how recent academic production articulates education, work, and sustainability within Youth and Adult Education (EJA), focusing on school gardens. The literature recognizes gardens as a social technology that integrates ecological knowledge, cooperative practices, autonomy-building, and income generation, especially in socioeconomically vulnerable contexts. Gardens are concluded to be a powerful pedagogical device for EJA, contributing to critical environmental education, popular economy, and emancipatory practices.
Food educationWelfareCommunityEconomicsThe role of urban farming in enhancing food security in Malaysia: A systematic review
2026Hamed Faghiri, Zulkornain Yusop, Zainal Abidin Mohamed · IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science · Malaysia
This systematic review analyzed 46 studies published between 2010 and 2025 to assess the role of urban farming in enhancing food security in Malaysia. Findings indicate that urban farming positively impacts food accessibility, availability, and affordability, while also promoting environmental sustainability and socio-economic inclusion. However, challenges such as limited space, regulatory hurdles, and public awareness gaps hinder its widespread adoption.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyCommunityA systematic review of community gardens and their role in urban food security and resilience
2025Huq F.F., Deacon L. · Discover Sustainability (Springer), 6:696 · Global
A systematic review of 37 studies examining how community gardens affect food access, urban resilience, and community well-being, with research interest peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies inequitable access and weak policy integration as key barriers and calls for inclusive, interdisciplinary, long-term planning.
CommunityFood lossPolicyHealthEconomicsUrban agriculture in a changing world: a thematic review of global trends, innovations, governance, and pathways to sustainability
2025· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Global
A thematic review synthesising global trends, innovations, governance frameworks and pathways to sustainability in urban agriculture, mapping the field's current state and future directions including citizen participation, policy support and environmental challenges.
CommunityOrganic cycleBiodiversityPolicyCommunity-supported agriculture and allotment gardens as collective forms of food production – Investigating the effect of social capital on perceived benefits
2025Neumann V., Schmid B., El Benni N., Finger R. · Land Use Policy · Switzerland
Survey of 500 members of community-supported agriculture and allotment gardens in Switzerland showing social capital has a significantly positive effect on members' perceived benefits, highlighting the social value of collective urban food production.
CommunityEconomicsWelfareUrban Agriculture Interventions in Refugee and Immigrant Communities: A Scoping Review
2025Langerman S., Juarez N., Magan I. M. · Journal of Urban Health 102:857-871 · Global
Scoping review of 42 studies (1990-2024) on urban agriculture interventions for refugees and immigrants, identifying five domains (well-being, physical health, ecological, economic, sociological), with social outcomes most common.
WelfareCommunityHealthFrom social innovation to institutional governance: Unveiling urban rooftop farming in Dhaka city using YouTube video analysis
2025Ashikuzzaman M., Swapan M.S.H., Zaman A.U., Song Y. · Landscape and Urban Planning · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
Analysis of 187 YouTube videos reveals urban rooftop farming in Dhaka is a growing grassroots movement with fragmented institutional oversight; farmers in mixed land-use neighborhoods show the strongest motivation and seek government policy guidelines.
PolicyCommunityUrban Agriculture for Post-Disaster Food Security: Quantifying the Contributions of Community Gardens
2025Liu Y., Chanse V., Chicca F. · Urban Science (MDPI), Vol. 9, No. 8, Article 305 · New Zealand (Wellington)
This study quantifies Wellington, New Zealand's community gardens' capacity to meet post-disaster vegetable demand in terms of weight and nutrient content, finding current gardens insufficient alone but identifying substantial potential through expanded urban agriculture land use.
CommunityFood educationHealthPolicyDoes urban agriculture contribute to food security, and how might this be achieved?
2025(Open Research Community) · ResearchGate, Discover Sustainability (Springer Nature) · Global
2025 review article examining urban agriculture's contribution to food security and mechanisms of achievement. Analyzes through empirical evidence the benefits and challenges, income generation effects, and improvements in fresh food access for low-income households.
EconomicsCommunityPolicyTechno-economic evaluation of decentralized community composting as a management model to valorize organic matter in small and medium-sized towns
2025· Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management · Global
Techno-economic evaluation of decentralized community composting as a model to valorize organic matter in small and medium-sized towns.
DIYCommunityEconomicsNon-sterile substrate cultivation of oyster mushrooms on fresh Giant Juncao Grass: a scalable strategy for sustainable nutrition in underdeveloped regions
2025· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Global
Proposes a low-tech, non-sterile cultivation method growing oyster mushrooms on fresh Giant Juncao grass. Presents it as a scalable, low-cost strategy for sustainable nutrition in resource-poor, underdeveloped regions.
DIYCommunityHealthUnderstanding community garden volunteers' well-being transformation: an exploratory study from a liminality perspective
2025· Leisure Studies · Global
Conceptualizes community gardens as liminal spaces, showing that volunteering suspends everyday roles and opens avenues for psychological and emotional reorientation and well-being transformation.
WelfareHealthCommunityUrban Agriculture in Neo-Austerity Times: Reflections on a Contested Policy Domain
2025Ferreira, Mélice Dias, Lopes · International Journal of Urban and Regional Research · Global
International analysis of urban agriculture policy in contexts of austerity. Examines tensions between citizen movements and governance, food sovereignty and self-determination.
CommunityPolicyRethinking Urban Spaces to Improve Nutrition Security Through Urban Agriculture
2025Tolazzi et al. · Earth's Future (Wiley), 2025 · Global
Demonstrates that strategic reallocation of urban spaces to agriculture improves nutrition security for residents; evaluates household nutrition gains and community economic development.
HealthCommunityEconomicsComplementing urban agriculture and green spaces is important for ecosystem functions and biodiversity in cities: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
2025Li et al. · Ecological Solutions and Evidence (Wiley) · Global
Meta-analysis on the integration of urban agriculture and green infrastructure for ecosystem functions and biodiversity. Urban agriculture shows less negative impact than conventional farming while reducing food supply chain distances.
BiodiversityCommunityAssessing Urban Agriculture's Potential for Biodiversity Conservation, Carbon Sequestration, and Community Development: A Comparative Study of Residents' Perceptions in Three Western Romanian Cities
2025Romanian Urban Agriculture Research Center · MDPI Land (Open Access) · Romania
Comparative study of residents' perceptions in three Western Romanian cities on urban agriculture's potential for biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and reducing synthetic compound use.
BiodiversityCommunityUrban Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure: Creating Ecological Cities
2025Chen, M., Rosenberg, R., Thompson, L., Schmidt, H. · Ecological Engineering · Global
Study of 15 cities with integrated green infrastructure networks. Biodiversity increases 30-50%, bird species richness increases from 12-15 to 35-40 species in high-connectivity zones.
BiodiversityCommunityCultivating resilient communities: The role of home/community gardening in the Illawarra–Shoalhaven region of Australia
2025Pickles, J. · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Australia
Situational analysis of civic gardeners in peri-urban region of Australia showing food gardening contributes to health, environmental sustainability, and more equitable local food systems
CommunityFood educationBiodiversityWelfareHealth and wellbeing Benefits of Urban Agriculture Practice in Kathmandu Valley
2025Marina Vaidya Shrestha, Sunil Babu Shrestha, Bijaya Shrestha · Journal of Nepal Health Research Council · Nepal (Kathmandu)
A cross-sectional survey conducted from December 2022 to June 2023 at three randomly selected sites in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur), comparing 115 residents who practise urban agriculture with 115 who do not (n=230), using the SF-12 health survey, the Perceived Stress Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Participants engaged in urban agriculture reported significantly lower perceived stress and significantly higher life satisfaction. However, the two groups differed significantly in gender, ethnicity, occupation, marital status, education and home ownership (p<0.05), and the cross-sectional design cannot separate an effect of gardening from selection into gardening by better-off residents.
HealthWelfareCommunity