Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1914 results(6 / 77)
Household food waste behaviors of participants in a municipal community compost program
2025Campbell C., Gusto C., Kelsey K.D., Haase H., Cohen N., Robertson K., Kiker G., Boz Z. · Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 14(2):9-26 · United States
A study in which 107 participants in a municipal community compost program in Gainesville, Florida, used a citizen-science approach to measure and record their household food waste for two weeks. Participants generated more than double the EPA's estimate (about 14 lb/week), yet 85.8% reported increased food-waste awareness and 71.5% reported reducing their waste, showing that community composting can nudge household food-loss reduction.
Food lossCompostCommunityFood educationSustainable transitions in food systems: a case study of an urban agriculture farming training program in Washington, United States
2025Soumya Keefe, Jean Lee · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · United States (Washington)
Using an urban agriculture farmer-training program in Washington, United States, this case study examines how such programs support sustainability transitions in the food system, applying the multi-level perspective and social practice theory. It finds the program creates a space for social learning and shifts graduates' collective practices and narratives, but their capacity to change the broader food regime is curtailed without intentional state and local policy support.
Food educationCommunityPolicyOvercoming barriers to aquaponics adoption in schools: a practical implementation guide
2025· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Global
The study develops a practical, accessible guide for constructing small-scale aquaponics systems (plant bed, fish tank, mechanical and biological filters) tailored for educational settings.
DIYFood educationUnderstanding visitor perceptions to guide IoT-based innovations in university ecofarms: insights from Indonesia
2025· Frontiers in Sustainability · Indonesia
A mixed-methods study of visitors to a university ecofarm, assessing their motivations, learning experiences, and perceptions of facilities during on-site visits.
CommunityFood educationA Pilot Study of a Youth Gardening Retrospective Survey Tool: Evaluating Outcomes of School-Based, Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education Programs
2025· Future · USA
A pilot study developing and testing a retrospective survey tool that practitioners can use across varied school sites, grades, and communities to evaluate outcomes of school-based, garden-enhanced nutrition education programs.
Food educationImpact of School Gardens on Nutrition Education Among Limited-Income Communities in Alabama
2025Sanchez · Journal of School Health · USA (Alabama)
A study examining the impact of school gardens on nutrition education among limited-income communities in Alabama.
Food educationHealthImpacts of farm to school on children's perception of food
2025· Food, Nutrition and Health · Global
A study examining the impacts of farm-to-school programs on children's perception of food.
Food educationNurturing Socio-ecological Spaces Through Urban Gardening Practices in India: An Exploration of Alternate Imaginations
2025Deborah Dutta, Amrita Hazra · SAGE Journals · India
Explores socio-ecological dimensions of urban gardening practices in India. Examines how citizen-driven agriculture nurtures social spaces, ecological value, and innovative imagination in urban contexts.
Food educationCommunityPolicyHealthGreening African Cities for Sustainability: A Systematic Review of Urban Gardening's Role in Biodiversity and Socio-Economic Resilience
2025African Urban Gardening Research Network · National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI/PMC) · Sub-Saharan Africa
Systematic review of 47 peer-reviewed studies across sub-Saharan Africa (2000–2025) showing urban gardens support ecological functions including pollination, soil fertility, and microclimate regulation.
BiodiversityCommunityWelfareFood educationCooking up Knowledge: Empowering High School Students Through a Food Literacy Boot Camp
2025Food Literacy Education Research Center · PMC/NCBI · United States
Evaluates food literacy boot camp effectiveness in promoting healthy lifestyle choices among adolescents. Demonstrates food literacy as critical influence in disease prevention and youth engagement in agriculture.
Food educationWelfareCultivating 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 educationBiodiversityWelfareGrowing kalo (taro) to promote culture and health in the Continental US
2025Leialoha Ka'ula, Nicole Lee Kamakahiolani Ellison, Constance James, Ashley Oshiro, Kacyn Ideue, Kahoku Ka'ula, Alexandra Malia Jackson · Frontiers in Public Health · United States
An explanatory mixed-methods study using community-based participatory research and an Indigenous evaluation approach, examining a māla kalo (a community garden growing taro) run by Native Hawaiians living in the continental United States. At the end of the 2023 growing season, 12 volunteers and 5 programme leaders aged 18–75 completed a survey and interview. Satisfaction was high and participants wanted to take part more often; thematic analysis identified connection to self, community and land, learning and sharing knowledge, and connection to culture. With only 17 participants and no health outcome measures, the study cannot establish health effects — it documents how a community garden growing a traditional staple can serve as a site of cultural connection for a displaced Indigenous community.
Heirloom & landraceCommunityFood educationHealthDeterminants of urban agriculture and green infrastructure integration in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia
2025Ermias Debie, Demsew Mengistie · Discover Sustainability · Ethiopia
This study investigated the determinants of Urban Agriculture (UA) and Green Infrastructure (GI) integration in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia. Data were collected through surveys and analyzed using binary and ordinal logistic regression models. Findings revealed that a lack of awareness and lower education levels, such as no formal and primary education, significantly hinder the integration of UA and GI practices. Conversely, larger residential spaces and household sizes positively influence integration levels, with each additional household member increasing the score by 0.236 units for consumption needs, and each unit increase in residential site size raising the score by 0.004 units due to space availability.
CommunityPolicyFood educationProgram Urban Farming sebagai Usaha Pemanfaatan Lahan Pekarangan untuk Ketahanan Pangan Lokal Masyarakat Karimunjawa
2025Sriyanto Sriyanto, Eva Banowati, Edi Kurniawan, Fikri Amrullah, Ervando Tommy Al-Hanif · Society Jurnal Pengabdian dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat · Indonesia (Karimunjawa)
This participatory urban farming program in Karimunjawa, Indonesia, aimed to improve community welfare and food security by empowering village women and youth to utilize their yards. Through socialization, training, and mentoring in techniques like polybag farming and composting, the program increased community farming skills. Evaluation via surveys, interviews, and observations showed most participants successfully applied techniques, producing food for consumption and experiencing economic benefits and improved food availability.
Food educationCommunityWelfareEconomicsCompostDIYEnhancing Youth Agricultural Literacy with Vertical Farming in Non-Formal Education Settings
2025Adhisty Puri Damayanti, Norbertus Citra Irawan, Natalia Deswita Fitriyani, Zainal Mustofa, Agustina Tri Suryaningsih, Dewi Permatasari · Journal of Community Capacity Empowerment · Global
A community service program at PKBM Cahaya Rejeki involved 20 students in hands-on workshops to build vertical gardens using recycled materials. The program aimed to improve urban youth's understanding of vertical agriculture in non-formal settings. A Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed-Rank Test showed a statistically significant increase in students' agricultural knowledge, supported by field observations of increased enthusiasm and confidence.
Food educationCommunityDIYReurbanização da favela Vila dos Heróis: uma abordagem com dignidade socioambiental
2025Leonardo Ferreira da Silva, Maria Laura Fogaça Zei, Juliana Alcantara Fernandes, João Moreirão, Fernando Camilher Almeida · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Brazil
This article presents the Vila dos Heróis reurbanization project in Brazil as an integrated urban intervention model for informal settlements, based on a qualitative case study. The project includes 84 housing units with sustainable infrastructure such as a floodable park, photovoltaic energy, water reuse, composting, and a community garden. The proposal demonstrates the viability of reurbanization models that integrate qualified technical planning, community leadership, and socio-environmental sustainability.
CommunityCompostFood educationWhat Works Outdoors? A Systematic Literature Review of Nature-Based Instruction in Science Education
2025Siti Nur Diyana Mahmud, Muhammad Hanif Sainorudin · International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development · Global
This systematic literature review analyzed 58 empirical studies on nature-based instruction (NBI) in science education from 2021-2025, focusing on formal and school-linked learning settings. Most studies used qualitative or mixed-methods designs, with outcomes primarily in affective and cognitive domains. Recurring challenges included limited causal designs, short follow-up periods, and inconsistent implementation reporting.
Food educationCommunityImplementation of Urban Farming Through Integrated Training in Gunung Anyar District
2025Gyska Indah Harya, Wanti Mindari, Taufik Setyadi, Siti Mukaromah, Cholid Fadil · Nusantara Science and Technology Proceedings · Indonesia (Surabaya City)
This community service activity in RW 01, Gunung Anyar District, Surabaya City, Indonesia, aimed to implement urban farming through integrated outreach and training. The initiative sought to enhance urban food security, meet local food needs, maintain environmental cleanliness, and preserve the environment by reducing carbon footprints and increasing green open spaces. Training covered the meaning and importance of urban farming, cultivation techniques for various plants, and solutions for production waste.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeKONTRIBUSI SOSIAL MELALUI PROGRAM PERTUKARAN MAHASISWA MERDEKA BATCH 2 DI DESA BABAKAN, DRAMAGA, BOGOR
2025Muh Adjie Putra Pratama, Muhammad Ihsan A Dagong · Jurnal Abdi Insani · Indonesia (Bogor)
In 2022, the "Independent Student Exchange Program" was implemented in Babakan Village, Dramaga, Bogor Regency, Indonesia, involving over 160 students. Partnering with Dramaga Patani Organik, the program conducted urban farming education, nutritional counseling, and community service activities. The activities resulted in increased community understanding of organic farming, urban farming, and healthy eating patterns, while also strengthening students' solidarity and social responsibility.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban Agriculture as a Food Security Solution Through Green Economy Approach
2025Agustin Windianingsih, Wiwin Wiwin, Tanti Febrianti · Journal of Finance and Business Digital · Global
This research investigated the potential of urban agriculture to overcome food crises and impact food security. Using a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative), the study found that people practicing urban farming are supported in terms of urban farming skills, food security, creation of green open spaces, entrepreneurial opportunities, fulfillment of nutritional needs, enjoyment of fresh crops, creation of community bonds, educational benefits, and awareness for mental health and the environment.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityHealthFood educationClimate changeInfrastructuring for caring food practices: learnings from an Alpine community academy
2025Bianca Elzenbaumer, Flora Mammana, Carmen Gonzalez Miranda, Irene Manfrini · Local Environment · Italy
This paper explores grassroots infrastructuring supporting communal learning projects focused on caring food practices, from the perspective of practitioners at La Foresta community academy in the Italian Alps. It presents four interdependent activities—a community garden, a participatory drinks initiative, a mobile bread oven, and a forest school—demonstrating how food fosters community economies and empowers eco-social transformation.
CommunityFood educationEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceAgricultural Crop Production in the Urban Community: Its Opportunities and Challenges
2025Ermar A. Amistas, Joedar P. Satojito, Erly M. Martir · International Journal of Science and Management Studies (IJSMS) · Philippines
This quantitative study examined opportunities and challenges in agricultural crop production within two urban school communities in the Philippines (Jalandoni Memorial National High School and Iloilo City National High School) during the 2024-2025 school year, involving 352 Grade 10 students. Students reported practical skills, improved food access, environmental awareness, and community engagement as opportunities in urban gardening, but cited limited space, inadequate skills, resource gaps, and weak support systems as challenges. No statistical relationship was found between opportunities and challenges.
Food educationCommunityHealthSetting tables for community food sovereignty: Building a food sovereignty toolkit
2025William D. Schanbacher, Dhalia Bumbaca, Luciana Jones, Ana Vidal, Christiane Barros-Adwell, A. N. Olivieri, Jennifer Kue · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States (Tampa, Florida)
This study reflects on the collaboration between a university and community partners in Tampa, Florida, to develop a community-based food sovereignty assessment and toolkit for two underserved, food-insecure communities. Using community-based research methods, the project explored how to develop and deploy the concept of food sovereignty in an urban environment, identified gaps in urban agriculture education, and ultimately led to the creation of a food sovereignty toolkit.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityFood educationWelfarePolicy論考_都市農地のコモン的活用促進に関する研究― JA北河内の農業体験農園を事例として ―
2025華奈 中塚, 基 小林 · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · Japan
This paper clarifies the effectiveness and challenges of JA-led agricultural experience farms, using JA Kitakawachi as a case study. It extracts elements for JA to support farmers and manage operations, aiming to revitalize local urban agriculture and maintain urban farmland by sharing it with residents as a common resource. The study suggests involving diverse stakeholders in managing experience farms for joint land use and sustainable development.
CommunityPolicyFood educationBonsai: The Science and Art of Miniature Tree Culture - A Review
2025M Jain · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
This review explores bonsai, the traditional Japanese art of cultivating miniature trees, as a blend of aesthetic philosophy and horticultural science. It examines the scientific principles, plant selection, propagation techniques, artistic styles, ecological value, and modern advancements in bonsai cultivation. The review also emphasizes bonsai's role in sustainable urban horticulture and environmental education, highlighting its ecological, aesthetic, and therapeutic benefits.
DIYFood educationBiodiversity