Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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2406 results(6 / 97)
Hydroponics for Food Self-Sufficiency in an Urban Pesantren: Evidence of Reduced Vegetable Expenditure and Improved Student Competencies
2026Dwi Budi Santoso, Dynda Fadhlillah Aulia · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia
In an urban pesantren in Indonesia, a one-year community service program developed a hydroponics-based urban farming model to enhance food self-sufficiency and improve students' practical agribusiness skills. 22 participants completed the program. The hydroponic unit produced an estimated 96–104 kg of leafy vegetables annually, contributing an estimated annual food savings of Rp1.7–1.9 million. Competency assessment scores for participants also improved from an average of 52 to 82.
Food educationFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityGrowing food and radical hope in Glasgow: A review of The Practice of Collective Escape
2026Rose Jennings · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United Kingdom (Glasgow)
Helen Traill's book, "The Practice of Collective Escape," presents ethnographic work over six years in Glasgow, Scotland, following two community growing sites. The book critically examines urban agriculture projects as "Petri dishes for individual and community transformation," exploring concepts of inclusion, individual escape, and political activism, and highlighting social complexities and issues of inclusion and exclusion.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyHealthFood sovereignty & justice‘It's a Gender Issue’: Women Farmers in Community‐Supported Agriculture
2026Guilherme Raj, Giuseppe Feola, Irina Velicu · Sociologia Ruralis · Portugal
Case studies of three women farmers in two Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives in Portugal used data from semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The study demonstrated that while CSA initiatives are conducive to women farmers’ emancipation, the absence of collective efforts to address unequal gender relations hinders their transformative potential. CSA initiatives tend to overlook power imbalances emerging from their internal micro-politics and neglect the ambivalent effects shaping their transformative efforts.
Equity & displacementCSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceA(GR)TECTURE: Designing an Agricultural Learning Facility to Energize Food Production in the Urban Areas of Dominica
2026Kendel Constant · DigitalCommons - Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw State University) · Dominica
This thesis explores improving Dominica's urban agricultural sector, examining challenges like hurricanes, landslides, temperature shifts, limited adoption of advanced farming techniques, an aging farmer population, and soil erosion. The proposed Agricultural Learning Facility aims to address these issues by leveraging smart farming methods and enhancing traditional practices. However, the proposed greenhouse and hydroponic systems cannot completely replace traditional farming practices, but rather help increase food production.
Governance failureFood educationCommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEcological landscape planning in earthquake-prone regions: Integrating agriculture, water systems and green ınfrastructure
2026ŞEVVAL KARATAŞ, Mustafa Artar · Scientific Works · Global
This study, based on a literature review, examines ecological landscape planning approaches for enhancing urban resilience in earthquake-prone regions. It proposes integrating agricultural areas, water systems, and green infrastructure as complementary ecological components within a holistic planning model. The findings indicate that this integrated approach enhances ecological integrity, supports biodiversity, regulates surface water, reduces the urban heat island effect, and strengthens communities' adaptive capacity in post-disaster phases.
Climate changeCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicySupply chains, marketing channels, and distribution networks
2026Sylvie Ayimpam · · Congo (Kinshasa)
This chapter maps the multi-scalar supply chains feeding Kinshasa's markets, detailing how small retail functions as a nodal point. It traces historical and contemporary provisioning of local foodstuffs via road and river routes into urban wholesale hubs, examining peddlers, brokers, and 'ghost markets' that circumvent taxation. Distribution in Kinshasa is characterized by hybrid, shifting chains of intermediation combining logistical improvisation, social brokerage, and regulatory avoidance.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceExploring Motivations, Crop Diversity and Socioeconomic Benefits of Home Gardening: A Case Study of Urban Agriculture in Rimuka, Kadoma District, Zimbabwe
2026D Machoko, N Soboksa, M Zuma, X Mbhenyane · African Journal of Food Agriculture Nutrition and Development · Zimbabwe
This qualitative case study, conducted in June and July 2022 in Rimuka, Kadoma District, Zimbabwe, explored motivations, crop diversity, and socioeconomic benefits of urban home gardening among thirty purposively sampled households. It found more women participate than men, kale is a year-round staple despite water scarcity, and primary water sources are family wells and public boreholes. Most gardeners started due to food shortages or pandemic fears, and while many do not sell produce, they earn significant income from off-farm activities.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsMultifunctional zoning optimization of agricultural land use by coupling Bayesian belief network with density peaks clustering – a case study in Guangdong, China
2026Hao Yang, Zijin Wang, Yueming Hu, Zhengxi Tan, Runyan Zou, L. Wang, Xiaoyun Mao · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · China (Guangdong)
A study in Guangdong Province, China, coupled a Bayesian belief network with density peaks clustering to analyze agricultural land resources. The research identified significant synergies between food production function and other functions, but also a trade-off with food cleanliness. Consequently, Guangdong agricultural land was zoned into five functional zones.
Environmental trade-offsPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkagePemberdayaan Masyarakat Urban Melalui Pemanfaatan Limbah Organik Menjadi Pupuk Serta Pangan Melalui Integrasi Maggot BSF Dan Ayam Di Kampung Telolet Om, Karangbesuki, Malang
2026Sri Suhartini, Bambang Susilo, Gabryna A Auliya Nugroho, Christina Wahyu Kartikowati, Ni’matul Izza, Riris Waladatun Nafi’ah, Ainur Ainur Rohma, Andhika Putra Agus Pratama · JAPI (Jurnal Akses Pengabdian Indonesia) · Indonesia (Malang)
In Kampung Telolet Om, Malang, Indonesia, a circular economy program integrating Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae and laying hens was implemented for 20 residents to address organic waste and food insecurity. The program processed household organic waste into BSF larvae feed, substituted chicken feed, produced organic fertilizers, and applied them to urban farming. Pre- and post-tests showed participants' knowledge increased from 44.12% to 53.82%, successfully reducing organic waste volume and producing food products.
CommunityOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsImproving the Knowledge and Skills of Family Welfare Empowerment Members Through Aquaponics Training
2026Yuni Pantiwati, Erna Retno Rahadjeng, Dony Prasetyo, Tasya Novian Indah Sari · Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Malang)
This community service initiative aimed to enhance family productivity by training 15 Family Welfare Empowerment (FWE) members in Jetis Hamlet, Malang, Indonesia, in aquaponic cultivation and harvest processing. Conducted from July to December 2025 with intensive mentoring and a learning-by-doing approach, evaluation using pretest and posttest instruments showed a substantial increase in participant capacity. Average knowledge scores increased from 37 to 82, and technical skills improved from 52 to 81.
Food educationWelfareCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceAssessing the links between climate change resiliency and food security in northwestern region of Bangladesh
2026Abhi Sarker, Salman Ibn Yasin, Bikash Chandra Ghosh, Gershom Endelani Mwalupaso, Asma Akter, Emmanuel Kiprop, Liu Z, Farjana Eyasmin, Geng Xianhui · Agricultural Economics (Zemědělská ekonomika) · Bangladesh
This study examined the impact of climate resilience on food security among 498 farming households across 16 villages in extreme climate zones of northwestern Bangladesh. Using a climate resilience index and a binary logistic model, the findings indicate a positive association between climate resilience and food security. Urban households showed greater resilience (38.7% food secure) than rural ones (32.8% food secure).
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkagePsycho-social factors influencing the intention to adopt urban horticultural practices in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal: evidence from PLS-SEM analysis
2026Bibas Poudel, Ujjal Tiwari, Sushmita Bhatta, Bishal Shrestha, Kalyani Mishra Tripathi · Cogent Food & Agriculture · Nepal
This study investigated psycho-social factors influencing urban residents’ intention to adopt urban horticultural practices in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal. Analysis of data collected from 384 households revealed that a positive attitude toward urban horticulture was the strongest predictor of adoption intention, followed by knowledge and perceived behavioral control. However, environmental consciousness and subjective norms showed a positive but statistically insignificant influence on adoption intention.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceFood Sharing in Brno
2026Jennifer Lyons, Anna Davies · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Czech Republic (Brno)
This report documents the sustainability impacts of Food Sharing Initiatives (FSIs) in Brno, Czech Republic, using data from CULTIVATE's automated Food Sharing Map and submitted Sustainability Impact Assessment data. The estimations cover environmental, economic, and social sustainability pillars. The report notes that the presented impact indicators are a subset of total impacts, and estimations will become more accurate with more submitted data.
CommunityFood educationEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCost-effective urban farming with alternative water sources treated by nature-based solutions: A critical review of global practices
2026Niloofar Shoja Razavi, Kefeng Zhang, Veljko Prodanović · Agricultural Systems · Global
This review assessed the agronomic suitability and contaminant profiles of five alternative water sources (greywater, blackwater, groundwater, rainwater, and stormwater) for urban crop irrigation. Four nature-based solution (NBS) technologies (constructed wetlands, biofilters, green roofs, and green walls) were evaluated as pre-treatment systems, with hybrid systems demonstrating over 97% removal efficiency for contaminants. Economic viability was highly dependent on crop selection; high-value crops like tomatoes and sweet peppers irrigated with treated groundwater showed the greatest profitability, while faba beans remained unviable regardless of treatment. Policy analysis identified substantial governance gaps, including inconsistent enforcement, limited public acceptance, and minimal regulatory guidance specific to urban agricultural water reuse.
Organic cycleClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsInovasi, Adopsi Teknologi, dan Perilaku Kewirausahaan Islami: Sebuah Tinjauan Sistematis
2026M. Ilham Zainullah, Ita Marianingsih · SANTRI Jurnal Ekonomi dan Keuangan Islam · Global
This systematic review, analyzing 25 articles from an initial 166 Scopus records, maps how innovation, technology adoption, and Islamic entrepreneurial behaviors intertwine and contribute to the SDGs. Findings show five complementary faces of innovation: process-organization, sharia business/finance models, financial and platform digitalization, technological innovation in business models (e.g., urban farming–aquaponics), and halal product/marketing innovation, driven by individual values, Islamic HRM, finance architecture, and digital literacy. The impact is multidimensional performance, access to ethical capital, halal market behavior, and social and religious environmental outcomes, with strong contributions to SDG 8 and SDG 9.
Digital agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceIntegrating Spatial Data and Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Resilient Urban Planning: Lessons from South Africa
2026Thembani Moyo, Vuyiswa Letsoko, Mhlalisi Gavu Mndzebele, Siphiwe Mbatha, Nonpumelelo Mzobe, Trynos Gumbo · · South Africa (Johannesburg)
In Johannesburg's marginalized settlements, limited infrastructure resources negatively impact household livelihoods, necessitating the development of planning support systems. Urban agriculture has emerged as a critical approach to enhancing food security and economic empowerment, and this study employed a mixed-method approach combining indigenous knowledge systems with spatial data to assess land suitability. The findings presented a land suitability index demonstrating how integrating GIS and citizen science strengthens urban resilience through adaptive land use, improved local food systems, and climate change mitigation.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyClimate changeStrategi Kebijakan Pemerintah Kota Bandar Lampung dalam Penguatan Urban Farming dan Ketahanan Pangan
2026Eliza Eliza · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (Bandar Lampung)
This study analyzed the Bandar Lampung City Government's policy strategies for strengthening urban farming as an instrument of urban food security in Indonesia. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach and secondary data, key issues identified were households' high dependence on markets, suboptimal development of backyard and community-based urban farming, and weak integration of urban farming with the city's food security policies.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityCarbon gardens: A nature-based approach for climate change mitigation and sustainable landscapes
2026Farooq Ahmad Khan, Faheemullah Khan, Sumati Narayan, Mohammad Amir, Zaffar Mahdi Dar · International Journal of Research in Agronomy · Global
This review synthesizes the concept, design principles, carbon sequestration mechanisms, storage potential, and environmental benefits of carbon gardens, which are multifunctional landscapes designed to maximize carbon sequestration and deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. The article highlights their application in urban and rural landscapes and their integration with carbon-negative farming through practices such as biochar use and compost recycling. It also discusses key challenges related to carbon measurement, establishment costs, land availability, and long-term management.
Governance failureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityCompostPemberdayaan Ekonomi Kaum Difabel melalui Circular Economy Berbasis Komoditas Unggulan Daerah dan Kampanye Digital Inklusivitas
2026Budi Hartono, Hanung Eka Atmaja, Galy Hardyta, Brilian Setyo Utomo, Muhammad Lutvi, Amelia Cyntia Kusuma Wardhani · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat (abdira) · Indonesia
This community engagement program in Indonesia aimed to strengthen economic and food self-reliance among persons with disabilities using a circular economy approach and an inclusive digital campaign. Employing a participatory-collaborative method, it showed substantial improvements in maggot production skills (30% to 80%) and food self-sufficiency (20% to 60%) among participants. While the digital campaign is in its initial stage, the program demonstrates strong sustainability potential for inclusive economic empowerment.
WelfareEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePemanfaatan Lahan Sempit Melalui Urban Farming Sebagai Upaya Mewujudkan Kemandirian Pangan Keluarga
2026Ivan Sanjiva Redy, Sri Subekti, Lenny Luthfiyah · AGRIFITIA Journal of Agribusiness Plantation · Indonesia (Surabaya)
This qualitative descriptive study examined the multi-sector integrated urban farming model implemented by the Mekarsari Farmers Group in Surabaya City, Indonesia. The group developed a model combining crop cultivation, fisheries, and household-scale livestock farming on limited urban land. Findings indicate that this multi-sector integration can increase household food availability, income, and strengthen family food security.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageEconomicsAlternative to what? Reassessing Northern AFNs through a Southern Lens
2026Carla Galán-Guevara, Francesca Forno · Agriculture and Human Values · Italy (Trentino)
This qualitative study in Trentino, northern Italy, examined how alterity is conceptualized and enacted across nine Alternative Food Network (AFN) initiatives, using a decolonial analytical lens. Findings indicate that AFNs create meaningful opportunities for collective organization, ecological learning, participatory governance, and solidarity-based exchange, yet are simultaneously shaped and constrained by regulatory frameworks, certification regimes, economic pressures, and uneven organizational capacities. The study interprets AFNs in the Global North as spaces where partial openings and socio-ecological experimentation coexist with broader structures of coloniality, capitalist market relations, and institutional constraint.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsToward climate-smart urban agriculture in Palembang: A systematic review on strategies, trade-offs, and synergies
2026Strayker Ali Muda, Heripan Heripan, Fitra Gustiar · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Indonesia (Palembang)
This systematic review examined strategies, trade-offs, and synergies of climate-smart urban agriculture relevant to Palembang City, Indonesia. A total of 400 records were identified from Google Scholar and Scopus, with 352 unique records screened. While urban agriculture showed five key contributions, including strengthening food security, several critical trade-offs were identified, such as land scarcity, energy and water requirements, soil contamination risks, technological costs, and policy fragmentation. The review emphasizes that urban agriculture should be part of a broader transformation of urban food systems, not a stand-alone solution.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyEconomicsThe role of urban community gardens in the food system in Brisbane, Australia
2026Serafina Stone, Jeremy Farr, Damian Hine, Yasmina Sultanbawa, S. K. Fyfe · Local Environment · Australia (Brisbane)
This research investigated how 16 members of four urban community gardens in Brisbane, Australia, derive value from their involvement in relation to the food system, using semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The findings indicate that while urban community gardens alone cannot address food security needs, they provide spaces for building community, generating social capital, connecting to nature, and developing food systems education. These benefits are contingent on the gardens' continued existence and primarily extend to those able to participate.
Limited or null effectCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceCompostDESAFIOS E POTENCIALIDADES DA AGRICULTURA URBANA PARA A SEGURANÇA ALIMENTAR NA RMB
2026Maria de Nazareth Oliveira Maciel, Daniel Pereira Pinheiro, Luann Yago Oliveira Maciel · Veredas do Direito Direito Ambiental e Desenvolvimento Sustentável · Brazil
This study analyzed the contributions and challenges of urban agriculture for food security in three municipalities of the Belém Metropolitan Region, Brazil. Using multivariate factor analysis with 120 producers from November 2023 to February 2024, findings indicated urban agriculture ensures food security and reduces food scarcity concerns. However, the activity lacks public policy incentives for seed acquisition and land titling, hindering its advancement.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsWelfareClimate changeIntegrating Urban Agriculture into City Planning for Enhancing Urban Community Food Provision: A Case Study of Bhubaneshwar
2026Gitanjali Nanda · International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology · India (Bhubaneswar)
This study examined the spatial, institutional, and planning feasibility of integrating urban agriculture into the urban planning structure of Bhubaneswar, India. Using a mixed-method planning framework, it evaluated urban land availability, rooftop feasibility, food accessibility, supply-chain dependency, institutional readiness, and decentralized food-production potential. Findings indicated that urban agriculture integration within statutory planning systems remains limited in rapidly urbanizing Indian cities, and vendor assessments showed strong dependence on peri-urban and external food inflows contributing to seasonal price instability and food wastage.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePeri-urban agriculture