Research & reports

戴婧, 丁国平 · Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni · China

The development status of "Sanpin Yibiao" agricultural products, a government-led public brand for safe and high-quality agricultural products, was evaluated in Dongxihu District. While certain achievements were noted, challenges and recommendations were identified, including comprehensive planning, strengthening team building, improving management, increasing policy support, enhancing supervision, and strengthening brand building. These measures were deemed important for promoting the development of modern urban agriculture.

Jae-Min Park, Jung-Kwon Choi, Eun-Yeong Park · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea (Seongnam-si)

This study examined urban gardening in Sujin 2-dong, Seongnam-si, South Korea, through on-site inspections and interviews, to find solutions for sustainable urban regeneration. It found that vertical gardens are prevalent due to limited space, with rooftop gardens primarily for production and stair gardens for aesthetic purposes. The study identified six garden locations and noted differences between detached and multi-household houses.

Chieh-Fu Cheng, Simon Chen-Tsang Tsai, Bin-Min Sung · · Taiwan

This study in Hualien, Taiwan, applied social capital theory to investigate how social capital dimensions facilitate the development of community-based organic agriculture, focusing on an experimental green restaurant. Participant observations and in-depth interviews with 7 local organic farmers were conducted. Results revealed that the experimental green restaurant must continually fulfill various social functions (e.g., educator, information platform, resource distributor) and accumulate social capital to extend its internal ties with local farmers into relationships based on mutual trust and reciprocity.

Sui Fei-fe · Nongye ziyuan yu huanjing xuebao · China (Weifang)

This study analyzed the driving forces and internal drive mechanisms of urban agricultural development in Weifang County, China. An evaluation index system was built using urban agricultural production and socio-economic data, and 15 driving forces were selected via correlation and principal component analysis, with a model constructed using partial least squares. Results showed that per capita net income of rural residents, agricultural machinery total power, effective irrigation area, and centralized treatment rate of urban sewage greatly influenced urban agricultural output value increase, while the use amount of agricultural plastic film was a negative influence factor.

Renny Ratna Dewi, ‪Eko Budi Santoso‬ · Jurnal Teknik ITS · Indonesia (Surabaya)

In Made Village, Surabaya, Indonesia, traditional farming on 211.85 hectares yields 6000 tons of crops annually, but its reliance on developers' idle land makes it unsustainable due to land conversion. A study using Delphi analysis and content analysis concluded that urban farming activities in Made Village still face several technical and non-technical problems. Future agricultural activities will shift towards modern farming systems aiming for maximum and high-quality production on limited land, with polybag cultivation methods to be developed to address land scarcity.

Yong Hyun Kim, Keùn Huh, Moo Ryong Huh · Journal of people, plants, and environment · South Korea

A survey of 275 visitors was conducted at a horticultural exhibition held on the campus of G University in J city, South Gyeongsang Province, from May 2-4, 2016, to analyze satisfaction and revisit intention. Satisfaction with the flower plants section (83.7%) and docent service (78.2%) were highest, and satisfaction with activity experience showed the strongest positive correlation with overall satisfaction (0.659) and revisit intention (0.519).

Hae-Yeon Yoo · International Journal of Smart Home · South Korea (Seoul)

This study evaluated the purpose and method of new facilities for urban farming in neighborhood regeneration during the establishment of the castle village regeneration plan in Seoul's Haengchon District. It examined a method to reduce residents' economic burden and generate profits with neighbors by utilizing unused rooftop spaces of multi-family houses. A prefabricated greenhouse designed for lightness and miniaturization was selected for the rooftop of "Haengchon Lot," the revitalization center of Haengchon-dong.

Yuanyuan Shi, Min Qingwen, Lu He, Fuller Anthony M · Journal of Resources and Ecology · China

This paper proposes "Agricultural Heritage Systems" as an entry point to balance urban and rural development in China, addressing threats posed by rapid urbanization. It focuses on public dietary change, agricultural industry development, institutional guarantees, ecological restoration, and cultural tourism in urban and peri-urban agricultural heritage sites, establishing a development model that balances urbanization and urban-supported agriculture. The paper argues this approach can preserve traditional culture, maintain organic farming, leverage landscape tourism, and utilize urban funds and technology to support rural enterprises.

Byoung-Chan Moon, Yong-tack Kim, Hyoung-seon Lim · Journal of the Korean society of earth science education · South Korea

This study investigated the application of a school garden for creative experience activities in elementary school learning programs, involving 27 fifth and sixth-grade students. A 10-unit lesson program focusing on "rocks in the school garden" was developed and applied. Results showed that the school garden is a valuable teaching/learning field, fostering students' awareness of real-life relevance, affirmative participation, and interest in learning, with most students expressing satisfaction.

刘颂, 潘鸿婷 · 中国城市林业 · China

This review discusses the definition of urban agriculture landscapes, examines the significance and characteristics of creating them, and identifies the need to introduce new technologies into their construction. It summarizes the application of related techniques from three perspectives — habitat construction, vertical (stereoscopic) agriculture, and artistic creation — as a reference for building urban agriculture landscapes that combine productivity, technical refinement, and landscape aesthetics.

Atika Krisnawati · · Indonesia

A descriptive qualitative study of the Elok Mekar Sari farmer group in Semolowaru, Surabaya, Indonesia, examining a model of community empowerment through the concept of urban farming. Surabaya's city government, through its Agriculture Office, launched the urban farming concept for densely built areas lacking large vacant land, and it has spread to 31 districts across the city, including Semolowaru; data were collected via interviews, observation and documentation using purposive sampling and analyzed using the CIPOO (context-input-process-output-outcome) approach. The results show that some elements of the CIPOO approach had not yet been fulfilled, while institutional, management, organizational and empowerment-content aspects were running well, as evidenced by an established work program; the input-process and output-outcome stages were good, evidenced by increased productivity, but the group faced problems of limited human resources and limited production space. As a change agent, the group was assessed to be at "empowerment stage II" — functioning as a partner/companion in implementing community assistance programs, evidenced by continuing empowerment activities and partnerships with both government and private-sector actors.

Wahida Junainah, Sanggar Kanto, Soenyono Soenyono · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A qualitative case study of the Tegal Makmur farmer group in Kelurahan Keputih, Surabaya, examined the government's Urban Farming Program using structuration theory and participation concepts. It found structural shortcomings in implementation — insufficient water during the dry season and farming techniques mismatched to local RW VIII conditions — and that farmer groups were excluded from planning, making the program essentially top-down; the program has not produced a real impact on poverty reduction, though the researchers rate it about 60% successful based on farmer enthusiasm and extension-worker support.

· International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) · India

A study of the pink hibiscus mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus), documented as a growing urban pest in the agricultural fields of Vadodara, India. Regular visits to agricultural fields and community gardens over two years (April 2013-April 2015) tracked the pest's morphology, biology, distribution, and relation to biotic and abiotic factors, along with damage type and extent on different host plants. Major infestation occurred on Annona squamosa, followed by significant infestation on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Gossypium hirsutum (cotton), with adult females and nymphs as the main infesting stages and damage peaking in the winter months of November to February. The study also documented a mealybug-ant mutualistic association and noted that the prevailing use of chemical pesticides in the city is a probable reason for the growing mealybug population.

徐正挺 · 合作经济与科技 · China

An article on agricultural innovation within Suzhou's national independent-innovation demonstration zone in Jiangsu province, China, presents Shanghai's modern urban agriculture as a leading example: Shanghai Guoxing Nong company's "Internet+Agriculture" approach uses a "five-ring linkage" business model that integrates agricultural production, technology and services with internet information technology to support the pre-production, production, post-production and sales stages. The article argues that Changshu, which already has a solid agricultural base, should draw on this model and the "Internet+" strategy to build platforms that raise agricultural quality and efficiency.

M.P Dr. Enny Zulaika · · Indonesia

A study using Azotobacter isolated from eco urban farming land at ITS, Indonesia, tested resistance and bioaccumulation of mercury (HgCl2) via selective media isolation, streak resistance testing and atomic absorption measurement, analyzed by ANOVA and LSD at the 5% level. Three isolates (A5, A6, A9) tolerated HgCl2 up to 20 mg/L, and at 5 mg/L exposure the highest bioaccumulation efficiency was recorded for A5 (89%) and A9 (87%).

Moon Byoung Chan, 김용택, 임형선 · Journal of the Korean society of earth science education · South Korea

A program in South Korea developed ten lesson units centered on 'rocks in the school garden,' combining inquiry, debate and cooperative activities, and applied them to 27 fifth- and sixth-grade elementary students in classroom and school-garden settings. Students engaged actively in learning, debate and cooperation because the garden was a familiar environment, recognized that classroom knowledge related to their own lives, and reported interest because the garden setting could be reshaped by their own ideas; most students expressed satisfaction afterward and some suggested additional garden-based programs.

박은희, 유은하, 한경숙, 장윤아, 정순진, 박동금 · · South Korea

Set against the continued growth of urban agriculture, this study analyzed usage patterns among participants in a functional vegetable garden model provided for urban home gardeners, targeting users who actually grow functional home gardens to identify flaws in product type, quantity, ratio and existing problems. The largest group of users had no prior gardening education experience, while growth education supporting gardening activity reached about half; most respondents said they determine planting timing and methods themselves. Vegetables were the main plant type produced in family gardens, kimchi-related vegetables ranked highest in autumn, current flower/herb amounts were considered generally appropriate, and the most common response favored a vegetable:medicinal:flower-herb ratio of 60.5:21.2:18.3.

吴卫元, 张喜春 · 高等农业教育 · China (Beijing)

An institutional case report from Beijing University of Agriculture describing its "3+1" talent-training model (three years of foundational study plus one year of practice), developed to align with Beijing's urban agriculture sector. It describes integrating theory with practice and building school-enterprise cooperation, plus a multi-tier practical teaching platform. The university reports resulting improvements in students' professional and research abilities, higher enrollment and employment rates, and improved public reputation, based on the institution's own account.

Anjar Lulu Sakinah · · Indonesia

Mercury is a highly toxic and hazardous heavy metal, and bacteria able to live in mercury-contaminated habitats — mercury-resistant bacteria, including Azotobacter — are known to exist. This study aimed to obtain superior Azotobacter isolates resistant to mercuric chloride (HgCl2) from land at the ITS (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember) Eco Urban Farming site — land where mercury contamination was present — and to determine mercury reductase enzyme activity as a bioreductant converting Hg2+ to Hg0. Isolation used selective Azotobacter agar media, resistance was tested by a slant-agar streak method containing HgCl2, and mercury reductase activity was analyzed using the MRA method and spectrophotometry at 340 nm. Ten HgCl2-resistant Azotobacter isolates were obtained; isolates A5 and A9 tolerated 10 mg/L HgCl2 with optimal growth and relatively high mercury reductase activity, showing a reduction capacity of ≥3 mg/L and a reduction efficiency above 70% at an HgCl2 concentration of 5 mg/L.

Christopher Schliephake · Ecozon European Journal of Literature Culture and Environment · South Korea

An essay examines historical and socio-cultural shifts in urban landscapes and their cultural imagery since industrialization, then discusses bottom-up and top-down models of urban agriculture as two alternative attempts to re-embed cities within natural material cycles. It goes on to analyze the cultural urban ecology depicted in South Korean director Hae-jun Lee's film Cast Away on the Moon (2009), raising questions about what place nature holds in cities and whether working the soil can lead to regeneration.

Dong-Gwan Lee, Se-Hwan Cho · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea

A survey of residents in nine autonomous districts of Seoul, South Korea, that had grounds to support urban agriculture activation examined the causal relationship between lifestyle type and preferred urban agriculture activities. The "health-seeking" lifestyle type was significantly associated with downtown-type urban agriculture, such as participating in education programs, planting ornamental crops, and attending urban agriculture expos. The "leisure-activity" type was significantly associated with housing-utilization urban agriculture, such as indoor and apartment-veranda gardening. The "health-seeking" type was also significantly associated with school-education-type and farm/park-type urban agriculture, while the "family-oriented" type was significantly associated with school-education-type urban agriculture. The study positions these findings as baseline data for future urban agriculture activation policy.

Pulliat G. · Articulo – Journal of Urban Research · Vietnam (Hanoi)

Based on qualitative fieldwork with underprivileged households in Hanoi, this paper argues that small-scale urban and peri-urban agriculture provides affordable, safe, and diverse food for low-income residents, while current urbanization policies generate spatial injustice by restricting access to agricultural land.

Hegde V.N., Hosur V.S., Rathod S.K., Harsoor P.A., Narayana K.B. · Energy, Sustainability and Society · India

Designs and fabricates an indirect, active-type, low-cost solar dryer from locally available, biodegradable materials. Evaluates drying characteristics and quality using banana, a crop with high post-harvest losses in India.

Arti Bhatia, Shivdhar Singh, Amit Kumar · Water Environment Research · India (Delhi)

A study in Delhi, India, investigated heavy metal contamination (cadmium, lead, zinc, copper) in irrigation water, soil, and vegetables from four peri-urban and one wholesale site. Most samples from peri-urban areas exceeded safe limits for lead and cadmium. Vegetables from the wholesale market showed only higher lead concentrations. Among peri-urban vegetables, only okra exceeded the safe limit for cadmium, while several wholesale vegetables (potato, coriander, chilies, pea, carrot) exceeded the limit for lead regarding health risk.

Kazuaki Tsuchiya, Yuji Hara, Danai Thaitakoo · Landscape and Urban Planning · Thailand (Bangkok)

This 2015 study in peri-urban Bangkok, Thailand, used field interviews and GIS analysis to examine food-related behaviors and land use changes. It found that traditional wet markets remained important hubs, but there was little connection between farmers and nearby wet markets in the same district. This lack of connection constricted positive feedback between producers and consumers in peri-urban areas.