Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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11393 results(63 / 456)
Adaptation of Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) to Urban Environments: Population Dynamics and Habitat Preferences in Zielona Góra (Poland) over 23 Years
2025Olaf Ciebiera, Paweł Czechowski, Federico Morelli, Sławomir Rubacha, Leszek Jerzak · Animals · Poland
This study investigated changes in the population size, distribution, and habitat preferences of the Eurasian magpie in Zielona Góra, Poland, over 23 years. A 2022 survey identified 953 magpie pairs, with an average density of 8.8 pairs/km2 across administrative boundaries (excluding forests) and 27.7 pairs/km2 in strictly urbanized zones. The highest densities were observed in the old town (36.5 pairs/km2) and residential blocks (34.5 pairs/km2), while peripheral areas showed significantly lower densities. Nests were predominantly located in coniferous trees, especially spruces, at a mean height of 11.8 m. Proximity to trash bins, water sources, and tall trees were significant predictors of nest density and placement.
BiodiversityTransforming Derelict Spaces in Tenali into Green Urban Landscapes: A Strategy for Sustainable Urban Regeneration
2025T. JHANSI, Kamaruddin Rani, T. S. Swapna · The Bioscan. · India (Tenali)
This thesis explores the strategy of transforming derelict spaces in Tenali into green urban landscapes for sustainable urban regeneration. The study aims to identify underutilized areas and propose their redevelopment into green urban landscapes such as parks, community gardens, and recreational zones, to enhance the city's ecological footprint, social cohesion, and urban aesthetics. It will provide a framework for transforming these spaces through a comprehensive analysis of existing derelict sites, green space design principles, community involvement strategies, and sustainable urban design approaches.
CommunityPolicyClimate changeProduction of Biofertilizers using Rhizobium Isolated from Phaseolus Vulgaris Root Nodules
2025Azemfack Jules Arnol, Mbouobda Hermann Désiré, Dobgima John Fonmboh, Muyang Rosaline Forsah, Fotso · African Journal of Biology and Medical Research · Cameroon
This study aimed to isolate and characterize Rhizobium bacteria from Phaseolus vulgaris root nodules to produce nitrogen biofertilizer as a chemical fertilizer substitute. Nodules from the University of Bamenda's school garden were used to purify and characterize Rhizobium, which were then used with charcoal powder to produce biofertilizer. Morphological characterization revealed fast-growing, translucent, mucoid, Gram-negative bacteria consistent with Rhizobium, and three concentrations of biofertilizer with a six-month shelf life were produced.
Organic cycleBiodiversityFood educationDeterminants of rooftop gardening knowledge among gardeners: A case study from Dhaka, Bangladesh
2025Sk. Md. Nur-E-Alam, Marcin Feltynowski, Md. Sekender Ali, Mohummed Shofi Ullah Mazumder, Fida Al Hasan · Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
This study in Dhaka, Bangladesh, aimed to explore the socio-economic characteristics and current knowledge of rooftop gardeners, and to evaluate factors contributing to their gardening knowledge. The research found that gardening space and media contact positively correlate with gardeners' existing knowledge. Access to diverse media can enhance understanding, and having gardening space facilitates technical knowledge sharing and community building among gardeners.
DIYFood educationCommunityHama-cha Field Note (2024–2025): A Non-Planned Engagement in Cultural Sustainability of Urban Agriculture
2025YUKUN, HE, HE, YUZHONG, Kiyoyama, Yohei, Ishida, Shigeyuki, Hama-cha Co-Creation Team · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Japan (Kyoto)
This paper documents a 2024–2025 field practice concerning Hama-cha, a traditional tencha in Kyoto, which faces threats from labor aging and persistent operational difficulties. Researchers encountered challenges in accessing tacit knowledge and identifying clear solutions for labor shortages, despite both farmers and researchers recognizing the problem. The study highlights the ongoing operational difficulties and lack of clear solutions for the economic viability of this traditional urban agriculture practice.
Economic viabilityUrban–rural linkageCommunityElderlyFood sovereignty & justiceTree Species Overcome Edaphic Heterogeneity in Shaping the Urban Orchard Soil Microbiome and Metabolome
2025Emoke Dalma Kovacs, Melinda Haydee Kovacs · Horticulturae · Romania (Cluj-Napoca)
This study in an urban orchard in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, investigated how five Prunus species and soil depth (0–30 cm) affect microbial biodiversity and metabolomic signatures using 225 soil samples. It found significant tree species-specific effects on soil microbial biodiversity, with bacterial biomarkers dominating and apricot tree soils showing the highest microbial activity. Metabolomic analysis identified 247 distinct metabolites, revealing unique organic acid profiles for sour cherry and quinone accumulation for cherry, with depth also influencing microbial communities and metabolite composition.
BiodiversityOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkageCommunity garden coproduction under collectivism
2025Hongmei Lu, Yanliu Lin, Pieter Hooimeijer, Yuelai Liu · Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning · China
This study investigates emerging coproduction transforming neglected vacant lands into community gardens in underserved neighborhoods in China, focusing on how collectivism influences civic engagement. Employing mixed methods including surveys, interviews, and field observations, the research explored how factors like motivation, legitimacy, and challenges manifest in a collective context. Findings revealed that residents prioritize neighborhood well-being over individual benefits, civic initiators use collectivism to legitimize garden land use, and residents frame community gardens as collective endeavors with broad societal benefits.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageCommunityPeri-urban home gardens in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexico are fundamental spaces of resistance
2025Vázquez-García, Amparo, Elizondo, Cecilia · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · Mexico
Home gardens in San Felipe Ecatepec, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexico, are systems with diverse plant species and areas ranging from 600m² to 2500m². This study aimed to identify forms of resistance against neoliberal policies and urban sprawl, finding that home gardens provide healthy, fresh food, create useful spaces, and preserve agrobiodiversity. These gardens are considered spaces of resistance based on traditional knowledge, helping to bolster food sovereignty. The research was conducted during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityCommunityAnalisis Keamanan Pangan Sawi Hasil Pertanian Perkotaan dari Kandungan Logam Berat dan Kaitannya dengan Pencemaran Udara di Jakarta Timur
2025Yukarie Ayu Wulandari, Ade Sumiahadi, Dirgahani Putri, Helfi Gustia, Rosdiana · Jurnal AGROSAINS dan TEKNOLOGI · Indonesia (Jakarta)
This study, conducted from March to June 2025 in East Jakarta, investigated heavy metal contamination levels in mustard greens grown through urban agriculture. Mustard green samples were collected from five sub-districts, and lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) content was measured. Results showed that Cd absorption in mustard greens was very low, well below national and international maximum standards, but Pb absorption exceeded both national (0.5 ppm) and international (0.3 ppm) maximum permissible standards. No strong correlation was found between air quality and Cd or Pb content in the mustard greens.
Contamination & food safetyHealthClimate changeUrban–rural linkageCommunity supported agriculture’s perceived positive impacts on mental health and vegetable consumption in Norway and the UK
2025Anna Birgitte Milford, Daniel Keech, Sarah Wangui Muiruri · Agricultural and Food Economics · Europe
This survey study explored differences in organizational models and member characteristics of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Norway and the UK, focusing on factors contributing to member contentment, mental health, and vegetable consumption. Norwegian CSA members participated more actively in cultivation and harvesting and more often prepaid subscriptions than British members. In both countries, CSA membership was perceived to improve members' quality of life, vegetable intake, and physical and mental health, with more active members reporting higher satisfaction and stronger positive effects on vegetable consumption and mental health.
CSA & TeikeiHealthCommunityFood educationOrganising for Political Advocacy—the Case of the Netzwerk Solidarische Landwirtschaft
2025Leonie Guerrero Lara, Baldur Kapusta, Jessica Duncan, Giuseppe Feola · International Journal of Politics Culture and Society · Germany
This article analyzes the German Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) network's political advocacy efforts between 2018 and 2022 to strengthen the movement and induce change in the industrial agri-food system. The study found that the network's organizational structure, or lack thereof, influences advocacy strategies, resources, and group dynamics. It concludes that advocates should consider their movement's organizational structure in relation to advocacy, including tensions around member participation and the visibility of advocacy work.
CSA & TeikeiPolicyCommunityA Smart Plant Monitoring System Using Arduino
2025Arin Shaikh · International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology · Global
This paper presents a Smart Plant Monitoring System using Arduino, designed to automate irrigation and enhance plant care by continuously monitoring soil moisture, temperature, and humidity. The system, comprising an Arduino Uno, sensors, and a water pump, demonstrated a 30-40% reduction in water consumption and improved irrigation efficiency in experimental results. It is proposed for both small-scale urban gardening and large-scale agricultural applications.
Digital agricultureDIYAssessment of performance mesophilic single-stage biogas digester for treating agricultural wastes
2025Isaac Mbir Bryant, Francis Kumi, Christina Fobir · Journal of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (JGhIE) · Ghana
This 24-week study in Ghana assessed the performance of an 8 m3 pilot-scale mesophilic single-stage biogas digester for treating urban agricultural wastes. Operating at 30 °C with various hydraulic retention times (HRTs), the digester used cow dung as inoculum and various plant and animal wastes as substrates. The system produced 3 m3 of biogas (60% CH4) daily, with HRTs of 23 and 26 days showing better removal efficiency for most parameters compared to 20 days.
Organic cycleFloristic Diversity and Cultural Heritage of Aleppo’s Public Park: Toward Sustainable Urban Green Space Management
2025Antonio Andréa Belló, Aline Batch · Trees Forests and People · Syria (Aleppo)
This study documented 257 plant species in Aleppo's Central Public Park, Syria, through systematic field surveys and floristic analysis. Despite conflict, the park exhibited exceptional plant diversity, with Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae being the most represented families. The findings revealed a dominance of herbaceous species and perennials, and identified five native gymnosperm trees and approximately 7% rare or underrepresented flora, underscoring the need for integrated management strategies.
BiodiversityCommunityVisual Form, Video Duration, and Communication Behavior of TikTok Content on Increasing Generation Z's Knowledge of Urban Farming
2025Komang Tri Asta Pradnya Sulaksana · INDONESIAN JOURNAL OF SMALL SCALE FARMING · Indonesia (Denpasar)
An experimental study conducted in Denpasar City with 96 students showed that the visual form, video duration, and language style of TikTok content increased Generation Z's knowledge of urban farming. Specifically, content combining a long-duration graphic visual form with a conversational language style resulted in the highest knowledge increase. Personal characteristics did not correlate with knowledge increase, but communication behavior, namely exposure to communication media, correlated with knowledge increase.
Food educationDigital agricultureKandang Kambing Ramah Lingkungan pada Lahan Fasum Pondok Maritim
2025Sri Dwiyanti, Farid Baskoro, Miftahur Rohman · JURPIKAT (Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat) · Indonesia (Surabaya)
In Pondok Maritim, Surabaya, Indonesia, an environmentally friendly goat pen (Kakamraling) design was proposed to optimize the use of public land for urban farming through goat husbandry. The pen features a separator system for feces and urine, which are collected and periodically harvested as organic fertilizer and liquid organic fertilizer. This technological intervention is intended to allow residents to increase income from goat farming and the sale of both solid and liquid organic fertilizers derived from the goats.
Organic cycleEconomicsCommunityPemberdayaan Perempuan Melalui Penguatan Ketahanan Pangan: Peran Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) dan Penggiat PKK dalam Pengembangan Komoditas Hortikultura Berbasis Urban Farming di Desa Cemani, Grogol, Sukoharjo
2025Anditya Gilang Rizky Pradana, Muhammad Fariz Yoga Pranata, Bela Tri Wijayanti, Febry Nurhidayati, Aulia Adillah, Dewi Nawang Suprihatin, Dadi Suryadi, Dimar Hantari, Rehino Yanu Seto · Adi Widya Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Sukoharjo)
This community service program in Cemani Village, Grogol, Sukoharjo, aimed to empower women through Women Farmers Groups (KWT) and PKK activists, focusing on food security via urban farming. Activities included socializing superior seed planting, training in horticulture cultivation techniques, and distributing seeds. The program also introduced agrotourism to increase income through harvests and educational tourism. Results showed an increased understanding of sustainable cultivation techniques, but program sustainability requires further training, infrastructure development, routine monitoring, and collaboration among village government, universities, and BUMDes.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsAddressing the Paradox of Food and Health in Mexico: A Landscape Urbanism Approach
2025Rodrigo Calderón, Diana Garcia-Cejudo, Rob Roggema · Land · Mexico (Querétaro)
This study analyzes the paradox of food swamps, food availability, and food's ecological footprint in Querétaro, Mexico, to promote the creation of community gardens. Findings corroborate a soaring number of unhealthy food stores, elevated carbon footprints related to food production, and a community request for urban agriculture, including the regeneration of community public areas. The research proposes designing and implementing community gardens in two marginalized neighborhoods (Tlacote and San Antonio–Bolaños) in Querétaro.
HealthCommunityFood miles & supply chainClimate changePolicyEconomicsMapping the climate in the urban fabric. The first step for farming the city
2025Matteo Clementi, Valentina Dessì, Mariana Pereira Guimarães · TERRITORIO · Global
The bize_UrFarm research explores urban agriculture's potential to integrate into urban and building metabolism by utilizing water, soil, and waste, and to strengthen urban green infrastructure. This research introduces building surfaces as a resource for urban agriculture, challenging the previous view of them as impediments in urbanized contexts.
Climate changeCommunityOrganic cycleBiodiversityLarval habitat diversity, physicochemical characteristics and their effect on the larval density of malaria vectors in the city of Accra, Ghana
2025Abdul Rahim Mohammed Sabtiu, Isaac Amankona Hinne, Isaac Kwame Sraku, Daniel Kodjo Halou, Richard Tettey Doe, Simon K. Attah, Fred Aboagye‐Antwi, Yaw A. Afrane · Malaria Journal · Ghana (Accra)
A study in Accra, Ghana, investigated mosquito larval habitats and their impact on Anopheles gambiae s.l. larvae density, conducting surveys at 15 locations during 2022's dry and rainy seasons. Of 727 potential habitats, 65.34% were positive for Anopheles larvae, with drainage ditches being the most common type. Irrigated urban farming sites showed the highest abundance of An. gambiae s.l. larvae, particularly during the rainy season, indicating that urban farming contributes to increased mosquito breeding habitats.
Environmental trade-offsHealthPeri-urban agricultureEdible tourism landscapes: co-designing agro-tourism experiences for cultural sustainability
2025Hang Yu · Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change · East Asia
This study in a culturally significant agricultural region in East Asia explored how edible tourism landscapes can be collaboratively developed by local communities and visitors using a participatory co-design approach. The results indicate that co-designed edible landscapes significantly enhance sensory engagement and foster a deeper tourist connection to local food heritage. Local residents reported increased cultural pride and agency, and the site transformation yielded ecological benefits like improved biodiversity.
CommunityBiodiversityMULTI-TEMPORAL SATELLITE DATA AND SPECTRAL INDICES FOR ASSESSING SPATIAL CHANGES IN URBAN FARMLANDS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
2025Dauda Rotimi Awoniran, Temitayo Abayomi Adeseye, Shakirulah Olayemi Agboola, Shade Babalola · Sustainability Science and Resources · Nigeria (Lagos)
This study examined agricultural land use change in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria, between 1984 and 2024 using Landsat satellite images and spectral indices. Findings indicated that farmlands in the study area declined by 13.03% between 1984 and 2013, and by 21.79% between 2013 and 2024. Between 1984 and 2013, 89.48% of farmlands were converted to other land uses, and between 2013 and 2024, 73.51% were converted. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) results also indicated a deterioration in the environmental condition of urban farmlands.
Limited or null effectUrban–rural linkagePolicyClimate changeENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY: Exploring the Drivers of Volunteer Stewardship in Community Pollinator Gardens
2025Riegel, Cameron · Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (USMAI Consortium) · United States (Baltimore)
This study investigated the motivations driving voluntary participation in urban community pollinator garden stewardship among residents of Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with volunteer gardeners and analyzed using a qualitative case study approach. Analysis revealed that gardeners are primarily motivated by environmental concerns, specifically an interest in and desire to give back to birds, an interest in trees and native plants, and a desire to interact with the urban natural environment. Social factors also shaped motivations but proved less influential than environmental factors in driving participation among most gardeners.
CommunityBiodiversityPollinatorsFood educationCloud-based platforms for monitoring and managing climate-smart urban farming systems
2025Marieke van Daalen, Joris Meijer, Lisanne Koopmans · International Journal of Cloud Computing and Database Management · Global
This review examined the evolution, applications, and benefits of cloud-based platforms in climate-smart urban agriculture systems, synthesizing pre-2024 literature. It demonstrated how cloud-enabled monitoring supports energy optimization, adaptive climate control, greenhouse gas mitigation, and early stress detection in plants. The article also discussed data interoperability issues, cybersecurity concerns, and adoption barriers in low-resource settings. Findings suggest that cloud-integrated platforms enhance decision accuracy, promote sustainable water management, and strengthen resilience to climate variability.
Digital agricultureClimate changePlanning for People with People: Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions in Participatory Land-Use Planning, Co-Design, and Co-Governance of Green and Open Spaces
2025Katarína Slobodníková, Attila Tóth · Land · Slovakia
This study examined the approaches and methods of civic initiatives (CIs) implementing Green Infrastructure (GI) and Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) in Slovakia. Analysis of seventeen case studies showed that many CIs engage in NBS activities such as creating or enhancing parks, green public spaces, and community gardens, and restoring natural and semi-natural areas. Knowledge creation and awareness-raising are also central strategies, with the transformation of derelict areas into multifunctional public spaces emerging as a notable practice.
CommunityPolicyFood education