Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
4283 results(63 / 172)
Hotspots and trends of agriculture sustainable development: Visualization analysis based on bibliometrics
2022Siwei Hu, MI Chang-hong, SHI Rongguang, YANG Yanying · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
This study analyzed the frontiers, hot topics, and trends of sustainable agriculture development using CiteSpace, based on 2,217 papers published in Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from 2000 to 2019. Frontiers focused on "food system resilience and food security," "ecological intensification and sustainable intensification," "agricultural multi-functionality and urban agriculture," and "trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services in agroecosystem." Hotspots included climate change impacts on agricultural systems and adaptive management, ecosystem services management in agro-ecosystems, and environmental impact assessment of agricultural activities and integrated sustainability assessment of agricultural systems.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeUrban–rural linkagePolicyThe Green Building Envelope towards Sustainability in Official Schools, Egypt
2022· Current Science International · Egypt
This research addresses water saving issues and deteriorated school environments in official schools in Egypt. It proposes educational vertical gardens and green vertical walls for school building blocks to improve urban environments, enhance buildings' environmental and economic performance, and positively impact physical and mental health. The proposal aims to boost interaction and creativity by utilizing space as an instrument for new knowledge and highlighting the importance of sustainable development.
Food educationCommunityClimate changeFood Insecurity, Food Sourcing and Food Coping Strategies in the OOO Urban Corridor, Namibia
2022Ndeyapo Nickanor, Lawrence N. Kazembe, Jonathan Crush · · Namibia
A household survey of 853 households in Namibia's Oshakati-Ongwediva-Ondangwa (OOO) urban corridor found 77% household food insecurity and a mean dietary diversity of less than 5. The most common coping strategies were relying on less preferred and less expensive foods (67%) and rural-urban food transfers (55%). Urban agriculture was found to be very limited in this region.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareEconomicsUrban–rural linkagePreferred Neighborhood Projects Among Millennials: Yes, In My Backyard
2022Hui-Shan Sim, Weng Wai Choong, Siaw-Chui Wee, Sheau-Ting Low · International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability · Global
An online survey of 407 millennials investigated their preferences for neighborhood project developments and willingness to pay for them. The study found that millennials prefer recreational parks, police booths, community gardens, transit stations, and feeder bus routes in their neighborhoods. They are most willing to pay for transit stations, followed by educational institutions, recreational parks, police booths, and integrated public transport terminals.
CommunityPolicyMulti-Disciplinary Access in Conceptual Design for Advertising of The Public Space
2022Ivana Chaloska · South East European Journal of Architecture and Design · Global
This master's thesis conducted qualitative empirical research for the multidisciplinary conceptualization of urban public space, focusing on ecological and social sustainability and socio-spatial relations. Through an inter-contextual analysis and a case study highlighting urban community gardens, the research supports a conceptual design of public space that can function as activism for rethinking existing structures or as a continuous process of socio-spatial relations.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityDetecting wetland encroachment and urban agriculture land classification in Uganda using hyper-temporal remote sensing
2022Stella Kabiri, Molly Allen, Judith Tomma Okuonzia, Beatrice Akello, Rebecca Ssabaganzi, Drake N. Mubiru · Open Research Africa · Uganda
This study investigated the extent of wetland loss and encroachment by urban agriculture in Wakiso and Kampala, Uganda, over 30 years from 1986 to 2016. Using field surveys, Landsat, and MODIS NDVI data, the analysis found that 72,828 ha (73%) of Wakiso-Kampala wetlands were lost, while agricultural areas doubled. Of this, 16,488 ha (23%) were converted from wetlands, with all cultivated agriculture in Kampala occurring in wetlands and 73% in Wakiso.
Environmental trade-offsUrban–rural linkageClimate changePolicyHuertos escolares y comunitarios: cosechando beneficios para el ambiente y alimentos saludables
2022Lorena Suárez Peña, Aharon Jazielt Andrade Sandy, Luis René Justiniano Lujan, Romina Alejandra Robles Calderón, Leevan Salvatierra Burgos, José María Jiménez Carillo · Revista 3i Ingeniería Innovación Investigación · Bolivia
This study diagnosed the benefits of implementing urban gardens to promote food security, environmental sustainability, and community development, classifying feasible garden types. Research in El Torno municipality, Bolivia, identified community and school gardens as the most feasible urban garden types, highlighting their environmental and health benefits. These gardens are easy to implement and offer benefits such as landscape beautification, connection with nature, improved physical and mental health, and environmental education.
CommunityFood educationHealthClimate changeScience Learning from the School Garden through Participatory Action Research in Nepal
2022Kamal Prasad Acharya, Chitra Budhathoki, Milan Acharya · The Qualitative Report · Nepal
Nepal's NORHED/Rupantaran project implemented participatory action research through school gardening to explore how basic level students (grades five to eight) and science teachers could foster agency in the school science curriculum. Qualitative research found that school gardening activities were helpful and productive for science teaching and learning. The findings offer new insights for policymakers to transform the school science curriculum and highlight the often-neglected collaborative knowledge production through school gardening in a contextual environment.
Food educationCommunityPolicyGreen Guerillas, Seed Bombs, and Granite Gardens
2022Setha Low · · Global
This chapter examines environmental sustainability and the greening of public spaces in Paris and New York City, tracing the history and impact of interventions like community gardens, urban agriculture, and sustainable parks. These initiatives contribute to ecological sustainability by fostering stronger communities, supporting social reproduction, and promoting environmental justice. The study highlights how human ecological planning and ecosystem services assessments provide scientific strategies for enhancing sustainability in public space design.
CommunityBiodiversityOrganic cyclePolicyCaptación de agua de lluvia como alternativa para uso en agricultura urbana
2022Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Rodrigo Roblero, Jorge Flores-Velázquez, Colegio de Postgraduados · Vivienda y Comunidades Sustentables · Global
This study aimed to generate a methodology for estimating the volume of rainwater harvesting for urban agriculture use. The surface area of two urban roofs with contrasting characteristics was estimated using images from a UAV camera, generating a digital surface model (DSM) and identifying runoff coefficients by sub-catchment area. Monthly average precipitation was calculated using climatological normals. The volume of rainwater harvesting was calculated and its use in lettuce cultivation was analyzed. The estimated volume of rain from the catchment areas obtained from the DSM and meteorological data allowed for the agronomic analysis of the crop.
Climate changeDIYOrganization of experiential activities to discover biodiversity in the vegetable garden for preschoolers
2022Linh Nguyen Ha, Luyen Nguyen Thi · Journal of Science Educational Science · Global
This theoretical paper addresses the limited use of natural contexts in preschool environmental education, particularly regarding biodiversity in school habitats. It defines the concept and scope of biodiversity knowledge suitable for preschoolers and proposes methods for organizing biodiversity discovery activities in preschool vegetable gardens. The aim is to help preschool teachers maximize the benefits of school gardens for scientific discovery activities.
Food educationBiodiversityAGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND FOOD SECURITY AS A FACTOR OF CHANGES IN ARCHITECTURAL OBJECTS STRUCTURE AND PLANNING OF URBANIZED TERRITORIES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 21ST CENTURY
2022A. Smaliychuk, Dmytro Khiblin · Vìsnik Nacìonalʹnogo unìversitetu Lʹvìvsʹka polìtehnìka Serìâ Arhìtektura · Global
This study discussed the necessity of active development of food production at the local level to prevent a predicted global ecological collapse and inability to feed the human population after 2050. It proposed that locating agricultural production in anthropogenic environments and making the synergy of energy, agricultural production, and waste recycling a key structural planning principle for architectural objects would ensure food security and impact urban planning structures. Local food production capacity would limit the maximum size of megacities and contribute to a more dispersed settlement structure.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeUrban–rural linkageAddressing Community Food Security Through Gardening: A Review
2022Felix Buabeng, Erasmus Kabu Aduteye · International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development Studies · Global
This literature review examines the contributions and positive impacts of community and home gardens in addressing food insecurity and the overall well-being of household members. As many residents struggle with access to fresh produce and face food insecurity, community gardens can serve as a strategy to alleviate these challenges and help families reduce pandemic-related economic losses by supplementing their diets with nutritious foods. This paper also determines the types of gardening people practice and common crops grown.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthEconomicsHydrogel Application in Urban Farming: Potentials and Limitations—A Review
2022Swarna Devi Palanivelu, Nur Amira Zainul Armir, Amalia Zulkifli, Ainul Hafiza Abdul Hair, Kushairi Mohd Salleh, Keith Lindsey, Muhamad Hafiz Che Othman, Sarani Zakaria · Polymers · Global
This review discusses the potentials and limitations of hydrogel in urban agriculture. While hydrogel has been introduced in urban agriculture over the past few decades, its application is still being explored regarding hydrogel types, structure, physical and chemical properties, changes due to external factors, and suitability for different plant species. The study presents the current state of knowledge on hydrogel production methods, characteristics, advantages, and limitations.
Methodological critiqueDigital agricultureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePerceptions of landlords to trees in built-up urban areas in Ghana
2022Jones Abrefa Danquah · Arboricultural Journal · Ghana
A study surveyed 600 landlords in three major Ghanaian cities regarding their perceptions of trees in urban areas. Landlords highly valued trees for providing edible fruits and nuts, improved health, shade, oxygen production, and wind protection. However, negative perceptions included structural damage from roots, trees acting as hosts for insects and pests, and leaf litter and slippery fruits being a nuisance.
HealthCommunityDifferent Perspectives Surrounding Urban Agriculture
2022Susan Anne Mansel Fitzgerald · · Cuba
This chapter reviews various perspectives on urban agriculture in Havana, Cuba, focusing on farm types, food access, and cultural expressions. It highlights that research also addresses the hierarchies and power struggles surrounding urban agriculture sites and their integration into land-management systems. The study advocates for understanding the rhythms of everyday life to deepen insights into these sites.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyCommunityEconomicsThe Place of Greening: Comparing Civic Engagement Scenes of Urban Natures across Danish Cities
2022Anders Blok, Amanda Krog Juvik, Anna Helene Kvist Møller, Jonas Skjold Raaschou-Pedersen, Jakob Laage‐Thomsen · City and Community · Denmark
This study mapped the group styles, spatial intergroup networks, and cultural-political value landscapes of 130 urban green communities across the four largest cities in Denmark using digital methods. The results showed that civic greening groups are neither neighborhood-based endeavors nor hubs of social movement mobilization, but rather geographies of co-engagement that span cities while also forging new senses and practices of place.
CommunityBiodiversityPolicyA work-in-progress politics of space
2022Shawn Bodden · City · Hungary (Budapest)
This essay reflected on the everyday political work of community projects to open up space for new possibilities of living with difference within hostile political environments, drawing on Doreen Massey's ideas of space. Through the case of the Auróra community center in Budapest, Hungary, and its members' community garden project, it examined the mundane and local techniques community groups use to construct better possible futures. The analysis suggested the importance of analyzing the situated and ongoing "terms of engagement" through which people open up, or close down, better possible spaces and ways of living with difference.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyA Typology for Green Infrastructure Planning to Enhance Multifunctionality Incorporating Peri-Urban Agricultural Land
2022Werner Rolf · · Global
This work introduces a typology for spatial planning to integrate peri-urban farmland into Green Infrastructure, aiming to develop multifunctional open space networks. The typology, based on an inter- and transdisciplinary approach and evidence synthesis, suggests that peri-urban farmland has potential to address urban challenges like biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation.
Peri-urban agriculturePolicyBiodiversityClimate changeThe environmental impact of fresh tomatoes consumed in cities: A comparative LCA of long-distance transportation and local production
2022Beatriz Urbano, Marcia Barquero, Fernando González‐Andrés · Scientia Horticulturae · Global
This study used a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to compare the environmental impacts of eight scenarios for fresh tomato supply to urban citizens. Zero-miles production in heated greenhouses showed the highest environmental impact (GWP 0.33 kg CO2 eq/kg tomato), performing worse than unheated greenhouses with long-distance transport (GWP 0.21 kg CO2 eq). Conversely, open-field zero-miles production was the most environmentally favorable option (GWP 0.12 kg CO2 eq), and product travel distance was less important than transport efficiency. Urban Agriculture was not environmentally superior to zero-miles agriculture carried out in rural areas.
Climate changeFood miles & supply chainUrban–rural linkageMapping Gendered Ecologies: Engaging with and beyond Ecowomanism and Ecofeminism ed. by K. Melchor Quick Hall and Gwyn Kirk
2022Priya R. Chandrasekaran · NWSA Journal · Global
This review discusses "Mapping Gendered Ecologies: Engaging with and beyond Ecowomanism and Ecofeminism," a fifteen-chapter anthology edited by K. Melchor Quick Hall and Gwyn Kirk. The collection explores the power of ecofeminism and ecowomanism, revealing obscured relationships and ideas, and outlining pathways for socio-ecological healing and sustainability. It is recommended for scholars and collaborators in various fields, including environmental studies, women and gender studies, and urban studies.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyCommunity Research Extension Continuum in Urban Agriculture in an Urban Barangay of Northern Philippines
2022Mary Ann N Daculog, Thea P Suaco, Romalyn D Parado · Advances in Agriculture Horticulture and Entomology · Philippines (Baguio City)
This study analyzed the chemical properties of soil in Barangay Lucnab, Baguio City, Philippines, focusing on macronutrient and micronutrient presence. Findings revealed low soil moisture content (27.26% to 33.60%) and strongly acidic pH levels (4.1 to 4.83). Organic matter content was also low (2.71% to 3.45%), suggesting that the soil's acidity may impact nutrient availability and solubility, thereby reducing harvest and productivity.
Food educationCommunityOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceSerre en toiture : Une Perspective Financière
2022Scattareggia, Florent, Ancion, Nicolas, Jijakli, Haissam, Crutzen, Nathalie · Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Liège) · Global
This article discusses rooftop greenhouses (RTGs) as a potential solution to global land consumption and increasing food demand. RTGs utilize existing urban roof space, avoiding competition for land, and can form synergies with supporting buildings by using waste heat, CO2, urine, and rainwater, offering environmental benefits. Additionally, urban farming, including RTGs, can provide employment and educational opportunities in urban areas.
Climate changeEconomicsFood educationOrganic cycleNurturing Clever Cities
2022Emma Burnett · Smart Cities · Global
This chapter explores the complex relationship between urban environments, food, and agriculture, examining divergent philosophies on agriculture's future. It discusses the role of technology in both rural and urban agriculture, how food production integrates into cities, and various urban agriculture practices. The text investigates the benefits and drawbacks of technology in food systems and the impacts of Smart City technologies, suggesting that clever city development should align with practitioners' needs to build resilient urban food systems.
Urban–rural linkageDigital agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceValuing the Benefits and Enhancing Access: Community and Allotment Gardens in Urban Melbourne, Australia
2022Aisling Bailey, Jonathan Kingsley · Land · Australia (Melbourne)
This qualitative study explored perceptions of benefits and challenges in six urban community and allotment gardens in Melbourne, Australia, through semi-structured interviews with 23 participants. Findings identified perceived benefits and demographic patterns, but also highlighted challenges to participation due to insecurity around ongoing land access. The gardens were perceived to contribute to social and environmental wellbeing.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyHealthEconomics