Research & reports

Eun Young Choi, 정윤남, 김세용 · 한국도시설계학회지 도시설계 · South Korea

This study analyzed the relationship between the importance of urban agriculture ordinance items, participant satisfaction, and sustainability, from an institutional perspective. Findings indicated that participants' sustained engagement in urban agriculture involves conscious stages. Participants prioritized educational and direct support for individuals over indirect government support. Furthermore, a difference in perception regarding the importance of urban agriculture ordinance items was observed between experts and participants.

최정석 · 환경정책 · South Korea

This research from South Korea identifies legal and institutional problems in securing space for urban agriculture, noting that the 2013 Urban Agriculture Promotion and Support Act has not boosted urban agriculture due to a lack of space. The study focuses on urban planning regulations, parks, green areas, the Urban Agriculture Promotion and Support Act, and other related policies to suggest solutions for these issues.

Meng Fan-ru · Jieshui guan'gai · China (Tianjin)

This paper investigates the pre-control mechanism for water-saving irrigation costs in coastal urban agriculture in Tianjin, China, from an engineering design innovation perspective. It analyzes the operational and maintenance cost trends of water-saving facilities and the complexity of water-saving irrigation requirements. The study identifies engineering design innovation as key to cost pre-control and discusses obstacle factors, governance approaches, and the impact of investment and financing models on both fund shortages and cost pre-control.

Chen Shan-sha · Ganhanqu dili · China (Xi'an)

This paper evaluated the water conservation service of Xi'an urban agriculture in 2011, using socioeconomic and geographical data. The total water conserved by urban agriculture was 16.6×10^8m^3, with a monetary value of 1.05×10^8 yuan. Water conservation capacity varied by district, with cropland providing a large proportion of the total value and orchards having the largest per unit area value. The spatial pattern of urban agriculture's water conservation was opposite to that of the urban district, suggesting that urbanization could negatively impact urban agriculture development.

장진, 오충현 · · South Korea

This study examined the application of urban agriculture's therapeutic properties as a measure against school violence in South Korea. A 2014 survey of 77 middle school students in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, found that 68.8% had plant cultivation experience. Reasons for participating in urban agriculture activities included learning about the value of life and plant cultivation, finding peace and achievement, and socializing with friends. The most needed experiential activities were cognitive (41.6%), emotional (40.3%), and behavioral (36.4%).

Zhang Yu-me · Jingji wenti · China (Beijing)

This study analyzed the decoupling relationship between urban agriculture development and carbon emissions in Beijing, China, using the Tapio elastic method. Findings indicate that Beijing maintained agricultural self-sufficiency while carbon emissions decreased annually. The relationship between agricultural economic growth and carbon emissions shifted from recession decoupling to strong decoupling. Livestock, particularly cattle, swine, and poultry, were major carbon sources, suggesting the need for scientific feeding and improved feed conversion rates for sustainable urban agriculture.

Shengqi Xu · Shipin yanjiu yu kaifa · China

A 2014 paper examines development strategy for the modern agricultural food product industry in Wuqing District, Tianjin, China. It proposes developing Wuqing into a supply base for high-quality agricultural products and a comprehensive urban agriculture demonstration area for the Beijing-Tianjin region by drawing on university scientific talent, research outputs, and platforms, raising the level of industrialization, standardization, systemization, branding, and functionalization of agricultural facilities and zones, and strengthening characteristic agriculture in vegetables, cattle, fisheries, livestock and poultry, and forestry and fruit.

杨鲲鹏 · 中国农业信息 · China

Drawing on China's 2014 "Number One Central Document" on comprehensively deepening rural reform and accelerating agricultural modernization, this article discusses the need to advance a distinctively Chinese path to agricultural modernization by developing ecologically friendly agriculture and a socialized agricultural service system. It positions modern urban agriculture — oriented toward the market demand of large cities and integrating production, living and ecological functions, underpinned by modern science, technology and management — as the direction of agricultural modernization.

Riza Fadholi Pasha, Sheily Widyaningsih, R. Rijanta · Jurnal Tata Kota dan Daerah · Indonesia

This study inventoried and described the practice of urban farming in "green kampong" (kampong hijau) neighborhoods of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using a qualitative descriptive method that combined secondary data analysis with purposive sampling surveys at sample spots where urban farming was taking place. It found that the green kampong were mostly planted with consumption plants and ornamental plants.

남선모 · · South Korea

Against the background of a growing population of people returning to farming or rural villages in South Korea, this paper reviews problems such as overlapping burden fees and terminological confusion arising from farmland conversion. In connection with the implementation of the Act on the Promotion of Urban Agriculture, it notes that the number of urban residents cultivating home gardens in city centers is projected to reach about 2 million by 2017, and that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs had formulated a first Five-Year Urban Agriculture Promotion Plan (2013-2017) that would revise the Act on Urban Parks and Green Areas — previously cited as an obstacle — to allow urban agriculture facilities to be installed within city parks.

Darmawan Listya Cahya · Forum Ilmiah · Indonesia

This case study of Kelurahan Slipi in West Jakarta, Indonesia, examined the characteristics of urban agriculture -- specifically household medicinal plant (TOGA) cultivation -- and its role in supporting sustainable urban development. Typical urban farmers were married women aged 41-50 with high school education, working as housewives in households of more than five, farming small plots of 1-10 m² using vertical farming methods for over three years, obtaining seeds from the government, operating on their own capital of under Rp 500,000 per month, and growing crops for personal use; the study concluded that urban farming supports sustainable development through economic benefits (supplementary income), social benefits (leisure use, mutual assistance), and environmental benefits (use of vacant land, reduced air pollution, greenery), recommending an integrative approach across five dimensions including ecological, economic, and social factors.

Da Wang · · China (Beijing)

This study evaluates and analyzes urban agriculture in Beijing by focusing on the relationships among its subsystems and their relative influence. Results show that the comprehensive evaluation index of urban agriculture has risen steadily with a positive trend, but that the comparative advantages of both the population subsystem and the social subsystem have weakened, due to the loss of agricultural labor force and the urban-rural income gap. Meanwhile, the function of the environment and resource subsystems has strengthened, promoting a shift in Beijing's urban agricultural mode from one led by the economic subsystem toward one led jointly by the environment and economic subsystems. Given increasing pressure on environment and resources, the study concludes Beijing needs to build an ecological urban agriculture system and move away from an industrial development approach.

Feng Yanmi · Yunnan Nongye Daxue xuebao · China

A discussion paper examines the concept of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and its role in the integrated, sustainable development of urban and rural areas in China, against the backdrop of the country's urban-rural dual structure, farmland loss and ecological damage from urban expansion, peasants losing land, and food safety concerns. It frames CSA's model, in which producers and consumers form a partnership through advance payment or participation in production and share profits and losses, as promoting organic production and mutual cooperation with economic, ecological and social benefits.

YU Ju-shen · Shanghai nongye xuebao · China

To scientifically and objectively evaluate the overall effect of continuously returning rice and wheat straw to fields in urban agricultural areas of China, the study built an evaluation index system centered on economic, ecological and social benefit indicators, drawing on a questionnaire of agricultural, economic and ecological experts, and used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and cluster analysis to formulate a comprehensive-effect scoring formula. The results showed that the eco-efficiency indicator carried the largest weight (0.6453) within the overall comprehensive effect.

Kim Jin-Won, Yong-Man Yu, Na Won-Seok, Baljii Enkhjargar, Choi In-Wook, Youn Young-Nam, Young-Ha Lee Young-Ha · Horticultural Science and Technology · South Korea

In Seoul, South Korea, 260 samples of Chinese cabbage and lettuce were collected from four urban community gardens and six roof gardens between September and October 2012 and assessed quantitatively and qualitatively for microbiological and parasitological contamination. Mean total aerobic bacteria counts were 6.1±0.8 log CFU/g (range 5.4±0.6-7.1±0.8) and mean coliform counts were 4.0±0.7 log CFU/g (range 2.3±0.6-6.1±0.9), with coliforms detected in 59.6% of the 260 samples. There was no significant difference in contamination levels between cabbage and lettuce, but produce from community gardens showed higher levels than that from roof gardens (p>0.05). E. coli was isolated from 3.1% of vegetables at a level of 1.5±0.2 log CFU/g. Among foodborne pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 1.5% of samples, while Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected in any sample. Unidentified parasite eggs were also found in two cabbage samples (0.8% of the total). The results indicate bacteriological contamination is present in produce grown through urban farming in Seoul, and the study calls for efforts to reduce biological contamination during cultivation.

Zakir Hussain, Markus Hanisch · Journal of Environmental Planning and Management · India

This paper describes the adaptation of agricultural management practices in the urban periphery of Hyderabad, India, due to structural changes. Based on 120 farmer interviews, the study found that increasing costs for agricultural inputs like labor and land motivated farmers to intensify water, machine, and chemical use, which created problematic environmental impacts. Farmers also adapted by resorting to part-time farming and organizing efforts to share family labor.

Yuan Ping-ping · Anhui nongye kexue · China

This literature review elaborated on the promotion of harmonious interpersonal interactions in allotment community gardens from three perspectives: improving interactions among family members, different families participating in the garden, and members of a wider community outside the garden. With China's rapid industrialization and urbanization, allotment community gardens, as a form of agriculture and recreation, are stated to help solve problems in interpersonal interactions, curb social estrangement, and promote a harmonious society by positively affecting interpersonal interactions.

Tushar S. Kelkar, Satish A. Bhalerao · · India

A pot experiment in India investigated the effect of Glomus mosseae on Trigonella foenum-graceum grown in arsenic-contaminated soil. Plants in arsenic-contaminated soil without mycorrhizal inoculum showed very poor growth performance across all aspects. However, when mycorrhizal inoculum was added to contaminated soil, plant performance improved, with the best results observed in non-contaminated soil with mycorrhizal inoculum.

Lijie He · · China

This article analyzes the current situation and problems of urban agricultural development in small towns of China. It identifies severe problems hindering progress, including decreasing agricultural land, severe waste of land resources, serious agricultural pollution, low quality and income of agricultural labor, limited transport capacity, insufficient funding, and a lack of related policies and regulations.

Yue Guan · Beijing Linye Daxue xuebao · China (Beijing)

This paper analyzes the business strategy of allot gardens in Beijing, which face difficulties despite their recent growth. Based on a field survey of 11 allot gardens, the study uses SWOT analysis and the AHP model to quantitatively assess internal and external operating environments and propose business strategies.

Znang Chen · · China (Beijing)

Balcony agriculture in Chaoyang, Beijing, is a major application direction for urban agricultural technology innovation, effectively promoting urban-rural integration and forming an important part of cultural creativity.

원선이 · 한국화예디자인학연구 · South Korea

The Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services in South Korea created a vegetable garden to provide urban agriculture activists with rational methods for rooftop garden creation and crop cultivation guidelines. Over two years, 201 plant materials were collected and studied, with 170 ultimately selected. Selected edible plants included 48 vegetable species, 9 fruit tree species, and 11 field crop species, while ornamental plants included 40 flower species, 23 herb species, 16 sedum and sedge species, and 23 woody species. Four planting models—box, tunnel, wall, and mobile box types—were also developed based on the growth characteristics and uses of the collected plant materials.

Weiping Chen · British Food Journal · China (Beijing)

This research conceptualized and validated a construct of perceived value in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and investigated its influence on consumer satisfaction and loyalty. The study used a sample of 198 consumers from five CSA farms in Beijing, China, applying partial least squares (PLS) for analysis. Findings indicate that perceived value in CSA is a formative, multi-dimensional, third-order construct, with a direct positive effect on consumer loyalty and an indirect effect mediated by consumer satisfaction.

김재연, 김윤수, 이연숙 · · Korea

This study identified 39 evaluation items to measure the effects of community gardens in Korea, categorizing them into five broad areas: eco-environmental, production and economic, physical, psychological, and social effects, further subdivided into 12 types. The research involved literature reviews of domestic and international documents and case studies of domestic sites.

김현주 · 한국실과교육학회지 · Korea

This study aimed to understand the current status of children's dietary education in Korea and explore the applicability of taste education through case studies from other countries. It analyzed the 2007 and 2009 revised elementary school practical arts curricula and prior research, examining cases from Japan, Italy, and France. While taste education is not systematically integrated into Korea's formal curriculum, it is expanding through educational farms and organic school meals, and the study concluded that a shift towards taste education is necessary to achieve dietary education goals.