Research & reports

Bagus Imran Saptadji Handoko, Iwan Setiawan · MIMBAR AGRIBISNIS Jurnal Pemikiran Masyarakat Ilmiah Berwawasan Agribisnis · Indonesia (Bandung)

This quantitative study, conducted at Warung Sehat 1000 Kebun in Bandung, Indonesia, investigated the willingness of millennial consumers to pay for organic vegetables. Using survey methods with questionnaires, the research found that psychological factors significantly influenced millennials' willingness to consume organic vegetables.

Xingjia Wang, Wenbo Li, Dongyan Wang, Songze Wu, Zhuoran Yan, Jiaqi Han · Ecological Indicators · China

A 'trinity' assessment method was developed to evaluate heavy-metal contamination in peri-urban soil–crop systems in Northeast China, covering total, available, and accumulated heavy metals. While traditional methods indicated less contamination, the trinity method revealed spatial clustering of heavy-metal contamination in cultivated lands caused by urbanization and industrialization, and a decreasing urban–rural trend in contaminated areas, particularly in transition zones.

Trecy Austin, Marleni Marleni · Jurnal Abdimas Indonesia · Indonesia (Palembang)

This community empowerment activity in Sialang Village, Palembang City, Indonesia, involved training and direct practical assistance to implement urban farming, specifically hydroponics and BUDIKDAMBER (fish and vegetable cultivation in buckets). The program aimed to enhance food security and support the Climate Village Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants from RT 19 and RT 65 RW 13 gained understanding of urban farming methods and their health and economic benefits, showing readiness to adopt these practices in their households.

Afrah, Anastasia Rouli Alodia, Angela Olivia Sitompul · HEALTH CARE JURNAL KESEHATAN · Indonesia

This qualitative study, using a literature review approach, investigated the trend of urban farming during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia and its benefits for the environment and community nutrition. As people were encouraged to stay home during the pandemic, urban farming became a popular choice. Urban farming benefits the environment by helping to lower urban temperatures and building temperatures, minimizing air conditioner use, and reducing air pollution levels. It also benefits nutrition by increasing food security and improving community nutritional status.

Tuti Kusumaningsih, Rini Devijаnti Ridwаn, Sidarningsih Sidarningsih · Jurnal Layanan Masyarakat (Journal of Public Services) · Indonesia

In the Maesan and Sumberwringin sub-districts of Bondowoso Regency, Indonesia, community groups lacked knowledge and information regarding the health benefits, economic value, and cultivation of ciplukan (Physalis angulata L). To address this, the Community Service Team of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Airlangga, designed an activity to provide counseling and promote ciplukan as a medicinal plant, offer information on its health benefits and cultivation, and distribute ciplukan plants as an initial step. This activity received a very good response from the local community.

Shahida Mohd Sharif, Norsidah Ujang · INDONESIAN JOURNAL OF URBAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY · Indonesia

Noting that more than 50% of the population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050, and that urban migration raises the risk of insufficient social support leading to individualism, social isolation, and loneliness, a conceptual framework is proposed for investigating the level of social bonding among participants in community gardening activities. The paper argues that the choice of urban green space type is critical for wellbeing, positions community gardens as an intervention strategy for reintegrating socially isolated people into community life, and suggests that urban designers and policymakers adopt community gardens as safe public spaces for social interaction.

Irina Mildawani, Arief Rahman · The Journal of Synergy Landscape · Indonesia

A survey of 148 respondents in the Jabodetabek region of Indonesia, conducted via Google Form between July and December 2020, examined household gardening preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with activities before and predicted after it. Using qualitative content analysis (QCA), the study assessed emotional well-being and explored variation in garden type — vegetable versus ornamental plants, community versus household gardens, and who was involved. Gardening was seen as a favorable activity generating happy family time, with respondents wanting to continue it after the pandemic, but landscape architects had not yet been chosen as gardeners when professional assistance was needed.

In-Kyoung Hong, Hyung-Kwon Yun, Young-Bin Jung, Sang-Mi Lee, Choon-soo Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · South Korea

A contactless online survey of 1,010 parents of elementary, middle, and high school students across Korea's five major districts, conducted October 22-26, 2020 (5 days) by a Korean survey agency (M), analyzing the data with SPSS for Windows 25.0 and Excel. Respondents averaged 1.83 (children per household), and 52.8% were male. 55.3% were aware of education services using school gardens, and 27.9% had experienced such a service. Overall, 79% considered the service necessary; among parents who had experienced it, 91.8% said it was necessary. Of all respondents, 54.9% were willing to pay for school garden costs; when income tax was used as the payment method, the average willingness to pay was 13,193 KRW, equivalent to a 2.02% tax rate. Parents who had experienced the service showed higher perceived need and willingness to pay than those who had not, but their actual stated amount or tax rate was lower because they knew how the program was actually run.

Pedada Sindhusha · Journal of Food & Nutritional Disorders · India

As India's urban population grows, demand for food and food expenditure are rising while farmland is being converted to residential, commercial or industrial use. The paper argues that rooftop vegetable farming is a feasible option to address these pressures and the contamination risks of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, by shortening food transport distances, raising food-production awareness, and supporting nutrition, health and economic status. It states that rooftop vegetable farming can supply quality, hygienic vegetables, lower household vegetable spending, improve air quality and absorb carbon, and reduce climate change effects. No data or survey results are presented.

Santiteerakul S., Sopadang A., Yaibuathet Tippayawong K., Tamvimol K. · Sustainability (MDPI) · Thailand

Case study of Thailand's Wangree Health Factory plant factory showing how smart technology enhances productivity, product quality, resource-use efficiency, food safety, and employee quality of life, evidencing the business performance of corporate urban farming.

Pham T.T.H., Turner S. · Land Use Policy · Vietnam (Lào Cai)

Research in Lào Cai, a small border city in northern Vietnam, finds that access to 'safe and clean' vegetables—motivated by distrust of pesticide use—is the primary driver of urban food growing, rather than subsistence food needs.

· Sustainability · China (Guangzhou)

Surveys residents' perceptions of integrating urban agriculture into micro-transformation of old communities in Guangzhou, discussed through the lens of building a healthy community.

Tu P.-C., Cheng W.-C., Hou P.-C., Chang Y.-S. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · Taiwan

A study in Taiwan with 27 elderly participants (aged 60-76) evaluating four horticultural activities, measuring effects on salivary amylase activity, pulse rate, and mood (POMS), with artistic-creation and food-tasting types showing promise for relaxation and stress reduction.

Nanik Furoidah · Jurnal Layanan Masyarakat (Journal of Public Services) · Indonesia

The PKK group in Dawuhan Lor Village, Sukodono District, Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, has cultivated plants with limited knowledge. This community partnership program (PKM) aims to introduce urban farming models, including hydroponics and portable cultivation innovations for vegetables, fruits, and herbs. The target is to achieve 15-25% self-sufficiency in daily vegetable and herb needs, enhance the home environment, and contribute to household food security.

Olivia Holabird · Digital Commons @ Butler University (Butler University) · United States (Indianapolis)

This study investigated factors influencing consumer and farmer involvement in sustainable urban agriculture in the Indianapolis region, where 200,000 people have low food access. Through 12 semi-structured interviews with 6 farmers and 6 consumers, the research identified key variables: sense of identity, accessibility, health, and community. Differences in these factors were observed between white and African American respondents, with accessibility and overall diet concerns being stronger for African American interviewees, while authenticity was more prevalent among white respondents.

Pinky Hemnani, Diah Anggraini · Jurnal Sains Teknologi Urban Perancangan Arsitektur (Stupa) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

In Jakarta, Indonesia, unhealthy eating habits contribute to urban problems, leading to a need for "third places" for interaction, healthy eating education, and economic improvement through urban agriculture for residents in Rawa Bunga and surrounding areas. This study proposes a design concept for such a "third place," combining an "edutani" community program with a commercial program. The design aims to meet the characteristics of a "third place" and open architecture, including playfulness, conversation, neutrality, accessibility, and accommodation.

Ady Daryanto, Muhammad Ridha Alfarabi Istiqlal, Ummu Kalsum, Ratih Kurniasih · Jurnal Agronomi Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Agronomy) · Indonesia (Depok City)

This research evaluated the horticultural characteristics of five hybrid tomato varieties grown in a lowland greenhouse at Gunadarma University, Depok City, West Java, from October 2018 to January 2019. Tymoti and Tantyna varieties performed well, while Agatha and Ultima showed a 40% decrease in fruit size, and Rewako was unsuitable due to high flower dropping and low fruit setting. Significant differences were observed across all quantitative characters among the varieties.

Sun Jin Jeong, Eun Ha Yoo, Jae Soon Kim, Hye Sook Jang, Geun Woo Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · South Korea

This study assessed research trends in domestic agro-healing in South Korea from 2010 to 2018 by analyzing 83 selected articles using frequency analysis, t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Agro-healing articles peaked in 2010 and declined thereafter, with most published by the Society for People, Plants, and Environment. The main targets were preschoolers, children, and adolescents (52.4%), often special participants needing special care. Psychological and emotional areas were the most studied dependent variables (42.6%), with programs typically having 9-12 sessions (36.7%) and over 20 participants (39.8%).

Wahyu Sulistiadi, Ibnu Malkan Bakhrul Ilmi, Dian Luthfiana Sufyan, Sri Rahayu · Jurnal Bisnis Indonesia · Indonesia (Depok)

A community service activity in Depok, Indonesia, aimed to establish vegetable consumption habits among residents by utilizing limited space for verticulture. The training employed organic and non-organic waste as growing media, using participatory methods and demonstrations. Participants practiced planting vegetables from seeds to harvest using verticulture, and the activity was deemed successful as most participants were able to harvest their own crops.

Mila Siti Fatimah, M.S Ir. Eko Hanudin, Ph. D. Toru Watanabe · · Vietnam

This study investigated heavy metal contamination in soils, vegetables, and irrigation water in peri-urban agricultural areas of Hue, Vietnam, from May 2018 to January 2019. Samples from three sites revealed that while irrigation water and agricultural soils were not seriously contaminated, 14% of vegetables were contaminated by Cr, 76% by Cd, and 47% by Pb. The consumption of vegetables was categorized as a tolerable health risk.

RR. Sophia Ratna Haryati · PROSIDING SEMINAR HASIL PENGABDIAN MASYARAKAT · Indonesia

This study discusses the implementation of household-scale aquaponic urban farming technology in Surakarta, Indonesia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project, a partnership between Universitas Amikom Yogyakarta and Karang Taruna Baluwarti, aimed to improve urban environmental quality and support community food security by providing knowledge on enhancing urban farming yields.

Karalyn Hingston, Natalie Ching · · Vietnam

Vietnam faces high stunting rates and pervasive nutritional deficiencies, especially among children. In Quang Nam Province, a Vietnamese non-profit organization partnered with an Australian-based Rotarian Action Group to improve the nutritional status of children. They implemented school garden programmes in the communes of Tam Phu and Dai Hung in response to high malnutrition rates and lack of access to affordable, nutritious foods. The implementation of these school learning gardens resulted in dramatic improvements in health outcomes for the students.

Miaomiao Xie, Manyu Li, Zhaoyang Li, Meng Xu, Yan Chen, Ran Wo, De Tong · Sustainability · China (Beijing)

This study investigated user profiles and landscape service provision in three urban agriculture parks (UAPs) in Beijing, China, based on 345 interviews. Most users had upper-middle incomes and were well-educated, with social connections varying by UAP type. Findings indicated that the scenery service was not adequately supplied, with 31.5% of areas failing to meet demand, suggesting six landscape types require optimization.

Noferdiman Noferdiman, Lisna Lisna, Yusma Damayanti · · Indonesia

A community-service program at SMAN 4 Jambi City, Indonesia, delivered counseling, training and participatory environmental activities over five stages to support the school's push for independent Adiwiyata (environmentally sound school) status. Knowledge assessments afterward scored 74 (moderate) for school sanitation management, 70 (moderate) for waste management, and 68 (sufficient) for environmental management, with participants reporting knowledge of managing school gardens, greenhouses, toilet cleanliness and gutters. The program was implemented and received positively by school members.

· International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · China (Shanghai)

Case study of a university–community partnership deploying community gardens across many Shanghai neighborhoods, aiming to improve local environments and residents' health through collaborative horticulture.