Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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1545 results(7 / 62)
Kajian Implementasi dan Manfaat Pertanian Perkotaan pada Kelompok Tani di Kota Bogor
2025Sukma Aprilia Islami, Tati Budiarti, Afra Donatha Nimia Makalew · Jurnal Penyuluhan · Indonesia (Bogor)
A study surveyed 40 farmer groups in Bogor City, Indonesia, to assess their perceptions of urban agriculture implementation, benefits, constraints, and sustainability. Findings indicated that urban agriculture in Bogor is generally practiced on limited land, primarily producing vegetables, with implementation efforts rated good (index 0.80) and constraints moderate (index 0.53). Farmer groups strongly perceived the benefits of urban agriculture (index 0.84), especially in social aspects like education and social interaction. The sustainability of urban agriculture was rated good (index 0.76).
CommunityFood educationEconomicsClimate changeThe Fertile Earth: Revolutionizing Agriculture with People and Nature at its Core
2025Morrell, Daniel · Figshare · Global
This paper examines a systemic shift in agriculture from input-intensive monocultures and dominant meat production to regenerative, organic, and agroecological systems, including urban agriculture. It analyzes the potential of reducing conventional meat reliance to free up land for ecological restoration and aims to restore soil organic carbon levels from 6-8 tonnes/hectare to 40-50 tonnes/hectare. The research quantifies potential global CO2 sequestration through soil carbon enhancement, land use change, and blue carbon initiatives, advocating for urgent policy reforms.
Climate changeBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleMathematical Optimization of Vertical Farm Locations Advancing Sustainable Agriculture in Saudi Arabia
2025Amjad Aljuhani, Rahaf Baghdadi, Wafaa Alzahrani, Deemah Aljuhani · · Saudi Arabia
This study examined the feasibility of vertical farming in Saudi Arabia, using mathematical optimization to identify optimal locations. A mixed-integer linear programming model, developed with AIMMS software, incorporated infrastructure compatibility, water availability, and energy consumption. Results identified seven optimal locations across five cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Tabuk, and Khamis Mushait—ensuring efficient lettuce production at minimized costs. However, challenges such as high energy requirements and initial investment costs persist.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEvaluation and Changes in the Comprehensive Ecological Effects of Agriculture in Urbanizing Areas: A Case Study of the Xi'an Metropolitan Zone, China
2025Zhongxue Zhou, Fangze Zhao, Bingjie Song · Ecological Indicators · China
This study proposed the concept of agricultural comprehensive ecological effects (ACEE), developed an evaluation framework, and applied it to the Xi'an metropolitan zone, China. A key finding was the observed decrease in the comprehensive ecological effects of agriculture when transitioning from grain planting to urban agriculture due to unsuitable agricultural practices in urbanizing areas. This decline occurs because modern agricultural practices in urbanizing areas are ecologically detrimental compared with natural ecosystems.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeBiodiversityUrban–rural linkagePolicyHome gardens – a localised nature-based solution for climate change adaptation and mitigation: a case study from the north-eastern region of India
2025Khwairakpam Nicholas, Anjali Joshi, Muthuprasad Thiyaharajan, Natalya Krishnambika · Biological Agriculture & Horticulture · India
A study in the Imphal-West district of Manipur, India, surveyed 200 households using a mixed-method approach to document home garden structure, composition, and services. Findings showed 60% of households engaged in home gardening, with an average garden size of 0.069 hectares. These home gardens provided an average annual economic yield of INR 18,700 and a 0.1 hectare garden stored 10.6 tons of carbon in trees and soil.
DIYClimate changeBiodiversityEconomicsFood educationInternet of Things (IOT) for rooftop urban farming III
2025Kit Hoe Chan · DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) · Singapore
This thesis explores the architecture, applications, and challenges of Internet of Things (IoT)-based urban farming systems, focusing on their role in enhancing agricultural productivity in densely populated environments. IoT integrates smart sensors, data analytics, and automation for real-time monitoring and precise control of crop environments, optimizing resource use and increasing yield consistency. The study highlights how IoT supports resilient, resource-efficient, and scalable smart-city agriculture, with future potential for AI-based predictive analytics and blockchain-enabled traceability.
Digital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceAgroforestry systems in Italian urban planning
2025Marco Focacci, Isabella De Meo, Alessandro Paletto, Fabio Salbitano · Agroforestry Systems · Italy
A study analyzed urban plans, national laws, and regional legislation in Italy, along with interviews with decision-makers, to examine the occurrence of Urban and Peri-urban Agroforestry (UPAF). Findings showed that 4 out of 140 Italian cities intentionally included agroforestry in voluntary green plans, and 12 cities had incidental UPAF elements in compulsory documents. This indicates agroforestry is present but not widely incorporated, with grass-root organizations and knowledge hubs being crucial for its promotion.
PolicyPeri-urban agricultureClimate changeCommunityBiochar and Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Resilience: Applications, Challenges, and Policy Perspectives
2025James Mbugua · African Journal of Climate Change and Resource Sustainability · Global
Biochar is presented as a promising nature-based solution for urban resilience, applicable in soil remediation, stormwater management, and carbon sequestration within green infrastructure. However, its widespread adoption faces significant barriers, including inconsistent feedstock supply, high production costs, limited public awareness, and a lack of standardized quality and safety regulations. The study also identifies a critical need for policies that integrate biochar into urban planning frameworks and incentivize its production and application.
Governance failureClimate changeBiodiversityCompostPolicyCommunityComprehensive Review of Ecosystem Services of Community Gardens in English- and Chinese-Language Literature
2025Xiaoying Ding, Haotian Zhang, Xiaoxiao Fan, Xiaoyu Zhang, Xiaopeng Yue, Ping Shu · Buildings · Global
This review analyzed English and Chinese literature on community garden ecosystem services from Web of Science and CNKI, focusing on publication trends, locations, and topics. It found a significant increase in studies since 2015, concentrated in urban areas of Europe, America, and eastern China. Both language literatures emphasize food supply, learning and education, and social cohesion, correlating with contextual factors.
CommunityBiodiversityFood educationClimate changeCultural ecosystem services and climate adaptation
2025Rumana Sultana · · Global
This chapter explores the relationship between ecological properties and cultural ecosystem services (CES) in urban settings, focusing on their role in climate change adaptation in the Global South. It examines various urban CES, including urban farming and rooftop gardening, and their diverse roles in adaptation, such as increasing environmental awareness and community engagement. A case study of Dhaka, Bangladesh, suggests that integrating CES into urban development planning is crucial for climate change adaptation.
Climate changeCommunityPolicyBiodiversityNature-Based Solutions: Green and Smart Façade with an Innovative Cultivation System for Sustainable Buildings and More Climate-Resilient Cities
2025Paola Lassandro, Salvatore Capotorto, Valeria Mammone · Sustainability · Global
This study explored smart, low-cost cultivation systems for building facades as nature-based solutions to improve energy efficiency and urban food production. An eco-smart irrigation system, achieving up to 57.14% water savings, was implemented in a vertical green module. This system reduced internal temperatures by 3–4 °C in an office room during hot days in a Mediterranean city.
Climate changeDigital agricultureUrban–rural linkageAgricultural development in the peri-urban areas of Samarkand, Uzbekistan: Challenges and prospects
2025Firdavs Berdikulov, Iroda Orifjonova, Bekhzod Eshboev, Jumanazar Xolmurzayev, Bakhtiyor Abdusayitov · Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology) · Uzbekistan (Samarkand)
This study examined agricultural growth in Samarkand, Uzbekistan's peri-urban regions from 2000 to 2024, using government data and predictive modeling. It found that urban populations surged while arable land declined, and the vegetable surplus, though currently meeting demand, began shrinking around 2015, suggesting a tipping point toward shortages. The research indicates that without proactive measures like smarter land allocation and advanced irrigation, Samarkand risks a structural food deficit within a decade.
Governance failurePeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyClimate changeDISEMINASI VERTIKAL URBAN FARMING BERBASIS TENAGA SURYA DI DESA KUTAAMPEL KAB. KARAWANG
2025Rommy Andhika Laksono, Hayatul Rahmi, Abdul Yusuf, Anggun Pertiwi · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Khatulistiwa · Indonesia
A community service initiative in Kutaampel Village, Karawang Regency, Indonesia, from January to December 2025, introduced a solar-powered vertical urban farming system to 30 participants. The program involved outreach, technical training on assembling the UNSIKA Solar-Powered Hydroponic and Aeroponic System (SHIATUN) and IoT sensors, field simulation, and three months of mentoring. Results showed 70% of participants could independently manage the system, with three groups replicating it, and increased youth interest in technology-based agriculture.
Food educationCommunityDigital agricultureClimate changeBridging the Urban-Rural Divide: How Urban Agriculture Enhances Food Security in High-Urbanized Regions in Guangdong, China
2025Liu Xinyun, Zhao Jianya, Zhang Yanglan, Wang Shu · Rural and regional development · China (Guangdong)
A study using 2017–2022 panel data in Guangdong Province, China, investigated urban agriculture's (UA) contribution to food self-sufficiency in highly urbanized regions. By categorizing cities by urbanization rate and analyzing spatial-temporal patterns in grain, vegetable, and fruit self-sufficiency, findings showed critically low grain self-sufficiency in high-degree urbanized cities. Despite incremental gains in UA productivity, urban yields for grains and vegetables lagged behind non-urban areas, indicating a limited contribution.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageClimate changeBuilding Environmental Literacy: A Green Literacy Bootcamp Model for an Eco-School within a Coastal Community
2025Rizki Nor Amelia, Sri Ngabekti, Putri Alifa Kholil, Abdul Jabbar, Prasetyo Listiaji · Jurnal Pemberdayaan Masyarakat · Indonesia
This community service project implemented a Green Literacy Bootcamp at SMP Negeri 25 Semarang, Indonesia, involving 45 students, to strengthen environmental literacy in a coastal eco-school. The program included intensive training, follow-up, and student-led projects on waste management, urban farming, and tidal flood mitigation. Evaluation using pre-post environmental literacy tests and a satisfaction survey showed substantial improvement in environmental literacy, particularly in environmental hope and cognitive skills, and high student satisfaction.
Food educationCommunityClimate changePlants in urban environment: increase in biodiversity and other ecosystem services
2025NERUCCI, GABRIELE · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
This presentation discusses the ecosystem services provided by plants in urban environments, specifically focusing on agricultural plants and their contribution to biodiversity. It also covers the current state of urban and peri-urban agriculture globally.
BiodiversityClimate changeUrban–rural linkageRITUALS FOR EARTHLY SURVIVAL Immersive Performance, Collective Creation, and Environmental Storytelling
2025Roy Hanney · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · United Kingdom
This project report documents the development, presentation, and evaluation of "Rituals for Earthly Survival," a Butoh-inspired immersive audiovisual performance presented in Portsmouth, UK, in November 2024. It details the creative process, artistic approach, audience experience, and methodologies, including composting and collective creation, used to explore environmental crisis and renewal. The report serves as supporting documentation for ongoing creative practice research.
CommunityCompostClimate changeOptimization of Growth and Yield of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) on Rooftop through the Application of PGPR and Mycorrhizae
2025Eko Muhammad Bayu, Nur Edy Suminarti, Adi Setiawan · International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology · Indonesia
This study in Indonesia investigated the interaction of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizae to optimize melon growth and yield in rooftop farming. Using a split-plot design with varying concentrations of PGPR and mycorrhizae, researchers observed significant interactions on fresh root weight, total dry weight, and fruit weight. The combination of 15 ml/L PGPR and 10 g/plant mycorrhiza increased fruit weight by up to 67% compared to controls.
DIYClimate changeEconomicsCurrent Prospects of Social–Ecologically More Sustainable Agriculture and Urban Agriculture
2025Moritz von Cossel, Rocío Díaz‐Chavez, Bastian Winkler · Agriculture · Global
This Special Issue serves as a timely follow-up to a previous exploration of “Social–Ecologically More Sustainable Agricultural Production.”
Climate changeCommunityPolicyChallenges and Opportunities for New Frontiers and Technologies to Guarantee Food Production
2025José Cleydson F. Silva, Kleiton Lima de Godoy Machado, Anna Flavia de Souza Silva, Raquel Dias, Victor Ricardo Bodnar, Wallison Oliveira Vieira, María Alejandra Moreno-Pizani, Jenifer Dias Ramos, Ivani Pauli, Lucas Cavalcante da Costa · Sustainability · Global
This global review explores innovative advancements in agriculture and food technology, including urban farming, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, and food production in extreme environments. It examines advances in biotechnology, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and the role of AI in precision farming to improve crop yields and nutrition. The review also discusses the importance of policy, regulation, and community-driven approaches for a resilient global food system.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justicePolicyDigital agricultureCommunityFeeding cities: new trans-scale scenarios for Urban Agriculture
2025Leonardo Zaffi, Michele D’Ostuni · TECHNE - Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment · Global
This paper reconsiders the relationship between urbanized areas and food production, noting that cities are sustained by food from remote locations with unsustainable environmental impacts. Advances in soil-free cultivation technologies offer opportunities to integrate productive vegetation into urban and residential spaces. This approach calls for innovative design paradigms that integrate the built environment with cultivated spaces to promote sustainable regeneration.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePolicyUrban farming and the nexus of economic growth and environmental sustainability in coastal cities, Indonesia
2025Tri Astuti, Hasddin Hasddin, Asrul Asrul, J Jasman, Muh. Yani Balaka, Haydir Haydir, Alfian Ishak, Muhamad Idham Handa, Villa Evadelvia Ginal Sambari, Eva Safitri Maladeni · European Journal of Sustainable Development Research · Indonesia (Kendari City)
This study quantitatively investigated the contribution of urban farming to economic growth and environmental sustainability in Kendari City, Indonesia. Urban farming is the third-highest contributor to the city's gross domestic regional product, accounting for 10.66% of total economic output, yet the sector's overall growth fluctuates, and its direct economic impact is underreported. In terms of environmental performance, Kendari's energy consumption and CO₂ emissions exceeded Asian Green City Index thresholds, categorizing the city as "below average" in sustainability.
Environmental trade-offsEconomicsClimate changePolicySolución de agricultura vertical inteligente y sostenible basada en IoT para los desafíos agrícolas en Pakistán
2025Sadiq Ur Rehman, Muhammad Adeel Mannan, Muhammad Ahsan Shaikh, Muhammad Uzair · Memoria Investigaciones en Ingeniería · Pakistan
In Pakistan, an IoT-based solar-powered smart vertical farming system was proposed to address agricultural challenges like water scarcity. A six-week trial cultivating cherry tomatoes showed the system achieved a 60-65% yield increase, 40% energy saving, and 28.57% water consumption reduction compared to traditional methods. However, limitations included the small trial size and lack of long-term environmental impact data, and scalability challenges such as cost, maintenance, and local restrictions need to be addressed for wider adoption.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureClimate changeEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureKnowledge facilitates reflexive urban governance of nature-based solutions in Australian and European cities
2025Clare Adams, Alexandra Tsatsou, Niki Frantzeskaki · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · Global
This chapter aims to understand how knowledge can facilitate processes of reflexive urban governance of nature-based solutions in diverse governance contexts. It examines two case studies: urban forestry governance in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, and Trikala's Urban Agriculture Initiative, Greece.
PolicyClimate changeFrom local to global: Leveraging localized environmental actions for scalable sustainability effects
2025Sebastian Theis · PLOS Sustainability and Transformation · Global
This synthesis explores how localized environmental actions, such as community gardens, address specific sustainability challenges and contribute to environmental conservation. Analyzing 17 different programs across 40 countries, the paper highlights key challenges and pathways for adapting localized environmental actions, emphasizing the need for clear outcomes, robust tracking mechanisms, and scalable approaches. The study presents 10 core points to serve as the foundation for a generalizable framework to advance small-scale environmental actions.
CommunityClimate changePolicy