Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2406 results(7 / 97)
Urban and Peri-Urban Carbon-Negative Farming
2026Farooq Ahmad Khan, Zaffar Mahdi Dar, Saddam Hussain, Sumati Narayan · · Global
The global food system contributes approximately 31% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, while rapid urbanization is projected to have nearly 70% of the global population in urban areas by 2050. This demographic shift intensifies the carbon footprint of food supply chains due to long-distance transportation and energy use. Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) is presented as a strategic opportunity to localize food production, reduce carbon footprints, and contribute to carbon-negative farming systems that both decrease and sequester atmospheric carbon.
Climate changeUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceBraiding Food Systems Co-constructing Indigenous Seed Systems in Northern Ontario for Food Sovereignty, Security, and Climate Adaptation
2026Charlotte Potter, Silvia Sarapura, Camilo Jimenez Gonzalez, Justina Walker-Mohamed, Paul Benalcazer, Biinjitiwaabik Zaagging Anishinaabek, Netmizaaggamig Nishnabeg, Red Rock Indian Band · Rural Review Ontario Rural Planning Development and Policy · Canada (Northern Ontario)
The 'Braiding Food Systems' project, a community-led partnership with three Northern Ontario First Nations, used mixed-methods Participatory Action Research to examine conditions influencing food security and sovereignty. Community members identified structural constraints rooted in colonial governance, contemporary ecological pressures, and local transformation opportunities. This research demonstrates that sustained, community-led collaboration can counterbalance colonial food systems by reorganizing decisions, strengthening access, and enhancing resilience within Indigenous food networks.
Governance failureCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changePolicyEmpowering Communities Through Hydroponic Urban Farming: Skill Development, Business Opportunities, and Green Village Implementation
2026Riana Magdalena Silitonga, Stefani Prima Dias Kristiana, Nova Eka Budiyanta · Jurnal Pengabdian UNDIKMA · Indonesia (Tangerang)
This community service program aimed to enhance the capacity of the Sampora Village community in Tangerang, Indonesia, in developing sustainable urban farming through hydroponic systems. Educational counseling, hands-on training in hydroponic techniques, and technical guidance were employed, with data analyzed using a descriptive approach combining quantitative analysis of pre-test and post-test results. Participants showed significant improvements in competencies, including increased understanding of hydroponic systems from 20% to 85%, installation skills from 15% to 80%, nutrient management knowledge from 10% to 78%, and maintenance skills from 12% to 82%.
CommunityFood educationEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureA IMPORTÂNCIA DAS HORTAS AGROURBANAS COMO INSTRUMENTO DE SAÚDE BÁSICA: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
2026Giovane Sampaio dos Santos, Yuri César Miranda Soares, Guilherme Alves Barroso Araújo, Lorena Oliveira Pereira, Daniel Viana Ferreira, Mariana Aragão Machado Santos Neves, Vanilson Furtado Pereira, Sandra Regina Cardoso Vitorino · Revista Tópicos. · Global
This integrative literature review analyzed recent scientific evidence on community gardens as a tool for promoting basic health, focusing on articles published in Portuguese over the last five years. The review found that community gardens offer benefits related to physical and mental health, food security, strengthened social relations, environmental preservation, income generation, and urban space revitalization.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceMapeamento de legislações de Agricultura Urbana e Periurbana no Brasil
2026Elisa Carvalho Lauer, Jaqueline Lima Liskoski, Kelliane Da Consolação Fuscaldi · Revista Campo-Território · Brazil
This study mapped and analyzed urban and peri-urban agriculture (AUP) legislation across municipal, state, and federal levels in Brazil, identifying 217 municipal laws in 113 municipalities, 33 state laws, and federal frameworks. The research systematized normative content into twelve thematic categories, showing AUP's integration into food security, urban sustainability, and income generation agendas. While a qualitatively consistent normative basis exists, gaps persist regarding conceptual definition, area guarantees, water access, financing, and credit. It is necessary to expand and harmonize regulations across all three spheres to consolidate AUP as a structural strategy for sustainable cities.
Governance failurePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsContribuição das experiências comunitárias de agricultura urbana para o Bem Viver na cidade do Rio de Janeiro
2026Mayara Grazielle Consentino Ferreira da Silva, Carlos José Saldanha Machado · Revista da ANPEGE · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
This study describes and analyzes three community urban agriculture experiences in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the theoretical perspective of "Bem Viver" (Good Living). Using bibliographic review, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews, the study concludes that collective political action, supported by urban agriculture, enables the creation of a new world based on mutual aid and harmony between humans and nature.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyUrban farming, poor households, and family food security: A study in metropolitan cities in Indonesia
2026Sugeng Harianto, Refti Handini Listyani, Dewien Nabielah Agustin, Rizky Trisna Putri, Ahmad Farhan Ridwan · Multidisciplinary Reviews · Indonesia (Surabaya)
A six-month mixed-methods study in Surabaya, Indonesia, involving 150 low-income households (75 urban farming, 75 non-farming), found that urban farming enhances dietary quality, stabilizes food availability, and reduces vulnerability during economic stress, while also strengthening neighborhood ties and improving mental well-being. However, its adoption is constrained by spatial limitations, financial barriers, inadequate technical knowledge, and sociocultural stigma, limiting participation among vulnerable groups.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareCommunityHealthBelo Horizonte’s Right-to-Food Model
2026Hoyoon Jung · The International Journal of Social Sustainability in Economic Social and Cultural Context · Brazil (Belo Horizonte)
This study analyzes Belo Horizonte, Brazil's right-to-food model, which has reduced hunger and promoted social equity through integrated food policies like subsidized food programs and urban agriculture. Despite its successes, the model faces challenges in policy sustainability, financial constraints, and political continuity, and the study notes limitations including reliance on secondary data.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyHealthEconomicsDecolonizing the Narrative of Indigenous Food Sovereignty: A Scoping Review
2026Ines Sebai, G. Berron Cadenas, C. Furgal, A. Argumedo, T. Delormier · Current Developments in Nutrition · Global
This scoping review explores Indigenous food sovereignty (IFS) as a decolonizing framework grounded in Indigenous cultural, spiritual, and ecological values. By synthesizing existing literature, the review identifies core IFS principles such as community governance, revitalization of traditional practices, and respectful environmental relationships. Examples like community gardens and traditional hunting illustrate how Indigenous communities adapt these principles to foster cultural renewal and sustainability. The findings emphasize the need for policy advocacy and support for Indigenous rights, including land restoration and protection of traditional knowledge.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityBiodiversityHeirloom & landraceAdvancing Sustainable Food Systems Through Urban Agriculture: Enhancing Food Security in Indonesia’s METR OPOLITAN Areas
2026Eri Yusnita Arvianti · Journal of Intelligent Decision Making and Information Science · Indonesia
This study in Indonesia's metropolitan areas examines key determinants influencing the success of urban farming in enhancing local food availability. Using direct surveys, interviews, and statistical analyses, the research reveals that urban agriculture significantly improves access to nutritious, affordable food and promotes socio-economic benefits. Key variables for sustainable implementation include age, education, innovation in human resources, agricultural technology, and community empowerment.
Food sovereignty & justicePolicyCommunityDigital agricultureShifting to urban agriculture? Exploration of Malaysian adoption of hydroponic
2026Lovina Yogarajan, Mohammad Masukujjaman, Abdullah Al Mamun, Mohd Helmi Ali · Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies · Malaysia
An online survey of 250 urban residents across various regions of Malaysia investigated factors influencing the adoption of hydroponic farming. Findings indicate that attitude, hydroponic compatibility, and perceived trust significantly influence adoption intentions, and intention strongly influences actual adoption. However, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence did not significantly impact adoption intentions.
Digital agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsThe role of urban farming in enhancing food security in Malaysia: A systematic review
2026Hamed Faghiri, Zulkornain Yusop, Zainal Abidin Mohamed · IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science · Malaysia
This systematic review analyzed 46 studies published between 2010 and 2025 to assess the role of urban farming in enhancing food security in Malaysia. Findings indicate that urban farming positively impacts food accessibility, availability, and affordability, while also promoting environmental sustainability and socio-economic inclusion. However, challenges such as limited space, regulatory hurdles, and public awareness gaps hinder its widespread adoption.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyCommunityURBANE:One Health approaches to support agroecological transformation of peri-urban farming; Deliverable D8.3, Report on the co-creation of sustainable business models and initial results of their implementation
2026M.; id_orcid 0000-0002-0118-4484 Simataa, R.I.; id_orcid 0009-0004-4345-5467 Primus, H.; id_orcid 0000-0002-0447-5914 Romijn, Rianne Valkenburg, J.C.C.M.; id_orcid 0000-0003-1190-6417 Huijben · TU/e Research Portal · Benin
Deliverable D8.3 of the URBANE project designed a co-creation workshop methodology for agroecological business models with the University of Abomey Calavi (UAC) and Eindhoven University of Technology. This methodology was applied in a multi-actor workshop in Benin to co-design sustainable innovation System Business Models (SysBMs) for local agrifood contexts. The main outcome is a workshop design template, including instructive videos, documented in a facilitator's handbook.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCommunitySustainable Futures
2025Annamaria Alabiso, Giorgio Buratti, Fiammetta Costa, Matteo Meraviglia, Luciana Migliore, Attilio Nebuloni · · Global
A transdisciplinary research project investigated reusing treated kitchen wastewater for irrigating edible vegetable production in households. The project developed a prototype with an engineered biological filter to reuse dishwasher wastewater for growing vegetables and ornamental plants for domestic use. This approach aims to reduce water and fertilizer consumption, enabling the production of healthy, safe, and local food.
DIYOrganic cycleClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceAGRICULTURA URBANA: CONSUMO E PRODUÇÃO RESPONSÁVEIS, ODS 12/AGENDA 2030
2025Maria de Nazareth Oliveira Maciel, Luann Yago Oliveira Maciel · Aracê. · Global
This descriptive review study examined whether urban agriculture aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) of Agenda 2030 and generates social benefits for producers, analyzing articles published from 2019 to 2022 from Scielo, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The results showed that urban agriculture aligns with SDG 12, generating ten main social benefits, including improved quality of life, social inclusion, food security, and promotion of mental and physical health.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceDo urban safety net programs affect the financial inclusion and food security of households, primarily women participating in urban agriculture? A triangulative exploration of Ethiopia
2025Kassa Moges Tareke · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)
This study examined the impact of conditional cash transfers (CTs) from a safety net program on financial inclusion, urban agriculture participation, and food security among 278 women beneficiaries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, since 2017. After receiving CTs, 94% of respondents owned bank accounts and participated in urban agriculture as an additional income source, improving access to savings, credit, mobile banking, financial advice, and farm incomes. However, 61.5% (171) of women households were food insecure, indicating that while the program moderately improved financial inclusion and slightly increased food-secured women, its overall contribution to food security remains inadequate.
WelfareEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceTHE IMPACT OF SOCIAL SPACES IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOURHOOD DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: URBAN FARMING INTO A SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY
2025Chua Siu Ting, Hazreena Hussein · Journal of Surveying Construction & Property · Malaysia (Port Dickson)
This study explored residents' perceptions of social spaces in Port Dickson, Malaysia, during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a mixed-method approach combining photographic documentation and a questionnaire survey. The majority of respondents experienced significant stress during the pandemic due to anxiety, job loss, and livelihood challenges, emphasizing the importance of effective space allocation and varied options within residential neighborhoods. These findings imply that strategically designed social spaces and zoning practices are key to developing self-sufficient communities in residential areas.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthClimate changeUrban Agriculture: The Food Movement Moves On
2025Paul Β. Thompson · · Global
This article discusses urban agriculture, noting that the decline of grocery stores in inner cities and projected vulnerabilities in megacities outside the global West suggest distinct moral imperatives. It contrasts urban agriculture with rural resilience and sustainable intensification, highlighting its focus on consumption and present needs. The article describes two urban agriculture archetypes: one embracing high-tech solutions and another emphasizing local solidarities and urban-based control over the food system.
Equity & displacementFood sovereignty & justicePolicyDigital agricultureFrom Crisis to Opportunity
2025Chris Blythe, Silvio Caputo, Michael Hardman, Paul Milbourne, Mina Samangooei, Victoria Schoen · · United Kingdom
This chapter provides a narrative review of how urban food growing in the UK responded to past crises and during the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses the positive impacts of urban food growing on individual, household, and community resilience, well-being, environment, and local food systems during the pandemic. The chapter suggests that further recognition and support for urban food growing would improve its ability to respond to future crises.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeAssessing the Potential of Rooftop and Wall-Based Urban Agriculture for Food Security Enhancement in Gasabo District, City of Kigali, Rwanda
2025Florien Misago, Isaac Nzayisenga, Henri Jacques Ngirinshuti, Leon De Pere Irakoze, Richard Mind’je · East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology · Rwanda (Kigali)
This study evaluated the potential of rooftop and wall-based urban agriculture to enhance food security in Gasabo District, Kigali, Rwanda. It used GIS and remote sensing to map suitable spaces and assessed 400 household heads using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Findings showed that 41.5% of households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, and approximately 32% of rooftops and walls were structurally appropriate for urban agriculture. While 57.8% of households expressed willingness to adopt rooftop or wall gardening, 67.4% cited structural and financial constraints.
Economic viabilityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyPenerapan Urban Farming sebagai Alternatif dalam Pengembangan Kota yang Berketahanan Pangan (Studi Kasus pada Urban Farming Guyub Rukun RT 18 Kelurahan Bontang Baru)
2025Ibnu Akmal Khuluqi, Muhammad Azhari, Rahmawati Munir · TRANSFORM Journal of Tropical Architecture and Sustainable Urban Science · Indonesia (Bontang Baru)
A qualitative case study in Guyub Rukun RT 18, Bontang Baru, Indonesia, investigated the implementation of urban farming. The study found that urban farming improved local food security, strengthened social ties, and was supported by CSR funds. However, it faced challenges such as limited technology and resources, which were overcome through manual adaptation and cross-sector collaboration.
Economic viabilityFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsImplementation of Urban Farming Through Integrated Training in Gunung Anyar District
2025Gyska Indah Harya, Wanti Mindari, Taufik Setyadi, Siti Mukaromah, Cholid Fadil · Nusantara Science and Technology Proceedings · Indonesia (Surabaya City)
This community service activity in RW 01, Gunung Anyar District, Surabaya City, Indonesia, aimed to implement urban farming through integrated outreach and training. The initiative sought to enhance urban food security, meet local food needs, maintain environmental cleanliness, and preserve the environment by reducing carbon footprints and increasing green open spaces. Training covered the meaning and importance of urban farming, cultivation techniques for various plants, and solutions for production waste.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeThe state, colonial legacies of planning and land for food growing in the contemporary city: Reply to Koenraad Danneels
2025Elza D’Cruz · Landscape Research · Global
This article discusses the critical issue of reclaiming space for urban agriculture in contemporary cities, which is central to debates on urban food growing. It highlights that collective and individual food-growing is widely recognized as a means to address food-related challenges.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageAdaptation of Verticulture Technology in Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Horticultural Systems
2025Luh Kadek Pande Sri Astrini, Suluh Dewanto · Agricultural Power Journal · Indonesia
This study analyzed the adoption of verticulture technology within sustainable horticultural systems in major Indonesian production centers, including West Java, East Java, and North Sumatra. Using a descriptive quantitative approach with secondary data, field surveys, and semi-structured interviews, results showed verticulture enhances land-use efficiency by up to 85%, reduces water consumption by 60%, and decreases reliance on synthetic chemical fertilizers by 70%. The technology also contributes to production stability and food security, achieving an average return on investment within 3.5 years.
Digital agricultureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsFloristic Diversity and Characterization of Peri-Urban Agriculture in Some Drains of the City of Douala (Cameroon)
2025Olivier Parfait Bissemb, Rosette Christelle Ndjib, Patrice Brice Mvogo Ottou, Jacques Bruno Ngotta Biyon, Zenabou Ndiang, Georges Maxime Lamy Lamy, Eric Ngansop Tchatchouang, Ivant Stevy Nganmo, Jean Lagarde Betti, Richard Jules Priso · Journal of Environmental Protection · Cameroon (Douala)
This study assessed floristic diversity and agricultural practices around five stormwater drains in Douala, Cameroon, identifying 67 species from 24 families. Floristic diversity, measured by the Shannon-Weaver index (H'= 0.99) and low evenness (E = 0.23), indicated an unbalanced plant community dominated by a few cultivated and ruderal species. The analysis also revealed significant homogenization between drains, suggesting common agricultural practices and environmental pressures in these polluted environments.
Environmental trade-offsBiodiversityPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceClimate change