Research & reports

Dick Foeken, Samuel Owuor · · Kenya

A 2001 study examines "multi-spatial livelihood" households — those with a livelihood foothold in both urban and rural areas — from the urban perspective, based on Nakuru Town, Kenya. According to 1999 survey data, over 60% of Nakuru households can be considered to have a multi-spatial livelihood. While one-adult and low-income households are relatively under-represented in the survey, multi-spatial livelihoods may be particularly important for the food security of the latter group. However, the results indicate that rural farming by urban dwellers should be understood mainly in terms of "opportunity," in contrast to urban farming, which is framed in terms of "necessity."

Rie Oba, Reiji Obase · Journal of The Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture · United Kingdom

This study examines Britain's allotment gardens, which have a long history and are frequently cited in Japan as a model for citizen farms (shimin nōen). Focusing on the late 19th to early 20th century, when urban allotments began spreading in the UK, the study systematically traces the transformation of allotments in relation to the social conditions of the time, and empirically analyzes the administrative decision-making behind establishing and abolishing allotments. The findings show that the functions allotments served differed according to social conditions, and that changes in those functions strongly influenced whether allotments still exist today; local authorities deciding on abolition were also found to weigh the relationship between an allotment's area and the location of open space.

Stadt Leipzig, Amt für Stadterneuerung und Wohnungsbauförderung · Stadt Leipzig · Germany

The fifth booklet in a series published by the City of Leipzig's 'Careful Urban Renewal' pilot project, addressing vacant lots (Baulücken) created by wartime destruction and East German-era demolitions. It explains how a 'Gestattungsvereinbarung' (usage-permission agreement) between the city and private landowners enables temporary conversion of vacant lots into green space, play areas, or parking without affecting the underlying building rights.

Tjeerd Deelstra, Herbert Girardet, N. Bakker, Marielle Dubbeling, S. Gündel, U. Sabel-Koschella, H. de Zeeuw · · Global

This text describes humanity's transformation into an urban species by the end of the 20th century, with large cities becoming the primary habitat. It notes that global urban populations expanded from 15% to 50% of the total population within one century, while the total population grew from 1.5 billion to nearly 6 billion. The text highlights the unprecedented size of modern cities, citing that by 1990, the 100 largest cities housed 540 million people.

Simon Clarke, Elena Varshavskaya, Сергей Алашеев, Marina Karelina · Work Employment and Society · Russia

This paper examines the "myth of the urban peasant" in Russia, which suggests urban households survive economic collapse through subsistence agriculture. Based on official and survey data analysis, it shows that while many urban households grow food, those with low incomes are least likely to do so, and subsistence production complements rather than replaces paid employment. Furthermore, those who grow their own food work long hours for little return, spending no less on purchased food than those who grow nothing.

유병규 · · Global

This paper argues that peri-urban agriculture faces difficulties in maintaining its agricultural production function alone due to external factors such as rising land prices, urban development, the IMF crisis, and WTO agricultural renegotiations. It proposes that to revitalize peri-urban agriculture, a multi-industrialization strategy is needed, emphasizing not only agricultural production but also the spatial concept of "rural areas" by incorporating secondary and tertiary industry concepts. Specifically, the paper suggests that multi-industrialization strategies within the spatial concept of urban-integrated rural areas, such as the creation of "urban agricultural villages," are essential for the maintenance and development of agriculture.

Pablo Torres Lima, Luis Marino Santana Rodríguez, B. I. García Uriza, N. Bakker, Marielle Dubbeling, S. Gündel, U. Sabel-Koschella, H. de Zeeuw · · Mexico (Mexico City)

This record describes the geographical and climatic characteristics of the Mexico City Metropolitan Zone (MCMZ). The MCMZ covers an area of 7,860 km² and includes the Federal District and 54 municipalities. Mexico City is located in the center of the Mexican highlands at an average altitude of 2,238m, with main soil types including litosols, andosols, and feozem.

Joshua J. Cousins · · United States (Oregon)

This qualitative study examined local food networks in Washington County, Oregon, focusing on small-scale agricultural landscapes and farmers selling through farmers markets or CSAs. It explored farmers' concerns about urbanization, farmland preservation, and their difficulties participating in local food networks. The research concluded that local food sold through alternative venues can help preserve and develop specific farm sites.

Isami Kinoshita · Journal of The Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture · Japan

This study analyzed residents' awareness of edible plant cultivation on their properties and the formation of edible landscapes in public spaces, in relation to childhood experiences and memories. The findings showed that childhood experiences influenced the formation of edible landscapes on private properties, which held multiple meanings, but the attribution of meaning to edible landscapes in public spaces was weak, highlighting resident involvement as a challenge.

A. Yoveva, B. Gocheva, G. Voykova, B. Borissov, A. Spassov, N. Bakker, Marielle Dubbeling, S. Gündel, U. Sabel-Koschella, H. de Zeeuw · · Bulgaria (Sofia)

This abstract describes Bulgaria's geographical location, surface area, and general natural conditions favorable for agriculture. Bulgaria is located on the Balkan peninsula and covers 111,000 square kilometers. Climatic data provided include average winter temperature of 1.6°C, summer average of 21°C, mean annual temperature of 10°C, and mean annual rainfall of 813.6 mm.

P. Kreinecker, N. Bakker, Marielle Dubbeling, S. Gündel, U. Sabel-Koschella, H. de Zeeuw · · Bolivia (La Paz)

This abstract describes the geographical and administrative context of La Paz, Bolivia, and its suburb El Alto. La Paz is situated at 3,600-3,800 meters above sea level, with El Alto located at 4,000-4,100 meters. The city lies in a basin with suburbs extending into the surrounding hills and mountains.

Gary R. Vieth · · United States (Hawaii)

This article examines conditions to encourage Oahu hula dancers, who gather forest plant materials for lei, to switch to alternatives like community gardens or commercial purchase. Some hula teachers expressed willingness to switch if alternatives were attractive, while others did not. The study suggests that policies making alternatives more appealing, such as reducing labor in community gardens or lowering commercial prices, may be more cost-effective than trying to change user preferences.

Gary R. Vieth, Linda J. Cox, Margaret Josephson, James R. Hollyer · Environmental Practice · United States (Hawaii)

This article examines conditions to encourage hula dancers on Oahu, Hawaii, to switch from forest gathering for lei plant materials to alternatives like community gardens or commercial purchase. Some hula teachers expressed willingness to switch if alternatives were attractive, while others did not. The study suggests that policies making alternatives more appealing, such as reducing labor in community gardens or lowering commercial prices, may be more cost-effective than trying to change user preferences.

WU Yong-xing · Shijie dili yanjiu · China (Shanghai)

A discussion of modern urban agriculture construction and development in Shanghai, China, examined from four perspectives: functional transformation, structural adjustment, development organization, and spatial structure composition.

Seana Irvine, Lorraine Johnson, Kim Peters · Local Environment · Canada

This case study provides an analytical account of the Alex Wilson Community Garden in Toronto, Canada, examining the connections between ecological restoration and community gardening. The garden, opened in June 1998, reflects Alex Wilson's work by linking these two enterprises to nurture relationships between people, communities, and the landscape. Its design reconstructs the natural and cultural history of southern Ontario with native plant species, aiming for a positive impact on local biodiversity. The participatory planning process involved various stakeholders and utilized planning tools like conservation easements.

Daniel Maxwell, Wordsworth Odame Larbi, Grace Mary Lamptey, Sawudatu Zakariah, Margaret Armar‐Klemesu · Third World Planning Review · Ghana (Accra)

This paper compares four cases within peri-urban Greater Accra, Ghana, to assess the impact of rapid urban sprawl on the surrounding area. The study examines cases including land loss to housing, protection of agricultural land from urban sprawl, environmental degradation due to urbanization, and commercialization of peri-urban agricultural production from changing market demand. The paper also reviews the perspective that rapid peri-urban growth leads to the destruction of agricultural livelihoods without necessarily replacing them with alternative economic activity.

John A. G. Briggs, Davis Mwamfupe · Scottish Geographical Journal · Tanzania (Dar-es-Salaam)

Drawing on recent evidence from Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, this paper suggests that a combination of structural adjustment measures and the eased economic crisis in the 1990s changed conditions, resulting in the increasing commodification of land in the peri-urban zone. This shift transformed the peri-urban zone into an area of investment and economic opportunity, rather than survival, leading to the increasing exclusion of poorer urban groups. Furthermore, confusion arising from current Tanzanian land law, particularly tensions between customary and statutory law, complicates the situation.

Paule Moustier · Agritrop (Cirad) · Africa

Case studies conducted in Africa on urban household food supply systems evaluated the relative roles of urban and rural agriculture. These studies highlighted a strong complementarity between urban and rural sources in terms of products and periods, linking these observations to differences in production and marketing systems. To stabilize urban food supply in quantity and quality, support programs for farmers and traders should target both urban/peri-urban and rural areas in a differentiated but articulated manner.

Gail Feenstra, Christopher Lewis · California Agriculture · United States (California)

A survey of farmers' market managers in California indicated that farmers' markets provide growers with opportunities to expand their businesses through new market venues, value-added products, and connections with agritourism. Rural markets offered strong community support and tourist links, while small-town markets showed the most new vendors and room for growth. Metropolitan markets, though harder to access, yielded the highest gross sales and increased demand for value-added products.

J.B. van Lier, G. Lettinga · Water Science & Technology · Global

This paper discusses integrated environmental protection and resource conservation (EP&RC) concepts for managing industrial and domestic wastewaters, particularly in water-scarce regions. EP&RC aims for minimal consumption of energy, chemicals, and water, and maximal reuse of treated wastewater and residues, transforming wastes into resources for water, fertilizers, and soil conditioners. Anaerobic treatment is presented as a core technology for mineralizing organic compounds, stimulating urban agriculture near large cities by linking environmental protection and agricultural practices.

Eduardo H. Rapoport, Ana H. Ladio · Bosque (Valdivia) · Argentina

This study gathered information on the potential contribution of non-timber forest products to the food system of developing countries. Natural plant communities normally contain about 10% native vascular species that can be edible, and this proportion can rise to 20-30% in disturbed habitats, or 30-90% when only weeds are considered. Point-sample frequencies of edible individuals recorded along transects in suburban Austrocedrus chilensis forests near Bariloche, Argentina, ranged from 15% to 66%. The probability of finding at least one edible plant in a random 0.25 m² sample (calculated from n=317 samples) was 0.675, rising to near 1.0 when calculated per hectare. In western Patagonia, the number of exotic edible weed species exceeds 90. The mean available edible biomass in vacant lots in Bariloche was 1,253 ± 392.8 kg/ha, based on 193 samples of 1/4 m² each. The study includes a table of quantitative frequencies for edible weeds and a list of 60 native food plants from Patagonian forests.

Richard K. Olson, L. Bauer · Lincoln (University of Nebraska) · United States

This is a two-part compilation on small-scale Midwest farming (Part I) and reintegrating agriculture and community in the Midwest (Part II), gathering contributed chapters covering topics such as small and family-sized farms, market gardening, diversified crop/livestock systems, Amish farming agroecosystems, direct marketing, community-supported agriculture, farmers' markets, farmland preservation, and local food-system strengthening in Nebraska, Iowa and the broader Midwest region of the United States.

Tony Binns, Kenneth Lynch · Journal of International Development · Africa

This paper addresses the escalating demand for fresh foodstuffs in rapidly urbanizing Sub-Saharan Africa, where urban agriculture is a widespread activity. Based on a literature survey and empirical evidence from Kano and Dar es Salaam, it presents a framework for analyzing urban agriculture. The study proposes policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the future sustainability of urban agriculture.

安晓宁, 王全辉 · 调研世界 · Global

This study examines the scientific concept of "urban agriculture." Urban agriculture first emerged in developed countries and regions such as Europe, America, and Japan in the first half of the 20th century, then rapidly spread to other developed areas. Its English term (Agriculture in countryside) originally referred to agriculture within metropolitan areas, specifically certain agricultural practices in developed nations.

H. Losada, H. Martínez, J. Vieyra, R. Pealing, R. Zavala, J. Cortés · Environment and Urbanization · Mexico

This paper describes the scale and nature of agricultural production in urban, suburban, and peri-urban zones of Mexico City and how these have adapted to changing urban demands for food, wood, and recreation. Agricultural producers have successfully adapted their products and production methods, including building on traditional systems, despite environmental deterioration from urban development and lack of government support. These producers have also devised new ways to use degraded land and large volumes of waste.