Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
4283 results(72 / 172)
Élevages urbains. Approches interdisciplinaires
2021Isabelle Jabiot, Claire Delfosse · Études rurales · Global
This paper highlights that urban livestock farming remains an underexplored field within human and social sciences, despite its significant global role. It notes that urban and peri-urban agriculture is a well-researched topic, but urban livestock farming, which accounts for an estimated 10% of the world's farmed animals in urban or peri-urban settings according to Robineau et al. (2014), has received less attention.
Urban–rural linkageEconomicsPollution in rainwater harvesting: A challenge for sustainability and resilience of urban agriculture
2021Yang Deng · Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters · Global
While rainwater harvesting (RWH) is considered a sustainable irrigation method for urban agriculture, contaminants in rainwater pose challenges to RWH practices due to potential threats to crop, soil, and human health. Based on literature data, principal pollutants such as particles, toxic metals like cadmium, copper, and zinc, synthetic organic chemicals like agrochemicals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and waterborne pathogens were identified as likely exceeding irrigation quality criteria. This study identifies challenges, knowledge gaps, and research needs for RWH irrigation, offering a basis for technical strategies.
Contamination & food safetyHealthClimate changeOrganic cycleVariation in Temperature, Precipitation, and Vegetation Greenness Drive Changes in Seasonal Variation of Avian Diversity in an Urban Desert Landscape
2021Fábio Suzart de Albuquerque, Heather L. Bateman, Cameron Scott Boehme, Daniel C. Allen, Luis Cayuela · Land · Global
This study investigated the effects of land-use and land-cover (LULC) types, vegetation greenness, and climate on avian seasonal variation abundance and richness in urban desert ecosystems, using avian community data collected seasonally (winter and spring) from 2001 to 2016. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) indicated that LULC was the most important predictor of avian abundance and richness. Avian abundance was highest in urban riparian and urban LULC types, followed by agriculture. Avian richness was highest in riparian environments (urban and desert), followed by agriculture, urban, and desert.
BiodiversityClimate changeNovel Materials for Urban Farming
2021Lifei Xi, Mengyuan Zhang, L. Zhang, Tedrick Thomas Salim Lew, Yeng Ming Lam · Advanced Materials · Singapore
This review discusses how novel materials are crucial for advancing urban farming, offering benefits like controlled release of nutrients, improved seed health, and better water retention in substrates. Singapore is presented as an example where urban farming, supported by materials science, can address food production challenges in land-scarce cities. The paper highlights potential research directions and challenges in the field.
Digital agricultureUrban–rural linkageClimate changePathogen and heavy metal contamination in urban agroecosystems of northern Ghana: Influence of biochar application and wastewater irrigation
2021Isaac Asirifi, Korbinian Kaetzl, Steffen Werner, Courage Kosi Setsoafia Saba, Felix K. Abagale, Philip Amoah, Bernd Marschner · Journal of Environmental Quality · Ghana
A field experiment in northern Ghana assessed health risks from pathogen and heavy metal contamination in urban agriculture, evaluating rice husk biochar, N-P-K fertilizer, and their combinations with untreated wastewater or tap water irrigation. While heavy metals in irrigation water and soil were below FAO/WHO standards, wastewater irrigation caused significant E. coli, fecal coliform, and helminth egg contamination on red amaranth vegetables and in soil. Biochar application did not affect bacterial contamination.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycleO papel da moderna agricultura urbana de Singapura na política de segurança alimentar e na contribuição da redução de emissão de CO2 na atmosfera
2021Leandro Pessoa Lucena, Fernanda Mariano Massuia · urbe Revista Brasileira de Gestão Urbana · Singapore
This post-doctoral research investigated the evolution and impacts of urban agriculture models in Singapore as public policy for sustainability, food security, and ecological economy. The study used bibliographic investigations and field research at high-tech soilless urban farms to estimate CO₂ emission reductions from modern urban agriculture. Results showed Singapore intensively uses urban agriculture, including vertical, indoor, and rooftop farms, all demonstrating technological innovations, high productivity, organic certification, and contributions to CO₂ emission reduction.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsThe Exploration of Social Assets Condition among Urban Farmers of the Community Garden in Klang Valley, Malaysia
2021Milah Zainal, Rosmiza M.Z. · International Journal of Asian Social Science · Malaysia
This study explored the condition of social assets among eight urban farmers in community gardens in Klang Valley, Malaysia, through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis. The interviews revealed that urban farmers possessed strong social assets, including family support, relationships with extension agents, group member participation, and broad networking. These social assets motivated agricultural activities, facilitating knowledge sharing, access to inputs and materials, community garden development, technology transfer, and cooperation.
CommunityEconomicsModernist Projects of Community-Based Urban Farms in Residential Areas—A Review of Agrarian Cooperatives in the Context of Contemporary Urban Development
2021Aleksandra Nowysz · Buildings · Global
This paper addresses the issue of food systems in urban development, describing residential area ideas that integrate cities with food production, particularly agrarian cooperatives. Historical projects aimed for self-sufficiency and sustainability, while contemporary projects demonstrate that urban agriculture performs key functions in residential architecture. Production in urban agriculture extends beyond private goods for market or own use.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyUrban–rural linkageRURALIZATION FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN URBAN AREA REVISITED
2021Masato Kobiyama, Karla Campagnolo, Marina Refatti Fagundes · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Global
This study briefly evaluated the history of institutional and scientific aspects of hydrology, noting its increasing proximity to society and focus on urban areas. It revisited the concept of "ruralization of urban areas," proposed in 2000, from hydrological, philosophical, and applied practice perspectives. Ruralization actions like urban storage, rainwater harvesting, and urban agriculture were detailed, emphasizing their implementation with data from school-basins.
Climate changeUrban–rural linkageMore than the sum of the parts: System analysis of the usability of roofs in housing estates
2021Susana Toboso‐Chavero, Gara Villalba, Xavier Gabarrell, Cristina Madrid‐López · Journal of Industrial Ecology · Global
This study developed an integrated framework for designing sustainable roof mosaic scenarios, combining urban farming, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting on unused rooftops of housing estates. Applied to a 66,433 m² rooftop area, the framework involved multi-scale and multi-dimensional analysis. Five participatory-designed rooftop scenarios were found to improve residents' resource self-sufficiency, providing 42–53% of vegetable consumption, 9–35% of electricity, and 38–200% of water needs, depending on the scenario.
CommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceContenidos de plomo en hortalizas cultivadas en huertos urbanos de la ciudad de Bogotá, Colombia
2021Lili Tatiana Vega Clavijo, Daniel Andrés Vega Castro · Idesia · Colombia (Bogotá)
This study identified lead (Pb) levels in vegetables cultivated in urban gardens located in high-traffic areas of Bogotá, Colombia. Samples were taken from 49 planting sites across the city, analyzing soil, irrigation water, and plant tissue. The analyzed variables did not show abnormal Pb levels when compared to national and international regulations, leading to the conclusion that urban agriculture in Bogotá should not pose a significant chemical risk to consumers from lead ingestion.
HealthCultivating ‘health’ in the school garden
2021Nicole Taylor, Jan Wright, Gabrielle O’Flynn · Sport Education and Society · Australia
This paper, utilizing data from a larger study, investigated how 24 generalist primary and secondary specialist Health and Physical Education (HPE) teachers in Australia conceptualize school gardens within their teaching. It examined the diverse meanings and values teachers associated with gardening as a practice for environmentally healthy citizens. The study aims to provide conditions for critically thinking about gardening and its positioning within HPE, noting a lack of understanding regarding teachers' conceptualizations despite the rapid uptake of school gardening programs.
Food educationHealthIn remembrance of our colleague Evan Weissman: Scholar, community leader, mentor, and friend
2021Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, Anne C. Bellows, Rick Welsh, Mary Kiernan · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Global
This article is a remembrance of Evan Weissman, a food studies scholar and urban geographer who passed away in spring 2020. His academic contributions focused on local food policy, community food systems, food system inequality, and urban agriculture. This special issue reflects his work and enduring impact on food justice and sustainable agricultural and regional planning.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceNature Experiences of Older People for Active Ageing: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Co-Design of Community Gardens
2021Marco Boffi, Linda Pola, Natalia Fumagalli, Elisabetta Fermani, Giulio Senes, Paolo Inghilleri · Frontiers in Psychology · Global
This study presents an interdisciplinary co-design method for community gardens, applying attention restoration theory (ART) to understand older people's experiences in natural environments. Six focus group meetings with older people in Milan, Italy, informed the co-design of a restorative area in an Ortica district community garden. Results classified participants' main needs into ART factors: "compatibility" (multifunctional garden), "fascination" (contact with nature), and "being away" (escape from nursing homes), with the designed garden incorporating biophilic principles to address these needs.
ElderlyCommunityHealthThe Effect of Mixed Cultivation Using Companion Plants on the Growth and Quality of Cherry Tomatoes
2021Byoung-Kwon Lee, Hyung Kwon Yun, In-Kyoung Hong, Young-Bin Jung, Sang Mi Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · Global
This study investigated the effect of companion planting using marigold, zinnia, spearmint, and basil on the growth and quality of cherry tomatoes. Plant growth in companion planting plots significantly increased compared to monoculture, but there was no interaction effect among companion plants, planting ratio, and type. While sugar content and vitamin C content were higher than the control, no statistically significant difference was found.
DIYFood educationHealthDevelopment potentials and sustainability challenges of peri-urban farming in the metropolis of Rabat (Morocco)
2021Fatiha Hakimi · Journal of Analytical Science & Technology · Morocco (Rabat)
This study assessed the practices, roles, and challenges of peri-urban farming in the metropolis of Rabat, Morocco, surveying 50 respondents. Peri-urban agriculture is a multifunctional activity contributing to job creation, income generation, food supply, and environmental beautification. However, it faces several constraints, including precarious and costly labor, absence of regulating laws, lack of training and technical supervision for peri-urban farmers, and water resource shortages.
Environmental trade-offsPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsClimate changePolicyPeri-urban agriculture and alternative food networks in Athens: Solidarity dynamics, spatial planning challenges and institutional reforms
2021Sofia Nikolaidou · Cahiers de la Méditerranée · Greece (Athens)
This article analyzed the role of peri-urban agriculture and alternative food networks (AFN) in the Athens metropolitan area, Greece, using a mixed method approach including qualitative, quantitative research, and spatial data collection. Bottom-up claims for food security positively impacted sustainable food systems and public policies, while informal retail channels and self-production schemes strengthened agricultural resilience. However, poor land management and zoning control are major constraints to sustainable agricultural production and farmers' resilience in the Athens metropolitan area.
Governance failurePeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyFood
2021Margaret Robertson · · Global
Chapter 13 examines how food is grown, from smallholders and pastoralists to small farmers and industrialized agriculture, addressing issues of ecosystem health, human health, food waste, and the impact of meat diets. It also discusses the importance of pollinators. The chapter then explores finding space for food in cities, including in schools, yards, urban farms, community gardens, and on public lands.
CommunityBiodiversityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceMathematics
2021Anne Forbes, Vinesh Chandra, Linda Pfeiffer, Rachel Sheffield · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Australia
This textbook, "STEM Education in the Primary School," introduces pre-service teachers to the theory, skills, and practice of teaching STEM through a project-based learning approach. It integrates STEM with the Australian Curriculum using a school garden project case study and explores popular STEM topics with age-appropriate project examples. The text connects current research in STEM education to teaching practice, offering guidance for implementing projects and practices in the classroom.
Food educationCommunityGreen space in urban and peri-urban areas and mental health: which green space typesand characteristics are most beneficial?
2021Femke Beute, Maria Beatrice Andreucci, Annamária Lammel, Zoe G. Davies, Julie Glanville, Hans Keune, Melissa Marselle, Liz O’Brien, Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo, Roy Remmen, Alessio Russo, S. de Vries · Research Repository (University of Gloucestershire) · Global
This paper discusses the role of diverse urban green spaces, such as urban forests, parks, and urban farming locations, in the mental and physical health of urban residents. It notes that green spaces vary in characteristics like scenic beauty and vegetative composition. The paper highlights that urbanization and climate change are pressuring urban green spaces, necessitating in-depth knowledge on how different green space types and characteristics influence mental health for informed design and planning.
HealthCommunityClimate changePolicyS7ílhen tl’a Swa7ám (Food of the Ancestors)
2021T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss · Public · Global
T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss has dedicated her life to Indigenous plant remediation and restoration projects supporting wetland ecosystems, food forests, and their wild inhabitants. This work aims to restore what was taken from the natural world over the past 150 years, ensuring the survival of future ancestors. Interdisciplinary documentation, including true plant names in Indigenous languages, ensures future generations remain connected to the natural world.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityBiodiversityOrganic cycleUrban agroforestry as a strategy for aligning agroecology with resilience planning initiatives
2021Sarah Taylor Lovell, John Taylor · · Global
This paper discusses urban agroforestry (UAF) as a strategy to integrate fruit and nut production into urban settings, emphasizing the inclusion of agroecological principles for improved design. It suggests that UAF can be intentionally integrated into urban landscapes, considering synergies with adjacent land uses. Guidelines for planting design can draw from multi-strata systems found in permaculture and food forest literature.
BiodiversityPollinatorsFood sovereignty & justicePolicySingapore vs. the ‘Singapore of Africa’—Different Approaches to Managing Urban Agriculture
2021Ada Górna, Krzysztof Górny · Land · Global
A comparative study analyzed urban agriculture approaches in Singapore and Kigali using satellite imagery, legal document analysis, and 2019 fieldwork (mapping, photography, observations, semi-structured interviews). Despite urban agriculture being considered in both cities' planning documents, the scale and approach differ significantly. Singaporean authorities primarily support high-technology, land-efficient solutions, displacing low-profit agricultural activities from urban spaces. In contrast, Kigali, with a much larger scale of agricultural activity, allows residents freedom to cultivate unused land, enhancing food security and resilience to external stresses.
PolicyUrban–rural linkageConnecting urban agriculture with design thinking: a case study from Zimbabwe
2021Esther Sigauke · The Journal of Environmental Education · Zimbabwe
This study focused on an instrumental case study of urban agriculture on a wetland in Zimbabwe, exploring how design thinking can augment focus group discussions to enhance public engagement. Design thinking, oriented towards solving complex problems, was implemented prior to focus group discussions to generate potential solutions connecting farmers to the wetland. The study showed that, if properly planned and executed, design thinking can be instrumental in enhancing the effectiveness of focus group discussions.
CommunityFood educationReviewing chemical and biological risks in urban agriculture: A comprehensive framework for a food safety assessment of city region food systems
2021Enrico Buscaroli, Ilaria Braschi, Chiara Cirillo, Agnès Fargue‐Lelièvre, Giuseppe Carlo Modarelli, Giuseppina Pennisi, Isabella Righini, Kathrin Specht, Francesco Orsini · Food Control · Global
This paper addresses the potential underestimation of food safety risks in urban agriculture (UA), which can lead to regulatory gaps, despite positive perceptions of UA. It reviews literature on UA food safety assessments, identifying indicators and developing a framework for evaluating food safety risks in UA initiatives. The framework uses business surveys and food analyses to calculate a food safety index for UA businesses and city regions.
Contamination & food safetyHealthPolicyDigital agriculture