Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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4283 results(74 / 172)
FACTORS AFFECTING URBAN AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE, VIET NAM
2021Vu Bach Điep, Dinh Hong Linh, Bui Thi Minh Hang · International Journal of Legal Studies ( IJOLS ) · Viet Nam
Thai Nguyen province in Vietnam is experiencing agricultural land reduction due to rapid urbanization. This article analyzed five groups of factors affecting urban agricultural development in Thai Nguyen province during 2015-2018: Socio-economic; Natural conditions and infrastructure; Policy factors; Planning factors; and Links and integration. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze and synthesize secondary and primary data sources.
PolicyEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceEvaluation of green roof structures and substrates for Lactuca sativa L. in tropical conditions
2021A. Varela, Alexandra Sandoval-Albán, Marcela Muñoz, Alfonso Goméz Gómez, Manuel Bogoya, Germán Combariza · Urban forestry & urban greening · Global
This study evaluated the optimal combination of three different modular extensive green roof structures and two types of local substrates (compost and soil + biochar) for Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa (lettuce) growth under tropical climate conditions, measuring physicochemical and biological properties of substrates and plant growth variables over seven weeks under rainy and dry conditions. A monolithic multilayer structure, high Mg concentrations, elevated amounts of 600 μm aggregates, and lower substrate bulk density were linked with higher L. sativa yield, but the specific substrate used was not associated with this result. Some physicochemical and microbiological properties of substrates changed by the experiment's end, with these changes dependent on climatic conditions.
DIYCompostClimate changeThe morphological impact of municipal planning instruments on urban agriculture
2021Ana Mélice Dias, Teresa Marat-Mendes · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Portugal (Lisbon)
This paper investigated the impact of municipal planning instruments on urban agriculture in Lisbon and its surrounding territory, Portugal. It concluded that current planning regulations in Lisbon’s Greater Area are specifically focused on morphological solutions that give preference to urban agriculture uses related to leisure and aesthetic solutions, to the detriment of design solutions that tackle economic growth or ecological diversity.
Economic viabilityPolicyEconomicsUrban agriparks of algiers: a sustainable modality of urban agriculture?
2021Sara Bouzekri, Saïd Madani, Christine AUBRY · Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège · Algeria (Algiers)
This paper diagnosed the sustainability of urban agriculture in agriparks within the Chéraga commune of Algiers, Algeria. Applying a double sustainability method (internal and external) proposed by Ba and Aubry (2011), the study identified several major challenges to optimize urban agriculture sustainability, reduce deficiencies, and remedy observed imbalances.
Climate changePolicyUrban–rural linkageA risk management framework for Gentle Remediation Options (GRO)
2021Paul Drenning, Shaswati Chowdhury, Yevheniya Volchko, Lars Rosén, Yvonne Andersson‐Sköld, Jenny Norrman · The Science of The Total Environment · Sweden
This paper proposed a framework for risk management and communication of Gentle Remediation Options (GRO) to support phytomanagement strategies at contaminated sites. An extensive literature review mapped risk mitigation mechanisms, and the Swedish national soil guideline value model derived human health exposure pathways and ecological risks. Results indicated that most expected risk mitigation mechanisms are supported by literature, but knowledge gaps still exist. The framework was demonstrated to support the identification of GRO options for a case study site under two envisioned land uses: biofuel park and allotment garden.
Organic cycleBiodiversityClimate changeEvaluating Subsurface Clay Pot Irrigation: Water Use Efficiency and Crop Yield in School-Managed Vegetable Gardens, Dodoma Region
2021Grace Mwajuma, Juma Kisimba, Neema Mwamakula · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Tanzania
This intervention study assessed subsurface clay pot irrigation versus traditional hand-watering basins in 12 primary school vegetable gardens in Tanzania's Dodoma Region. Clay pot irrigation significantly increased mean water use efficiency by 65% and marketable amaranth yield by 42%. Tomato yield showed a positive but non-significant trend, and qualitative feedback indicated reduced labor burden for students.
Food educationHealthDIYThe school garden in the primary school: meeting the challenges and reaping the benefits
2021Sandra Austin · Education 3-13 · Ireland
This qualitative study aimed to describe how school gardens are used and valued in Irish primary schools, using site visits and interviews with program drivers. Schools utilize gardens imaginatively for children's development, with key factors driving success. Teachers value gardens as learning arenas, spaces for pastoral care, and focal points for school and community involvement.
Food educationHealthCommunitySTEM learning spaces
2021Anne Forbes, Vinesh Chandra, Linda Pfeiffer, Rachel Sheffield · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Australia
This textbook introduces pre-service teachers to STEM education in primary schools, using a project-based learning approach. It integrates STEM elements with the Australian Curriculum through a school garden project case study. The text explores popular STEM topics with age-appropriate examples and connects current research to teaching practice, covering assessment, learning spaces, and community.
Food educationResources: Resource Conservation and Waste Management
2021David Satterthwaite · · Global
This chapter discusses innovations such as improvements in energy efficiency in housing, the trend of recognizing waste streams as resource streams, and innovations in urban agriculture and urban forestry that reduce cities' ecological footprints. A factor constraining government action on resource conservation and waste reduction is concern over employment costs. In most cities in the Global South, the potential for new employment in resource conservation is rather less due to lower resource use and higher levels of recycling, reclamation, and reuse.
Organic cycleClimate changeEconomicsUrban and Peri-Urban Agriculture
2021Prem Nath · · Global
This paper discusses the challenges of urbanization and population growth and the potential of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) to address food demand, poverty, and unemployment. Various international conferences and initiatives have highlighted the importance of UPA and horticultural crops. However, it has been realized that very few countries have actually investigated the real opportunities and constraints linked to the urban agriculture sector.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justicePolicyPerspectivas de la agricultura urbana y periurbana para la seguridad alimentaria en Colombia
2021Sandra Patricia Montenegro Gómez, Yulian Adalberto Sepúlveda Casadiego · Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia eBooks · Colombia
This paper contextualizes relevant experiences and technical tools for implementing urban and peri-urban agroecological orchards in Colombia. It notes that urban and peri-urban agriculture can alleviate food insecurity and create jobs, but currently, Colombia lacks government policies to support these processes. The study aims to transfer knowledge on crops to communities to strengthen food security through vegetable production.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsCommunityEcology, landscape and urban agriculture. An innovative envelope for vertical farms
2021Valerio Morabito · TECHNE - Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment · Global
This text explores the relationship between ecology and landscape architecture, and urban agriculture and vertical farm experiments through the lens of circular economy and recycling. Urban agriculture plays ecological, social, cultural, and aesthetic roles, evolving into new architectural experiments with vertical farms. Finally, it describes a building envelope patent developed by APS spin-off UNIRC for organizing vertical farms in unfinished buildings.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changeDigital agricultureEngineering
2021Anne Forbes, Vinesh Chandra, Linda Pfeiffer, Rachel Sheffield · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Australia
'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. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics elements are integrated with the Australian Curriculum through a school garden project case study. This textbook connects current research in STEM education to teaching practice through detailed discussions of topics including assessment, learning spaces, community, and STEM futures.
Food educationCommunitySocio-Cultural Appropriateness of the Use of Historic Persian Gardens for Modern Urban Edible Gardens
2021Majid Amani-Beni, Gaodi Xie, Qingjuan Yang, Alessio Russo, Mohammad Reza Khalilnezhad · Land · Iran
This qualitative field study investigated whether the spatial and structural layout of six historic Persian gardens in four Iranian provinces is suitable for modern urban food gardening. The research suggested that combining elements of formal landscape design, non-edible decorative plants, and traditional artwork would increase the Persian gardens' attractiveness. It was found that separating productive units containing edible plants from public units using a central meeting spot populated by aesthetic plants and items may attract ordinary visitors interested in gardening without disturbing anyone's activities. The Persian gardens' multifunctionality, aesthetic value, and health-promoting qualities constitute a considerable historic achievement in garden design, making them a suitable model for edible urban gardening.
CommunityDIYFood educationUsing Different Substrate Materials (Local and Imported) For Producing Eggplant on Rooftops
2021· Current Science International · Egypt (Giza)
An experiment conducted in a rooftop garden in Giza, Egypt, during the summer seasons of 2019 and 2020 investigated the effect of nine different substrate mixtures on eggplant growth and yield. Sand:rice husks (1:1) v/v (SR1) resulted in the highest plant growth and yield, followed by sand:rice husks (2:1) v/v (SR2). When considering cost-effectiveness, SR2 was the cheapest growing medium, followed by SR1, with initial costs of 10.75 E.P and 13.5 E.P respectively, and average yields of 10.96 kg/m² and 12.68 kg/m².
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsUrban farmers land injustice: Assessing the impact of land development projects on agriculture in Dar es Salaam City
2021Mkwela Hawa · Journal of Geography and Regional Planning · Tanzania
This study used a qualitative approach to examine land injustices faced by urban farmers in Mbweni-Mpiji, a sub-urban area of Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Findings indicated that farmers experience constant pressure from land insecurity, inferior land rights, informal land access, stiff competition from other land users, degrading land quality, and a continuous decrease in agricultural land size. These factors negatively impact the daily livelihoods, including food security, social status, and income, of those entirely dependent on urban farming.
Equity & displacementPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityAgricultura Urbana em Portugal: Constrangimentos e Oportunidades Para Uma Política Pública Alimentar
2021Cecília Delgado · RPER · Portugal
This article examines the potential for urban agriculture practices to foster food policy formulation and implementation in Portugal. An inquiry involving 16 local municipalities identified constraints and opportunities for local initiatives. The study argues that Portuguese civil society's relative fragility, compared to other countries, may explain the lack of local public food policies, despite confirming national and local opportunities.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityTechnological Application to Managing a Municipal Urban Garden
2021Fernando Almeida, Nuno Miranda, Bruno Vieira · Advances in environmental engineering and green technologies book series · Global
This chapter presents a mobile application designed for farmers to manage municipal urban gardens. The app provides information on crop status, products to grow, and required maintenance, aiming to simplify the production process. It also seeks to enhance the sustainability of urban agriculture activities across economic, social, and logistical dimensions.
Digital agricultureCommunityEconomicsCan urban gardens improve food security, health, well-being and financial sustainability of households?
2021Helena Guerreiro, Tânia Fernandes, Madalena Bettencourt da Câmara · Annals of Medicine · Global
This abstract discusses the potential for urban gardens to improve communities by enabling a supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, thereby contributing to food security, health, well-being, and financial sustainability. Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with health benefits, and urban gardens can contribute to conscious decisions about eating and lessen the health costs of populations.
HealthEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityFood strategies and restitution of urban agriculture illustrated by the case of selected solutions of metropolitan areas
2021Aleksandra Płonka, Wojciech Sroka · Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology Organization and Management Series · Global
This paper aimed to present the importance of food strategies in creating sustainable development of metropolitan areas and the restitution of agriculture. By reviewing Canadian and French solutions, among others, it indicated the importance of urban agriculture in shaping sustainable development. A descriptive case study was adopted as the qualitative research methodology, using urban plans, literature, and legislative acts as empirical basis. Findings show that only planning and new generation strategic plans of a metropolis that account for urban food systems can balance long-term development objectives and protect natural resources.
PolicyClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceModelos de negocio de las organizaciones empresariales de mercado y producción en la agricultura urbana
2021Véronique Saint-Gès · Innovations Technology Governance Globalization · Global
A study of 25 market and production business organizations (OEMP) in urban agriculture identified and analyzed their business models, prioritizing the economic dimension. The study revealed the originality and diversity of OEMP activities and highlighted keys to success, such as partnerships, technical skills, and sustainability-focused activities. Marketing is characterized by short supply chains to diverse clients.
EconomicsCommunityPolicyGround cover plants research for objects of landscape architecture
2021BMSTU (Mytishchi branch), I.Yu. Bochkova, Yu.A. Khokhlacheva · Лесной вестник / Forestry bulletin · Global
Research conducted in 2018 at the Main Botanical Garden (MBG RAS) identified promising groundcover plants for landscape architecture. From 225 selected plants, field surveys and phenological observations were performed, including biometric measurements and color refinement. The study resulted in a list of 40 highly promising species recommended for urban gardening.
BiodiversityDIYResetting the Evaluation Indicators for School Garden Education Service
2021In-Kyoung Hong, Hyung-Kwon Yun, Young-Bin Jung, Kang‐Sook Lee, Choon-soo Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · Global
This study reset evaluation indicators for school garden education services by surveying 20 experts using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and direct question (DQ) methods from October 12 to 19, 2020. AHP results showed education values were most important (0.544), while environmental (0.062) and economic (0.049) values were relatively low. The lowest sub-indicators were mitigating climate change (0.009) and increasing income (0.036).
Food educationHealthWelfarePolicyAgriculture urbaine et périurbaine dans la ville de Lomé et ses banlieues
2021Wouyo Atakpama, Madjouma KANDA, Fousséni Folega, Denis Talate LAMBONI, Komlan Batawila, Koffi AKPAGANA · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Togo
This study mapped agricultural spaces, characterized participants, practices, and species, and evaluated the socio-economic importance of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in Lomé, Togo. Using Google Earth, field inventories, and surveys of 89 producers, it found that indigenous, married landowners were most involved. Maize (57.7%) and cassava (39.0%) were the most frequently cultivated among 34 identified species.
EconomicsCommunityPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceConsumer Citizenship Outside the Consumption Domain: Conceptualizing Motivation from a Self-Determination Perspective
2021Eranjana Kathriarachchi, Dinuka Wijetunga · Sri Lanka Journal of Management Studies · Global
Consumer citizenship has gained attention, with consumers exhibiting citizenship behaviors in non-consumption arenas, beyond choice, purchase, and use. Such behaviors are evident in consumer involvement in organized movements related to organic farming and consumption, like Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS). Guided by Self-Determination Theory and current literature, this paper presents three propositions on how consumers may be motivated to engage in citizenship behaviors outside the domain of consumption, such as volunteering as evaluators in PGS.
CSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceCommunity