Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
3701 results(79 / 149)
Fertile cities: Nutrient management practices in urban agriculture
2019Wielemaker R., Oenema O., Zeeman G., Weijma J. · Science of the Total Environment, 668:1277-1288 · Global
Drawing on a survey of urban agriculture practitioners in industrialised countries, this study characterises how city-derived resources such as compost, food waste and urine are used as fertiliser and how nutrients are managed. It maps the practices and challenges of cycling urban organic waste back to farmland, systematising on-the-ground approaches that link food-waste composting to urban agriculture.
CompostOrganic cycleFood lossCommunityDesign and Validation of a Low Cost Programmable Controlled Environment for Study and Production of Plants, Mushroom, and Insect Larvae
2019Padmanabha M., Streif S. · Applied Sciences · Global
Designs and validates a low-cost modular programmable controlled-environment device for quantitative study of growth in plants, fungi, and insect larvae. It consists of modular units including a sensor cluster measuring gas concentrations, air properties, and growing-medium properties.
DIYOyster Mushroom Cultivation as an Economic and Nutritive Alternative for Rural Low-Income Women in Villapinzón (Colombia)
2019· Springer (book chapter) · Villapinzón, Colombia
Examines low-cost oyster mushroom cultivation as an income- and nutrition-generating alternative for rural low-income women in Villapinzon, Colombia. Highlights mushroom growing as an accessible, low-capital livelihood option.
DIYWelfareEconomicsAffordable remote monitoring of plant growth in facilities using Raspberry Pi computers
2019· Applications in Plant Sciences · Global
GMpi, a low-cost growth-environment monitoring system built from a Raspberry Pi, open-source software, inexpensive environmental sensors and a camera that automates readings, imaging and out-of-range alerts, and is customizable and scalable.
DIYEconomicsExperimental investigation of wicking bed irrigation using shallow-rooted crops grown under glasshouse conditions
2019· Irrigation Science · Australia
Glasshouse experiment investigating wicking bed irrigation for shallow-rooted crops, examining lettuce and two radish varieties.
DIYEffect of the composting process on physicochemical properties and concentration of heavy metals in market waste with additive materials in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana
2019Tibu C., Annang T. Y., Solomon N., Yirenya-Tawiah D. · International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture · Ga West, Ghana
In Ga West Municipality, Ghana, stack-pile composting of market waste with sawdust, rice straw and swine manure was monitored for temperature, pH, N, P, K and heavy metal concentrations through the composting process.
CompostOrganic cycleNew scholarly pathways on green gentrification: What does the urban 'green turn' mean and where is it going?
2019Anguelovski I., Connolly J. J. T., Garcia-Lamarca M., Cole H., Pearsall H. · Progress in Human Geography · Global
A critical review synthesizing research on green gentrification, arguing that urban greening interventions can create elite enclaves of environmental privilege that exclude and displace lower-income and minority residents.
PolicyCommunityEconomicsFormal sector workers' participation in urban agriculture in Ghana: perspectives from the Wa Municipality
2019Peter Dery Bolang, Issaka Kanton Osumanu · Heliyon · Ghana (Wa)
A 2019 cross-sectional survey of 364 randomly selected formal-sector employees across four public institutions in Wa Municipality, north-west Ghana, analysed with logistic regression. Only 37.9% took part in urban farming; 62.1% did not. Participation was strongly gendered (44.1% of men versus 23.1% of women), and 78% of non-participants were under 35. Participants grew food crops (55.1%), kept animals (19.9%) or did both (25.0%), 68.1% at small scale. Annual earnings from the activity were GH¢101–200 (US$22–44) and monthly food-bill savings US$13–44, and 73.9% said they could feed their families from their own production — but against an average monthly salary of about US$289 the monetary contribution is modest. Significant predictors of participation were access to credit (+67.42%), being male (+20.9%), age and household size, while each additional year of education lowered the probability by 19.72%; household income, land access and access to agricultural information were not significant. The most cited barriers were production risk (90.3%) and weekend work duties (53.5%). The authors note the study covers one municipality and only non-essential-service formal workers, is cross-sectional, and that farmers could not reliably quantify yields.
EconomicsCommunityUrban agriculture as a keystone contribution towards securing sustainable and healthy development for cities in the future
2019Siv Lene Gangenes Skar, Rocío Pineda‐Martos, Axel Timpe, Bernd Pölling, Katrin Bohn, Mart Külvik, Cecília Delgado, Celestina Pedras, Teresa A. Paço, Mirjana Ćujić, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Antonios Chrysargyris, A. Peticilă, Gitana Alenčikienė, Hendrik Monsees, Ranka Junge · Blue-Green Systems · Global
This article discusses urban agriculture's role in creating sustainable and climate-friendly cities, drawing on 20 years of research and practice. It highlights that urban agriculture can minimize climate change effects and improve urban quality of life. Effective land use and spatial planning are crucial for establishing food production sites within cities, integrating resource streams like water, waste, and energy.
Climate changeHealthPolicyCommunityThe contribution of constructed green infrastructure to urban biodiversity: A synthesis and meta‐analysis
2019Alessandro Filazzola, Namrata Shrestha, J. Scott MacIvor · Journal of Applied Ecology · Global
A meta-analysis of 33 relevant studies, selected from 1,883 published manuscripts, investigated the effects of green infrastructure (GI) on urban biodiversity. The analysis found that GI significantly improves biodiversity compared to conventional infrastructure and, in some cases, shows comparable biodiversity measures to natural counterparts. However, many studies were excluded due to neglecting conventional experimental design frameworks, such as controls, replication, or adequate sampling effort.
BiodiversityCommunityHealthControlled Environment Food Production for Urban Agriculture
2019Celina Gómez, Christopher J. Currey, Ryan W. Dickson, Hye‐Ji Kim, Ricardo Hernández, Nadia Sabeh, Rosa E. Raudales, Robin G. Brumfield, Angela Shaw, Adam K. Wilke, Roberto G. López, Stephanie E. Burnett · HortScience · Global
This review discusses the application of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) techniques to urban agriculture (UA), driven by increased market demand for local produce. While CEA offers opportunities for year-round production and resource-use efficiency, significant challenges remain due to the high costs of production in urban settings. The review emphasizes that for urban growers to benefit, studies evaluating CEA for commercial food production must consider economic viability.
Economic viabilityDigital agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeCommunity gardens and wellbeing amongst vulnerable populations: a thematic review
2019Pernille Malberg Dyg, Søren Christensen, Corissa Jade Peterson · Health Promotion International · Global
A thematic review of 51 articles published between 1980 and 2017 examined the effects of community gardens on wellbeing among vulnerable populations. Findings suggested positive impacts on physical health and individual/social wellbeing, but food security enhancements were inconsistent. Two articles raised potential food safety concerns in urban community gardens, recommending attention to minimizing these risks.
Contamination & food safetyCommunityHealthWelfareFood educationROOFTOP FARMING: AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL FARMING FOR URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
2019Jha Ritesh Kumar, Bhattarai Natasha, KC Suraj, Shrestha Arjun Kumar, Kadariya Manahar · Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agricultural · Nepal
This research inspected existing practices and obstacles in rooftop farming in Nagdhungha and Birauta, Nepal. Two practitioners were interviewed and 60 non-practitioners were surveyed. Results show that rooftop farming can benefit the environment by reducing atmospheric carbon and assist urban areas by reducing stormwater management costs, with a high willingness to practice rooftop farming among urban dwellers.
Economic viabilityDIYCommunityBiodiversityClimate changeEdible urbanism 5.0
2019Alessio Russo, Giuseppe T. Cirella · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · Global
This comment examines "edible urbanism 5.0," noting that urban and peri-urban agriculture can have negative effects on city ecosystems, which urbanists and planners have largely overlooked. It highlights the need for a concept that considers trade-offs between ecosystem services and disservices, especially given current unsustainable industrial intensive farming. Edible urbanism aims to integrate food security, resilience, and social inclusion through edible green infrastructure and modern food production.
Environmental trade-offsPolicyEconomicsClimate changeBiodiversityUrban agriculture: boon or bust?
2019Martin Stuchtey, Tilmann Vahle · OpenEdition (OpenEdition) · Global
This paper discusses different types of urban agriculture (UA) to assess its potential for future food production. Conventional open-air farming is found to be rarely commercially viable for meaningful food production, though it offers community, educational, psychological, and environmental benefits. High-yielding Controlled Environment Farming (CEF), while potentially contributing substantially to food output, is highly capital and knowledge-intensive and likely to develop at city fringes due to economic considerations.
Economic viabilityEconomicsCommunityFood educationClimate changeEvapotranspiration from Green Infrastructure: Benefit, Measurement, and Simulation
2019Youcan Feng · IntechOpen eBooks · Global
This chapter summarizes current research progress and challenges regarding the benefit, measurement, and simulation of evapotranspiration (ET) from green infrastructure (GI). ET is crucial for GI's hydrologic performance and related benefits, but classic ET equations struggle to represent variations due to urban spatial heterogeneity and GI's multi-layer designs. The underperformance of existing ET models is partly attributed to a lack of high-quality field observations for various GI types in urban settings.
Climate changeBiodiversityUrban–rural linkageContextual Teaching Learning (CTL) Learning Through School Media Environment Utilization To Improve Literacy Of Science And Achievement Test
2019Mia Hilmiyati, Anna Fitri Hindriana, Sri Redjeki · Edubiologica. · Global
This study investigated the impact of Contextual Teaching Learning (CTL) combined with school environment media on science literacy and cognitive achievement among X grade biology students. Using a pre-test-post-test control group design with purposive sampling, the experimental class (X MIPA-2) showed a high gain in science literacy (0.80) and a medium gain in cognitive achievement (0.68). The control class (X MIPA-1) had a medium science literacy gain (0.63) and a low cognitive achievement gain (0.29). Hypothesis testing confirmed significant differences between the groups, indicating that CTL with school environment media improved both science literacy and cognitive achievement.
Food educationBiodiversityLocal connections
2019Philip Pregill · · Global
This article discusses the increasing focus on local connections, such as alleys and local streets, within urban grids, driven by an emphasis on green spaces and stormwater management. Planning initiatives aim to enhance these areas to encourage social places, green spaces, and fine art, as alleys offer opportunities for off-avenue functions like parks and cafes. Independent entities and movements like guerrilla gardening are utilizing alleys for various artistic and urban interventions.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityFuture cities: The case for biophilic vertical cities
2019Benz Kotzen · · Global
This paper argues that vertical cities, integrating biophilia, could address the challenges of increasing global and urban populations. It suggests that these megastructures, which can include green spaces and urban agriculture, offer a compact footprint that allows for increased nature and farming in adjacent areas. While individual megastructures exist, the concept of a full vertical city has not yet been realized.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changeBiodiversityRészvétel a közösség által támogatott mezőgazdaságban: a társas támogatás szerepe
2019Ilona Liliána Birtalan, Bernadett Kis, József Rácz, György Bárdos · Egészségfejlesztés · Global
This qualitative study explored the role of social support in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) participation by conducting 35 semi-structured interviews with CSA members. The thematic analysis revealed three types of social support patterns within members' partner/marital relationships. The findings suggest that CSA membership can redefine individual/family consumption patterns, and the characteristics of social support influence the maintenance and duration of membership.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityHealthMotivation and satisfaction of volunteers for community‐based urban agriculture programmes
2019Leelanayagi Ramalingam, Juwaidah Sharifuddin, Zainal Abidin Mohamed, Fazlin Ali · International Social Science Journal · Malaysia (Klang Valley)
This study analyzed data from 375 volunteers in Community-based Urban Agriculture Programmes in Klang Valley, Malaysia, to determine the relationship between motivation and satisfaction. It found that volunteer satisfaction was primarily influenced by external factors like campaigns, support groups, extension departments, community, and government policy, followed by love of farming, social referents, and values. The program faces problems in attracting and retaining enough volunteers, indicating a governance challenge for sustainability.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsDeploying urban agriculture solutions:a new offer for regions?
2019Loïc Couttelle · OpenEdition (OpenEdition) · Global
Veolia is exploring new urban and peri-urban agricultural production systems to address regional challenges like soil sealing and climate change. Through an innovative experimental approach with partners, an intensive and high-quality agricultural model combining aquaponics and bio-intensive vegetable microfarming has been identified. These solutions, located on available land, aim to provide ecosystem services, efficient production, and respond to consumer demand for short supply chains and traceability.
Climate changePeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityTemporary urban landscapes and urban gardening: re-inventing open space in Greece and Switzerland
2019Sofia Nikolaidou · Manchester University Press eBooks · Greece
This chapter examines new forms of urban gardening in Greece and Switzerland, which often involve the informal and temporary reuse of vacant land. It highlights differences and similarities in practices, social and institutional contexts, and governance patterns, emphasizing the critical role of the temporary nature of these initiatives in shaping urban green areas and public space.
CommunityPolicyUrban Harvest
2019Tracy Hood · UNC Libraries · Global
This article cautions against professional planners dismissing community gardening projects as simplistic community development initiatives. Author Tracy Hood reminds planning and city officials of the value of small-scale, less costly community development options like community gardens. She lists and describes numerous economic, educational, and social benefits derived from planting and maintaining a garden.
CommunityEconomicsFood educationMethodology to Identify and Assess Agroecological Practices in Metropolitan Areas. Case Study, Concepción, Chile
2019Montserrat Delpino-Chamy, María Arquero de Alarcón, Sandra Calduch Fernández, José R. Soto · International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics · Chile (Concepción)
This research focused on developing and applying a methodology to identify and assess agroecological practices in the metropolitan area of Concepción, Chile. A methodology based on production forms, sociopolitical organization, and metropolitan sustainability was proposed. Strengths identified include their location in rururban interstices and small scale, contributing to metropolitan sustainability. However, weaknesses include a lack of appropriate planning policies and regulations, threatening their existence under urban development pressures.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityOrganic cyclePolicy