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(82 / 149)
The challenges of deploying urban agriculture
2019Mathilde Martin-Moreau, David Ménascé · OpenEdition (OpenEdition) · Global
The deployment of urban agriculture relies on initiatives from companies, startups, and non-profit organizations, alongside support from public authorities, especially local governments. Challenges include the need to raise consumer awareness of new production methods and to train urban farmers for quality supply chains. The abstract indicates that commitment from local stakeholders is crucial for scaling up urban agriculture projects.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsCommunityFood educationSocio-political dynamics of alternative food networks: a hybrid governance approach
2019Alessandra Manganelli, Pieter Van den Broeck, Frank Moulaert · Territory Politics Governance · Global
This theoretical paper points out that Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) encounter governance challenges stemming from organizational growth pains, the search for cultivable land, and confrontation with urban planning policy and state structures that have a low affinity with urban agriculture. As AFNs develop, various governance tensions arise both within their organization and in their institutionalization processes. The paper redefines hybrid governance to elucidate these dynamics, suggesting that existing agro-food literature insufficiently addresses the complexity of AFNs' governance.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePAESAGGIO E URBAN FOOD PLANNING
2019Giacomo Pettenati · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
This paper explores the concept of landscape in food systems and urban food planning. It presents three main perspectives on food landscapes: food systems as producers of landscape, foodscapes as frameworks for any food-related action, and food landscapes as heritage. Urban food landscapes are explored, focusing on landscapes of urban agriculture, the role of consumers as co-producers of landscape, and urban foodscapes as resources for new urban images strategies of urban development. The paper investigates the underrepresentation of landscape as a field of action in existing Urban Food Strategies/Policies. Conclusions discuss the potential role of landscape in urban food policies both as the object of specific strategies or actions and as a useful conceptual framework, able to connect the actors of the food system, in sharing a vision for its future evolution.
PolicyCommunityUrban–rural linkageEducación popular, educación ambiental y buen vivir en América Latina : una experiencia socioeducativa de empoderamiento comunitario
2019Byron Cevallos, Xavier Úcar · · Ecuador
This doctoral thesis proposal analyzes socio-educational approaches to the global social-ecological crisis and climate change. It systematizes the experience of the "Convento Eco-emprende" project in Convento, Manabi province, Ecuador, where participatory bioconstruction of an agro-ecological community center and a community garden began in 2017 through strengthening local organizational capabilities. These are understood as spaces for knowledge exchange aimed at collective empowerment and social transformation.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceTOURISM DIVERSIFICATION THROUGH URBAN FARMING AS A CONSTITUENT OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURE AND EDUCATION
2019Ivan Obreshkov · Knowledge International Journal · Global
This study examined urban farming in Almere, Netherlands, as a means of tourism diversification and an integral part of modern culture and education. Based on interviews with local food producers and an entrepreneur, it highlighted efforts by local governments and academia to shorten the food chain and enhance urban farming's appeal. The urban farming initiative in Almere provides food for consumption and sale, alongside educational activities.
Food educationPolicyEconomicsUrban gardening - an integrative approach
2019Nenad Židak, Nidžara Osmanagić Bedenik · The holistic approach to environment · Global
This paper investigates whether urban gardening is a fashion trend, utopia, or the future, using an integrative approach. Employing The World Café Method with experts in biology, chemistry, and geography, the research compared these three aspects. Results indicated that the future aspect of urban gardening holds a primary and dominant role, despite fashion and utopia providing interdisciplinary impulses.
CommunityClimate changeEl aporte de la permacultura en el desarrollo de la agricultura urbana
2019Rafael Bújanos Muñíz · · Global
This essay explores the intersection of permaculture principles and their potential application in urban agriculture. Permaculture, originating from the work of Bill Mollison, David Holmgren, and Masanobu Fukuoka in the 1970s, is a system for designing and implementing general principles for organic food production in urban settings. It is based on natural ecosystem patterns and ethical principles, including soil, forest, and water conservation, self-care, and equitable distribution of goods with reasonable consumption limits.
Organic cycleCommunityPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceFecal Sludge Derived Products as Fertilizer for Lettuce Cultivation in Urban Agriculture
2019Surendra K. Pradhan, Olufunke Cofie, Josiane Nikiema, Helvi Heinonen‐Tanski · Sustainability · Global
This research determined the fertilizer value of sawdust and fecal sludge (SDFS) pellets and compared their effect on lettuce cultivation with other fertilizers in a greenhouse and open field. SDFS pellets, with or without enrichments, resulted in higher saleable fresh weight lettuce yields than commercial compost, poultry manure, mineral fertilizer, or no fertilizer. Open field cultivation yielded more than greenhouse cultivation. While no helminth eggs were detected, some fecal coliforms were found in lettuces fertilized with almost all tested fertilizers, including NPK and the non-fertilized control.
Contamination & food safetyOrganic cycleHealthCompostThe countryside in the city? Rural-urban dynamics in allotment gardens in Brno, Czech Republic
2019Lucie Sovová, Radoslava Krylová · Moravian Geographical Reports · Czech Republic (Brno)
This paper evaluates the position of urban allotments within the rural-urban spectrum, investigating how urban and rural characteristics are materialized, represented, and practiced in five allotment sites in Brno, Czech Republic. The research examines the physical environment, social life, and food production within these spaces. It suggests that overcoming the urban-rural dichotomy could facilitate the inclusion of urban gardening in contemporary cities.
CommunityUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceTrade‐offs in the performance of alternative farming systems
2019Navin Ramankutty, Vincent Ricciardi, Zia Mehrabi, Verena Seufert · Agricultural Economics · Global
A review was conducted on the production, environmental, and socioeconomic performance of three alternative farming systems: organic, smallholder, and urban agriculture. Organic agriculture offers environmental, livelihood, health, and nutritional benefits but is hampered by lower yields and higher prices. Smaller farms exhibit higher yields and biodiversity but result in lower incomes for farmers. Urban agriculture can alleviate pressure on rural landscapes, provide nutritional benefits to the urban poor, and engage urban dwellers in food system challenges, but it cannot scale up to be a substantial solution on its own.
Limited or null effectUrban–rural linkageHealthEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCommunity Gardening in a Society With High Malnutrition Prevalence Helps Reduce Malnutrition but Increases Obesity
2019Greg Zandrow, Samir Malkani, Kerri Gosselin · PEDIATRICS · Philippines
A community garden program in a rural Filipino village, involving families of 67 children, aimed to assess the impact of community gardens and education on plant care and proper diet on malnutrition and food security. The study found that while the program helped reduce malnutrition, it also led to an increase in obesity.
Limited or null effectCommunityHealthFood educationVulnerability and urban farming: Coping with price volatility in Ejisu-Juaben municipality, Ghana
2019Michael Osei Asibey, Mohammed Abubakari, Charles Peprah · Cogent Food & Agriculture · Ghana
This paper investigated how urban farmers in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Ghana, cope with input and crop price fluctuations. Data from 380 respondents identified four major factors influencing input price volatility (oil prices, exchange rates, cocoa producer prices, and inflation), but farmers had no coping strategies for these. Crop price fluctuations were influenced by natural and demand/supply factors, and farmers coped by adding value to crops and diversifying income sources, among others. However, shifting to cocoa cultivation and farming in flood plains was shown to have adverse environmental and ecological implications.
Economic viabilityEconomicsClimate changeUrban–rural linkageLa agricultura en los periurbanos de Buenos Aires (Argentina) y Santiago (Chile): Territorios en transición
2019María Carolina Feito, Sofía Boza, Santiago Peredo · Repositorio Digital Institucional de la Universidad de Buenos Aires (Universidad de Buenos Aires) · Argentina
This study focused on the reality of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (AUPU) in Latin America, comparing cases in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area and the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Both cities form complex territories strongly related to their periphery, but the debate regarding AUPU's future development model remains open, reflected in contradictions even in public policies. The strong link between family farming and AUPU further complicates the situation due to the intrinsic limitations of family farming.
Governance failurePeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsPersistance de <i>E. coli</i>, des oeufs d’helminthes et des kystes de protozoaires contenus dans les eaux usées urbaines d’arrosage sur les cultures maraîchères à Dschang, Ouest-Cameroun
2019Honorine Ntangmo Tsafack, Émile Temgoua, Thomas Njiné · International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences · Cameroon
This in situ study in Dschang, West Cameroon, monitored the survival time of E. coli, parasite eggs, and cysts on lettuce, carrot, and eggplant irrigated with polluted urban wastewater for one week. Despite significant E. coli reductions (73-99% over seven days depending on crop and season), E. coli levels on lettuce and carrot remained above health thresholds (10^3 E. coli/g). Positive samples for eggs and cysts ranged from 0-25% on lettuce and carrot, and 0-8% on eggplant, posing a danger to consumers of raw vegetables.
Contamination & food safetyHealthSTUDY ON THE STATUS OF ROOF TOP GARDENING IN SELECTED RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF DHAKA CITY, BANGLADESH
2019Mahmuda Islam, Abdullah Al Nayeem, Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Khandokar Tanjim Elahi · Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agricultural · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
A study investigated the present status of rooftop gardening in four selected residential areas of Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Plot-to-plot interviews using questionnaires were conducted across 1376 buildings in Dhanmondi, 391 in Lalmatia, 272 in Mohakhali DOHS, and 697 in Uttara 13 no. Sector. The study found that 39.1%, 59.2%, 36.6%, and 22.2% of buildings in these locations, respectively, had rooftop gardening, with nearly one-third (36.4%) of buildings overall containing rooftop gardening.
DIYCommunityPolicyHubungan Kompetensi Petani terhadap Ketahanan Pangan Keluarga melalui Pertanian Perkotaan
2019Aldea Lyliana · Studi Pustaka · Global
This literature study aims to describe the relationship between farmer competence and family food security through urban agriculture. Urban agriculture is presented as a solution to food insecurity caused by population growth and land conversion in urban areas. Farmer competence is identified as a key factor in urban agriculture management, influenced by farmer characteristics, and crucial for planning and decision-making due to greater challenges than rural agriculture. Good farmer performance leads to food availability and increased income, contributing to family food security. The study utilizes relevant secondary data analysis.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunityHigh Unemployment Records of Graduated Students in the Development of Urban Agriculture in the Gaza Strip
2019Husam Al-Najar, Hadi Khalil, Yuni Sri Rahayu · Indonesian Journal of Science and Technology · Palestine (Gaza Strip)
In the Gaza Strip, approximately 2500 students graduate annually, with an unemployment rate of around 41%. A quantitative and qualitative study of 129 urban farmers found that graduated students perceived urban agriculture as contributing to job creation and improved household income. The educational background of urban farmers included 18% illiterate, 31% with primary education, 25% with secondary education, and 26% with university degrees.
EconomicsWelfareCommunityAlternativas bioorgánicas de nutrición en el cultivo de la zanahoria (Daucus carota var. sativa) en un huerto intensivo
2019Pedro López Labarta, José Luis Montejo Viamontes, Yacelis Cárdenas García, Dimeri Piñeiro Esquivel, Diosmaris de la Caridad Vasallo Cristia, Amaury Rondón Aquilar · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba
This research, conducted in the Ernesto Che Guevara intensive orchard in Esmeralda municipality, Cuba, from December 2016 to March 2017, compared different bioorganic nutrition alternatives and their influence on growth and yield indicators in carrot cultivation. Using a completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and three repetitions, plant height, root length, and yield were evaluated. Fortified liquid humus and liquid humus enriched with boron, calcium, and zinc yielded the best agronomic indicators and the greatest economic benefits compared to natural liquid humus and the control.
Organic cycleDIYFood sovereignty & justiceUrban gardens as a source of self-grown food in Czech towns and cities
2019Jan Vávra, Petr Daněk, Petr Jehlička, Miloslav Lapka · · Czech Republic
An analysis of large-scale representative survey results in Czech towns and cities investigated urban gardens as a source of self-grown food. The study found that while food production in urban areas is less frequent than in rural areas, the level of self-sufficiency in urban households is similar to that in rural households. This paper presents data on the scale of urban food production and its contributions to ecosystem services and resilience.
DIYClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityMoroccan towns
2019Heide Studer · · Morocco
This text focuses on urban food production in Moroccan towns, discussing existing practices and their changes during urbanization. It notes that urban food questions, including food accessibility, food sovereignty, and environmental aspects, are gaining importance in international debates due to increasing urban spaces and populations. Urban food production contributes to health for the affluent and food security for poorer populations.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsClimate changeLocalizing SDG2 Zero Hunger through “Fair Food” in Australia
2019Kiah Smith · Queensland's institutional digital repository (The University of Queensland) · Australia (Brisbane)
This paper presents a sociological analysis of community "fair food" initiatives in Brisbane, Australia. These initiatives pursue more equitable food access through activities that connect values of food justice, sovereignty, and citizenship with solving practical problems in local ecological food production, food waste reduction, providing low-cost food to vulnerable groups, and restructuring finance. Scaling up to influence policy and financing remains a key challenge.
CommunityWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceDirectorio Distrital De Huertas Urbanas Y Periurbanas Asistidas Por El Jardín Botánico De Bogotá
2019Christopher Torralba Pita · · Colombia (Bogotá)
This directory provides information on urban and peri-urban agricultural processes assisted by the Bogotá Botanical Garden in Colombia. The document records the names, addresses, phone numbers, and products and services (classified into 8 categories) of the gardens. The directory is organized by urban localities and includes 20 cartographic maps showing the georeferenced gardens.
CommunityPeri-urban agricultureSTANARSKE BAŠTE U PROCESU REVITALIZACIJE SLOBODNIH PROSTORA STAMBENIH SUSEDSTAVA
2019Ivana Bogdanović Protić, Milica Ljubenović, Milica Igić, Miomir Vasov, Mihailo Mitković · Zbornik radova Građevinskog fakulteta · Serbia (Nis)
This paper aims to explore the potential implementation of community gardens in the revitalization process of open spaces in residential neighborhoods in the city of Nis, Serbia. It examines the concept of community gardens and analyzes an example of best practice, stating that the research results can serve as a basis for promoting the application of community gardens in urban theory and practice.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageTowards integrated urban agriculture systems: economic and valuation aspects
2019Saverio Miccoli, Fabrizio Finucci, Rocco Murro · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
This paper defines an integrated urban agriculture system (A-URBIS), outlining the complications associated with its launching and implementation. It proposes methodological guidelines for the valuation of an A-URBIS, taking into account the inclusive and qualitative impacts on the community. Finally, the paper suggests a Direct Deliberative Monetary Valuation procedure, which combines a participatory deliberative process necessary for developing direct democracy instruments with Stated Preference Techniques essential for capturing inclusive use value.
EconomicsCommunityPolicySustainable agriculture in organic wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) growing in ARID region
2019N.S. Al-Ghumaiz · International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics · Saudi Arabia
This study assessed agronomic characteristics of eight bread wheat genotypes grown organically on low fertility soil in Saudi Arabia's arid Qassim region during the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. Experiments compared conventional and organic farming systems at two locations, measuring chlorophyll content, flag leaf area, and harvest index. Findings showed differences between farming systems, with specific genotypes like YR and E-line identified as potentially suitable for sustainable organic wheat production in arid regions.
Organic cycleClimate change