Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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7626 results(84 / 306)
Fostering Sustainable Urban Farming in Malaysia: The Green Agenda of Urban Hijau
2023Cordelia Mason, Wan Mohd Hilmi Wan Ahmad · · Malaysia
This 2023 case study examines Urban Hijau, a social enterprise in Malaysia that promotes urban farming for sustainability. It describes Urban Hijau's origins and progression through various sustainable farming systems, including permaculture, and discusses the opportunities and challenges in urban farming and food security. The study concludes by posing questions about the significant contribution of small urban farms to the food industry and Urban Hijau's long-term sustainability.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeOrganic cycleStakeholder’s practices for the sustainability assessment of professional urban agriculture reveal numerous original criteria and indicators
2023Paola Clerino, Agnès Fargue‐Lelièvre, Jean-Marc Meynard · Agronomy for Sustainable Development · Global
This study investigated the sustainability assessment practices of professional intra-urban agriculture (PIUA) projects in the Global North, analyzing 19 case studies. Four dimensions underpinning sustainability assessment were identified: internal sustainability, external sustainability, the project leader’s credibility, and the innovative nature of the project. The study found 67 diverse assessment criteria and that 78% of indicators used were qualitative, noting that assessment practices evolve over time. The results enhance understanding of how PIUA project sustainability is assessed.
EconomicsPolicyCommunityClimate changeUnderstanding Social-Ecological Memory in Urban Agriculture: A Case Study from Istanbul
2023Susana Alves, Bahar Bașer Kalyoncuoğlu · Ecopsychology · Turkey (Istanbul)
This study explored the socio-ecological potential of urban agriculture in 10 family-related projects in Istanbul, where Bostans (historical urban vegetable gardens) are culturally significant. Despite their importance and UNESCO recognition, the planning and management of bostans have been hampered by rapid urbanization and a lack of integrative policies. Data from interviews, observations, and fieldwork highlighted the role of kinship in knowledge transfer and how farmers base activities on past-present affordances and future expectations.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceThe Goals and Realization of ‘Socio-Horticulture’ as a University Character Education
2023Hye-Ryung Kim · The Korean Association of General Education · South Korea
This study aims to explore the potential of a new university character education model based on "socio-horticulture," using the "SHARE Community Gardening" course at E-University in South Korea as a case. The research examines the course's background, development process, operational methods, and key educational content, seeking to evaluate its significance and value.
Food educationCommunityAssessing the Impact of Community Gardens in Mitigating Household Food Insecurity and Addressing Climate Change Challenges: A Case Study of Ward 18, Umdoni Municipality, South Africa
2023Merishca Naicker, Denver Naidoo, Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi · African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies · South Africa
This mixed-methods study surveyed 120 community garden participants in Ward 18, Umdoni Municipality, South Africa, to assess the impact of community gardens on household food security. The survey found that 58.3% of participants did not receive sufficient food from the gardens, and only 15.8% achieved food security, with 40% experiencing moderate food insecurity. Despite their establishment, community gardens appeared ineffective in substantially improving household food security, with challenges including climate change impacts.
Limited or null effectCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEconomicsPaying for nature‐based solutions: A review of funding and financing mechanisms for ecosystem services and their impacts on social equity
2023Austin Thompson‐Spain, Kyle S. Bunds, Lincoln R. Larson, Bethany B. Cutts, J. Aaron Hipp · Sustainable Development · United States
This scoping review examines funding and financing mechanisms for nature-based solutions and their impact on social equity in the United States. It finds that market-driven nature-based solutions can contribute to an inequitable distribution of urban ecosystem services. The distribution of benefits is influenced by local contexts, decision-making inclusion, and payment mechanisms, suggesting disparities in access for diverse and marginalized populations.
Equity & displacementPolicyEconomicsClimate changeCommunityFlowers in the dark: The contribution of rooftop urban agriculture to human well-being in the Ein El-Hilweh Refugee Camp, Lebanon
2023Anisja Tarchahani, Jacqueline Loos · World Development Sustainability · Lebanon
This study analyzed the livelihood effects of rooftop urban agriculture for 10 Palestinian women in Ein El-Hilweh Camp, Lebanon, using a mixed-method approach combining document analysis and a survey. Findings suggest that rooftop urban agriculture contributes considerably to more sustainable livelihoods for Palestinian women and their families by enabling them to develop natural and human capital, increasing food security, and protecting natural resources. It is a low-threshold tool that enhances refugees' well-being over the medium term.
CommunityWelfareHealthEconomicsProximity to Green and Blue Spaces and Serious Psychological Distress in Urban-Dwelling Older Adults: Analysis of Washington State BRFSS data (P2-12.006)
2023Adithya Vegaraju, Solmaz Amiri · Neurology · United States (Washington)
This study assessed the associations between proximity to green and blue spaces and Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) among urban-dwelling older adults in Washington State. The 2011–2019 dataset from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) was utilized to assess SPD among residents aged 65 and over. Approximately 2% of urban-dwelling older adults had SPD. The odds of experiencing SPD were lower among urban-dwelling adults living within half a mile of green or blue spaces compared to those living further than half a mile from such spaces within Washington State.
HealthCommunityElderlyStakeholder Opinions on Urban Agriculture: The Case of Iğdır
2023Enes AKDENİZ, M. Bihter BİNGÜL BULUT, İbrahim HOSAFLIOĞLU, Öner Demirel · Mimarlık Bilimleri ve Uygulamaları Dergisi (MBUD) · Turkey (Iğdır)
This study aimed to determine the place and importance of urban agriculture from the perspective of stakeholders in Iğdır city and its surrounding areas. Semi-structured interview forms were used, with five questions posed to stakeholders, and data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. According to the findings, Iğdır city was concluded to hold significant potential for urban agricultural activities.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsThe Interactive Effect of Age and Education on Bonding Social Capital towards Empowerment of Urban Agriculture Communities in Klang Valley, Malaysia
2023Nur Shuhamin Nazuri, Siti Shazwani Ahmad Suhaimi, Mohamad Fazli Sabri · International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences · Malaysia
This quantitative study examined 212 Urban Agriculture program members in Klang Valley, Malaysia, to understand the interactive effect of age and education on bonding social capital and social empowerment. It found high levels of bonding social capital and social empowerment, with a strong correlation between them. Age and education significantly moderate this relationship, with younger and highly educated individuals showing a more significant impact.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPemberdayaan Masyarakat Berbasis Diversifikasi Produk Pangan
2023Irnanda Pratiwi, Muhni Pamuji, Nasir Nasir · IKRA-ITH ABDIMAS · Indonesia
This program in Sialang sub-district, Indonesia, aims to empower the community by educating them on urban farming and providing training in processing bitter melon and banana stems into economically valuable chips. It addresses the lack of comprehensive training in urban farming and utilizing home garden produce. The program reports that one banana midrib stem yields approximately 1.5 kg of chips, and 1 kg of bitter melon produces 200g of chips.
CommunityFood educationDIYEdible Garden Cities: Rethinking Boundaries and Integrating Hedges into Scalable Urban Food Systems
2023David Adams, Peter J. Larkham, Michael Hardman · Land · United Kingdom
This paper explores how porous boundary treatments and plot layouts can encourage ecological exchanges in new urban and peri-urban developments, focusing on a large-scale residential development in the English midlands. It outlines the socio-economic, cultural, and ecological significance of embedding diverse hedgerow designs into early planning, revealing a need to move beyond current models. The study suggests these designs could encourage sustainable land use and scalable urban agricultural systems.
BiodiversityUrban–rural linkageClimate changeCommunityOasis Training Model to Improve Community Skills in Urban Agriculture in Makassar City, Indonesia
2023Abdul Salam, Bakhrani A. Rauf, Moh. Ahsan S. Mandra · International Journal of Innovative Research and Development · Indonesia (Makassar)
In Makassar City, Indonesia, challenges in urban agriculture development stem from a lack of understanding and community skills. This research and development (R&D) study aimed to enhance community skills through counseling using an urban agricultural education model. The OASIS module was developed, and its effectiveness was tested using a paired sample t-test with 20 respondents in an experimental group and 20 in a control group. The OASIS extension model proved valid, practical, and effective in improving participants' skills, with the experimental group showing a significant skill increase after receiving urban farming counseling.
Food educationCommunityCultivating thirdspace: Community, conflict and place in small-city urban gardens
2023Emelie Larsson, Katarina Giritli Nygren · Landscape and Urban Planning · Sweden
This study explored urban gardens as "thirdspaces" by interviewing allotment gardeners and community gardeners in small Swedish cities. Allotments were examined as "lived places" where experiences, meanings, and a sense of place develop. The results illuminated how allotment gardens function as a nature-human crossing point and a practice connecting city residents with countryside life and non-landowners with the land.
Equity & displacementCommunityUrban–rural linkageRaised Food Prices Exacerbate Food Insecurity in Canada: A Call to Action
2023Rudra Dahal, Kamala Adhikari, Karen Tang · Journal of Community Medicine & Public Health · Canada
This paper discusses how record-high inflation rates and skyrocketing food prices in Canada exacerbate food insecurity, defined as inadequate food access due to financial constraints. Food insecurity is identified as a strong predictor of poor physical and mental health, higher mortality rates for those with chronic conditions, and increased healthcare utilization and costs. The paper suggests a comprehensive approach combining short-term solutions like community gardens and long-term policy interventions to address the root cause of inadequate income.
CommunityHealthEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceCrowdfunding Sebagai Penguatan Urban Farming Masyarakat Penjaringansari Surabaya Menuju Ekonomi Hijau
2023Idfi Setyaningrum, Nur Achadijah, Kartini Kartini, Ramdan Hidayat · LOSARI Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Surabaya)
A community service project in RT 02 RW 04, Penjaringansari Village, Surabaya City, Indonesia, supported vertical gardening of family medicinal plants (TOGA) in limited spaces. The activity provided information and assistance from planting media selection to harvesting, using an "Edu_DoIt" approach combining education with direct application. This resulted in educational vertical gardens, with harvested produce sold to the local community, generating sustainable economic value.
CommunityEconomicsFood educationDIYPEMBERDAYAAN KELOMPOK PKK MELALUI PELATIHAN BUDIDAYA MICROGREENS SEBAGAI UPAYA PEMANFAATAN LAHAN SEMPIT DI KELURAHAN BLIMBING
2023Adhellya Novia Putri, Elfi Indriani Puspitasari, Eric Andika Rahman, Elok Vilantika · Prosiding Seminar Hasil Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat dan Kuliah Kerja Nyata · Indonesia
A microgreens cultivation training program was conducted for PKK women in Blimbing Village, Indonesia, to address challenges in utilizing limited land for agriculture. The program provided socialization and practical training on planting, caring for, and harvesting microgreens. Initial evaluation results indicated that participants increased their understanding of microgreens' potential in small spaces, fostered community collaboration, and improved family nutrition.
CommunityFood educationDIYHealthINOVASI URBAN FARMING DAN PEMBERDAYAAN PEREMPUAN UNTUK DESA TANGGUH PANGAN
2023Imam Mukhlis, Magistyo Purboyo Priambodo, Ahmad Fawaiq Suwanan, Nila Cahayati, Davied Radhika Saputra, Elmira Mufliha Camila, Kuntum Kinanthi · JMM (Jurnal Masyarakat Mandiri) · Indonesia (Jawa Timur)
This community engagement activity aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of 40 Family Welfare Movement (PKK) members and 10 Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDEs) members in Jongbiru Village, East Java, in utilizing land for daily sustenance through hydroponic urban farming. Rapid urbanization and agricultural land conversion in Kediri Regency contribute to future food security vulnerability. The activity successfully transferred knowledge to PKK and BUMDEs collaborators, with all participants expressing interest in establishing hydroponic stations to ensure daily access to quality vegetables.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePELATIHAN DAN PENDAMPINGAN BUDIDAYA SAYURAN HIDROPONIK BAGI IBU-IBU PKK RT 02/RW 01 KELURAHAN TENGGILIS MEJOYO KOTA SURABAYA
2023Amelia Nirmalawaty, Tiurma Wiliana Susanti Panjaitan, Dwi Agustiyah Rosida · Abdi Massa. · Indonesia (Surabaya)
Training and assistance for hydroponic vegetable cultivation were provided to PKK women in RT 02/RW 01, Tenggilis Mejoyo Village, Surabaya City. Previous NFT hydroponic training had suboptimal implementation due to limited yard space and insufficient understanding of hydroponic cultivation, particularly in plant nursery and nutrient solution concentration measurement. The current training and assistance successfully improved the participants' knowledge and skills, enabling optimal utilization of aid from the Food Security and Agriculture Office and maximizing the use of limited land for community nutritional needs.
Limited or null effectFood educationCommunityDIYAGRICULTURA URBANA NA PAISAGEM VERDE PÚBLICA DO BAIRRO JARDIM TROPICAL, SERRA-ES.
2023Cleberson Saraiva · Revista Contexto Geográfico · Brazil (Serra)
This study investigated the relationship between the multifunctionality of urban agriculture and cultivated plants in the public spaces of the popular urban neighborhood Jardim Tropical, Serra-ES, Brazil. Using bibliographic, documentary, and field research, it found that these cultivated plants form a public green landscape. This landscape facilitates social relations for environmental revitalization and comfort, small-scale production of food and natural medicines, leisure, and social interaction, promoting a sense of belonging and characterizing urban agriculture's multifunctionality.
CommunityBiodiversityHealthHORTA COMUNITÁRIA COMO ATIVIDADE DE EDUCAÇÃO EM SAÚDE NAS UBS DO MUNICÍPIO DE TERESÓPOLIS
2023Márcia Emília Moreira De Luca, Carlos Alfredo Franco Cardoso, Gabriel Schwambach Del Piero, Vinícius Feitoza Xavier · Revista da Jopic. · Brazil (Teresópolis)
This study implemented community medicinal gardens in two Basic Health Units and a nursing home in Teresópolis, Brazil, to promote health education and raise awareness about the risks of improper medicinal plant use. Five plants with therapeutic benefits were chosen, and seedlings were offered to patients alongside discussion groups. This initiative aimed to provide information on basic health, facilitate access to plants, reduce medication costs, and indirectly increase family income.
CommunityHealthFood educationElderlyEnvironmental horticulture for domestic and community gardens—An integrated and applied research approach
2023M.B. Gush, Tijana Blanuša, Lauriane Suyin Chalmin‐Pui, A. Griffiths, Elisabeth K. Larsen, Raghavendra Prasad, Marc Redmile‐Gordon, Chloe Sutcliffe · Plants People Planet · Global
This article presents an integrated and applied research approach to environmental horticulture from The Royal Horticultural Society. It emphasizes the importance of domestic and community gardens in the context of global environmental threats and discusses four primary research focus areas. These areas include responding to climate change, using plants for environmental regulation, sustainable resource management, and gardening for human health and wellbeing.
CommunityBiodiversityClimate changeDIYCultivating communities in Mendoza, Argentina: Exploring social aspects of urban agriculture
2023Lena Katharina Mietz, Bárbara Civit, Alejandro Pablo Arena · Environmental & Socio-economic Studies · Argentina (Mendoza)
This study investigated vegetable consumption patterns, interest in vegetable production, opinions on urban agriculture, and barriers in the metropolitan city of Mendoza, Argentina. Using quantitative research methods and a citizen survey, the results showed strong interest from citizens in urban agriculture, but also identified barriers such as lack of time and resources.
Limited or null effectCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicySchool Gardening and Health and Well-Being of School-Aged Children: A Realist Synthesis
2023Timothy P. Holloway, Lisa Dalton, Roger Hughes, Sisitha Jayasinghe, Kira Patterson, Sandra Murray, Robert Soward, Nuala M. Byrne, Andrew P. Hills, Kdk Ahuja · Nutrients · Global
This systematic realist synthesis investigated how school gardens improve health and well-being outcomes for school-aged children, examining 24 school gardening interventions. Most interventions, primarily in primary schools with children in Grades 2-6, aimed to increase fruit and vegetable intake and prevent childhood obesity. Positive outcomes included increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, dietary fiber, and vitamins A and C, improved body mass index, and enhanced well-being, achieved through mechanisms like curriculum integration, experiential learning, and family engagement.
Food educationHealthCommunityCaring in unequal worlds
2023Miriam Williams, Lillian Tait · · Australia (Sydney)
This chapter reflects on how attention to care helps understand the hopes and troubles shaping Community Food Initiatives (CFIs) in unequal worlds. Drawing on data from a 2019 research project documenting CFIs across metropolitan Sydney, Australia, the chapter analyzes two initiatives: the Addison Road Community Centre Organisation (ARCCO) Food Pantry and Five Serves Produce Community Support Agriculture Scheme (CSA). The analysis reveals expansive communities involving human and non-human others that are cared for, cared about, and cared with CFIs, highlighting the complexities of care in unequal contexts.
Equity & displacementCommunityCSA & TeikeiWelfare