Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
3241 results(85 / 130)
Urban Agriculture: Environmental, Economic, and Social Perspectives
2016Steve G. Hallett, Lori Hoagland, Emily Toner · Horticultural reviews · Global
This chapter discusses urban agriculture from economic, environmental, and social perspectives, acknowledging differences between urban agriculture in small and large cities, as well as the Global North and South. Urban farms and community gardens can have both positive and negative environmental impacts, such as reducing or increasing energy consumption, improving water infiltration, and beautifying neighborhoods, or producing odors and contaminating water. The chapter also attempts to frame policy recommendations that might help guide urban agriculture's development.
Contamination & food safetyEconomicsClimate changePolicyCommunityTowards Regenerated and Productive Vacant Areas through Urban Horticulture: Lessons from Bologna, Italy
2016Daniela Gasperi, Giuseppina Pennisi, Niccolò Rizzati, F. Magrefi, Giovanni Giorgio Bazzocchi, Umberto Mezzacapo, Monique Centrone Stefani, Esther Sanyé‐Mengual, Francesco Orsini, Giorgio Gianquinto · Sustainability · Italy (Bologna)
This paper analyzed current practices in the requalification of vacant areas as urban gardens in Bologna, Italy, using six case studies across four types of vacant areas. For most cases, urban horticulture improved the image and quality of the areas and provided social benefits like improved life quality, food access, and social interaction. Strong differences were found between top-down and bottom-up initiatives, with bottom-up approaches being preferable for citizen engagement.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyDIYKEBERLANJUTAN URBAN FARMING SEBAGAI BENTUK TRANSFORMASI PERTANIAN ORGANIK DI PEKARANGAN RUMAH TANGGA DI DESA PENANGGUNGAN KECAMATAN TRAWAS KABUPATEN MOJOKERTO
2016Ferdianto Budi Samudra, Adi Prayoga · Surya Agritama : Jurnal Ilmu Pertanian dan Peternakan · Indonesia
This descriptive study in Penanggungan Village, Trawas District, Mojokerto Regency, Indonesia, aimed to assess the sustainability of an organic urban farming system implemented in household yards using mini greenhouses. The research, conducted in a community-based organic farming area, found that the urban farming system in the study location was sustainable from the perspective of its cultivation system.
CommunityOrganic cycleEconomicsDIYAffordable Microcontroller-Controlled Home Irrigation System for Urban Farmers in Nigeria
2016Eromosele George Oko-Oboh, Philip A. Adewuyi · · Nigeria
This work developed an affordable microcontroller-controlled home irrigation system for urban farmers in Nigeria, aiming to conserve water and mitigate urban poverty and food insecurity. The system, utilizing a PIC16F877A microcontroller, was designed to be cheap in procurement, maintenance, and running costs compared to conventional irrigation. Performance tests conducted in the Proteus VSM environment showed improved performance and energy savings over existing conventional irrigation systems.
Digital agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsMetropolitan foodscapes with multifunctional land use
2016Malin Gustafsson, Matilda Olsson · · Netherlands (Schiedam)
This thesis focuses on a design proposal for a multifunctional foodscape in a peri-urban area on the city edge of Schiedam, in the Metropolitan Region of Rotterdam-The Hague, Netherlands. The proposal includes food production, education, and recreation, aiming to transform peri-urban areas into multifunctional zones and exemplify their role as transition zones between urban and rural landscapes. An empirical pre-study was conducted, focusing on urban farming in Rotterdam, dairy farming in Midden-Delfland, and greenhouse horticulture in Westland.
Peri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageFood miles & supply chainPolicyEconomicsFood educationLeafy amaranthus consumption patterns in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
2016niversity Ouaga I Prof Joseph KI-ZERBO, Burkina Faso, Adama Hilou, Issaka Ouédraogo, PAED Sombié, Samson Guenné, Dramane Paré, Mariguetou Compaore · African Journal of Food Agriculture Nutrition and Development · Africa
A field survey in the Ouagadougou region of Burkina Faso examined the socio-economic, food consumption, and conservation aspects of leafy vegetables, specifically amaranth species. Leafy vegetables are cultivated under both rain-fed and irrigated conditions in villages and city gardens, with amaranth species being the most cultivated and marketed, showing potential for commercialization. Ninety-four percent of interviewed people use leafy amaranth in sauce, and there is a growing trend to use introduced amaranth species, which poses a threat to biodiversity.
Food educationHealthEconomicsPerceptions and attitudes of participants toward urban gardening. A case study of nutrition gardens in Mucheke town, Masvingo
2016Florence Chimbwanda · Journals & Books Hosting (International Knowledge Sharing Platform) · Zimbabwe (Masvingo)
This study investigated participants' attitudes and perceptions toward urban gardening in Mucheke town, Masvingo, Zimbabwe, using questionnaires, focus group discussions, and field observations with a sample of 40 participants. It found that urban gardening is important for the community and income generation, with participants reporting benefits like additional income, family consumption, and socialization. However, participants identified challenges including theft, dilapidated canals, a single water point, and limited market access.
Governance failureCommunityHealthWelfareEconomicsKebijakan Pengembangan Pertanian Kota Berkelanjutan: Studi Kasus di DKI Jakarta
2016Sostenis Sampeliling, Santun R.P. Sitorus, Siti Nurisyah, Bambang Pramudya · Analisis Kebijakan Pertanian · Indonesia (DKI Jakarta)
This study analyzed key factors influencing the sustainability and policy development of urban agriculture in DKI Jakarta, Indonesia, using MDS and Rap-Ur-Agri methods. The analysis found that the existing sustainability status of urban agriculture development had an index value of 48.70%, indicating it was less than sustainable. Key factors for sustainable urban agriculture include yard area, eco-friendly commodity and technology development, agricultural extension and institutions, expansion of farming land/space, stakeholder cooperation, and agricultural incentives.
Limited or null effectPolicyClimate changeEconomicsIndividualist and collectivist consumer motivations in local organic food markets
2016Zachary Schrank, Katrina Running · Journal of Consumer Culture · United States
This study analyzed consumer motivations in Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs using interview data from 58 members in a large southwestern US city. Researchers investigated whether members were primarily motivated by individual interests (e.g., nutritional benefits, taste) or collective concerns (e.g., environmental, economic). Findings indicated that CSA members pursued individualist and collectivist goals equally, emphasizing environmental issues and sustainability through local organic consumption as a pathway to individual health.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceA Study on Participation of Farmers in Urban Agriculture and Income Creation Methods : Focusing on the Case of Community Garden in Jeonju
2016Gyun-Gi Bae, Donghun Shin · 산업경제연구 · South Korea
This study explored farmer income creation in urban agriculture through farmer participation and community activation, focusing on a community garden in Jeonju, South Korea. Exploratory factor analysis identified four factors: community, farmer participation, facilities/environment, and operation/management. Regression analysis showed all factors positively influenced user satisfaction, with farmer participation and community having the strongest effects. For farmer income generation through produce sales and increased plot fees, sufficient facilities and environmental conditions were concluded to be necessary.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageImproving Living Conditions in Informal Settlements The Case of El-Arab, Hurghada
2016Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed Attia Khalil, Amr Abd El-Aal, Natacha Quintero, Hazem Aayash, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Mohamed R. Ibrahim, Kamal Marei · Procedia Environmental Sciences · Africa
This study focused on an urban upgrading project in El-Arab, an informal settlement in Hurghada, conducted by Master's students from the Urban Development department at Technische Universität Berlin Campus El-Gouna. The project proposed an integrative approach involving physical upgrading, solid waste management, and urban agriculture as three interconnected components to improve living conditions and livelihoods in El-Arab.
CommunityWelfareEconomicsLegal Literacy as a Strategy for Economic Empowerment: A Case of the Implementation of By Laws on Urban Agriculture by Kadoma Municipality, Zimbabwe
2016Kennedy K. Mwangi · IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science · Africa
This paper explores how legal information dissemination impacts socio-economic rights in informal settlements, focusing on urban agriculture rights in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. It investigates residents' knowledge of their urban agriculture rights and their information needs, as well as communication structures between the municipal council and residents. The research aims to provide legal information to enable residents to engage with available services.
PolicyEconomicsCommunityUrban Gardening, Food Coops, Community Supported Agriculture: Transformative Wirtschaftsformen – Konsumpraktiken – Marktbeziehungen
2016Irene Antoni-Komar · HiBiFo – Haushalt in Bildung & Forschung · Global
This study evaluated how new food-related economic forms, such as urban gardening, food coops, and community-supported agriculture, contribute to reshaping consumption practices and market relationships to foster a sustainable food economy. Based on empirical data, the research elucidated the specific characteristics and transformative potentials of these initiatives. The question is whether these initiatives can transform the prevailing food system from the bottom up.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCSA & TeikeiAGRICULTURA URBANA COMO FATOR DE DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL: um estudo na Região Metropolitana de Maringá
2016Vicente Chiaramonte Pires · Pesquisa & Debate. Revista do Programa de Estudos Pós-Graduados em Economia Política. ISSN 1806-9029 · Brazil (Maringá)
A qualitative study in community gardens within Brazil's Maringá Metropolitan Region revealed that urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) offers significant contributions to the economic and social development of participating farmers and their families. This project has been in place since 2008, providing technical assistance and urban extension.
CommunityEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureBetween Green Image Production, Participatory Politics and Growth: Urban Agriculture and Gardens in the Context of Neoliberal Urban Development in Vienna
2016Sarah Kumnig · WU Research · Austria (Vienna)
This paper analyzes the implications of neoliberal urban development for agricultural spaces and practices in Vienna, Austria, where agricultural areas face pressure from population growth and a construction boom. Using the Donaufeld district as a case study, the analysis reveals selective preservation and activation of specific urban agriculture types and the use of participatory politics in urban development projects. The study highlights the challenges faced by urban agriculture amidst competing interests in a rapidly developing city.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityEconomicsThe Potential of Urban Vacant Land For Producing Fresh Vegetables in the City of Maribyrnong, Victoria, Australia.
2016Sri Tuntung Pandangwati, Ole Fryd · · Australia (Melbourne)
A study in Maribyrnong, Australia, used secondary data and GIS to assess the potential of urban vacant land for vegetable production in three suburbs: Maribyrnong, Footscray, and Seddon. Maribyrnong and Footscray could meet annual local vegetable demand using less than half their vacant spaces. Seddon could potentially produce 93% of local demand by utilizing all existing vacant spaces.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyWelfare‘Balik Kampong’: Is Malaysia Facing the Trends of De-Urbanization?
2016NUR HUZEIMA MOHD HUSSAIN, HUGH BYRD · Jurnal Antarabangsa Alam dan Tamadun Melayu · Malaysia
This paper questions whether Malaysia is experiencing de-urbanization, or a return to a new form of rural life, following rapid urbanization and a shift from an agricultural to a manufacturing-dependent society. It notes that urban growth has increased demand for resources, while recent debates on oil depletion and economic decline have prompted discussions about urban and peri-urban food production. The study explores the emerging decentralization of cities and population in Malaysia.
Urban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceMore‐than‐Active Food Citizens: A Longitudinal and Comparative Study of Alternative and Conventional Eaters
2016Michael Carolan · Rural Sociology · United States (Colorado)
Researchers in Colorado studied individuals participating in alternative food practices (CSA, farmers' markets, food cooperatives) and conventional eaters. Participants were surveyed and re-surveyed two years later, with 119 qualitative interviews conducted, and a phone survey of 106 conventional eaters. The study aimed to understand how alternative foodscape engagement compares to conventional eating, how responses change after exposure to alternative foodscapes, and why individuals might think and behave differently.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsAgricultura urbana e gestão territorial em Recife/PE/Brasil: qual o lugar da agricultura urbana no planejamento da cidade?
2016Rúbio José Ferreira, Cláudio Jorge Moura de Castilho · Ateliê Geográfico · Brazil (Recife)
This text examines the place of urban agriculture and its practitioners in the urban planning process in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. The main results indicate that urban agriculture and urban farmers are not effectively considered by Recife's urban planning technicians. This may be due to urban agriculture being a social practice used by people from the "lowest layers" of society in a marginal area of the local urban economy.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityEconomicsWelfareA history of urban gardens in Europe
2016Nazila Keshavarz, Simon Bell, Andis Zīlāns, Andrew Hursthouse, Annette Voigt, Ans Hobbelink, Antoine Zammit, Ari Jokinen, Bent Egberg Mikkelsen, Bruno Notteboom, Byron Ioannou, Chiara Certomà, Eva Schwab, Ivana Sentić, Johan Barstad, Krista Willman, Laura Calvet‐Mir, Ligita Baležentienė, Malou Weirich, Maria Partalidou, Martin Sondermann, M. Latkowska, Nerea Morán, Ole Pihl, Sara Uršić, Simone Tappert, Sophia Meeres, Susan Noori, Theodosia Anthopoulou, Tim Delshammar, Werner Heidemann, Zuzana Gogová · · Europe
This article outlined the diverse history of urban gardens, including allotments and community gardens, in Europe. History shows many similarities and differences in the reasons for their formation, with urban gardens gaining renewed recognition during the two world wars as a reliable way of producing food. Changes in urban demography, environmental and social movements, and people's attitudes in recent decades have also shaped the history of urban gardens.
CommunityPolicyEconomics关于舟山市“菜篮子”工程的调查与思考
2016雷靖, 陈斯钰, 刘煜 · 农村经济与科技 · China (Zhoushan)
This study examines Zhoushan City's "Vegetable Basket" project, which established production bases in urban and rural areas to ensure vegetable supply and stabilize prices. Despite significant achievements, the project is noted to have problems such as incomplete vegetable supply varieties, imperfect infrastructure, low industrialization, and a lack of quality assurance. The study suggests addressing these issues by diversifying product supply, strengthening infrastructure, improving industrialization, and enhancing quality and safety supervision.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkage破解农村“四大难题”助推全面小康建设
2016楚杰 · 武汉宣传 · China (Wuhan)
Wuhan City promoted the development of modern urban agriculture to solve the four major challenges of "Sannong" issues (funding, human resources, land, and public sentiment). By the end of 2015, the city's total agricultural output value and agricultural added value reached 62.028 billion yuan and 37.004 billion yuan respectively, doubling since 2010. The disposable income of rural permanent residents was 17,722 yuan.
PolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageVulnerability Analysis of Urban Agriculture Projects: A Case Study of Community and Entrepreneurial Gardens in the Netherlands and Switzerland
2016Ladina Knapp, E.J. Veen, H. Renting, J.S.C. Wiskerke, J.C.J. Groot · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Europe
This study assessed criteria for the successful establishment and continuity of 29 small-scale, bottom-up urban agriculture (UA) initiatives in the Netherlands and Switzerland, using a vulnerability analysis framework. Biophysical and socio-institutional criteria were analyzed through interviews with project leaders. Findings revealed that the vulnerability of UA systems strongly depends on local circumstances, with the main perturbations and causes of vulnerability originating from social-institutional and human conditions, such as the institutional sphere, local authority assistance, and project leaders' determination.
Governance failureCommunityEconomicsPolicyHealthAgricultura urbana e segurança alimentar: estudo de caso da horta comunitária da COHAB em Lavras/MG
2016Heliene Macedo de Araújo, Thiago Rodrigo de Paula Assis, Ana Paula Borges Martins · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (Lavras)
This qualitative case study aimed to identify the potential of urban agriculture in promoting food and nutritional security (SAN) based on the experience of the COHAB community garden association in Lavras/MG, Brazil. Interviews were conducted with 13 (48%) of the 27 association members using semi-structured questionnaires. Findings revealed that all interviewees had ancestral ties to farming, and cultivation was learned and passed down through generations. Food access was consistently ensured for families and neighborhood residents through commercialization, self-consumption, and donation, with 11 members prioritizing self-consumption. The garden produced 58 diverse products, demonstrating urban agriculture's link to SAN promotion and improved family diets.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthEconomicsNo. 04: Supermarkets, Wet Markets and Food Patronage in Nanjing, China
2016Zhenzhong Si, Steffanie Scott, Cameron McCordic · Scholars Commons (Wilfrid Laurier University) · China
This paper analyzed food purchasing patterns among 1,200 households in Nanjing, China, to understand the use of various food sources including supermarkets, wet markets, online markets, and urban agriculture. Findings indicate that while supermarkets are primary for staple grains, dairy, and processed foods, wet markets remain dominant for fresh produce and meat. The study highlights high food accessibility in Nanjing and the importance of diverse food sources beyond conventional retail.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkage