Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2406 results(86 / 97)
Illuminating Urban Agriculture: a new framework for understanding complexity
2011Helena K. Farrell · ScholarWorks@UMassAmherst (University of Massachusetts Amherst) · Global
Modern food systems are vulnerable, necessitating a transition to regenerative agricultural practices. Urban agriculture is expanding globally to meet urban dwellers' needs and mitigate the effects of industrial agriculture. The wide variety of urban agriculture styles, practices, and production modes highlights the need for clearer articulation and more accurate distinctions between actual urban farm systems. An evaluative framework was developed in this research to assess urban farm systems using a current and comprehensive set of criteria and metrics. The long-term role of urban food production in feeding the global population remains unclear.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changePolicyUrban–rural linkageReproductive Health And The Industrialized Food System: A Point Of Intervention For Health Policy
2011Patrice Sutton, David Wallinga, Joanne Perron, Michelle Gottlieb, Lucia Sayre, Tracey J. Woodruff · Health Affairs · United States
This article examines evidence that the intensive use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, and fossil fuels in food production, as well as chemicals in food packaging, are potentially harmful to human reproductive and developmental health. The US food production system, while relatively low in cost, often yields food that is high in calories and low in nutritional value. The authors conclude that policies to advance a healthy food system are necessary to prevent adverse reproductive health effects.
HealthPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceChemical and microbial properties of farmer’s field soils fertilized with municipal solid wastes without pretreatment in the peri-urban zone of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
2011Eckhard Hein, TW Kabore, A. Bilgo, SN Sall, Dominique Massé · International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences · Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)
This study evaluated the impact of untreated municipal solid waste (MSW) on soil properties in peri-urban agricultural fields near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Soils receiving MSW for 7 to 20 years showed up to a two-fold increase in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content, with older fields having higher increases. While microbial biomass was significantly higher in MSW-fertilized soils, microbial activity and catabolic diversity were not significantly different.
Peri-urban agricultureCompostOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceAn investigation of urban agriculture projects as a local economic development mechanism to alleviate poverty in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
2011Phumelelo Edwin Khomo · · South Africa (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality)
An investigation was conducted into three urban agriculture projects in the townships of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa, examining their role as a local economic development mechanism for poverty alleviation. Five project participants from each project and three municipal officials responded to structured questionnaires. The study aimed to determine the projects' impact on participants' livelihoods, their role in employment creation, and participants' views on project sustainability.
EconomicsWelfareCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceSegurança alimentar e nutricional, pobreza urbana e suas relações com a Agricultura Urbana: fragmentos de uma discussão
2011Marina de Fátima Brandão Carneiro, Igor Martins de Oliveira, Gabriel Alves Veloso · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Brazil
This article discusses food and nutritional security, urban poverty, and their relationship with urban agriculture, which arises from the urbanization process. It analyzed quantitative data from the Pan-American Health Organization and Pastoral da Criança in two neighborhoods of Montes Claros, Brazil, to map poverty distribution and child malnutrition. It concludes that the search for more effective and continuous alternatives for food insecurity is increasingly urgent, as hunger has only increased globally despite various initiatives.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareHealthIntegrating Agriculture and Food Policy To Achieve Sustainable Peri-urban Fruit and Vegetable Production in Victoria, Australia
2011Rachel Carey, Fanny Krumholz, Kena Duignan, Kathy McConell, Jessica L. Browne, Catherine Burns, Mark Lawrence · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Australia (Victoria)
This policy analysis examined fruit and vegetable production in peri-urban areas of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It highlights that environmental pressures, the loss and cost of peri-urban agricultural land, and a cost-price squeeze due to rising input costs and low farm-gate prices combine to threaten the viability of the Victorian fruit and vegetable industries. These pressures suggest that the availability and affordability of fruit and vegetable supplies cannot be taken for granted.
Economic viabilityPeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceRole of socioeconomic parameters in determining the efficacy of urban agriculture in providing food security in Birnin Kebbi metropolitan area, Kebbi State, north western Nigeria.
2011A. K. Ango, Aliyu Abdullahi, Bello Bunza Abubakar · International Research Journal of Agriculture and Soil Science · Nigeria (Birnin Kebbi)
A study in Birnin Kebbi metropolis, Nigeria, during the 2009/2010 cropping season surveyed 100 urban farmers across 10 districts. The study found that urban farmers cultivate food crops and rear animals, but identified low capital, lack of adequate funds, strict land-use regulations, and lack of agricultural inputs as major problems. Socio-economic status, family size, and education level were significantly related to participation in urban farming.
Economic viabilityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyCommunityUrban agriculture: A solution to food insecurity and some other economic problems in globalizing India
2011Prasanta Bauri · · India
This article assesses the significance of urban agriculture in globalizing India. It suggests that urban farming offers a pragmatic solution to food insecurity, livelihood crises, unemployment, poverty, hunger, and environmental unsustainability in India. Additionally, commercial urban agriculture could enhance Indian cash crop exports.
WelfareEconomicsClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceAgricultura urbana
2011Maura Neves Coutinho, Heloísa Soares de Moura Costa · Revista Geografias · Brazil (Belo Horizonte)
This article discusses urban agriculture (UA) concepts and practices, focusing on initiatives in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, by both residents and local government. It considers UA's potential for ecological, productive, and inclusive cities, but notes the difficulty of secure access to urban land. The discussion on UA is still fragile and faces challenges in becoming an effective social policy.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceGT6 - 1013 AGRICULTURA URBANA: PRÁTICA ESPONTÂNEA, POLÍTICA PÚBLICA E TRANSFORMAÇÃO DE SABERES RURAIS NA CIDADE
2011Maura Neves Coutinho, Heloísa Soares de Moura Costa · Anais ENANPUR · Brazil (Belo Horizonte)
This paper discusses urban agriculture (AU) practices occurring in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, both through informal and spontaneous initiatives by residents in peripheral neighborhoods and as an object of public intervention by the local government for specific purposes. The study concludes that secure access to urban land for maintaining AU practices is difficult, and the discussion on AU remains fragile, facing challenges for its implementation as a social policy impacting urban policies.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban Agriculture: Advances, Opportunities and Application
2011Marielle Dubbeling, H. de Zeeuw · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · Global
This handbook highlights that most urban growth occurs in less developed regions, often leading to over-urbanization where migrants struggle to find employment, adequate shelter, and sufficient food. Despite these challenges, urban poverty is frequently considered less severe than rural poverty.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareUrban–rural linkageEconomicsEstrategia municipal para la producción local de alimentos en Yaguajay, Cuba
2011Sinaí Boffill, Rafael Miguel Reyes · Redalyc (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México) · Cuba
This article presents the municipal strategy for local food production in Yaguajay, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, which began in 2004 as an integral program with 29 tasks across four subprograms. The strategy, implemented through projects, prioritizes technology adoption and training in collaboration with universities and research centers. Key results include self-sufficiency in fresh milk, improved cattle herds and their feed base, development of sheep, pig, and rabbit farming, national recognition as a reference municipality in urban agriculture, biopesticide production, and partial elimination of undesirable woody plants.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageUrban Agriculture: Ideas and Designs for the New Food Revolution
2011David Tracey · · Global
This text outlines various ideas and designs for urban agriculture, ranging from small-scale indoor cultivation like windowsill herbs and sprouts to container gardening in tight spaces. It also covers integrating food-growing into backyards, utilizing front lawns for food movements, engaging in public and community gardening, establishing community orchards, and exploring future farm concepts for higher yields.
DIYCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceProximité entre ville et agriculture au Nord et au Sud de la Méditerranée
2011Saloua Toumi, Roland Vidal · Projets de paysage · Europe, Africa
Urban agriculture is expanding in various metropolitan areas, but its agro-economic and socio-spatial logic differs by context. Tunisia's urban agriculture is threatened by increasing urban expansion and is not yet integrated into territorial projects. Issues related to land value appreciation are dominant, and its landscape and environmental benefits could be compromised in the relatively short term if it does not find its place in urban development plans.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageIntroduction : Innovations et agricultures urbaines durables
2011Christophe‐Toussaint Soulard, Christine Margétic, Élodie Valette · Norois · Global
This introduction discusses the concept of urban agriculture in the context of innovation and sustainability. It notes that some authors refer to a "new agrarian frontier" to describe the challenge of re-establishing close links between cities, nature, and agriculture for the food and health of urban populations. The concept of urban agriculture is presented as embodying this idea.
Food sovereignty & justiceHealthUrban–rural linkageUrban agriculture in metropolitan Lagos: An inventory of potential land and water resources
2011Olugbenga I. Akinmoladun, O. T. Adejumo · Journal of Geography and Regional Planning · Nigeria (Lagos)
This research inventories potential land and water resources for urban agriculture in metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria, using secondary data from government agencies and primary field observations. The study found that Lagos metropolis requires 18 times its current size (3,577 km²) to sustainably feed its population. It identified 4,293 hectares of potential land and 28,890 hectares of potential water resources under federal, state, and private ownership.
EconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeGovernance of Urban Agricultural Space: Struggle for Land in Kinshasa (DRC)
2011Inge Wagemakers, Oracle Makangu Diki · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · Congo (Kinshasa)
In rapidly growing African cities, particularly Kinshasa, urban agriculture is crucial for food provision, yet land available for agriculture decreases as cities expand. This study points out that in Kinshasa, population growth and a lack of empty land are pushing agriculture towards the city's periphery, threatening urban agricultural space. This situation highlights a conflict between the need to produce food and the need for living space.
Governance failurePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood and Sustainability
2011Jack Russell Weinstein, Jay Basquiat · UND Scholarly Commons (University of North Dakota) · United States
This abstract explores philosophical questions regarding food and sustainability. It raises inquiries about why certain foods are eaten, the meaning of 'natural,' and the moral rules for food manufacturing and agricultural priorities. The text also questions the cultural and spiritual roles of food and responsibilities in providing food. Jay Basquiat is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Bismarck State College who sustainably farms near Mandan, ND.
CSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageEconomicsLa agricultura urbana como política pública: El caso de la ciudad de Rosario, Argentina
2011Antonio Lattuca · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Argentina (Rosario)
This article describes the process of creating urban agriculture in Rosario, Argentina. It explains how urban agriculture originated from civil society and subsequently became established as a municipal public policy.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceBringing a Community Garden to Haiti: Resolving World Hunger One Garden at a Time
2011Allanda Williams, Gabriel Laverty, Christopher S. Krumm, Julie M. Fagan · Rutgers University Community Repository (Rutgers University) · Haiti
This study analyzes the problems associated with world hunger and a possible solution involving the construction of a series of community gardens in Haiti.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceCommunity Perspectives on Barriers and Strategies for Promoting Locally Grown Produce From an Urban Agriculture Farm
2011Alice Hu, Ángela Acosta, Abigail McDaniel, Joel Gittelsohn · Health Promotion Practice · United States
This qualitative study identified strategies to promote locally grown produce from an urban agriculture project, Produce From the Park (PFP), among low-income neighborhood residents and community organization representatives (20 interviews, 2 focus groups, 3 participant observations) in a mid-Atlantic city in the United States. Informants identified structural and cultural barriers to purchasing healthy food, including price, location, food culture, and lack of interest, and proposed strategies such as distribution via mobile food carts and farm stands, marketing new foods through taste tests and cooking demonstrations, and youth mentorship. These strategies were inexpensive and incorporated cultural norms and local assets.
CommunityFood educationHealthEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceTechnological Innovation in Urban Agriculture: Examples from Protected and Semiprotected Cultivation
2011Sinan Koont · University Press of Florida eBooks · Cuba
This chapter examines technological innovations in protected and semi-protected urban agriculture cultivation in Cuba. Greenhouse cultivation was initially introduced for import substitution in tourism, with adaptations for tropical conditions and agroecological pest control. Semi-protected cultivation, using shade-providing screens, later replaced protected cultivation as a subprogram, and polycultures have been effectively reintroduced in semi-protected organóponicas. The program is rapidly expanding with government support.
PolicyOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceRiego con aguas residuales en la producción sostenible de granos para alimento animal
2011Lorenzo Montero, Reynaldo Cun, J. Pérez Pérez, Marta P Ricardo, Julián Herrera · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba (La Habana)
The effect of wastewater irrigation on sorghum and maize yields for animal feed production in urban agriculture was studied at an urban farm in San Miguel del Padrón municipality, La Habana province, Cuba. Two treatments, wastewater irrigation (T1) and no irrigation (T2), were compared, with a total net dose of 1775.4 m3·ha-1 of wastewater applied over 31 irrigations. Wastewater irrigation significantly increased grain yields for sorghum (4.29 t·ha-1) and maize (1.73 t·ha-1) compared to the no-irrigation treatment. Sorghum showed better water utilization efficiency than maize.
Organic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeSocio-territorial changes in peri-urban food production spaces in Central Mexico
2011Héctor Ávila-Sánchez · Norois · Mexico
This paper discusses socio-territorial changes in peri-urban food production spaces in Central Mexico, focusing on the impacts of urbanization on old rural areas. It highlights that peri-urban poor populations often face marginalization, degradation of their agricultural activities, and conflict over space with other social groups. The development of peri-urban agriculture has led to significant transformations in land use, production structures, and social and cultural aspects.
Equity & displacementPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageFOOD, LAW & THE ENVIRONMENT: INFORMATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES FOR A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM
2011Jason J. Czarnezki · Pace Digital Repository (Pace University) · United States
This article considers legal, theoretical, and practical steps towards a more sustainable food model. It argues that two changes are necessary to alter modern American food consumption: increased awareness and increased availability. The article reiterates the need to increase information available to consumers and the consequences of food choices, further arguing that structural changes in the food system are necessary to increase access to sustainable foods.
PolicyEconomicsCSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justice