Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
2406 results(87 / 97)
Final technical report RUAF - from seed to table, 2009-2011
2011Priyanie Amerasinghe, Chenna Basappa Gangappa Yadava, Wijenayake, K.M.A., Suleman, K.B. · CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) · Asia
This is the final report for the RUAF-FSTT Programme for the South and Southeast Asia Region, conducted from 2009 to June 2011 in Magadi, India, and Gampaha, Sri Lanka. The program aimed to strengthen farmer organizations and their marketing capacities in urban/periurban settings, and to develop sustainable urban farming systems. Core activities focused on operationalizing a City Strategy Agenda and an innovation project targeting low-income urban producers.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsDeals with imaginaries and perspectives: reworking urban economies in Kinshasa
2011AbdouMaliq Simone · Social Dynamics · Africa
This essay explores urban economies in Kinshasa, focusing on how residents navigate complex livelihood strategies. It examines an important retail market, urban agriculture, and a superblock development, demonstrating that the economy in Kinshasa involves assembling disparate people and things into provisional bundles. The study suggests that the economy functions to keep the value of things open to new uses and sites, highlighting the need to appreciate the oscillations of value in impoverished urban districts.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceThe Nature and Organization of Cuban Urban Agriculture
2011Sinan Koont · University Press of Florida eBooks · Cuba
This chapter describes the nature and organization of urban agriculture in Cuba, focusing on the National Group for Urban Agriculture (GNAU) within the Ministry of Agriculture. It covers land-tenure institutions and production modalities like organóponicos, huertas intensives, parcelas, and patios. GNAU oversees 28 subprograms, publishes a technical manual, conducts site visits, and performs inspection and evaluation functions, forming a system of "centralized decentralization."
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceSegurança alimentar através da agricultura urbana: um estudo de caso em duas comunidades de baixa renda em Porto Ferreira/SP.
2011Juliana Duz Ricarte, José Maria Gusman Ferraz, Janice Rodrigues Placeres Borges · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Brazil (Porto Ferreira/SP)
This study identified and characterized 91 urban agriculture (UA) units in two low-income communities in Porto Ferreira/SP, Brazil, applying a structured questionnaire to 20% of the sample. It found that UA primarily involves low-income residents, with 83.0% of producers having rural origins and practicing agriculture mainly for subsistence. UA ensured access to fruits and vegetables for 77.8% of participants and reduced food expenses for most.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityWelfareEconomicsAnalysis on Consumers' Behavior on Urban Agricultural Products
2011C. Hayavadana Rao · Anhui nongye kexue · China (Beijing)
This paper analyzes urban agriculture in Beijing, China, arguing that its development should be market-based to meet consumer demands for quality, safety, fresh products, and ecological environment. Through fieldwork, the study explores factors influencing demand for urban agricultural products and offers suggestions for promotion.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCommunity경남의 친환경농업 활성화와 지역농식품체계 구축
2011권용덕, 윤인국 · 정책포커스 · South Korea
A study investigated the status of eco-friendly agriculture in Gyeongnam, South Korea, from 2009 to 2010. Gyeongnam's eco-friendly production base was low at 6.2% of the national total (12,043ha), with a high proportion of low-pesticide produce (62.9%). Direct sales were prevalent, but wholesale distribution was very low at 3.0% of total transactions, and exports were concentrated in processed foods and heavily reliant on the Japanese market. The study identified issues such as weakened producer bargaining power, slow development of local food systems due to policy gaps, inadequate wholesale distribution, and an export structure that does not significantly benefit farmers, and proposed revitalization strategies.
Food sovereignty & justiceCSA & TeikeiFood educationPolicyThe good city: in defense of utopian thinking
2011John Friedmann · · United States
This paper discusses the evolving role of planners in the American metropolis, noting a shift from a vague "public interest" to engagement with diverse causes such as urban agriculture, food security, and community development. It highlights that many planners now work in non-profits on specific issues, and professional organizations have recognized the need for a more compelling expression of professional values to guide professionals.
CommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEcology of the Agricultural Labor:the Basis for Sustainable Development of Modern Society
2011HE Hui-li · Ecological Economy · China (Beijing)
This article proposes the "ecology of agricultural labor" as a new alternative characterized by intermediate technology, mass production, local consumption, and recycling agriculture. It illustrates this concept with two examples: natural farming by Jinlei in Zaoqiang County, Hebei Province, and the Little Donkey Citizen Farm in Beijing, China. The study suggests that this approach forms the basis for sustainable development by fostering symbiotic relationships between humans, society, and nature.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleInformation needs and use among urban farmers in Kampala district in Uganda
2011Helen M. Byamugisha, Robert Ikoja-Odongo, George William Nasinyama · Library and Information Research · Uganda (Kampala)
A qualitative and quantitative study was conducted in Kampala City, Uganda, involving 380 urban farmers and 36 focus group respondents, to investigate the information needs and use among urban farmers. Results indicated that urban farmers' information needs were as varied as their diverse agricultural enterprises, and information use depended on the type of farming enterprise and activity undertaken. The study recommends that agricultural information dissemination in Kampala City should be based on urban farmers' enterprise groups and their specific information needs.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsFood educationFood security in Southern African cities
2011Jonathan Crush, Alice J. Hovorka, Daniel Tevera · Progress in Development Studies · Africa
This article examines the contemporary importance of household food production in poor urban communities across 11 Southern African Development Community (SADC) cities. It finds that urban food production is not particularly significant in most communities, with many more households relying on supermarkets and the informal sector for food access. Furthermore, few households derive income from selling produce, though the situation varies considerably by city.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsWelfareAgricultura urbana na cidade de Teresina: hortas comunitárias - políticas públicas ou segurança alimentar?
2011Marcos Antonio de Castro Marques Teixeira · Aleph UCLA Undergraduate Research Journal for the Humanities and Social Sciences · Brazil
This study surveyed urban gardens in Santa Maria da Codipi and Dirceu Arcoverde, Teresina, Brazil, to assess their economic viability for gardeners. The study found that urban gardens in both areas do not provide income security for those who work them. Problems identified include petty theft, low education levels, lack of technical assistance hindering investment in new crops, and pesticide use creating a competitive disadvantage.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsResults of stage 1: preliminary
2011N. Karanja, F. Yeudall, S. Mbugua, M. Njenga, G. Prain, D. C. Cole, A. L. Webb, D. Sellen, C. Gore, J. M. Levy · Urban agriculture · Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya (Nakuru))
This paper outlines the conception, design, and implementation process of a project aimed at strengthening technical, environmental, financial, and social capacity for urban agriculture (UA) among HIV-affected households in Nakuru, Kenya. Key lessons learned include the value of multi-stakeholder partnerships to address complex issues in urban social agriculture, the crucial role of self-help group organizations, and securing institutional commitments to support farming by HIV-affected individuals. The usefulness of mixed-methods evaluative tools for monitoring progress and identifying supports and barriers to success is also highlighted.
WelfareCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyMunicipal enabled agriculture
2011David Mason, Ian Knowd · Urban agriculture · Australia (Sydney)
This paper explores the history of urban agriculture (UA) in the Sydney Metropolitan Region, Australia. UA emerged as a grassroots response to global forces negatively impacting urban and farming communities, including urban sprawl, supermarket dominance, the fast food industry, and globalization in the developed world. Community-based promotion of local agriculture has led governments and organizations to recognize UA as a strategic mechanism for urban communities to address food security and other challenges.
CommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeEducating Future Generations of Community Gardeners
2011Shane J. Ralston · PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) · United States
This paper presents a Deweyan argument that school gardening prepares students for community gardening, a political activity aimed at food security, education, and community development. School gardening can also prepare children for environmental political activism, particularly involvement in gardening movements, which is presented as an interpretation of John Dewey's "civic turn" to school gardening.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyOrganic gardeners uplift poor communities
2011Sarah Ward · · South Africa (Cape Town)
This article features an interview with Christina Kaba, who works for Abalimi, an urban agriculture and environmental action association operating in socio-economically neglected townships on the Cape Flats near Cape Town, South Africa. Kaba assists individuals, groups, and community-based organizations in initiating and maintaining permanent organic food growing and nature conservation projects, which serve as a basis for sustainable lifestyles, self-help job creation, poverty alleviation, and environmental renewal.
CommunityWelfareOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceSupermarket Expansion and the Informal Food Economy in Southern African Cities: Implications for Urban Food Security
2011Jonathan Crush, Bruce Frayne · Journal of Southern African Studies · Southern Africa
This article reviews urban food sources in Southern African cities, focusing on supermarket expansion, its impact on informal food suppliers, and the relative insignificance of urban agriculture for poor urban households. Findings from an eleven-city survey by AFSUN are presented, highlighting that urban agriculture has limited significance in addressing urban food insecurity in the region.
Limited or null effectFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsUrban–rural linkageAre the Old Ways New Again?: Local Farmers Practicing Civic Agriculture in Southwest Missouri
2011Lester Scott Lakey · BearWorks (Missouri State University) · United States (Missouri)
An ethnographic study of two farms in the Springfield Plateau region of the Missouri Ozarks was conducted to assess the effects of "local food" movements on farmers. The study found that local farms share qualities with traditional family farms. It also revealed significant variability in farmers' motivations and attitudes, ranging from farming as a means to earn family income to farming as a way to build networks connecting farmers and consumers within the community.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCurrent and Emerging Issues in the New Urban Agriculture: A Case Study
2011Kathryn A. Peters · Journal of Food Law & Policy · United States
Urban agriculture in the United States takes various forms, including individual gardens on private land, public property, and church and school grounds. Key factors for success include land acquisition, zoning ordinances, access to affordable water, infrastructure, and support services like education and outreach. Major U.S. cities, such as Seattle (declared 2010 the Year of Urban Agriculture) and Cleveland (declared 2012 the Year of Local Food), recognize urban agriculture's important role in sustainable cities and local food supply systems.
CommunityPolicyFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceURBANISMO Y PRACTICAS AGRICOLAS
2011Luis Octavio Da Silva · · Global
This text presents and discusses the phenomenon of vegetable cultivation in urban environments, examining it from symbolic, utopian, and industrial era perspectives. It covers the diffusion of gardening practices, various types of urban gardens, urban self-sufficiency, and the ideology behind promotional campaigns. The article also discusses the recurring landscape practice of lawn cultivation in urban settings, including its Anglo-Saxon origins, transposition to North American urban environments, symbolism, and associated conflicts.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyAgricultura Urbana: ruralidades no espaço intra-urbano de Montes Claros, MG
2011Marina de Fátima Brandão Carneiro, Antônio Maurílio Alencar Feitosa, Dulce Pereira dos Santos, Gabriel Alves Veloso, Igor Martins de Oliveira · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Brazil (Montes Claros)
This study investigated the role and importance of urban agriculture in Montes Claros, MG, Brazil, as a dynamic activity creating a specific rural-urban interaction space. Using bibliographic and documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews with farmers, iconographic production, and geotechnologies for mapping, the research found that urban agriculture is a reality in intra-urban spaces. It occupies vacant lots and backyards with diverse activities, generating work, employment, income, food security, and products for local commerce.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageMultifunctional Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Land Use Planning in the United States
2010Sarah Taylor Lovell · Sustainability · United States
This paper reviews literature on urban agriculture for land use planning in the United States, where interest in urban food production is growing due to economic and food security concerns. It discusses urban agriculture's potential for integrating multiple functions in densely populated areas, from community farms to rooftop gardens. The paper also addresses barriers and constraints, and identifies research opportunities for urban planners and landscape designers to integrate food-systems thinking into city plans.
CommunityPolicyClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCities feeding people: an update on urban agriculture in equatorial Africa
2010Diana Lee-Smith · Environment and Urbanization · Africa (Equatorial Africa)
This article reviews empirical data on urban agriculture in equatorial Africa, primarily East Africa and Cameroon, updating previous work. It quantifies the extent of urban agriculture, assesses its relationship to food security and poverty, and discusses its role in eco-cycles and policy-making efforts in three East African cities. The article concludes that urban agriculture is increasing, beneficial for health and poverty alleviation, but better-off households currently benefit more than poor households.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareOrganic cyclePolicyEconomicsThe emergence of urban agriculture: Sydney, Australia
2010David Mason, Ian Knowd · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · Australia (Sydney)
This paper explores the history of urban agriculture (UA) in the Sydney region, which emerged as a grassroots response to global forces negatively impacting urban and farming communities. These forces include urban sprawl, supermarket dominance, the fast food industry, and globalization. Community-based promotion of local agriculture is leading governments and organizations to recognize UA as a strategic mechanism for urban communities to address food security and other challenges.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changePolicyUrban–rural linkagePower at the Roots: Gentrification, Community Gardens, and the Puerto Ricans of the Lower East Side
2010Miranda Martinez · · United States (Lower East Side)
This work explores the dynamics of gentrification, community gardens, and their impact on the Puerto Rican community in the Lower East Side. It examines class cultures in conflict, neighborhood transformation, and the symbolic significance of the area.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceFood security attainment role of urban agriculture: a case study from Adama town, central Ethiopia.
2010Messay Mulugeta Tefera · Journal of sustainable development in Africa · Ethiopia (Adama)
This study assessed the role of urban agriculture in attaining urban food security for smallholders in Adama town, central Ethiopia. Findings confirmed that urban agriculture plays a significant role in urban household food security. Over 40% of the surveyed households obtained well over the nationally set minimum dietary energy requirement solely from their urban farmlands.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsUrban–rural linkage