Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2406 results(89 / 97)
Urban agriculture/Agricultural urbanity
2010Marina Moraes Diniz de Oliveira Queiroz · · Sweden
This work studies urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) and alternative food production strategies, aiming to connect current food systems, urban structures, and climate change. It discusses urban planning, transport, waste management, and localized food production, proposing solutions for a Swedish context. The work argues for utilizing arable land in and near cities and integrating local food production with sustainable transport to prepare for reduced fossil energy and global warming.
Urban–rural linkagePolicyClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceNew Ways of Working and Organization: Alternative Agrifood Movements and Agrifood Researchers
2010William H. Friedland · Rural Sociology · Global
This article explores strengthening alternative agrifood movements by mobilizing academic researchers. It proposes a new organization, "Alternative Agrifood Researchers without Borders," to utilize researchers' skills and structural position. The goal is to enhance movements, reduce inequalities, and improve academic research quality by paralleling existing state and market structures while focusing on progressive objectives.
CSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityUrban–rural linkageSociology of Food & Nutrition
2010Denise · TRAILS: Teaching Resources and Innovations Library for Sociology · Global
This course explores the sociological aspects of food, examining the cultural and social values that organize the biological need to eat. It investigates the social relations involved in food production, distribution, preparation, and consumption, including topics like food and identity, the agri-food system, food-related social movements, and the unequal distribution of food. The course considers the consequences of food on social relationships and population health.
Food sovereignty & justiceCSA & TeikeiHealthFood For Thought: The Social Impact of Community Gardens in the Greater Cleveland Area - eScholarship
2010Andrew Flachs · Electronic Green Journal · United States
This paper explores the social and cultural effects of urban gardening in the greater Cleveland area, noting that the social impact of community gardens is less studied than other benefits. The author's fieldwork found that many gardeners combine utilitarian functions with environmentalist ideology, contrary to some authors who claim that gardeners are preoccupied with economic impact, leading to a biased conclusion about motivations. The paper aims to convey the complexity of use, function, and intent in these communal spaces.
Methodological critiqueCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsHealthHomegrown in Detroit
2010Amy Oprean · Human Biology · United States
This abstract introduces Kami Pothukuchi, Ph.D., director of SEED Wayne, a volunteer-based organization at Wayne State University. SEED Wayne focuses on building sustainable food systems on campus and in Detroit communities. The organization conducts research projects to explore Detroit's potential for sustainability in urban agriculture and local food systems.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyDIVERSIDADE BIOLÓGICA NA AGRICULTURA PERIURBANA DO DISTRITO FEDERAL, MÉXICO
2010Hiran Moran Ramon Soriano-Robles · Ateliê Geográfico · Mexico (Mexico City)
In peri-urban agriculture in Mexico City, a traditional multi-cropping agro-ecosystem combining diverse species like maize, beans, and amaranth is preserved. Maize and amaranth are central to productive activities and are part of Mexico City's biological and cultural heritage. The conservation and utilization of this diversity can enhance the genetic potential of native crops, contribute to local agricultural development and sustainability, and potentially offer alternatives for a future global food crisis.
BiodiversityPeri-urban agricultureHeirloom & landraceFood sovereignty & justiceStrengthening capacity for sustainable livelihoods and food security through urban agriculture among HIV and AIDS affected households in Nakuru, Kenya
2010Nancy Karanja, Fiona Yeudall, S Mbugua, Mary Njenga, Gordon Prain, Donald C. Cole, Alexandra L. Webb, Daniel Sellen, Christopher Gore, Jennifer Levy · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · Kenya (Nakuru)
This paper outlined the conception, design, and implementation 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 included the value of multi-stakeholder partnerships, the crucial role of self-help group organizations, and the importance of institutional commitments to support farming by vulnerable persons. The usefulness of mixed-methods evaluative tools for monitoring progress was also highlighted.
WelfareFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthNowtopia: Strategic Exodus?
2010Chris Carlsson, Francesca Manning · Antipode · Global
Nowtopia identifies a new basis for a shared experience of class, characterized by an exodus from wage labor and the embrace of meaningful, freely chosen, unpaid work. Nowtopian communities are largely grounded in unpaid practical work, such as urban gardening/agriculture, which gradually reverses the extreme atomization of modern life. These practices represent a decentralized, uncoordinated collective research and development effort exploring a potentially post-capitalist, post-petroleum future.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsUrban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Developing Countries Studied using Remote Sensing and In Situ Methods
2010Kwasi Appeaning Addo · Remote Sensing · Ghana (Accra)
This paper discusses the need for sustainable management of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Accra, Ghana. A lack of reliable data on the extent of urban/peri-urban areas used for farming has hindered the development of sustainable policies to manage urban farming in Accra. Ground-based survey methods are problematic and prohibitively expensive, making accurate assessment of urban farming's future role difficult.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyPeri-urban agricultureThe role of farmer organisations in marketing periurban 'safe vegetables' in Vietnam.
2010Paule Moustier, Nguyễn Thị Tân Lộc · Agritrop (Cirad) · Vietnam
In Vietnam, urban agriculture significantly contributes to food supply and employment. In 2002, it supplied an estimated 44% of Hanoi's food needs, with over 70% of leafy vegetables originating within a 30 km radius of the city. Approximately 30% of the population in Hanoi Province and Ho Chi Minh City's peri-urban districts are engaged in agriculture.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban Agriculture as a Resilience Strategy in Kampala's Slums: A Development Framework
2010Ephraim Kigozi Nabakwa, Patrick Kizza Kagyi, David Sserunkuuma Masereka, Grace Nakimbugwe Otim · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Uganda (Kampala)
This qualitative research, conducted through interviews and focus groups with residents and leaders in Kampala's slums, examines urban agriculture as a resilience strategy. Urban agriculture projects demonstrated an average 30% increase in household food security and a 50% reduction in reliance on informal income sources. The study's development framework enhances the resilience capacity of these initiatives, offering policy recommendations for integration into formal programs and infrastructure support.
WelfareFood sovereignty & justicePolicyEconomicsPutting the culture back into agriculture: civic engagement, community and the celebration of local food
2010Jennifer Sumner, Heather Mair, Erin Nelson · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · Canada (Ontario)
This paper presents a case study of Fourfold Farm CSA, an urban agriculture exemplar in south-western Ontario, Canada. Analysis of in-depth interviews with CSA members and co-founders revealed that the farm serves as more than just a source of organic food. It links urban food consumers with producers through cultural activities, emphasizing civic engagement and community.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageCommunity Gardens as Contexts for Science, Stewardship, and Civic Action Learning
2009Marianne E. Krasny, Keith G. Tidball · Cities and the Environment · Global
This paper discusses community gardens as heterogeneous environments that integrate environmental restoration, community activism, social interactions, cultural expression, and food security. They provide a context for learning that addresses multiple societal goals, including fostering a scientifically literate populace, practicing environmental stewardship, and participating in civic life. Using preliminary evidence from the Garden Mosaics intergenerational education program, the study suggests the potential for community gardens to foster multiple types of learning.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceFarmer’s Choice and Farmer’s Voice on the Use of Local versus Modern Inputs in Peri-Urban Agriculture in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
2009Kanhaiya Sapkota · Geographical Journal of Nepal · Nepal
A study conducted between November 2005 and January 2006 in the Manahara river basin of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, interviewed 20 vegetable growers to investigate their knowledge and practices regarding local versus modern agricultural inputs. Farmers have intensified production using improved green revolution techniques, showing a link between scientific and indigenous knowledge. They also recognize the necessity of institutional extension support for proper input use.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePotentials of urban horticulture for poverty reduction in Dar es Salaam: a case of Kinondoni municipal
2009Heaven E Masashua, Frank George Haule Hawassi, Provident Dimoso · · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
A study in Kinondoni Municipal, Dar es Salaam, examined the contribution of urban vegetable production to poverty reduction using 59 respondents. The study found that urban vegetable production increased income for smallholder farmers, improved food security, and enhanced access to health and education services. It concluded that urban horticulture has significant potential for poverty reduction.
WelfareEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceMicro-Finance Support and Urban Agriculture Expansion in Kampala Slums: Farmer Productivity Gains and Economic Empowerment Successes
2009Sserunkuma Muhumuza, Kajenye Amadi · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Uganda (Kampala)
A study in Kampala slums, Uganda, investigated the impact of micro-finance support on urban agriculture expansion. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative analysis of financial records with qualitative interviews of farmers was used. Micro-finance support significantly increased average farm yields by 15% compared to baseline, and farmer confidence in economic strategies improved by 20 percentage points.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceWelfarePerfil socioeconômico de feirantes brasileiros e bolivianos que comercializam hortaliças folhosas em feiras-livres no município fronteiriço Corumbá-Brasil/Bolívia
2009Mirane dos Santos Costa, Marivaine da Silva Brasil, Alberto Feiden, Adalgiza Inês Campolim · · Brazil/Bolivia
An exploratory study was conducted in the border cities of Corumbá, Brazil, and Puerto Quijarro/Puerto Suarez, Bolivia, to investigate the socioeconomic profile of Brazilian and Bolivian sellers of leafy vegetables at street fairs and their relations with urban farmers. The study aimed to identify the origin, production system of leafy vegetables, and the socioeconomic characteristics of these fair sellers and farmers, with preliminary results presented.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceCommunity加快推行西宁市“农超对接”工作
2009马国珍, 代晖军, 田昌明, 张友录 · 青海经济研究 · China (Xining City)
"Farm-supermarket direct docking" (农超对接) refers to the direct entry of agricultural products into supermarkets, connecting agriculture and supermarkets. This model effectively reduces circulation links and costs for agricultural products, ensuring urban supply and consumption safety and benefiting consumers. Although still in pilot stages in China, it represents a development trend for agricultural product production and marketing.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageGarden of Eden? The impact of resettlement on squatters' ‘agri-hoods’ in Fiji
2009Alec Thornton · Development in Practice · Fiji
This article examines the impact of Fiji's squatter-resettlement scheme on the livelihoods of 'farming squatters' engaged in urban agriculture. Interviews with key informants and squatter residents revealed contrasting attitudes and approaches, indicating that the scheme threatens these livelihoods. The article suggests a more participatory process to address the needs of 'farming squatters'.
Equity & displacementWelfarePolicyFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityUrban farming in the informal settlements of Atteridgeville, Pretoria, South Africa
2009W. Van Averbeke · Water SA · South Africa (Pretoria)
This study in five informal settlements of Atteridgeville, Pretoria, South Africa, used a pilot study, household survey, and multiple case studies to assess urban farming's contribution to food security and household income. While over half of households participated in urban farming, its contribution to total household income and food security was generally modest. Main constraints included lack of space and limited access to irrigation water.
Limited or null effectCommunityWelfareHealthFood sovereignty & justiceÉramos todos tan felices
2009Vicente Araguas · Revista de libros · New Zealand
This kaupapa Māori research explored the motivations and role of Māori community gardens (māra) in health promotion in Aotearoa New Zealand, interviewing seven māra initiative leaders. Findings indicate māra development is driven by a desire to empower Māori collectives and reconnect them with ancestral lands. Māra foster community development, intergenerational connection, and the practice of Māori language and cultural heritage, contributing to social cohesion and collective efficacy.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareMaking the Edible Campus: A model for food-secure urban revitalisation
2009Vikram Bhatt, Leila Marie Farah, Nik Luka, Jeanne M. Wolfe · Open House International · Canada (Montréal)
The "Edible Campus" project, launched in Montréal in spring 2007, was an action-research initiative aimed at transforming underutilized urban spaces into productive areas. It involved citizens in creating green community spaces by incorporating productive container growing on a concrete-covered part of McGill University's downtown campus. This project investigated how to enhance urban food security through increased urban food production and demonstrated how "edible landscapes" can be integrated into urban spaces.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDIYResource use efficiency in urban agriculture in southwestern Nigeria.
2009Remi Adeyemo, F. Kuhlmann · Tropicultura · Nigeria
This paper evaluates the efficiency of resource use in urban food crop production in five districts of two cities in southwestern Nigeria, based on an effective sample of 120 respondents. The analysis showed that urban food crop production is profitable, with an average revenue of N51,294 per hectare and a gross margin of N23,688. However, there was disequilibrium in resource use, with planting seeds and agrochemicals used efficiently, but land and labor used inefficiently, indicating that urban food crop production has not yet attained an optimum level of resource combination.
Economic viabilityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justicePolicyFeeding the City: Towards a New Research and Planning Agenda
2009Roberta Sonnino · International Planning Studies · Global
This paper analyzes emerging integrated food policies in cities like New York, Rome, and London, which extend beyond traditional urban agriculture. It argues for a new research agenda on urban public food provisioning and policy-making to facilitate knowledge-building and exchange. The paper concludes that comparative studies of urban food strategies are needed to understand cities' potential for sustainable linkages with surrounding regions.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCultivating Just Planning and Legal Institutions: A Critical Assessment of the South Central Farm Struggle in Los Angeles
2009Clara Irazábal, Anita Punja · Journal of Urban Affairs · United States (Los Angeles)
This qualitative case study analyzes the destruction of the 14-acre South Central Farm in Los Angeles in July 2006, arguing it was a landscape of resistance against discriminatory legal and planning practices. The study contends that environmental justice and planning ethics provided a substantive rationale for the city to prevent its dismantling. This case highlights a failure in governance to protect community gardens threatened by dismantlement in capitalist societies.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justice