Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
974 results(9 / 39)
Growing Your Own Food and Dietary Quality: Results from a Survey
2024Larissa S. Drescher, Carola Grebitus · EuroChoices · Europe
This study investigated the link between growing one's own food and dietary quality, using the Healthy Food Diversity Index, Berry-Index, and a produce consumption indicator. It found that growing food at home and in community gardens is associated with the highest fruit and vegetable consumption, while not growing any food is associated with the lowest produce consumption. Overall, the results indicate that growing food is linked to higher dietary quality values, suggesting potential health benefits from home and community gardens. The negative association between not growing food and diet quality highlights a need to promote food-growing programs.
DIYCommunityHealthAgro-Food Supply Chains in Peri-Urban Agricultural Areas: Do They Contribute to Preserve Local Biodiversity? The Case of Baix Llobregat Agrarian Park
2024Jon Marín, Teresa Garnatje, Joan Vallès · Sustainability · Spain (Barcelona)
This study investigated whether agro-food supply chains in peri-urban agricultural areas contribute to preserving local biodiversity, using the Baix Llobregat Agrarian Park in Spain as a case study. Analysis of different food retailers revealed variations in plant diversity, origin, and seasonality. Farmers' markets were found to exhibit higher intraspecific diversity, contributing to local agrobiodiversity conservation.
Peri-urban agricultureBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsParticipatory action research with wheat landrace producers and community supported agriculture groups; a case from Turkey
2024Mesut YILDIZ, Tayfun Özkaya · Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · Turkey
This participatory action research was conducted with five community-supported food groups formed by consumers in İzmir province, Turkey, and associations/groups producing wheat landraces in Çanakkale, Balıkesir, and Kars provinces. The research aimed to identify common problems that reduce the separation between wheat production and consumption and to determine how to increase the use of wheat landraces and their products.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageHeirloom & landraceThe Agricultural Land Use Changes in Metropolitan Areas: A Case Study in Italy
2024Concetta Cardillo, Orlando Cimino · Rural and regional development · Italy
An economic evaluation of urban and peri-urban agriculture in the Rome metropolitan area was conducted using Italian FADN data from 2008–2020 to analyze agricultural land use changes. The analysis revealed that farms are mainly specialized in arable land and herbivores, operated predominantly by men aged 40–65 with a high school education. While economic performance was good, it varied yearly, and few farms resorted to other gainful activities to increase income, suggesting greater diversification of agricultural activities is desirable.
EconomicsPeri-urban agriculturePolicyConstrucción del sujeto colectivo: utilidades sociales de los huertos urbanos comunitarios
2024Lucas López Sosa, Gloria E. Casanova Molina · Revista Temas Sociológicos · Spain (Barcelona), Chile
This ethnographic study conducted in Barcelona and Santiago de Chile comparatively analyzed the social utilities, conflicts, and tensions faced in the daily management of urban community gardens. The study found significant symbolic and practical similarities between the gardens in both cities, despite geographical and cultural differences, highlighting their value as tools for urban and social regeneration.
Governance failureCommunityWelfareImpact of food based intergeneration community intervention
2024Fotini Tsofliou, R. Vijayakumaran, Ashley Wilson, Anthony Mills · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · United Kingdom (Dorset)
This pilot research, conducted with fourteen adults in disadvantaged areas of Dorset, UK, explored perceptions on the importance and roles of community food garden and kitchen initiatives. Four main themes emerged from the participants' perspectives: tackling food insecurity and sustainability, utilization of climate-friendly and organic food, bridging the intergenerational gap, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
CommunityHealthFood educationWelfareElderlyBioregional food systems and the structures of long-term territorialization processes
2024Alberto Matarán-Ruiz, David Fanfani, Josefa Sánchez Contreras, Miguel Ángel Escalona Aguilar · · Central America; Europe
This chapter examines bioregional food systems and territorialization processes in peri-urban agricultural areas, using three case studies from Central America and Europe. It notes that the historical co-evolutionary relationship between cities and surrounding farmlands weakened in modernity due to the global capitalist market, which reduced food to a commodity. The study highlights current problems while exploring how inherited relationships are being revived to adapt urban bioregions to climate emergency and resource scarcity.
Economic viabilityPeri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkageClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCREATION OF LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF URBANIZATION: THE CASE OF ST. PETERSBURG
2024Olga Ergunova, Andrey Somov · EKONOMIKA I UPRAVLENIE PROBLEMY RESHENIYA · Europe
This article discusses the prospects for developing local food systems (LPS) in St. Petersburg, focusing on urban agriculture (GSH) as a key component. The study analyzes current trends and statistical data to forecast GSH's impact on the city's environmental and socio-economic situation by 2030. Projections indicate that GSH can be an important tool for food supply and sustainable urban development, with advanced technologies and integration into urban planning as key development directions.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsClimate changePolicyCommunity composting strategies for biowaste treatment: methodology, bulking agent and compost quality
2023Alves, D., Villar, I., Mato, S. · Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer), 31(7):9873-9885 · Spain / Europe
A study comparing methodology, bulking agents, and compost quality across community composting centres (CCC) and community gardens used by local governments to treat biowaste. It shows how population density and the presence of green areas determine the siting of decentralized local composting infrastructure.
CompostOrganic cyclePolicyCommunityUrban agriculture business models and value propositions: Mixed methods approach based on evidence from Polish and Italian case studies
2023Wiśniewska-Paluszak J., Paluszak G., Fiore M., Coticchio A., Galati A., Lira J. · Land Use Policy 127:106562 · Poland, Italy
Uses the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas to analyze urban farming strategies in Poland and Italy, identifying three business types (service-, product-, and land-use-oriented) and how each communicates value to market segments.
EconomicsMonitoring System Enhancing the Potential of Urban Beekeeping
2023Szczurek A., Maciejewska M., Batog P. · Applied Sciences, 13(1):597 · Poland (Wrocław)
Develops and evaluates an automated monitoring system for urban beekeeping's educational, greening and awareness benefits. Sensors, cameras and scales were deployed on hives on the roof of a four-storey university building in Wrocław; three months of operation confirmed the system works and that rooftop placement is a viable urban apiary model.
PollinatorsCommunityFood educationCrop–pollinator interactions in urban and peri-urban farms in the United Kingdom
2023Nicholls E., Griffiths-Lee J., Basu P., Chatterjee S., Goulson D. · Plants, People, Planet · United Kingdom
Study of crop-pollinator interactions in UK urban and peri-urban farms, quantifying ecosystem services provided by pollinators in city farming systems.
PollinatorsBiodiversityCommunityCommunity-supported agriculture as food democratic experimentalism: Insights from Germany
2023· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Germany
Analyzes Community-Supported Agriculture (Solidarische Landwirtschaft) in Germany as a form of food-democratic experimentalism, in which producers and consumers share the costs, risks and governance of production.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsHolistic wild bee management in urban spaces
2023· Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · Germany (Freising)
Developed a holistic assessment of bee and flowering-plant diversity in the medium-sized city of Freising using citizen science, identifying 22 bee-diversity hotspots and evaluating planted flower patches as stepping stones for oligolectic bees.
PollinatorsBiodiversityPolicyVegetation complexity and nesting resource availability predict bee diversity and functional traits in community gardens
2023Felderhoff J. · Ecological Applications · Germany (Berlin)
Documented 26 genera and 102 bee species across 18 Berlin community gardens, finding that higher plant species richness and greater deadwood amounts increased wild bee species number and functional diversity.
PollinatorsBiodiversityThe degree of urbanisation reduces wild bee and butterfly diversity and alters the patterns of flower-visitation in urban dry grasslands
2023Herrmann J., Buchholz S., Theodorou P. · Scientific Reports · Germany
In German urban dry grasslands, examined effects of local habitat quality, urbanisation (impervious surfaces), and 3D connectivity on flower visitors; bee and butterfly species richness declined with increasing impervious surface.
PollinatorsBiodiversityDrivers of cultivated and wild plant pollination in urban agroecosystems
2023Nguyen H., Schmack J., Egerer M. · Basic and Applied Ecology · Germany (Munich)
Conducted a pollination-exclusion experiment with two cultivated and two wild plant species across 13 Munich community gardens, finding cultivated-plant fruit and seed mass positively correlated with temperature and pollinator diversity.
PollinatorsBiodiversityA large share of Berlin's vegetable consumption can be produced within the city
2023De Simone M., Pradhan P., Kropp J. P., Rybski D. · Sustainable Cities and Society · Germany (Berlin)
Evaluates five urban space types (residential areas, allotments, rooftops, supermarket parking lots, cemeteries) and estimates the potential to produce a large share of Berlin's vegetable consumption locally.
EconomicsCommunityPolicyAllotment Garden Products as Contribution to Sustainable and Resilient Cities: An Analysis in Leipzig, Germany
2023Schäfer, Kleemann, Spyra · Sustainability · Germany (Leipzig)
Analyzes allotment garden products in Leipzig and their contribution to sustainable and resilient cities.
CommunityBiodiversityEconomicsAllotments for all? Social–environmental values of urban gardens for gardeners and the public in cities: The example of Berlin, Germany
2023Haase · People and Nature · Germany (Berlin)
Assesses the social–environmental values of urban gardens for both gardeners and the wider public, using Berlin as an example.
CommunityBiodiversityWelfareDesign and validation of an open-sourced automation system for vertical farming
2023· HardwareX · United Kingdom
Designs and validates MACARONS, a scalable, customisable, open-sourced modular platform for plant care, monitoring, and transportation. It offers per-plant dosing, automated logging of temperature/humidity/images, and Python-programmable behaviours, validated by autonomously caring for five lettuce plants over five weeks under artificial lighting.
DIYEconomicsUnexpected effects of urban food activism on community and human wellbeing
2023· Local Environment · United Kingdom (Aberdeen)
Based on interviews with food-growing project participants in Aberdeen, UK, finds unexpected wellbeing effects of urban food activism, notably heavy burdens on volunteer coordinators of community gardens.
CommunityWelfareHealthHow does community food growing build community bonds? Insights from grassroots visual storytelling
2023· Local Environment · United Kingdom
Uses grassroots visual storytelling to explore how community food-growing activities build community bonds through emotional attachment and placemaking.
CommunityWelfareFood educationCompost quality of a peri-urban waste composting facility: A case of Mukono municipality, Uganda
2023Kizza-Nkambwe S., Mpewo M., Kasima J. S., Mfuranzima K. · Sustainable Environment · Mukono, Uganda
Assesses compost quality from a waste composting facility in Mukono municipality, central Uganda, analysing physicochemical parameters and heavy metals and arsenic in mature compost.
CompostOrganic cycleInvestigating local policy instruments for different types of urban agriculture in four European cities: A case study analysis on the use and effectiveness of the applied policy instruments
2023Marini M., Caro D., Thomsen M. · Land Use Policy · Europe (Barcelona, Lyon, Trieste, Udine)
Reviews 83+ policy documents and surveys local managers in four EU cities. Finds land-use frameworks fail to prioritise urban agriculture, that only allotment gardens are meaningfully supported, and that local policies are formulated ad hoc outside any comprehensive UA framework, weakening effectiveness.
PolicyEconomics