Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1966 results(9 / 79)
Sustainable Practices in Urban Health
2025Richa Joshi, Jagneet Kour, Raino Bhatia · · Global
This chapter will investigate sustainable practices, including green infrastructure like urban forests and community gardens, to improve urban environments and address intertwined challenges. It will examine how green infrastructure enhances air and water quality, creates recreational spaces, and fosters community well-being. The chapter will also explore integrating environmental policies with public health initiatives through sustainable urban planning to create resilient communities with equitable access to green spaces, enhanced public transportation, and clean energy.
HealthCommunityPolicyClimate changeVIVÊNCIAS E ATIVIDADES DE EDUCAÇÃO EM SAÚDE EM HORTA COMUNITÁRIA: RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA
2025Mateus Andrade Rocha Vitório, Victor Guilherme Pereira da Silva Marques, Rivanna Sousa Moura, Sarah Lays Campos da Silva, Fernanda Raquel Andrade da Silva Dos Santos, Diego Rodrigues de Sousa, Sabrina Amorim Paulo, Michelle Vicente Torres · Revista Multidisciplinar do Nordeste Mineiro · Brazil (Teresina)
This qualitative experience report describes the "Hortiviva" project, conducted from April to December 2024, by residents of the Family Health Residency Program at the State University of Piauí, Brazil. The project involved 15 to 30 family horticulturists in a community garden in northern Teresina, focusing on health education through monthly meetings and active methodologies. Results showed the community garden became a therapeutic space for socialization, income generation, and well-being, strengthening ties between professionals and the community.
CommunityHealthFood educationWelfareQuality of Constructed Technogenic Soils in Urban Gardens Located on a Reclaimed Clay Pit
2025Dariusz Gruszka, Katarzyna Szopka, Cezary Kabała · Land · Poland (Wroclaw)
This study in Wroclaw, Poland, investigated the quality of constructed technogenic soils in urban gardens located on a reclaimed clay pit. Despite beneficial physicochemical properties and high fertility in the topsoil layers, the soils were seriously contaminated with trace elements, including zinc (up to 1700 mg kg−1), lead (920 mg kg−1), copper (740 mg kg−1), cadmium (5.1 mg kg−1), mercury (7.4 mg kg−1), and arsenic (5.1 mg kg−1). This contamination, likely from industrial and urban waste used for mine infilling, compromises soil quality and poses potential health and ecological risks.
Contamination & food safetyHealthEffect of urban agriculture on the quality of urban life: A review
2025Babatunde S. Adedotun, Martin Binde Gasu, Ismail A. Oyerinde, Dele Sunday Ogundahunsi, Oluwatoyin David ADEDOTUN · The Journal of Agriculture and Development · Global
This research conducted an extensive literature review on the correlation between urban agriculture and the quality of life of urban residents, synthesizing 20 peer-reviewed scholarly papers published between 2010 and 2022 from databases like Scopus. Urban agriculture was shown to offer economic benefits, community engagement, health improvements, environmental benefits, and cultural connections, but also presented negative externalities such as resource exploitation, contamination, and ecosystem disruption.
EconomicsCommunityHealthClimate changeHORTAS DOMÉSTICAS: BENEFÍCIOS, DESAFIOS E MOTIVAÇÃO NO CULTIVO URBANO EM DOM PEDRITO/RS
2025Lucas Velasques, Janaína Wohlenberg, Osmar Manoel Nunes, D. Friedrich, Norton Víctor Sampaio · Revista Científica Agropampa · Brazil (Dom Pedrito/RS)
This field study, involving 20 residents of Dom Pedrito/RS, Brazil, who practice home gardening, aimed to identify motivational factors, difficulties, and benefits. The main difficulties reported were the time required for cultivation and the presence of pests and insects. While benefits included consuming healthy food, health improvements, and supermarket savings, the significant challenges of time commitment and pest management indicate limitations to the widespread positive impact of home gardening.
Limited or null effectDIYCommunityHealthOrganic cycleIdentification of the pollution sources and hidden clustering patterns for potentially toxic elements in typical peri-urban agricultural soils in southern China
2025Haofan Xu, Peng Hu, Hailong Wang, Peter Croot, Zhiwen Li, Cheng Li, Shaowen Xie, Hongyi Zhou, Chaosheng Zhang · Environmental Pollution · China
This study in Gaoming county, China, integrated PMF and K-means clustering to identify sources and contamination patterns of 8 potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in peri-urban agricultural soils. Average concentrations of PTEs were reported, with PMF identifying geogenic, industrial/traffic-related, and agricultural sources. The highest PTE concentrations were found in urbanized zones, confirming significant human impact and underscoring the dual influences of agriculture and urbanization on PTE contamination.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureHealthPromoção de saúde mental por meio da participação em uma horta comunitária no DF: um estudo sobre o projeto “Terraterapia”
2025Daniel de Araujo Barbosa, Renata Rodrigues Gomes, Jesuana Oliveira Lemos, Joyce de Oliveira Vieira · Contribuciones a las Ciencias Sociales · Brazil (Federal District)
An exploratory study in Águas Claras, Federal District, Brazil, investigated the mental health impacts of participating in the "Terraterapia" community garden group. Using mixed methods with semi-structured questionnaires for 10 participants, the study found a significant improvement in self-assessed mental health, with an initial average of 6.2 rising to 9.4. Participants reported reduced anxiety and loneliness, emphasizing community bonds, socialization, and garden management as central to the intervention's success.
CommunityHealthEnhancing the Well-Being of Older Adults and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities Through an Intergenerational Community Garden: Participatory Action Research
2025Diane Keen · Global Qualitative Nursing Research · Global
This participatory action research explored ways to enhance the well-being of four young adults with developmental disabilities and five older adults through intergenerational interaction in a community garden. Using semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and field notes, the study identified five themes of well-being: engagement, positive relationships, accomplishment, meaning and purpose, and positive emotion. The research found that enlisting the wisdom of older adults enhanced the well-being of both young adults with developmental disabilities and the older adults themselves.
CommunityHealthWelfareElderlyFrom crisis to opportunity: exploring urban food growing in the UK during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
2025Chris Blythe, Silvio Caputo, Michael Hardman, Paul Milbourne, Victoria Schoen · Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) · United Kingdom
This chapter examines the impact of urban food growing on individual, household, and community resilience, well-being, environment, and local food systems in the UK during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing on survey and research data. It discusses the potential role of urban food growing in post-pandemic food security, environment, health, and society, and considers how "crisis gardening" experiences are leading to calls for new approaches to urban food growing in the UK.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeFarmer awareness of heavy metal contamination in urban roadside vegetables along the Accra–Tema motorway, Ghana
2025Ebenezer Boahen · Discover Agriculture · Ghana
This study assessed the awareness and practices of 50 purposively selected vegetable farmers along the Accra-Tema Motorway, Ghana, regarding heavy metal contamination from vehicular emissions and its potential health implications. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and one-on-one interviews. Results showed that 96% of the farmers were unaware of heavy metal contamination, though 80% expressed a willingness to discontinue farming near the motorway if they were informed of the risks. Farmers face challenges such as limited access to clean irrigation water and dependence on informal agricultural knowledge. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted educational interventions to raise awareness about the risks of heavy metal exposure and to encourage safer farming practices.
Contamination & food safetyHealthEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceShorter Food Chains
2025Jeffery W Bentley, Paul Van Mele · CABI eBooks · Global
Supermarkets dominate the food market, resulting in lower prices for farmers and the decline of smaller shops, impacting local sourcing and quality. The abstract states that consumers and local governments can support family businesses, farm shops, and farmer markets, with examples from France to Ecuador. Allotment gardens and innovations like the Belgian ‘Juice Mobile’ are also noted for providing fresh food, social interaction, exercise, and a connection to nature.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityHealthEconomicsASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL FOR REUSING TREATED DOMESTIC WASTEWATER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE IN TAN UYEN CITY, BINH DUONG PROVINCE
2025An The Huynh, Ho Bich Lien, Đức Đạt Đức Nguyễn, Đào Minh Trung · Tạp chí Khoa học Đại học Công Thương. · Vietnam
A study in Tan Uyen City, Binh Duong Province, assessed the potential for reusing treated domestic wastewater for urban agriculture. Data from the city's wastewater treatment system showed high efficiency, with COD reduced by 94.49% and BOD5 by 97.1%. The treated water met QCVN 39:2011/BTNMT requirements and is suitable for irrigating landscape greenery, vegetables, or short-term industrial crops.
Organic cycleClimate changeHealthÅ øke ambisjonene for urbant landbruk i det offentlige rom: å fremme urban agroøkologi og planetær helse
2025Chiara Tornaghi · · Global
This chapter, based on 15 years of research, identifies key shortcomings in urban planning policy that prevent urban agriculture from reaching its full potential for human and non-human health. These include the failure to recognize urban agriculture as food production, the invisibility of soil and its role, and the neglect of soil care and food production specialists in public land design and soil management. The chapter suggests that agroecological considerations can enhance urban agriculture's ambition in public spaces.
Governance failurePolicyHealthCommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceImplications for malaria transmission: a cross-sectional study on the bionomics and susceptibility of local malaria vectors in urban and periurban settings of Ndola district
2025Westone Hamwata, Mwendalubi Hazyondo, Victor Daka, Mbanga Muleba, Nzooma M. Shimaponda-Mataa · BMJ Open · Zambia
A cross-sectional study in urban and periurban areas of Ndola district, Zambia, assessed malaria vector behavior and insecticide resistance. Urban agriculture practices created highly productive mosquito breeding sites like irrigation trenches and garden ponds, where Anopheles funestus s.s and Anopheles gambiae s.s coexisted. Anopheles gambiae s.s showed high resistance to pyrethroids, carbamates, and organochlorines, indicating that urban agricultural practices increase the risk of sustaining malaria transmission year-round.
Environmental trade-offsHealthPeri-urban agricultureCommunity Dietary and Exercise Strategies to Mitigate Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
2025Jasmine C. Barredo, Sarah G. Colbert, Ada F. Dhaouadi, Samhitha Kolapalli, Elaina Y. Wi · VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) · Global
This literature review evaluates three community strategies involving diet and exercise to mitigate symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The strategies include food-access programs connecting SNAP with Community Supported Agriculture for healthy meals, pricing policies like taxes on high-sugar beverages and subsidies for healthier foods, and structured community exercise programs. These interventions aim to improve PCOS by alleviating symptoms such as insulin resistance and irregular menstruation.
HealthCSA & TeikeiWelfareGreening for meaning: Sense of place in green citizen initiatives in the Netherlands
2025Mellany N.C. van Bommel, Marthe L. Derkzen, Lenneke Vaandrager · Wellbeing Space and Society · Europe
This mixed-methods study aimed to understand the meanings attributed to green citizen initiatives in the Netherlands by using the concept of sense of place and to investigate which factors predict this sense of place. Surveys (n=130) were used alongside interviews with 38 participants from ten green citizen initiatives. Findings demonstrate a strong sense of place among participants, which was significantly predicted by meaningful experiences, a sense of safety within the initiative, and length of involvement. Participation in green citizen initiatives appears to create meaning across place attachment, place identity, place dependence, and a broader societal meaning of place.
CommunityHealthThe urban food question in a (neo)colonial perspective: Response to Elza D’Cruz (2024), ‘Urban agriculture and urban planning: a case of Bangalore between the 1950s and the 1970s’
2025Koenraad Danneels · Landscape Research · India (Bangalore)
This paper responds to a critique regarding urban agriculture (UA) and urban planning in Bangalore, India, between the 1950s and 1970s. While urban agriculture is recognized as an emancipatory driver with economic, social, and physical benefits for urban dwellers, the abstract indicates a critical perspective on its promotion.
Governance failurePolicyEconomicsHealthFood sovereignty & justiceVegetable microgreens: A superfood with potential health benefits
2025Parul Mehra, Shriram Mahadev Mhaske, Shubham Singh Patel, Shikha Jain · International Journal of Research in Agronomy · Global
Microgreens are a horticultural product cultivated from various vegetable, herb, and wild herb seeds, grown in diverse conditions including urban agricultural settings. They are noted for higher concentrations of bioactive elements compared to mature plants, but their health benefits are still under dispute. A major concern is their rapid deterioration and short shelf life, which can be partially resolved by methods like controlling storage temperature and atmospheric conditions.
HealthDigital agricultureFood educationCultura Alimenticia Ancestral y Hábitos de Consumo en Estudiantes de 6.º–7.º de la Institución Educativa Agrícola de Argelia, Cauca
2025Hoyos Zuñiga, Elder Arnubio, Mena Gómez, Ana Cecilia · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Colombia
This study examined the presence, transmission, and perceived relevance of ancestral culinary practices among 6th–7th grade students at the Agricultural Educational Institution of Argelia, Cauca, Colombia, and their influence on eating habits. A qualitative, descriptive design using semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and documentary review was employed. Findings indicated that students recognize traditional staples but reported low frequency of home preparation and limited availability at school kiosks.
Food educationHealthCommunityRoots of wellbeing: cultivating community wellness through urban farming in Malaysia
2025Jasmin Arif Shah · Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository (Universiti Putra Malaysia) · Malaysia
The practice of urban farming in Malaysia is recognized for promoting the well-being of urban dwellers and smallholder farmers, and for achieving sustainable food production. Urban farming is viewed as a catalyst for achieving the well-being of urban dwellers and the natural environment, with social and health benefits being among the highest motivating factors for urban communities. The development of urban farming communities and the emphasis on sustainable food production through these initiatives are considered important steps towards empowering locals and creating food-independent communities.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsImpacto del cambio climático en la seguridad alimentaria en regiones urbanas de Colombia
2025Piedad Margarita Montero Castillo, Diofanor Acevedo Correa, Yesid Alejandro Marrugo Ligardo · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Colombia
This study examines the impacts of climate change on food security for vulnerable social groups in urban areas of Colombia. Using documentary analysis and hermeneutic valuation, it considers the negative impacts of climate change on food production. Sustainable urban agriculture is analyzed as a contribution to providing access to nutritious and healthy food for vulnerable groups, fostering adaptability and resilience.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareHealthThe Effect of a Hospital Community Garden on Healthcare Workers’ Professional Quality of Life
2025Cline, Madelyn Renee · UKnowledge (University of Kentucky) · United States
A study evaluated the effect of a dedicated outdoor green space (hospital community garden) for nurses during shift breaks on their Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL). Using a one-group pretest-posttest design, all aspects of participants’ ProQOL improved from baseline to the final survey, though not statistically significant. Baseline scores for Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Compassion Satisfaction were moderate, and while an overall positive change was observed, statistical significance was not achieved.
HealthCommunityPilotstudie zu urbanem Gärtnern: Schadstoffgehalte in Nahrungspflanzen in Straßennähe/Pilot study on urban gardening: Pollutant levels in food plants near roads
2025Katja Hombrecher · Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft · Germany
A pilot study in Germany investigated the impact of road traffic emissions on food plants grown near roads. Bioindicators like kale, chard, Lollo Rosso, and lettuce were exposed for four weeks at four roadside locations and compared to plants in a garden away from roads. While pollutant levels generally did not exceed background or EU maximum limits, significant traffic-related inputs of PAK 4, antimony, aluminum, chromium, and vanadium, and lesser inputs of copper, iron, and lead were detected compared to the control. The findings indicate a potential contamination risk for certain vegetable plants from road traffic.
Contamination & food safetyHealthUrban–rural linkageCausal Loop Diagrams of Food Systems, Diet, and Obesity: A Scoping Review of Methods, Contextual Factors, and Outcomes
2025Ivana Stankov, Andrés F. Useche, Peter Lekkas, Rosie Mae Henson, Irene Headen, Jonathan Purtle, Brent A. Langellier · Obesity Reviews · Global
This scoping review characterized 40 peer-reviewed studies from 1370 unique records, identified through a comprehensive search of six databases, that used interest-holder-driven causal loop diagrams to examine food systems, diet, and obesity. All studies identified individual and behavioral drivers of obesity, while studies in the Global South and those engaging minoritized populations more frequently emphasized structural factors like racism, urban agriculture, and gentrification. The review highlights the potential of causal loop diagrams to capture the complexity of these issues and identifies gaps in geographical coverage and population representation.
HealthCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceSementes de Sabedoria
2025Ana Claudia Ribeiro Pinheiro, Miriã Aparecida Fidelis da Silva, Érica Coelho Pagel · Revista Latino-americana de Ambiente Construído & Sustentabilidade · Global
This qualitative study aimed to understand school communities' perceptions of green areas, particularly gardens, to develop didactic school garden designs. Through questionnaires and extension activities, the project created landscape design proposals. It found that while schools recognize the importance of greenery, they face challenges, and creative, collaborative solutions can make didactic gardens feasible.
Food educationCommunityHealthBiodiversity