Research & reports

Yanick Borel Kamga Valerie Njitat Tsama* · Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) · Cameroon (Nkongsamba)

This study assessed the impact of untreated waste from the municipal slaughterhouse in Nkongsamba, Cameroon, on vegetation by conducting floristic inventories at upstream, near, and downstream sites. Twenty-five 100 m2 plots were established at each site, revealing a total of 105 species from 79 genera and 41 families. The downstream site exhibited the highest species richness with 81 species, 70 genera, and 35 families, but these results showed a dominance of ruderal taxa and pollution bio-indicators like Commelina benghalensis and Tithonia diversifolia, reflecting ecological disturbance of the plant environment.

Rafael López Núñez, Paula Madejón, José Molina-Vega, Sabina Rossini-Oliva · Horticulturae · Global

This study investigated soil variability in two sections of an urban allotment garden subjected to long-term manure fertilization for 12 or 16 years, with application rates up to 10–12 kg m−2 yr−1. Prolonged manure incorporation enhanced soil fertility, increasing organic carbon, total-N, available-K, and total/available-P, and caused shifts in mineral composition with increases in Ca, inorganic C, Sr, and S. No accumulation of potentially toxic elements was observed, but pronounced spatial heterogeneity emerged among plots, with coefficients of variation up to 58% for S and 47% for Zn.

Sophie Joimel, Tania DE ALMEIDA, Baptiste Grard · · Global

Urban soils are characterized by high heterogeneity and diverse source materials, leading to a wide range of physical, physicochemical, and biological properties. These soils support diverse forms of urban agriculture and can provide various ecosystem services beyond their productive function.

Gizaw Ebissa, Hayal Desta, Aramde Fetene · Discover Water · Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

This research assessed the contribution of treated wastewater (TW) from Bole-Lemi Industrial Park in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to agricultural sustainability over a 3.5-month production season. It found that 53 kg of nitrogen and 1 kg of phosphorus were recovered, saving farmers 5,535 USD and reducing fertilizer costs by 28%. The TW provided 17,500m3 of irrigation water, converting 70 hectares of idle dry-season land into productive use. Continuous monitoring of soil conditions is crucial for long-term sustainability.

Amon Abraham, Andrew G. Mtewa, Chimwemwe Chiutula, Richard Lizwe Steven Mvula, Alfred Maluwa, Fasil Ejigu Eregno, John Njalam’mano · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · Malawi (Blantyre)

This cross-sectional study in Blantyre, Malawi, characterized antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) prevalence in 35 samples from five livestock farms, including manure, soil, and vegetables. It found high contamination, with Escherichia coli dominating pig manure (52%) and farm soil (35%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae contaminating all sample types (up to 67% in home soils, 60% in vegetables). All manure isolates showed sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim resistance, and vegetables exhibited severe multidrug resistance, including 100% E. coli resistance to gentamicin. Composting for ≤6 weeks did not eliminate ARBs, indicating manure-amended farms are AMR reservoirs.

Laxman Barua, YOGITA ADHIKARI, Kuldeep Naik · International Journal of Agriculture and Nutrition · India (Prayagraj)

This research assessed heavy metal concentrations in agricultural soils near the Naini industrial area in Prayagraj, India, and evaluated remediation strategies. Lead and cadmium concentrations at 0.5 km from the industrial zone exceeded Indian permissible limits (Pb: 67.8 mg/kg vs 50 mg/kg; Cd: 6.4 mg/kg vs 5 mg/kg). A pot trial showed that Brassica juncea removed 34.7% of Pb and 41.2% of Cd, while lime + biochar reduced Pb by 52.4%. A combined approach reduced bioavailable Pb to below the permissible limit.

Christian Kofi Sarpong, Romanus Dogkubong Dinye, Alex Donbeinaa, Vera Nyarko Amoako · Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research · Ghana

This study assessed the role of urban agriculture in Ghanaian cities through a systematic literature review of publications from 2000 to 2024. Urban agriculture was found to significantly contribute to food security, nutrition, and income, and to bolster environmental sustainability. However, challenges such as land tenure insecurity, unsafe irrigation practices, weak institutional support, and limited policy integration persist.

Suzana Márcia Souza dos Santos, Clecia Simone Gonçalves Rosa Pacheco · Editora Científica Digital eBooks · Brazil

This study analyzed the experience of the Vila Galvão Women Workers' Benevolent Association in Casa Nova, Bahia, Brazil, which produces organic vegetables in urban and peri-urban contexts. The study aimed to characterize the productive, commercial, and sociocultural aspects related to organic vegetable production and commercialization, identifying main marketing channels and understanding difficulties faced by producers. It concluded that organic production, combined with collective organization and the strengthening of the solidarity economy, represents a viable alternative for a more just, sustainable, and female-led rural development model.

Ana Caroline Ferreira Rodrigues Acosta, Álvaro Ribeiro Nicotti · Revista Educação e Saber – REdeS · Brazil

This paper presents the "Movimento dos Quintais Brincantes" (Playful Backyards Movement) in Brazil, focusing on an experience in 2023 at Quintal Aroeira in Imbé-RS. The project involved five families and children aged 2-6, offering free play, outdoor activities, organic food from a community garden, and family participation in space maintenance and activity planning. After one year, it was concluded that this space contributed to children's autonomy, creativity, health, cooperation, and the creation of bonds among families, educators, and the surrounding community.

Azemfack Jules Arnol, Mbouobda Hermann Désiré, Dobgima John Fonmboh, Muyang Rosaline Forsah, Fotso · African Journal of Biology and Medical Research · Cameroon

This study aimed to isolate and characterize Rhizobium bacteria from Phaseolus vulgaris root nodules to produce nitrogen biofertilizer as a chemical fertilizer substitute. Nodules from the University of Bamenda's school garden were used to purify and characterize Rhizobium, which were then used with charcoal powder to produce biofertilizer. Morphological characterization revealed fast-growing, translucent, mucoid, Gram-negative bacteria consistent with Rhizobium, and three concentrations of biofertilizer with a six-month shelf life were produced.

Emoke Dalma Kovacs, Melinda Haydee Kovacs · Horticulturae · Romania (Cluj-Napoca)

This study in an urban orchard in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, investigated how five Prunus species and soil depth (0–30 cm) affect microbial biodiversity and metabolomic signatures using 225 soil samples. It found significant tree species-specific effects on soil microbial biodiversity, with bacterial biomarkers dominating and apricot tree soils showing the highest microbial activity. Metabolomic analysis identified 247 distinct metabolites, revealing unique organic acid profiles for sour cherry and quinone accumulation for cherry, with depth also influencing microbial communities and metabolite composition.

Isaac Mbir Bryant, Francis Kumi, Christina Fobir · Journal of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (JGhIE) · Ghana

This 24-week study in Ghana assessed the performance of an 8 m3 pilot-scale mesophilic single-stage biogas digester for treating urban agricultural wastes. Operating at 30 °C with various hydraulic retention times (HRTs), the digester used cow dung as inoculum and various plant and animal wastes as substrates. The system produced 3 m3 of biogas (60% CH4) daily, with HRTs of 23 and 26 days showing better removal efficiency for most parameters compared to 20 days.

Sri Dwiyanti, Farid Baskoro, Miftahur Rohman · JURPIKAT (Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat) · Indonesia (Surabaya)

In Pondok Maritim, Surabaya, Indonesia, an environmentally friendly goat pen (Kakamraling) design was proposed to optimize the use of public land for urban farming through goat husbandry. The pen features a separator system for feces and urine, which are collected and periodically harvested as organic fertilizer and liquid organic fertilizer. This technological intervention is intended to allow residents to increase income from goat farming and the sale of both solid and liquid organic fertilizers derived from the goats.

Matteo Clementi, Valentina Dessì, Mariana Pereira Guimarães · TERRITORIO · Global

The bize_UrFarm research explores urban agriculture's potential to integrate into urban and building metabolism by utilizing water, soil, and waste, and to strengthen urban green infrastructure. This research introduces building surfaces as a resource for urban agriculture, challenging the previous view of them as impediments in urbanized contexts.

Benita Amirotul Ayyi, Siti Muslikah, Sugiarto, Zuhanid Zamarudah · Folium Jurnal Ilmu Pertanian · Indonesia

A growth trial of pea-shoot microgreens (Pisum sativum L.) conducted at "Rumah Microgreen" in the Alamsari housing area of Malang, Indonesia, using a factorial randomized block design with two factors: growing medium (100% cocopeat, 50% cocopeat/50% rice husk charcoal, or non-woven fabric) and harvest timing (6, 7, 8 or 9 days after sowing). The combination of 50% cocopeat/50% rice husk charcoal medium harvested at 9 days after sowing produced the best growth and yield, and this combination is recommended for optimal pea-shoot microgreen production.

Na Wei, Madelynn Nakaji-Conley, Jiaqi Tan · Microbial Ecology · Global

In urban farming fields of different ages and multiple genotypes, the relative abundance, richness, and microbial networks of putative plant pathogenic, mycorrhizal, and saprotrophic fungi in the rhizosphere were tracked over two years. Pathogenic fungal abundance was higher in older fields than younger fields, consistent with pathogen accumulation over time, while mycorrhizal fungal abundance decreased in older fields and saprotrophic abundance remained similar between younger and older fields. Mycorrhizal fungal richness declined in older fields and over the two years, with a corresponding decrease in network links, whereas saprotrophic fungi showed increased network links in older fields and pathogenic fungal networks remained similar across fields.

Ansar Amir, Mohammed Haruna · Interdisciplinary Social Studies · Indonesia (Makassar)

The Tanami Tanata Movement in Makassar City, Indonesia, was studied using a qualitative descriptive approach involving interviews, observations, and documentation to examine public administration innovation integrating organic waste management with urban farming. The movement was found to significantly reduce organic waste generation while strengthening family food security, achieved through multi-actor collaboration, participatory governance platforms, local circular economy implementation, and service digitization via the 'Sampah Tukar Sayur' (waste-for-vegetables) program; integrating waste management with urban farming created a sustainable cycle turning waste into productive resources with ecological, social, and economic benefits, and also spurred urban-agriculture-based micro businesses and greater public awareness of zero-waste principles.

Jasna Grabić, Milica Vranešević, Pavel Benka, Srđan Šeremešić, M. Meseldzija · Sustainability · Europe

In Vojvodina Province, northern Serbia — a rural region where 70% of the territory has been converted to arable land — researchers used QGIS to map areas suitable for implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS), drawing on CORINE Land Cover, OpenStreetMap, data from the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province, and the EUNIS platform. The area suitable for NbS totaled 1,183,228 ha, or 55.74% of the province, with organic and regenerative agriculture projected to increase by up to 5%. Grazing was identified and mapped as a desirable grassland management option, potentially practicable on nearly 10% of the territory.

Mustangin Mustangin, Aisyah Trees Sandy, Norhidayat Norhidayat, Fahrul Hidayat, Anita Febriyani, Andin Dwi Kinanti · Darma Diksani Jurnal Pengabdian Ilmu Pendidikan Sosial dan Humaniora · Indonesia

This community outreach program at PKBM Bunda, a non-formal education center in Samarinda, Indonesia, introduced basic aquaponics concepts to learners in an equivalency education program. Conducted in three stages — preparation, implementation and evaluation — the implementation stage combined icebreaking, lecture, video materials, group discussion and Q&A, with pre- and post-tests measuring change in understanding. The evaluation found that participants' understanding of aquaponics concepts improved, indicating that the learning methods used were effective for building foundational knowledge.

Affan Khoerul Pratama, Niken Kusuma Dewi, Ardhian Oktawidyaman, Afia Mansyoorah Nurjaman, Bintang Restu Darmawan, Dimas Arifil Akbar, Die Bhakti Wardoyo Putro · An-Nizam · Indonesia

A community service program in Cepokosari hamlet, Bantul, Indonesia, provided technical training and intensive mentoring to members of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) on growing eggplants and chili peppers using repurposed used water gallon containers as vertical-gardening planting media, aiming to reduce plastic waste while promoting household food security and economic improvement. The results show that using used water gallons as planting media enhanced plant productivity, yielding enough produce for household consumption with a surplus sold for supplementary income for participating families.

Namitha Krishna, N A, Parvathy Sasikumar, Shiv Ganesh · Environment and Ecology · India

India's population is projected to exceed 1.5 billion by 2050, and growing urbanization and industrialization are expected to substantially increase water demand and wastewater generation. Domestic and industrial use currently account for 15% of India's water reserves, a share projected to rise to 30% by 2050. Treated wastewater is described as an increasingly important resource for peri-urban agriculture, while untreated wastewater is described as posing serious environmental and health risks from toxic metals, micro-contaminants, and pathogens. This review surveys recent developments in wastewater treatment for agricultural reuse, covering both conventional sequential treatment stages that remove solids, organic matter, and other pollutants, and advanced technologies that target specific contaminants such as xenobiotics and persistent organic pollutants.

Robert C. Brears · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Global

A book chapter on circular urban agriculture, discussing strategies for sustainable food production in rapidly growing cities. It surveys urban farming methods including rooftop gardens, vertical farming, hydroponics and community gardens, framing resource efficiency — using waste streams, conserving water, and minimizing inputs like soil and fertilizer — as the core of the circular approach, and describes water conservation and recycling (drip irrigation, greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting) and nutrient recycling through biosolids as key components for improving soil quality and productivity.

Rattan Lal · CABI eBooks · Global

A chapter discussing soil scientist Rattan Lal's synthesis of spirituality and philosophy, drawn from Sanskrit/Vedic teachings passed down by his grandmother, with soil science. It traces the historical development of soil and plant science disciplines and states that more change may occur between 2020 and 2050 than in the preceding 10 millennia, listing carbon farming, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, soil-less urban farming and sky farming as future agricultural practices, and noting that the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals depend on soil protection, restoration and management.

Florence Rezende Leite, Maria Lúcia Pereira Antunes, Diogo Aparecido Lopes Silva · Sustainable Production and Consumption · Global

A life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing the environmental performance of a conventional ceramic roof (CR) and a modular green roof (GR) planted with the edible species Pereskia aculeata. Primary data came from experimental GR prototypes monitored for one year, including irrigation volumes, plant development and rainwater retention across 50 rainfall events; secondary data were modeled from the ecoinvent database and literature. The analysis had three stages: comparing CR and GR construction and first-year use, sensitivity/uncertainty analysis of alternative GR materials, and a 30-year projection of use-phase impacts. In stage one, GR outperformed CR in 11 of 14 impact categories, with total normalized impacts 13% lower; 80% of CR's impact came from ceramic tile production, while in GR polymer components dominated, with polypropylene accounting for 82% of fossil depletion and polyester for 95% of ozone depletion. Substituting alternative polymers for the module and filter layers cut marine and freshwater ecotoxicity by over 70%. The optimized GR scenario had 71% lower normalized impacts than CR and outperformed it in 13 of 14 categories, with the 30-year projection confirming GR's continued advantage.

Veronika Hansen, Franziska Häfner, Bianca Messmer, Luca Bragazza, Carsten Tilbæk Petersen, Jakob Magid · Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · Europe

Using a long-term field trial (the CRUCIAL experiment) running for more than 20 years in Denmark, this study compared the long-term effects of bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) — compost, sewage sludge, cattle slurry, and human urine — against conventional mineral NPK fertilizer on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Mineral NPK fertilizer supported crop productivity and improved certain soil properties but did not deliver the broader soil health benefits of organic amendments; compost and sewage sludge notably increased soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, porosity, water content at field capacity, and microbial activity while reducing bulk density and clay dispersibility. Human urine produced a nitrogen fertilizer effect on crop yield comparable to NPK, but showed a higher sodium adsorption ratio than NPK and a negative trend in bulk density (though values stayed below critical thresholds), indicating a need for complementary organic matter input, and carbon-rich bio-based fertilizers reduced crop production per unit of nitrogen applied.