Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1436 results(9 / 58)
Agriculture practiced by city dwellers and the urbanization process: an analysis on the european context
2024Claudinei da Silva [UNESP] Pereira, Antonio Nivaldo [UNESP] Hespanhol · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Europe
This article analyzes agriculture practiced in European cities and their surroundings, tracing its evolution from an essential food security practice in early cities to its decline after the First Industrial Revolution. It examines how the expansion of urbanization and structural transformations of the capitalist economy from the 19th century led to the reduction or disappearance of urban agriculture in major European cities. This shift resulted in a specialized food market supplied by distant producers, highlighting the changing relationship between agriculture, urban morphology, the labor market, and food supply.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicySpatial Accessibility Disparities and Users’ Opinion Assessment of Khartoum State Public Green Spaces
2024Ahmed Alhuseen, H. M. A. M. Omer, Eva Pauditšová, Hussein M. Sulieman, Mária Kozová, Pavel Cudlín · · Sudan (Khartoum)
A study assessed spatial accessibility disparities and users' opinions regarding public green spaces (UGSs) in Khartoum State, Sudan. Using GIS and questionnaires, it evaluated potential accessibility to 44 urban parks, community gardens, and city forests within 5, 10, and 15-minute travel intervals. Results showed inequitable access opportunities to UGSs, primarily favoring first-class residential areas. Within a 5-minute walking interval, the UGSs service zone covered less than 1% of the population. User opinion assessment revealed that 80% of parks required entrance fees, and the study concluded that UGS accessibility does not correspond to international quality of life indices.
Equity & displacementCommunityUrban–rural linkageHealthPolicyQuantification and valorization of compost derived from urban households’ waste in Bukavu City, Eastern D.R. Congo
2024Géant Basimine Chuma, Jean M. Mondo, Adrien Byamungu Ndeko, Etienne M. Akuzibwe, Espoir Mukengere Bagula, Gustave Nachigera Mushagalusa · Discover Sustainability · Democratic Republic of Congo (Bukavu City)
This study investigated the quantity, composition, and disposal practices of domestic waste in Bukavu City, Eastern D.R. Congo. Findings revealed significant challenges in waste management infrastructure and practices, showing that approximately 5% of waste undergoes composting, while 10% is used as livestock feed, 66% incinerated, and 17% buried. Waste management is primarily handled by children (82%), with very limited involvement from non-governmental organizations.
Governance failureCompostOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceCharacterization of composting process and chemical composition of compost from recycling centers in Surabaya City, Indonesia
2024Dwi Haryanta, Tatuk Tojibatus Sa’adah, Indarwati Indarwati · Jurnal Ilmiah Pertanian · Indonesia (Surabaya)
This study in Surabaya City, Indonesia, used a qualitative descriptive approach to characterize the composting process and compost from recycling centers. Composting materials included household waste, market refuse, and fall foliage, processed in an open aerobic system without bio-activators. Chemical analysis showed C/N ratio (17.10-19.60), C-total (17.65%-18.10%), and N-total (0.95%-1.12%), among other elements. While visually mature, indicators such as C/N ratio and temperature suggested an immature state, rendering the compost unsuitable for immediate planting; storage for a minimum of one month was recommended for maturation.
CompostOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkageLand Rental Transactions in Ethiopian Peri-Urban Areas: Sex and Other Factors for Land Rent Transactions
2024Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu, Reinfried Mansberger, Moges Wubet Shita, Derjew Fentie Nurie, Ayelech Kidie Mengesha · Land · Ethiopia
This study in the East Gojjam Administrative Zone, Ethiopia, examined factors affecting land rental transactions using data from 353 household heads affected by expropriation. 58% of respondents participated in both renting and renting out land. 60% of female-headed households engaged in land rental transactions (14% renting in, 46% renting out), while 38% of male-headed households rented land (19% renting out). Sex, landholding size, number of oxen, participation in off-farm activities, and extension service were identified as significant determinants. Oral agreements and sharecropping were the most prevalent transaction methods.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsUrban–rural linkagePolicySharing or sparing? The trade-offs among urban services, food production and ecosystem services
2024Dongxiang Chen, Yuanming Wang, Haijun Bao · Habitat International · Global
This research extended the land sharing and sparing framework to urban land use, quantifying the impact of urban services, food production, and ecosystem services. The results showed that land-sparing scenarios had a 23.6% lower overall value loss than sharing scenarios on average. However, while land-sparing mitigates losses in food production and ecosystem services, it increases the cost of urban services, creating a trade-off that challenges achieving an optimal win-win situation.
Environmental trade-offsPolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageClimate changeSur une place, un jardin : étude des médiations spatiales d’un lieu jardinier
2024Louis Champalle · Approches Théoriques en Information-Communication (ATIC) · France
This article examines how a community garden and its managing association in a French metropolis mediate representations of their surrounding environment through gardening practices and "nature in the city." An ethnographic study within the garden describes spatialization through strategies from the garden to its environment and tactics from the environment to the garden, particularly concerning openness and closure.
CommunityUrban–rural linkagePolicyGlobal health and environmental sustainability
2024CHIBUISI FRANCS OGBUKA, NGOZI O IZUCHUKWU, OGWO ELISHA UKO, OGECHI JULIANA OGBODO, OBI VICTORY IJEOMA · World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews · Global
This paper argues for a re-evaluation of current trends in assessing global health and environmental sustainability through the prevalence of diseases and natural resource availability. It suggests that achieving present needs without compromising future generations requires evolutionary and swift transformation in health for all programs, eco-friendly production and consumption, and urban farming. Global health and environmental sustainability should be summarized as the study and application of attaining welfare equity for all people in a sustainable environment.
HealthClimate changeUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceCidades e suas agriculturas: avaliação de benefícios da agricultura urbana e periurbana para as pessoas: sumário executivo de Osasco (SP)
2024Adriana de Paula Cavalcante Fraga, Ana Moraes Coelho, Jéssica Castro Chryssafidis, José Geraldo Barreto Monteiro de Andrade, Maíra Bombachini Silva, Maria Luiza Sevilha Seraphico de Assis Carvalho, Mariana Nicolletti, Nathan Debortoli, Samuel Santos de Souza Pinto · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (São Paulo)
This case study in Osasco, São Paulo, Brazil, identified and characterized the benefits of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) initiatives for the territory. Using a hybrid methodology combining biophysical modeling of ecosystem services with stakeholder input, the study provided an overview of UPA's contributions to microclimate, soil, and water. It highlighted UPA's significant potential to mitigate or solve typical urban problems and contribute to city development.
Urban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureCommunityPoultry Litter Compost and NPK fertilizers Induced Growth and Yield Performance of Boro Rice at Rooftop Farming
2024Md. Khalilur Rahman, Md Alauddin, Tamanna Tabassum Turna, Md. Kaisar Rahman · Journal of Biodiversity Conservation and Bioresource Management · Bangladesh
A pot experiment on a Charfasson town rooftop in Bhola, Bangladesh, assessed the effects of inorganic fertilizers and decomposed poultry litter on boro rice growth and yield. Eight treatments with three replications were used, measuring agronomic parameters every 30 days and yield after harvest. Treatment T7 (3.0 t poultry litter ha-1 + N100P25K90 kg ha-1) resulted in the highest plant height (82.67 cm at 90 days), leaf number (37.67 at 120 days), panicle length (27.17 cm), grains per panicle (153.33), rice yield (51.53 g/pot or 5.67 t ha-1), and B:C ratio (4.51). Treatments T7 and T8 showed statistically identical results, with T7 achieving the overall best performance.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkageUrban Agriculture as a Catalyst for Revitalization Processes in Residential Districts of European Cities. The Case of Anderlecht, Roeselare and Romainville
2024Justyna Kleszcz · Architecture Civil Engineering Environment · Europe
This research summarizes the role of urban, multi-purpose facilities combining commercial, service, industrial, and urban agriculture functions with residential housing in revitalizing neglected districts. It aims to support the thesis that urban agriculture acts as a catalyst for urban transformation. The study uses historical and interpretative mixed research with three case studies: Abattoir BIGH in Anderlecht (Belgium), Agrotopia (Inagro) in Roeselare (Belgium), and La Cité Maraîchère in Romainville (France).
CommunityEconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageCultivating change: Exploring policies, challenges, and solutions to support city region food systems development in six European countries
2024Ann-Kristin Steines, Michele D’Ostuni, Anna Wissman, Kathrin Specht, Chiara Iodice, Runrid Fox-Kämper, Francesco Monticone, Isabella Righini, Véronique Saint-Gès, Antonella Samoggia, Francesco Orsini · Cities · Europe
This research addressed international and national policies, as well as related constraints and challenges affecting City Region Food System (CRFS) development in six European countries. Data was collected through desktop research, stakeholder interviews, and a workshop. The study found that planning laws restrict possibilities for food production in cities, and legal frameworks prevent the marketing and sale of food produced by non-commercial actors or informal farmers. It also identified a need to expand vocational training in the agricultural sector.
Governance failurePolicyUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceConsidering temporality for SES analysis with reflections from urban food forests and orchards
2024Anastasia Luise Gramatakos, Andrea Rawluk, Catherine Phillips · Ecosystems and People · Global
This paper explores how social ecological systems (SES) analyses can better integrate diverse experiences of time and temporality, drawing insights from social sciences and humanities. It discusses conceptual insights related to ongoing research in urban food forests and orchards to illustrate the usefulness of considering temporality. The study proposes questions for explicitly engaging with temporality, focusing on relational change, space and place, and bodies and practice, suggesting a critical temporal focus is vital for SES research.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageMotor City Green: A Century of Landscapes and Environmentalism in Detroit
2024Debra A. Reid · Agricultural History · United States (Detroit)
"Motor City Green" explores how Detroiters maintained green landscapes, including nature parks and utilitarian vegetable plots, throughout the 20th century. Author Joseph Stanhope Cialdella identifies personal investment and public projects, such as Belle Isle (1881) and Pingree's Potato Patches (1893), as contributing to the city's "perpetual state of ruin and repair." The work provides historical context for urban agriculture and environmentalism in Detroit.
CommunityUrban–rural linkageFor a more holistic vision of the links between agriculture and cities
2024Christine Aubry, Nicolas Rouget, Giulia Giacchè, Joëlle Salomon Cavin · Territoire en mouvement · Global
At the IGU Congress in Paris in July 2022, two parallel sessions were held on urban agriculture. One was titled "Urban agriculture in the South and North: shaping practices and generating the urban fabric," and the other was "Towards an agrarisation of the city? The integration of agricultural practices into the generation of neighbourhoods." For both sessions, urban agriculture (UA) was designated according to a specific definition.
CommunityUrban–rural linkagePolicyMaximising CO2 Sequestration in the City: The Role of Green Walls in Sustainable Urban Development
2024Mansoure Jozay, Mohammad Hossein Zarei, Sarah Khorasaninejad, Taghi Miri · Pollutants · Global
This study evaluates the conceptual potentials and limitations of urban biomass circulation for energy production, food production, and CO2 consumption, with a focus on multi-purpose green walls. It aims to discover new methods of carbon sequestration using green walls to achieve sustainable urban development and CO2 reduction. Green walls are presented as a solution for CO2 absorption in urban areas due to their land efficiency and ecosystem services.
Climate changeUrban–rural linkageBiodiversityThe Effect of Urban Farming Module on Urban Heat Island in Yogyakarta
2024Maria Vika Wirastri, Mikael Ariko Mandaladewa, Patric Chrisna Yuansha Putra · International Journal of Architecture and Urbanism · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)
This study evaluated the impact of urban farming modules on the urban heat island phenomenon in Ngampilan sub-district, Yogyakarta City, Indonesia. A 3D model was developed using Sketchup, and analysis was conducted with Envi-met software. The results showed that the urban farming module contributed to a reduction in mean radiant temperature (MRT) by up to 3.9 degrees Celsius in the surrounding area.
Climate changeUrban–rural linkageBridging nature and urbanity through green roof resilience framework (GRF): A thematic review
2024Alishba Saqib, M Sana Ullah Khan, Irfan Ahmad Rana · Nature-Based Solutions · Global
A systematic review of 123 publications on green roofs and climate change identified recurrent themes including urban heat islands, stormwater runoff, thermal comfort, biodiversity, carbon footprint reduction, urban agriculture, and human well-being. The study proposes a Green Roof Resilience Framework (GRF) that integrates these concepts to enhance urban resilience.
Climate changeBiodiversityUrban–rural linkagePolicyEvaluation of Urban Farming System Sustainability in Central Province of Jakarta, Indonesia
2024Rini Fitri, Achmad Yozar Perkasa, Hinijati Widjaja, Olivia Seanders, Reza Fauzı · Tekirdağ Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi · Indonesia (Jakarta)
This research evaluated the sustainability of urban farming development in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, using a descriptive qualitative methodology and Multi Dimension Scaling (MDS) approach. While urban residents generally have knowledge and support for urban agriculture, the analysis of four dimensions (ecological, economic, social, technological) indicated that urban farming in Petamburan is not sustainable. The sustainability index was very low, categorized as destructive and unsustainable across ecological (14.55%), economic (13.85%), social (13.94%), and technological (13.43%) dimensions.
Limited or null effectUrban–rural linkageCommunityEconomicsClimate changeExploring Floristic Diversity, Propagation Patterns, and Plant Functions in Domestic Gardens across Urban Planning Gradient in Lubumbashi, DR Congo
2024Yannick Useni Sikuzani, Bernard Kisangani Kalonda, Médard Mpanda Mukenza, Jonas Yona Mleci, Alex Mpibwe Kalenga, François Malaisse, Jan Bogaert · Ecologies · DR Congo (Lubumbashi)
This study analyzed the spatial structure, plant diversity, propagation strategies, and ecological functions of domestic gardens across three distinct neighborhoods—planned, unplanned, and residential—in Lubumbashi, DR Congo. The study identified 232 taxa across 68 families, with exotic species predominating in all neighborhoods (80%), especially in unplanned areas (82.25%). This dominance of exotic species highlights a potential for ecological imbalances and emphasizes the strong human influence on domestic gardens in Lubumbashi.
Environmental trade-offsBiodiversityCommunityUrban–rural linkageURBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE IN BRAZILIAN CAPITALS: WHAT DOES RECENT ACADEMIC PRODUCTION REVEAL?
2024M. Kühn, Geisa Zanini Rorato, Bruno César Euphrasio de Mello, Carolina Cristófoli Falcão, Rodrigo Vitória Alves · MIX Sustentável · Brazil
This article presents the results of a systematic literature review on Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA) in Brazil. The study indicated a quantitative increase in academic articles on UPA and a concentration of cited cases in cities in southern and southeastern Brazil. Qualitatively, the analysis revealed that UPA initiatives are primarily located intra-urban, often in common/public places, and operate within a community system, focusing on vegetable production for self-consumption.
Urban–rural linkageClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
2024MATHEWOS ANSHISO · National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia · Ethiopia
A study was conducted in Hosanna Town, Central Ethiopia Region, to assess urban-rural land linkages (URLLs) and the livelihood of peri-urban farming communities. This cross-sectional study used quantitative data from household questionnaires and qualitative data from key informant interviews. The results showed strong urban-rural land linkages in Hosanna Town, with peri-urban farming communities engaged in crop production and livestock rearing. However, these communities face challenges including land degradation, water scarcity, and market access.
Urban–rural linkageEconomicsCommunitySpatial Barriers to Transforming toward a Healthy Food System in the Noreste of Mexico
2024Rob Roggema, Aleksandra Krstikj, B. J. Erazo Flores · Nutrients · Mexico (Monterrey)
This study in the Noreste of Mexico, focusing on Monterrey, investigated spatial and non-spatial barriers to adopting healthy diets and accessing plant-based foods. Findings revealed significant disparities in food access across the Monterrey metropolitan area, with central urban zones having superior access to fresh foods compared to suburban and peripheral regions. This inequality disproportionately affects marginalized areas with higher poverty rates, worsening food insecurity.
Equity & displacementHealthEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageMain problems in urban agriculture and leverage points to drive it towards sustainability: a review
2024Juan Camilo Fontalvo-Buelvas, María Teresa Pulido Silva, Miguel Ángel Escalona Aguilar · Bitácora Urbano Territorial · Global
A bibliographic review identified that the main deficiencies in urban agriculture are inadequate management practices, a lack of organization, and absent or inefficient public policies. The study suggests that agroecology as a management system, policies for land access and sustainable financing, and dissemination processes are key leverage points for driving urban agriculture towards sustainability.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityEconomicsUrban–rural linkageUrban Agricultural Territories as Components of the Architectural Landscape of Ho Chi Minh City
2024To Ngoc Mai Nga, G.E. RUSANOV, В. И. Волков · Zhilishchnoe Stroitel stvo · Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City)
Urban agriculture (UA) is considered a strategic factor for the integrated sustainable development of Ho Chi Minh City, but the urban land fund for agricultural purposes in this city is insignificant. The concept of a Continuous Productive Urban Landscape (CPUL) is proposed as an important direction for territorial development, which can increase the sizes of urban green landscapes used for urban agriculture. The article presents the main components of these landscapes in Ho Chi Minh City.
Urban–rural linkagePolicyCommunity