Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
110 results(1 / 5)
A decision-analysis framework for school garden investments in Vietnam: evaluating trade-offs for nutrition, biodiversity, and economic outcomes
2026Cory Whitney, Thi Thu Giang Luu, Johannes Kopton, Eike Luedeling · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · Vietnam
This study developed a decision analysis framework to optimize school garden interventions in Vietnamese public and private schools, evaluating their effects on child health, biodiversity, and economic outcomes across five investment scenarios. Results show that passive gardens consistently offer greater biodiversity and health benefits, whereas STEM gardens encounter financial and operational barriers, especially in public schools. The findings highlight significant financial constraints in public schools compared to private ones, revealing critical trade-offs among economic, biodiversity, and health outcomes.
Economic viabilityFood educationHealthBiodiversityEconomicsConstruction of a Virtual Sensor-Driven Digital Twin System for Plant Growth Monitoring on Rooftop Farms
2026Shaojin Zheng, Heng Zhang, L L Li · Buildings · China (Xiamen)
This study proposed and validated a virtual sensor-driven digital twin system for monitoring plant growth on rooftop farms, using a rooftop tomato case in Xiamen, China. The system integrates environmental data acquisition, LSTM–DSSAT model prediction, database storage, and 3D visualization. The coupled Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) weather prediction model and Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) crop growth model achieved high predictive accuracy for leaf area index (R2=0.9814) and aboveground biomass (R2=0.9966), supporting 7-day forecasts for phenology and yield.
Digital agricultureBiodiversityCommunityClimate changeMembangun Masyarakat Sehat Dan Lingkungan Bersih: Pelaksanaan Kkn Tematik Universitas Dehasen Periode 6 Di Kelurahan Betungan Rt 28 Rw 02
2026Jeki Putra Jaya, Sari Putri Dewi, Cici Hidayatullah, Anwar Fuadi Lubis, Triyogi Prabowo, Ferawati Royani, Feby Elra Perdima, Asnawati Asnawati · Jurnal Karya Nyata Pengabdian · Indonesia
A community service program in RT 28 RW 02 Betungan Subdistrict and Sumber Jaya Betungan, Indonesia, addressed issues of limited green spaces, low waste management awareness, and lack of health activities. Solutions included planting medicinal plants, group exercise, providing waste bins, establishing reading corners, and developing a community garden. The program resulted in increased public awareness of environmental cleanliness and healthy lifestyles, improved literacy access, and stronger community participation.
CommunityHealthFood educationBiodiversityEco-Levee Coastal Corridors for Integrating Nature-Based and Hybrid Solutions in Coastal Resilience
2026Idawarni Asmal, Asano Junichiro · Civil Engineering Journal · Indonesia (South Sulawesi)
This study developed and evaluated the Eco-Levee Coastal Corridor (ELCC) as a multifunctional spatial adaptation model for coastal settlements in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, vulnerable to tidal flooding and erosion. Employing integrated spatial analysis and a design-based approach, the research found that ELCC enhances coastal resilience by combining hybrid engineering with Nature-Based Solutions like vegetated buffers and edible forest systems. This configuration reduces coastal hazard exposure, improves environmental quality, and supports local livelihoods.
CommunityClimate changeBiodiversityExploring Urban Sky Gardens’ Spatial Patterns, Influencing Factors and Optimizing Strategies in Lanzhou, China
2026Pengzhen Du, Qiyu Chen, Jinyu Xin, Shibo Ma · Sustainability · China (Lanzhou)
This study established a GIS database of 508 sky gardens in Lanzhou, China, through image maps and on-site investigations, analyzing their spatial patterns and influencing factors. Sky gardens in Lanzhou showed spatial heterogeneity, with 82% being rooftop gardens, mostly on residential, mid- and low-rise buildings, often lacking public accessibility and having low vegetation coverage. Sky garden area was negatively correlated with building height and ground-level green area, and positively associated with plot ratio, building density, and population density. The study concluded that rooftop and podium utilization is relatively low, and sky garden development exhibits spatial clustering.
BiodiversityPolicyCrop Diversification in Kaluvankulam: Replacing Paddy with Flower Crops under Pollution Stress
2026Pari Diwahar, Chandran. S, Paramasivan SatheeshKumar · International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology · India (Madurai District, Tamil Nadu)
This study in Kaluvankulam, Madurai District, India, assessed the adaptability of treated municipal wastewater for marigold irrigation, where paddy yields have declined. Analysis of treated wastewater showed oil and grease and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels exceeded permissible irrigation standards. Soil analysis revealed elevated phosphorus, potassium, and iron concentrations, indicating nutrient accumulation.
Contamination & food safetyPeri-urban agricultureClimate changeBiodiversityÓvoda 4500 m²-en : Az Atelier Apeiron Múzeum-Erdei Óvodája, Sencsen, Kína
2026Imre Ferenc Szűcs · Metszet · China (Shenzhen)
Atelier Apeiron's 4,500-square-metre Museum Forest Kindergarten in Shenzhen, China, is presented as a high-density urban design case study. The project addresses strict site constraints through vertical organization, stacking 15 classrooms across three levels to optimize climate, light, and airflow. This vertical structure, which utilizes rooftop gardens, serves as a comparative example for European architects evaluating urban constraints.
BiodiversityClimate changeFood educationEnvironmental and Social Relationship Changes Through Self-Governance Transition in a Rooftop Community Garden of Senior Residential Living Lab
2026YeunSook Lee, Jaehyun Park, Yumi Hwang · Journal of the Korean housing association · South Korea
A longitudinal qualitative case study in a South Korean senior public rental housing community examined the first transition to self-governance in a rooftop community garden. The transition led to ecological and sensory degradation, including disrupted ecological rhythm and reduced olfactory comfort, and social fragmentation with disputes and leadership frictions. These findings revealed limits of participation-heavy models without codified rules or procedural safeguards, indicating that effective self-governance requires visible rules, procedural fairness, embedded learning, and mediation structures.
Governance failureCommunityElderlyBiodiversityRagamuffin Geographies: A Critical View of Informal Green Spaces Against Formality in Chinese Cities
2026S Wang · Advances in Economics Management and Political Sciences · China
This qualitative literature review examines informal green spaces (IGS) in Chinese cities, contrasting them with formal, hyper-managed landscapes. The study finds that while formal lawns incur high financial maintenance burdens and lower biodiversity, IGS, including spontaneous urban wilderness and community gardens, are often cleared despite offering higher biodiversity and zero maintenance costs. The research highlights a governance dilemma where the prioritization of neatness over ecology leads to the removal of IGS, which support psychological place attachment and spatial justice for marginalized groups.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyBiodiversityEconomicsWelfareConnecting the dots…
2025Purva Tavri · · India (Durg)
This chapter reframes the circular economy as a 'lived inheritance,' drawing from childhood practices like repair, reuse, frugality, and food respect in Durg, India. It critiques 'isomorphic mimicry' of imported models and advocates for reverse learning from communities. Using the 5Ws & H method, it demonstrates how vernacular circularity, including repair cultures, Ikra housing, terracotta cooling, leaf-plate economies, and community gardens, advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
CommunityClimate changeBiodiversityOrganic cycleSoil fertility mapping on Ficus trees for rehabilitation of degraded land in Kuningan Regency, Indonesia
2025Yayan Hendrayana, Agus Yadi Ismail, Handayani Handayani, Dede Kosasih, M. A. Romdona, Naufal Althaaf, Syifa Afidah Nurul Arifin · Brazilian Journal of Biology · Indonesia
This study analyzed soil fertility around Ficus trees in sand mining areas, community gardens, and secondary forests in Kuningan Regency, Indonesia. Soil fertility varied across locations, ranging from low to medium in sand mining areas and low to high in community gardens and secondary forests. Ficus benjamina and Ficus septica are recommended for land rehabilitation due to their adaptability and contributions to soil restoration.
CommunityOrganic cycleBiodiversityUrban foraging behavior in public green spaces: a case study of Nanjing’s central urban area
2025Xiang Zhou, Nan Wang, Jiaying Shi, Michael Hensel · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · China (Nanjing)
A study of urban foraging behavior in Nanjing's central urban area, China, revealed significant enthusiasm among residents, linking personal childhood experiences to their foraging motivations. However, environmental pollution was identified as a critical barrier to these activities.
Contamination & food safetyCommunityHealthFood educationBiodiversityEvaluation and Changes in the Comprehensive Ecological Effects of Agriculture in Urbanizing Areas: A Case Study of the Xi'an Metropolitan Zone, China
2025Zhongxue Zhou, Fangze Zhao, Bingjie Song · Ecological Indicators · China
This study proposed the concept of agricultural comprehensive ecological effects (ACEE), developed an evaluation framework, and applied it to the Xi'an metropolitan zone, China. A key finding was the observed decrease in the comprehensive ecological effects of agriculture when transitioning from grain planting to urban agriculture due to unsuitable agricultural practices in urbanizing areas. This decline occurs because modern agricultural practices in urbanizing areas are ecologically detrimental compared with natural ecosystems.
Environmental trade-offsClimate changeBiodiversityUrban–rural linkagePolicyHome gardens – a localised nature-based solution for climate change adaptation and mitigation: a case study from the north-eastern region of India
2025Khwairakpam Nicholas, Anjali Joshi, Muthuprasad Thiyaharajan, Natalya Krishnambika · Biological Agriculture & Horticulture · India
A study in the Imphal-West district of Manipur, India, surveyed 200 households using a mixed-method approach to document home garden structure, composition, and services. Findings showed 60% of households engaged in home gardening, with an average garden size of 0.069 hectares. These home gardens provided an average annual economic yield of INR 18,700 and a 0.1 hectare garden stored 10.6 tons of carbon in trees and soil.
DIYClimate changeBiodiversityEconomicsFood educationSustainable Peri-Urban Agriculture: Innovations and Practices at IIHS Campus, Kengeri
2025Sheetal Patil, Simi John, Pooja Sagar, Narmada A. Khare, Kruthika Ganesh · · India
This book explores the integration of regenerative urban agriculture within sustainable cityscapes, using the IIHS Kengeri Campus in India as a case study. The campus functions as a 'living lab' for sustainable soil and water management, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, and urban food production. By experimenting with interdisciplinary approaches, the book highlights innovative models for food and water security in rapidly urbanizing environments.
Peri-urban agricultureClimate changeEconomicsBiodiversityPendekatan Arsitektur Biofilik pada Perancangan Perpustakaan Hybrid di Kabupaten Luwu Utara
2025A.R. Taufiq Satria Azhar, Irnawaty Idrus, Citra Amalia Amal, Muhammad Syarif, A. Syahriyunita Syahruddin, Siti Fuadillah A. Amin · Journal of Muhammadiyah’s Application Technology · Indonesia
This study explored the application of biophilic architecture concepts in the design of a hybrid library in North Luwu Regency, Indonesia. A descriptive comparative method, using literature review and case analysis, identified biophilic design elements such as natural materials, natural lighting, and cross-ventilation. The research found that the hybrid library fully implemented biophilic concepts, particularly in specific areas like reading rooms, lobbies, and rooftop gardens.
BiodiversityClimate changeCultivating Eco-Urban Diplomacy through Urban Farming: Comparative Insights from Jakarta–Tokyo and Surabaya–Kitakyushu Sister Cities
2025Azka Madihah, Aliifah Ghassanii · Atlantis highlights in social sciences, education and humanities/Atlantis Highlights in Social Sciences, Education and Humanities · Asia
This study examined eco-urban diplomacy through urban farming and environmental horticulture in Jakarta-Tokyo and Surabaya-Kitakyushu sister-city partnerships. Jakarta-Tokyo collaboration promoted participatory urban farming and rooftop greening, raising Tokyo's vegetable self-sufficiency from 4.27% to a potential 11.73%. Surabaya-Kitakyushu cooperation achieved a threefold mangrove expansion and 20% waste reduction, but financial constraints, communication gaps, and land insecurity persist, risking exclusion of marginalized groups.
Climate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyHealthEconomicsBiodiversityAn Analysis of Current Status and Needs for Developing Educational and Experiential Content at Eco-Cycle School Farms Mainly Concerning Elementary School Teachers
2025Han-Na Chu, Young-Bin Jung, Y. Barry Chung, Seung-Won Han, Jae-Soon Kim · Korean Journal of Human Ecology · South Korea
This study surveyed 396 elementary school teachers and administrative staff in South Korea to assess the status and needs for eco-cycle school farm content. Among 323 teachers, 41.2% operated gardens, with "lack of space" (50.5%) being the main reason for non-operation. Teachers desired more diverse garden forms and higher budgets (KRW 600,000-1,000,000), and showed high demand for education on energy conservation and resource circulation.
Food educationCommunityBiodiversityBiodiversity-based Land Management Strategies for Food Security in Suburban Areas
2025Farida Arinie Soelistianto · West Science Nature and Technology · Indonesia
This study investigated biodiversity-based land management strategies as a sustainable solution for urban food security challenges in Indonesia, using a qualitative approach and the Penta Helix model. Data from five informants representing academia, government, private sector, community, and media were analyzed. Findings highlighted the significant contributions of each stakeholder in promoting biodiversity, but also noted persistent challenges such as resource constraints, policy fragmentation, and cultural resistance. The study concluded that biodiversity-based strategies, supported by collaborative governance, are essential for achieving sustainable and food-secure urban environments in Indonesia.
BiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPolicyAssessment of Community Gardens’ role in mitigating air pollution and expanding social opportunities: Lessons from a neighborhood with limited green infrastructure in Tehran city
2025Mahsa Khanpoor Siahdarka, Mohammad Reza Masnavi · Energy Nexus · Asia
A mixed-method study in Tehran's District 10 investigated the potential of community gardens to address environmental and social challenges. Envi-Met® simulations showed CO₂ reductions of 77.74 mg/m³ around broadleaf trees and 84.37 mg/m³ with native grasses and phytoremediation plants, a 6.43°C reduction in mean radiant temperature, and a 7% increase in relative humidity. Social analyses revealed community preferences and gendered trends influencing garden design and plot arrangements.
CommunityClimate changeBiodiversityHealthUrban wild bee well‐being revealed by gut metagenome data: A mason bee model
2025Yiran Li, Chengweiran Liu, Yiran Wang, Muhan Li, Shasha Zou, Xiaona Hu, Zhiwei Chen, Mingrui Li, Changsheng Ma, C. Jennifer, Xin Zhou, Yi Zou, Min Tang · Insect Science · China (Suzhou)
This study investigated the survival status of mason bees (Osmia excavata) across 10 urban agricultural sites in Suzhou, China, using shotgun gut metagenome sequencing. It found that ingested pollen primarily came from Brassica crops and Plantanus, indicating limited plant diversity. The gut bacterial community was stable across 8 sites but perturbed at 2, and antibiotic resistance gene profiles varied widely. Virome analysis identified honeybee pathogens and unknown bacteriophages.
PollinatorsBiodiversityUrban–rural linkageOn-farm crop diversity, conservation, importance and value: a case study of landraces from Western Ghats of Karnataka, India
2024Puneeth G. M., Gowthami R., Katral A., Laxmisha K. M., Vasudeva R., Singh G. P., Archak S. · Scientific Reports 14:10712 · India
Documents 671 landraces of 60 crops across 24 sites in the Western Ghats, identifying suitability, cuisine, medicinal use, cultural significance and economic value as determinants of on-farm conservation by custodian farmers.
Heirloom & landraceBiodiversityCommunityFood educationUrban agriculture as a landscape approach for sustainable urban planning. An example of Songzhuang, Beijing
2024· Frontiers in Sustainability · China (Beijing)
Discusses urban agriculture as a landscape approach for sustainable urban planning, using Songzhuang in Beijing as a case study.
PolicyBiodiversityGreen or grain? Impact of green space expansion on grain production in Chinese cities and its implications for national urban greening schemes
2024· Landscape Ecology · China
An analysis of how urban green space expansion affected grain production through cropland loss in Chinese cities from 2000 to 2020, with implications for national urban greening schemes.
PolicyBiodiversityLand Suitability of Wani Fruit (Mangifera caesia) for Fruit Development in Mount Batur, Kintamani, Bali
2024I Gusti Ayu Diah Yuniti, Nanang Sasmita, Jhon Hardy Purba, Liris Lis Komara · Journal of Applied Agricultural Science and Technology · Indonesia
This study evaluated the land suitability for Wani fruit (Mangifera caesia) plants on the slopes of Mount Batur, Kintamani, Bali. Using composite sampling and descriptive and comparative analysis, the results showed three land suitability classes: moderately suitable, marginally suitable, and not suitable, with slope, texture, temperature, effective depth, and rainfall identified as main limiting factors. Zones I, II, and III of the Kintamani area, covering 21,476 hectares, were found suitable for the development of Wani fruit for horticultural and conservation purposes.
CommunityHeirloom & landraceBiodiversity