Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
8 results
The Pollinating Network of Pollinators and the Service Value of Pollination in Hanzhong City, China
2025Chang X., Yan X., Lv F., Zhang Y., Breeze T. D., Li X. · Insects · Hanzhong, China
Documents pollinator resources and pollination networks in Hanzhong City, China, recording 80 pollinator species and 59 pollinated crop and wild nectar plant species, and evaluates the economic value of pollination services.
PollinatorsEconomicsUrban 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 linkageIdentifying pollinator‐friendly sites within urban green spaces for sustainable urban agriculture
2024Ehsan Rahimi, Chuleui Jung · Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment · South Korea
This study developed a methodology to identify optimal urban locations for pollinator-dependent crops in South Korea. Researchers generated habitat suitability maps for 243 pollinating insects across 10 major cities using species distribution models and Graphab 2.8 software. The analysis found a strong positive correlation between green space cluster modularity and pollinator distribution, indicating that areas with higher modularity have richer pollinator populations and are suitable for urban agriculture.
BiodiversityPollinatorsUrban–rural linkageClimate changeEnvironmental factors affecting honey bees (Apis cerana) and cabbage white butterflies (Pieris rapae) at urban farmlands
2023Myung‐Bok Lee · PeerJ · China
This study investigated how environmental features within and surrounding urban farmlands affected the abundance of Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) and cabbage white butterflies (Pieris rapae) in a megacity of China during winters. P. rapae abundance increased with local crop diversity but was strongly negatively associated with landscape-scale crop and weed covers. A. cerana responded positively to fine-scale flower cover, increased with local-scale weed cover, but decreased with increasing landscape-scale weed cover.
BiodiversityPollinatorsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkagePEMBERDAYAAN PETERNAK LEBAH TRIGONA PADA KELOMPOK USAHA A BEE HONEY DI GAMPONG ALUE AWE KECAMATAN MUARA DUA
2022Mohd Zulkifli Muhammad, Mohd Zulkifli Muhammad, Reza Putra, Abdul Rahman, Ridho Hafis, Faizar Rianda · JURNAL HURRIAH Jurnal Evaluasi Pendidikan dan Penelitian · Indonesia
The A Bee Honey group in Gampong Alue Awe, Muara Dua subdistrict, implemented a pilot program for Trigona honey bee cultivation from August to November 2022. Despite its potential as an income source, honey supply does not consistently meet demand, and a lack of understanding regarding cultivation and economics reduces consumer interest. The community also does not fully comprehend the advantages and potential of trigona bee cultivation. Training was provided to educate the community on its potential as an alternative income source, resulting in five family heads joining the program.
Economic viabilityCommunityEconomicsFood educationPollinatorsHoney Bee Diversity in Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture and Urban Forest- Outlook Study from Bengaluru-Silicon Valley of India: A Review
2022Prem José Vazhacharickal, K. S. Jagadish, G. Eswarappa · Agricultural Reviews · India (Bengaluru)
This outlook study reviewed honey bee diversity and the potential for integrating honey bees into urban agriculture and forests in Bengaluru, India. An urban forestry study in Bengaluru identified 374 plant species, with the highest diversity in parks (291 species). Most plant species provided good foraging sources for honey bees, including Apis indica, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, and Trigona iridipennis. The urban agro-ecosystem in Bengaluru was found to be suitable for beekeeping, particularly for stingless bees.
BiodiversityPollinatorsUrban–rural linkageDIY도시농업 활성화와 곤충
2012서명훈, 이원석, 전명희, 김성기 · · South Korea
In South Korea, urban agriculture is being revitalized with the enactment of urban agriculture-related laws in 2011 and active promotion by local governments. The total urban agriculture area in Seoul and Gyeonggi regions is 251.6 ha, and urban gardens with diverse crops exhibit biodiversity, allowing for relatively flexible insect life cycles. However, challenges include unauthorized biological and chemical pest control due to multiple people managing small areas, and the absence of winter crops due to limited usage periods. Environmentally friendly insect management, utilizing natural enemies, traps, and biodiversity, is necessary for urban gardens.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityPollinatorsDistribution Patterns of Wild Flowers and Their Use in Urban Gardening in Tianjin City
2011Hongyuan Li · Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation · China (Tianjin)
An investigation of wild flowers in urban areas of Tianjin City was conducted from 2005 to 2010. The study examined the ecological habits, life forms, and distribution of each species, identifying six distinct distribution patterns: single, linear, scattered, assembled, radial, and climbing. Following an analysis of these patterns' characteristics, the potential use of these wild flowers in urban gardening was discussed.
BiodiversityPollinatorsDIY