Research & reports

Jennifer Lyons, Anna Davies · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Germany (Freiburg)

This report, part of the CULTIVATE project, assesses the sustainability impacts of Food Sharing Initiatives (FSIs) in Freiburg. It combines insights from CULTIVATE's Food Sharing Map with sustainability impact assessment (SIA) data submitted by FSIs, estimating impacts across environmental, economic, and social pillars. The report notes that the presented indicators are a subset of total impacts and estimations will become more accurate as more FSIs submit SIA data.

Manal Emhemed Mu Chalgham, Halil Semih Eryıldız · Al-Farooq Journal of Sciences · Turkey (Istanbul)

This case study focuses on Okan University's Tuzla Campus in Istanbul, which already has sustainable features. The research proposes ecological retrofitting measures like edible landscaping, rainwater harvesting, and waste management to improve environmental performance and create an interactive learning environment. Analysis revealed major weaknesses in underutilized green spaces, inefficient natural ventilation, and lacking water/waste management systems, which the proposed retrofits aim to address.

İsmail Suat Başoğlu, Bahadır KOZ · Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi · Turkey (Giresun City Center)

This research evaluated the diversity of flowering plants, physical properties of garden areas, and green space in 18 high schools in Giresun City Center. A total of 45 flowering plant species were identified in the school gardens, but the overall presence of endemic and rare species was found to be low. These findings indicate that high school gardens in Giresun City Center require improvement in terms of existing green areas and plant diversity.

Anna C. Catania, Carmen Trischitta · Design Studies · Italy

This paper examined the role of design as a catalyst in experiential food education through the Curortò project, a therapeutic garden established within the G. Di Cristina Children's Hospital. Employing a participatory action research methodology, the project involved hospitalized children, healthcare professionals, educators, and local community actors in a collaborative design process. Detailed observation, field diaries, and qualitative interviews provided evidence of significant improvements in children's understanding of seasonal food cycles, resource management, and circular economy principles, accompanied by reduced stress levels and increased operational autonomy.

Marcia Eugenio-Gozalbo, Inés Ortega-Cubero, Rafael Suárez-López · International explorations in outdoor and environmental education · Spain (Soria)

This chapter describes an educational project conducted with 8-year-old children in the Organic Learning Garden of the Faculty of Education of Soria, University of Valladolid, Spain. The project aimed to promote detailed observation and learning about insect morphology and diversity through scientific drawing. The use of school gardens is proposed to foster children's knowledge and appreciation of insect biodiversity.

Aleksandra Nowysz, Łukasz Szczepanowicz · Sustainability · Poland

This paper examines the effectiveness of urban farming microinterventions through three design-led case studies in Poland. The cases include "Blooming Structure" (2018, Warsaw), a temporary hydroponic installation; "Micro-cultivation" (2018, Warsaw), a shopfront vertical demonstration farm; and "Micro-cultivation 2" (2019), modular cultivation furniture. The analysis combined project documentation with practice-based observations, applying five interpretive dimensions: spatial fit, technical feasibility, communicative legibility, replicability, and social programming. Findings indicate that successful microinterventions align legible cultivation infrastructure with high visibility, accessibility, and participatory formats that support skills transfer and copying-based scaling. Limitations of this study include the small sample size and its concentration on projects from Poland.

Pascale Darras, Henri Santiago Sanz · VST - Vie sociale et traitements · France (Toulouse)

Since 2014, the "Japaré" shared garden at the Gérard Marchant psychiatric hospital in Toulouse, France, has served as a unique third place. It welcomes a diverse group of volunteers, including patients, professionals, children, and families, offering a space for voluntary market gardening or simply relaxation, without specific programs or obligations.

Beth Myers · University of Liverpool · United Kingdom

This thesis investigates how fresh greens from controlled environment urban agriculture can support children and families at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. The study used an action research approach, including observations and playful interventions like recipe cards and tasting events, to understand engagement barriers and promote nutritious food. Evaluation based on fieldnotes, distribution counts, and informal feedback indicated that small, low-cost materials can improve the atmosphere of clinical spaces and facilitate conversations about food.

Marco Focacci, Isabella De Meo, Alessandro Paletto, Francesca Ugolini, Fabio Salbitano · Land · Italy

A study developed a procedural approach to introduce agroforestry into urban planning and tested it in Sesto Fiorentino, Central Italy, involving 170 stakeholders in a questionnaire survey. Respondents preferred gradually introducing agroforestry into green infrastructure, with educational food forests and alley cropping being favored. While decision-makers incorporated agroforestry into city technical standards, urban planners were reluctant to include it at the strategic level in the city development plan.

Klara Muranyi, Ina Säumel, Donoso José, Edi Emilov Ivanov, Elena Heim, Sophia Kipp, Stephanie Ligan, Marisa Pettit, Thomas Wachtel, Anneli S. Karlsson, Bettina Schneider, Stephanie Degenhardt, Hilde Marie Herrebrøden, Inken Schmütz, Tina Hilbert, Sergio Torres Gimenez, Blanka Suler, Mollenhauer Mollenhauer, Vic Borrill, Ruth Smart, Antonia Torres, Martin Regelsberger, Latifa Bousselmı, Lamia Bouziri, Kai Gildhorn, Erwin Nolde, Katrin Bohn, Primož Banovec, Atanasova Natasa, Max Manderscheid, Milena Klimek, Lucia Alexandra Popartan, Kristin Reichborn‐Kjennerud, Sarah Noémie Plassnig, Joaquim Comas, Sebastian Eiter, Wendy Fjellstad, Nevelina Pachova, Aeden Ratcliffe, Zhifang Wang, Paula Firmbach, Hanna Burckhardt, Laura Martinez, Helen Gallis, Rutger Henneman, Nienke Bouwhuis, Caroline Zeevat, Paul de Graaf, Noel Arozarena Daza · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Europe

Deliverable D7.6, "Final ECS Curricula, Training Modules and Materials," published on Zenodo, is part of the EU Horizon 2020-funded EdiCitNet project (Edible Cities Network, 2018-2024). It compiles the curriculum for a free Massive Open Online Course, "Making Cities Edible: Cultivating Sustainable Urban Environment," covering Edible City Solutions (ECS) — an approach going beyond vertical gardens, rooftop farms, community kitchens and urban aquaponics to include biodiversity conservation, waste reduction, water recycling, social engagement and co-creation. The underlying ECS Knowledge Base was built through a co-creation process involving communities of knowledge and practice, and course content is organized into four fields: I) ECS Governance, II) Economic value of ECS, III) ECS as Ecological Systems, and IV) Socio-cultural impact of ECS. It targets initiatives, urban developers, small and medium-sized businesses and interested individuals, with the course led by a team of instructors with expertise in urban agriculture, sustainability and community development.

Katalin Horotán, Jana Táborská · Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) · Europe

Against the background of children's gradually weakening connection to nature amid spreading urban lifestyles and digitalization, this paper presents the concept of "accessible nature," which places direct, local experience of nature at the center of environmental education. The described program, "The World of Our Garden" (Kertünk világa), uses urban gardens as learning environments and offers modular activities grounded in experiential and inquiry-based learning. Through observation and hands-on activities, students gain insight into natural processes while developing scientific thinking, an emotional connection to nature, and cooperative skills. Using examples, the paper shows how a schoolyard or community garden in an urban setting can become a complex, motivating learning space for sustainability education.

Ajuntament de Barcelona · Ajuntament de Barcelona / Institut Municipal de Parcs i Jardins · Spain

The official page of Barcelona's municipal allotment network, offering 15 allotment sites across the city's ten districts, with plots of 20-40 m2 leased to residents aged 65+ and non-profit organizations. The program formally launched in 1997 with the Can Mestres allotments, though the very first allotment, Hort de l'Avi in Gràcia, dates to 1986 following a resident petition. Plots for individuals are allocated by lottery and for organizations by competition, with stated goals of environmental education and intergenerational coexistence.

· Wikipedia (ドイツ語) · Germany

This German Wikipedia article on the Edible City movement traces its origin to 2008 in Todmorden, England, where Pamela Warhurst and Mary Clear founded 'Incredible Edible'; by 2017 the UK Incredible Edible Network linked more than 100 groups. In Germany, the association 'Essbare Stadt' was founded in Kassel in May 2009 based on permaculture principles, while Andernach's municipal project began in 2009 and gained nationwide attention after being presented at Berlin's International Green Week in 2014. By 2017 over 140 such initiatives calling themselves 'edible' were found online. Since 2008, Toronto has promoted a comprehensive municipal program including community gardens, education, and food-waste initiatives.

· Wikipedia · United Kingdom

This Wikipedia article covers Incredible Edible, an urban gardening movement started in 2007 in Todmorden, UK by Pamela Warhurst, Mary Clear and others, run on a 'three spinning plates' model of community (public-space growing anyone can pick from), business (supporting local food firms), and learning (food education). As of 2018 there were 120 official UK groups and over 700 worldwide; UK groups reported a 37% year-on-year rise in produce, 9,763 sqm of growing land, 4,861 participants, and 207 events. The project received a £500,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

· Wikipedia · Europe

This Wikipedia article on 'city farm' states that an early city farm was set up in 1972 in Kentish Town, London, combining farm animals with gardening space — a combination inspired by children's farms in the Netherlands — and that other city farms followed across London and the United Kingdom. The article does not, however, provide further detail on the origin or history of the Dutch children's farms (kinderboerderij) themselves.

· Wikipedia · Netherlands

This Wikipedia article on Wageningen University & Research states it was founded in 1876 as the Rijkslandbouwschool (National Agricultural School), renamed the Agricultural and Forestry College in 1896 and the National Agricultural, Horticulture and Forestry College in 1904, before becoming a degree-awarding institution named 'Rijks Landbouw Hoogeschool' under the Academic Education Act on 9 March 1918 — a date now celebrated as the university's dies natalis. The article states the university is highly ranked globally in agriculture, ranking 1st worldwide in Agriculture and Forestry in the QS World University Rankings 2022, 19th in Life Sciences in Times Higher Education 2022, and 1st in Food Science & Technology in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2017. It states the university has about 13,564 students.

· Wikipedia (de) · Germany

The city of Andernach's 'Edible City' (Essbare Stadt) project plants vegetables, fruit, and grain on municipal green spaces under the motto 'picking allowed' (Pflücken erlaubt), letting residents harvest freely. It was first presented in 2010 at the federal 'Entente Florale' competition, where Andernach received several awards, and was subsequently extended to further areas in the city center, along the old city wall, and near the train station.

· Wikipedia · Germany

The Intercultural Garden movement was founded in 1996 in Göttingen, Germany, partly on the initiative of migrant families, with an association formally established in 1998. It began with just three gardens in Göttingen but had grown by early 2006 to about 300 members from about twenty countries, while around the same period thirty independent garden projects existed nationwide with more being created. The Munich-based foundation Stiftung Interkultur coordinates and supports garden projects across Germany.

Prinzessinnengarten Kollektiv Berlin · Prinzessinnengarten Kollektiv Berlin (公式サイト) · Germany

Prinzessinnengarten Kollektiv Berlin has worked on education and participation since 2009. It relocated from its original Moritzplatz site in 2020 and is now based at the Neuer St. Jacobi Friedhof cemetery in Neukölln. Its activities include green-space conservation and community gardening, ecology workshops, running the neighborhood facility 'studio nagelneu' and the cultural event space 'Kiezkapelle', environmental education, guided tours, a café-restaurant, and garden projects for companies, schools, and social institutions.

Incredible Edible Todmorden · Incredible Edible Todmorden · United Kingdom

The official site of Incredible Edible Todmorden, the UK grassroots movement that plants and shares free-to-harvest vegetables, fruit and herbs in public spaces around the town. It runs with no office, no paid staff and no major funding, and states that the wider Incredible Edible network now numbers over 700 groups worldwide.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) · Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) · United Kingdom

A donation page for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, stating that over 30,800 schools and groups across the UK already receive support and around 2.1 million children take part in gardening activities through the campaign.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) · Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) · United Kingdom

The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) runs a campaign to make plants "an integrated part of everyday school life," offering free biannual newsletters, online training courses, a five-level School Gardening Award, and a library of activity plans and teaching guides. It also offers guided and self-guided school visits to RHS gardens and a biodiversity project with the Natural History Museum (the National Education Nature Park). The page does not state specific participation figures such as the number of schools involved.

· Wikipedia (Deutsch) · Germany

The article on Germany's intercultural gardens. The pilot project grew out of the initiative of immigrant families in Göttingen-Geismar in 1996, and as of 2025 more than 400 intercultural garden projects exist across the country. Support centres on the Stiftung Interkultur in Munich, described as a creation of the foundation partnership anstiftung & ertomis. The association at the movement's origin, Internationale Gärten e. V. Göttingen, was set up in 1998 and runs three gardens covering 11,000 square metres with around 70 families from 25 countries.

· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Spain (Barcelona)

A study analysing both the agronomic and the organisational dimensions of Barcelona's community gardens, examining empirically how citizen-led urban gardens are managed and run.

Irigoyen I., López M., Orden L., Moral R., Nogués I., Bustamante M.Á. · Agronomy · Europe (urban agriculture focus)

June 2025 study examining how decentralized and community composting are emerging as novel scenarios favoring localized management and valorization of organic waste streams. Supports organic waste reduction at community level and nutrient cycling for urban agriculture fertilization, offering alternatives to centralized composting.