Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
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458 results(1 / 19)
Urban–rural linkage: an ecosystem governance perspective
2026IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management · IUCN · Global
Rethinks ecosystem governance across urban and rural landscapes, offering practical local and regional solutions and linking them to the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
BiodiversityPolicyModeling Non-State Actor Interactions in Inclusive Urban Ecology: The Role of Community Gardens in Sustainable City Development
2026Indra Jaya Wiranata, Khairunnisa Simbolon · Global and Policy Journal of International Relations · Global
This research examines the role of community gardens, supported by non-governmental groups, in addressing urban issues like environmental damage and food insecurity. The study analyzed urban agriculture programs in Singapore, Rosario, Seoul, Seville, and Yogyakarta, finding that community gardens boost biodiversity, improve air quality, support food sovereignty, and create inclusive public spaces. It concludes that community gardens are socio-ecological infrastructures that strengthen urban resilience and promote justice, especially in tropical cities with year-round growing seasons.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityPolicyUrban liveability, health and wellbeing are intricately linked to large, quality, biodiverse green spaces, not densification
2026Charlie M. Shackleton, Nanamhla Gwedla, Jessica P. R. Thorn · Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · Global
This article discusses the long-standing debate on whether cities can be both dense and green, noting that some cities have achieved both. It questions whether densification is the sole driver of declines in urban green space and proposes deepening the debate by considering eight other dimensions of urban greening. The article also mentions compact urban greening forms like vertical gardens and green roofs, but states that most are poor surrogates for large, connected, biodiverse green spaces.
BiodiversityHealthPolicyCase study on biological and chemical soil properties during the transition from intensive agriculture to an organic food forest
2026Hermann Ketterl, Tobias Heinrich · Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg (OTH Regensburg) · Global
This case study monitors soil properties as a function of time since conversion from intensive agriculture to an organic food forest, which was planted in several sections over five years. Classical soil microscopy was used to assess bacterial and fungal abundance, and the resulting videos were analyzed using image analysis.
Organic cycleBiodiversityCommunityThermal Remote Sensing and ECOSTRESS for Urban Agriculture: A Systematic Review of Cooling Benefits and Water Demand
2026D. T. Gyan, Y. A. Twumasi, Z. H. Ning, E. Dadzie, J. D. Osei, P. M. Loh, K. K. Annan, J. Mensah, S. Dorcoo · The international archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences · Global
This systematic review, guided by PRISMA 2020 protocols, examined decades of peer-reviewed studies on thermal remote sensing, focusing on NASA’s ECOSTRESS mission, to evaluate urban agriculture's (UA) cooling benefits and water demand. The review found that UA can lower localized land surface temperature by 1–5°C and that ECOSTRESS-derived evapotranspiration provides robust estimates for optimizing irrigation. However, gaps persist in validation methods, socio-economic integration, and multi-climate assessments.
Climate changeBiodiversityFood sovereignty & justiceDiversity of Herbs
2026Dorothee Benkowitz · International explorations in outdoor and environmental education · Global
Herbs have historically provided medicinal, culinary, and cosmetic benefits, and their diversity offers insights into biological and ecological principles. Modern diets and disconnection from local agriculture have led to a decline in herbal knowledge. Cultivating herbs in school gardens promotes sustainability awareness, hands-on learning, and an appreciation for plant diversity.
Food educationBiodiversityDIYUrban Agriculture: Setting the Agenda on Plant-pollinator Interactions Among Food Plants, Research Funding, and Policy Actions
2026Willams Oliveira, Marcelo Tabarelli, Leonardo Galetto, Carlos A. Peres, Ariadna Valentina Lopes · Human Ecology · Global
This review provides an overview of published research on plant-pollinator interactions among food plants in urban agriculture worldwide, offering a critical summary of the spatiotemporal distribution of knowledge, urban plant-pollinator profiles, and research funding for urban agriculture and ecosystem services. It highlights the potential of urban agriculture to create pollinator-friendly spaces that support local pollinator conservation and concludes that pollination services are a promising nature-based solution to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
BiodiversityPollinatorsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeFarm
2026Catherine Dee · · Global
The sylvan spatial pattern "Farm" describes a place where food, trees, and shrubs are cultivated, often supporting annual and perennial crops within and under tree canopies. These farms can range from small street corner groves to extensive orchards or parklands within or around urban areas. Sylvan city farms integrate health, educational, cultural, and economic functions for city dwellers, serving as schools, commons, cooperatives, and places of employment.
CommunityHealthEconomicsBiodiversityA scoping review of temperate food forestry research: key themes, methodological considerations and research priorities
2026Anna M. Roodhof, Lieke Moereels, Isabelle van der Zanden, Giulia Bongiorno, Alejandra Hernández Guzmán, Jeroen Kruit, Madelon Lohbeck, Sietze J. Norder, Suzy Rebisz, Bastiaan Rooduijn, Jordy van Eijk, Heitor Mancini Teixeira · Agroforestry Systems · Global
This scoping review aims to facilitate future food forestry research by organizing existing empirical research and research agendas on food forestry in temperate regions. The study integrated fragmented literature, primarily due to inconsistent terminology, around nine key research themes. Overall, three clusters of research gaps were identified, centering on questions pertaining to food production, multifunctionality, and knowledge legitimization processes in food forests.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityOrganic cycleLearning Grassroots Regenerative Circularity: Food Forest Pedagogies of Praxis
2026Kensington Food Forest, Kensington Circular Economy Precinct Community Group, Nícolas Guerra-Tão, Corey Ferguson, Alexandre da Silva Faustino, Ana Lara Heyns, Zheng Chin, Stephanie Ochona, Benjamin Cooke · Australian Journal of Environmental Education · Australia (Melbourne)
Research conducted with the Kensington Circular Economy Precinct Community Group in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia, examined the Kensington Food Forest, an urban ecological site within public housing estates. This study co-created indicators to capture the ecological, social, and pedagogical values generated by grassroots initiatives, showing how communities learn with their environment and each other. The findings position regenerative circularity as an embodied, relational, and pedagogical praxis.
CommunityBiodiversityOrganic cycleFood educationA fenntartható városi infrastruktúra szerepe az életminőség javításában = The role of sustainable urban infrastructurein improving the quality of life
2026Róbert Nagy · Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) · Global
This systematic literature review analyzed 33 Scopus-indexed studies published between 2020 and 2026 on sustainable urban infrastructure investments. It concluded that Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) and urban energy infrastructure significantly contribute to improving mental health, mitigating urban heat island effects, and reducing household energy costs. However, the review also identified structural barriers to BGI adoption, including capital shortages and lack of institutional coordination.
Climate changeHealthBiodiversityCommunityWilding Practices Through Design: Playful Encounters for Reframing Control in Multispecies Cohabitation
2026Erik Andersson, Martín Ávila, Nelly Mäekivi · Revista Diseña · Sweden (Stockholm)
This article explores how design interventions can reintroduce elements of 'wildness' into urban environments to foster multispecies interaction. Using prototypes as habitat elements for newts in a Stockholm allotment garden, the study found these interventions provoked human curiosity, connected to gardening traditions, and increased multispecies activity. The authors argue that design should prioritize attunement, ambiguity, and divergence to support new forms of cohabitation in urban life.
BiodiversityCommunityPerceived sustainability impacts of converting to community‐supported agriculture
2026Lukas Egli, Jana V. Schmidt, Hanna‐Sofie Haf, Mirco Zech · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global
This exploratory quantitative survey assessed farmers' perceived sustainability impacts of converting to Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA). While most perceived impacts were positive, adverse impacts were anticipated regarding climate and water, such as increased water usage from vegetable production. Farmers in CSAs with medium to high member participation perceived significantly higher biodiversity impacts and more positive sustainability impacts for members.
Environmental trade-offsCSA & TeikeiClimate changeBiodiversityEconomicsEkosistem Restorasyonu ve Doğa Temelli Çözümlerle Gıda Sistemlerinin Güçlendirilmesi
2026Çiğdem Coşkun Hepcan · · Global
This study examines how ecosystem restoration and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) can transform food systems. It highlights that ecosystem degradation threatens essential services, and NbS offer an integrated approach to restoring degraded ecosystems by enhancing soil fertility, improving water retention, and reducing pollution. Integrating NbS into various ecosystems provides a holistic strategy for strengthening ecological integrity and food system resilience, contributing to climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and disaster risk reduction.
BiodiversityClimate changeOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justicePredation risk of gregarious and aposematic insect larvae in an urban-agricultural landscape
2026Ramdhia A. Baluno, Guiamelah O. Mamangkas, Asraf K. Lidasan, Angelo Rellama Agduma, Bona Abigail Hilario‐Husain, Kier C. Dela Cruz, Krizler C. Tanalgo · Ecoscience · Philippines
This study investigated the relationship between prey aggregation, body coloration, and habitat structure with the likelihood of predation by visually oriented vertebrates in an urban-agricultural area in the Philippines, using an artificial caterpillar model. Of the 1026 observed prey items, 204 were attacked, primarily by mammals (75%), then birds (17%), and reptiles (8%). Contrary to the initial hypothesis, prey coloration did not influence predation risk; instead, prey aggregation was the primary determinant of attack likelihood. Habitat structure variables also influenced predation.
BiodiversityIntegración de huertos escolares como estrategia didáctica para fortalecer el aprendizaje sobre ecosistemas y sostenibilidad en estudiantes de Educación Básica.
2026Gema Paola Loor Bravo, Carmen Fernanda Sandoval Lloacana, Viky Beatriz Batallas Huera, Verónica Leonor Loja Caló, Nuve del Cisne Matute Maldonado · Perspectiva XXI · Global
A quasi-experimental mixed-methods study investigated the integration of school gardens as a pedagogical resource in basic education. The intervention, using project-based learning and scientific inquiry, aimed to enhance learning about ecosystems and sustainability. Findings indicated that students improved ecological knowledge, systems thinking, and environmental problem-solving skills, while also strengthening autonomy, environmental responsibility, and socio-emotional abilities.
Food educationCommunityClimate changeBiodiversityURBAN SUSTAINABILITY, GREEN SPACES, AND ECO-CITY PLANNING
2026Meenakshi Bisht, Amisha Bisht, Sanjay Kumar, Subhash Chandra · · Global
This chapter explores the interrelationship between urban sustainability, green spaces, and eco-city planning, highlighting key concepts, strategies, benefits, challenges, and policy frameworks. Urban sustainability aims to balance economic prosperity, environmental protection, and social well-being, while green spaces enhance environmental quality and mitigate climate change impacts. Eco-city planning integrates ecological principles and sustainable technologies to create environmentally responsible and climate-resilient cities.
CommunityBiodiversityClimate changeHealthPolicy<b>HORTA ESCOLAR COMO INSTRUMENTO DE EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL: UMA ANÁLISE DOS FUNDAMENTOS PEDAGÓGICOS E DIMENSÕES FORMATIVAS</b>
2026Thiago Correia · INTERNATIONAL INTEGRALIZE SCIENTIFIC · Global
This qualitative bibliographic research investigates the school garden as a pedagogical tool for ecological knowledge and critical individual formation within environmental education. It analyzes theoretical-methodological foundations, discussing school gardens as spaces for non-formal and experiential learning, their interface with the curriculum, and contributions to ecological sensitivity. The research indicates that school gardens serve as fertile pedagogical territories for interdisciplinarity, care, and transforming human-nature relationships.
Food educationCommunityBiodiversityVertebrate Diversity in School Gardens
2026Ina Schanz, Martin Remmele · International explorations in outdoor and environmental education · Global
This chapter addresses the initiation of scientific skills while experiencing vertebrates in school gardens and provides concrete suggestions for proactive action to protect the vertebrate fauna. School gardens offer important refuges for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish in urban environments, thus promoting the development of species literacy. Species literacy is considered a key predictor for the development of positive attitudes towards nature and nature conservation in the sense of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 “Life on Land”. Learners develop scientific skills by identifying birds through observation, recording amphibian development at a pond, or experimenting with nesting aids. They can also take a protective role by improving habitats for reptiles when planting hedges or creating cairns.
BiodiversityFood educationCommunityPlant and Pollinator Diversity and Protection in School Gardens
2026Stefan Jarau · International explorations in outdoor and environmental education · Global
This chapter introduces the co-evolution of flowering plants and pollinating animals, highlighting their adaptations and the challenges of observing these interactions in human-made environments. It suggests that school gardens can serve as important sites for biodiversity conservation by providing habitats for diverse flowering plants and pollinators. Additionally, school gardens can engage students, fostering their interest and motivation to study natural wonders, and the chapter offers suggestions for promoting plant and pollinator diversity and using these interactions for educational purposes.
Food educationBiodiversityPollinatorsUSE OF CHABAZITIC ZEOLITE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF SUCCULENT PLANTS BENEFICIAL TO BEE FAUNA
2026Domenico Prisa, Martino Campanile · EPRA International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Economic Research · Global
This controlled pot experiment evaluated chabazitic zeolite as a soil amendment for Crassula cv. Frosty, monitoring plant growth, physiological indicators, and nectar characteristics over a growing cycle. Zeolite-amended substrates significantly improved water retention, nutrient availability, vegetative growth, chlorophyll content, and water use efficiency. Zeolite-treated plants showed significantly greater flowering intensity, increased nectar volume, and higher sugar concentration, leading to higher bee visitation rates.
PollinatorsBiodiversityGrowing gardens of belonging in the city: insights from Copenhagen
2026Anne Madsbjerg, Gertrud Jørgensen, Trine Agervig Carstensen · Local Environment · Denmark (Copenhagen)
Two years of anthropological fieldwork in an urban community garden in central Copenhagen, Denmark, investigated permaculture-inspired practices. The study explored how gardeners enact the ethical principles of permaculture (People Care, Earth Care, and Fair Share) and how these practices relate to experiences of belonging. Findings indicated that small, situated acts of care, emerging through mutual attention, co-creation, and improvisation, fostered connections among gardeners, the garden's ecology, and wider systems of resource governance. Experiences of belonging were contingent, fluctuating, and sometimes fragile, and the study emphasized the limits and vulnerabilities of such connections.
CommunityBiodiversityHealthUrban Food Forests: From Theory to Empirical Research
2026Francesco Ferrini, Antonella Gori, Ermes Lo Piccolo · Urban Science · Global
Urban Food Forests (UFFs) are perennial, polyculture systems integrating urban agriculture, forestry, and agroforestry. However, inconsistent definitions, limited design guidelines, and the scarcity of applied research hinder their implementation. Only by addressing these challenges can UFFs be better integrated into urban planning, enhancing their ecological and socio-economic contributions to sustainable and resilient cities.
BiodiversityCommunityHealthPolicyUrban agriculture as an interface for policy–practice integration: a landscape-informed, multi-layer framework across Havana, New York city and Chongming Island
2026Yu Huan, Steffen Nijhuis, Nico Tillie · Landscape and Urban Planning · Global
This study developed a landscape-informed coupling framework and content-analysis pipeline to evaluate urban agriculture policy-practice alignment in Havana, New York City, and Chongming Island. A PRISMA-ScR literature synthesis (n=3145) informed a five-domain, 40-keyword evaluation matrix applied to policy documents. Findings indicate human-centered approaches effectively address social equity and food provisioning but have limited spatial integration, while nature-based approaches advance ecological targets but underperform on participation. The landscape-informed model achieved more balanced alignment across domains, though inter-layer connectivity gaps remain.
PolicyCommunityBiodiversityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceBeyond the Plot: Systematic Literature Review of Landscape Approach and Systems Thinking Towards Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Farming
2026Pooja Boddupalli, Steffen Nijhuis, N. M. J. D. Tillie · Sustainability · Global
This systematic literature review investigated how landscape-based approaches (LbAs) and systems thinking (ST) have been concurrently applied to analyze and design urban agriculture and farming (UAF) initiatives. Screening 92 records, the study identified 12 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025, reflecting the nascent state of this interdisciplinary approach. The findings revealed limited integration of spatial analysis with systems thinking across scales in current scholarship.
Methodological critiqueFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeBiodiversityPolicy