Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Urban gardening in Dhaka: Practices, constraints, and impacts
2026Akber M.A., Kumar S.S., Schreinemachers P. · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
Survey of 1,320 Dhaka households finds rooftop gardeners consume 19% more vegetables and 7% more fruit than non-gardeners, while women manage 83% of urban gardens; key constraints are knowledge gaps and pests.
HealthEconomicsCommunityDeveloping a Success Index for Urban Agriculture Implementation to Strengthen Food Security in Egypt
2026Ashraf M., Hussain H.R. · Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs · Egypt
Develops a success index for urban agriculture in Egypt, identifying distinct success factors for commercial farms (location, capital, licensing) versus household gardens (knowledge, community support). Concludes urban farming complements conventional agriculture by activating underused urban spaces, reducing food miles, and creating micro-enterprise opportunities.
Food educationCommunityEconomicsPolicyUnderstanding Pollination in Urban Food Production: The Importance of Data Validation and Participant Feedback for Citizen Science Project Design
2026Nicholls · Plants, People, Planet · Global
Addresses knowledge gaps in pollination needs for urban farming by developing citizen science methodology for monitoring plant-pollinator interactions. Found similarities between grower-collected and professional researcher data on most/least attractive crops to pollinators, but identified significant discrepancies highlighting limitations of grower-only data collection.
PollinatorsFood educationCommunityThey sprout everywhere: Urban agriculture experimentations in Metro Manila
2026Montefrio, Marvin Joseph F., Saguin, Kristian Karlo · Journal of Applied Social Science · Philippines
Analysis of diverse experimental urban agriculture projects in Metro Manila. Examines citizen-driven innovative farming experiments and their contribution to urban food security.
CommunityPolicyA systematic review of green gentrification and mental health
2026Catherine D. Brown, Alessandro Rigolon, Piper Zdrodowski, Amber L. Pearson · Health & Place · Global
A systematic review of 16 articles linking green gentrification — rising costs and resident turnover following green space investment — to mental health. Four negative pathways recur: financial stress and housing insecurity from rising housing costs, loss of sense of community as the population changes, exclusion of long-standing residents from the new green space itself, and anxiety about exposure to historical contamination. The review also records benefits, including opportunities for relaxation and improved aesthetics. Because the included studies are largely cross-sectional, the authors state that longitudinal designs are needed before causal claims can be made.
HealthCommunityPolicyUrban Agriculture Enterprises and Food Security Outcomes in Secondary African Cities: Evidence From Mbarara City, Uganda
2026Nabalegwa Muhamud Wambede, Turyahabwe Remigio, Arinaitwe Justine, Turyabanawe Loy, Mulabbi Andrew · The Scientific World Journal · Uganda (Mbarara)
A cross-sectional study of 310 urban farming households across seven wards of South Division, Mbarara City, south-western Uganda, comparing food security by enterprise type using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Overall 46% of farmers were food-secure, 42% mildly food-insecure and 1% severely food-insecure. Arable farmers did best (59.4% food-secure); 51.2% of poultry farmers and 48% of livestock farmers were mildly food-insecure, and mixed-enterprise households showed the most favourable outcomes. The authors describe most of this urban agriculture as subsistence-level, informal work, so enterprise type is only one factor behind food-security levels. Stated limitations: the cross-sectional design cannot establish causation, self-reported data carry recall bias, measurement covered a single season and so misses seasonal variation, and reliance on chi-square analysis alone limits directional inference.
EconomicsCommunityPromoting health and inclusion of people with refugee backgrounds through horticulture: A mixed-methods systematic review
2026Louise Emma O'Connor, Sarah Jay · Social Science & Medicine · Global
A mixed-methods systematic review searching four databases for research published between 2015 and 2024 on horticulture and the health and inclusion of people with refugee backgrounds; 20 peer-reviewed studies were included and integrated using a 'best-fit' framework synthesis. Horticultural activity is reported to support mental, physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cognitive and economic wellbeing, and to enhance social inclusion through social connections, social capital, collective identity and intercultural exchange. With only 20 studies, mostly qualitative, the review does not quantify effect sizes or identify the conditions under which these benefits do or do not occur.
WelfareCommunityHealthNIÑEZ, DIVERSIDAD FUNCIONAL Y AGROECOLOGÍA: APRENDIZAJES EN UN HUERTO URBANO INCLUSIVO DE CHILE
2026Josué Martínez-Lagos, Homero Barría Ojeda, Gabriel Peña Peña · · Chile
This study documented an agroecological urban gardening intervention at the Teletón Institute in Puerto Montt, Chile, focusing on children with functional diversity. An inclusive urban garden and workshop program integrated educational and therapeutic processes. Results showed that 71% of participants identified at least ten vegetable species, 64% understood their life cycles, 79% progressed in functional and autonomy dimensions, and 93% perceived the garden as promoting well-being.
Food educationHealthCommunityWelfareImpact of gardening and nutrition support provided to women in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
2026Liz Ignowski, Pepijn Schreinemachers, Md Maniruzzaman, Regine Kopplow, Nasir Md. Uddin, Mercy Mwambi · Food Policy · Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazar)
A cluster-randomized controlled trial with 1050 pregnant and lactating women in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, evaluated a home garden and nutrition program. The intervention increased garden adoption by 17 percentage points and households sourcing produce from their gardens by 57 percentage points. It also improved nutrition knowledge by 23 percentage points and reduced household food insecurity by 66%, leading to one additional serving of fruit per week, but no significant increase in vegetable intake.
HealthFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityModeling 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 & justiceBiodiversityPolicyPositive Youth Development and Connection with Nature through Urban Agriculture
2026Casey T Ortbahn, Marijke Hecht, Kristi S. Lekies · Journal of Youth Development · Global
This qualitative study used photovoice to explore 16 high school youths' perceptions of a youth gardening program's impact on their confidence, connection, and sense of belonging. Thematic analysis of photos, posters, and interviews identified meaningful relationships with peers, adults, nature, and more-than-human beings as supporting factors. The analysis suggests nature is a crucial context for youth development and that youth can form meaningful relationships with more-than-human beings.
Food educationCommunityHealthACTIVITIES OF AGRICULTURAL LABOR SQUADS OF PUPILS IN THE PSKOV PROVINCE IN 1915-1916 (BASED ON THE MATERIALS OF THE REGIONAL PERIODICAL PRESS)
2026V.V. KARPOVA · History of Everyday Life · Russia
This study, based on regional periodical press, traces the activities of pupil labor squads in Pskov province during 1915-1916, which provided charitable assistance to peasant families during World War I. Field squads had limited reach due to small numbers and insufficient funding, but gardening squads organized in 1916 gained popularity, cultivating public and school gardens to increase vegetable production for hospitals.
Food educationCommunityWelfareCase 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 cycleBiodiversityCommunityWhose fruits, whose labour? Negotiating community and care-work in urban orchards and food forests
2026Anastasia Luise Gramatakos, Catherine Phillips, Andrea Rawluk · Local Environment · Australia (Melbourne)
This ethnographic fieldwork, conducted across three community-led urban food forest sites in Naarm/Melbourne, examined the everyday labors, relations, and tensions involved in caring for urban food-producing trees. The study found that participants grapple with significant tensions, particularly in open-access sites lacking fences, gates, or formal membership, highlighting the evolving and imperfect nature of commoning practices rather than a fixed ideal.
Governance failureCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyIntegrating vertical farming with vertical housing in hot-arid contexts: a socio-spatial, technical, and VR-based design strategy in the UAE
2026Khaled Galal Ahmed, Neveen Hamza, Alaa Omar Kordi, Omar Sherzad M. Shareef, Alaa Badawi, Aliaa Safwat, Nicolas Monje Mejia · Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · United Arab Emirates
This study investigated integrating vertical farming into Emirati vertical public housing in Sharjah, UAE, to reinterpret traditional outdoor living spaces. Researchers developed three vertical farming scenarios and evaluated them with 30 Emirati prospective users (aged 20–23) via immersive virtual reality and semi-structured interviews. Findings indicated that user acceptance was influenced by socio-spatial, cultural, and practical factors, with the Mixed Vertical Farming scenario receiving the strongest support.
CommunityDigital agriculturePolicyTerritorializing food systems through pedagogical broadening: the case of Voll Farm
2026Beste Sabir, Heidi Vinge, Adam Calo · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Norway (Trondheim)
This paper examines how Voll Farm, a municipally supported green urban competence center in Trondheim, Norway, adopted pedagogical broadening strategies to operationalize territorialized food policies. Based on 18 months of qualitative fieldwork, the findings indicate that multifunctional farms can facilitate knowledge exchange and praxis-based learning between grassroots initiatives and policy landscapes, fostering civic empowerment and system awareness. Voll Farm's practices, such as community-supported agriculture and school gardening, make sustainable food production visible and inform municipal urban agriculture strategies.
Food educationPolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceSchool gardens as socio-ecological learning systems: supporting adolescent food security and resilience
2026L. Lue, K. Reis, H. Kanasa, S. Rutherford, C. Desha · Environmental Education Research · Global
A review of 22 studies (2001-2024) across six countries, primarily the US and Canada, examined how high school garden programs support adolescent food security and resilience. Findings indicated contributions across multiple socio-ecological levels, but uneven implementation significantly constrained their overall impact. Specifically, opportunities for shared decision-making were limited, and short-term, inconsistent support for policy, funding, and governance structures restricted long-term effectiveness.
Limited or null effectFood educationHealthCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceTOMAT in advance
2026Nele Buyst · Environmental Philosophy · Global
This article conceptually analyzes TOMAT, a community garden project organized by an educational institution, arguing for it as an "infrastructure of reciprocity." It focuses on how TOMAT enacts the (eco)feminist concept of "interdependency" and challenges the dominant relation to land as property, replacing it with a relation of belonging.
CommunityFood educationPolicyUrban Food Security: Instalasi Bottle Aquaponics untuk Mewujudkan Ketahanan Pangan Berkelanjutan
2026Anang Kistyanto, Febrika Yogie Hermanto, Amirusholihin Amirusholihin, Muhammad Fajar Wahyudi Rahman, Restu Eri Adinata · SEMANGGI Jurnal Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat · Global
This study empirically demonstrated an integrative model combining low-cost bottle aquaponics, experiential learning, and educational tourism (eduwisata) as a community-based diffusion platform. Findings revealed that simple, highly replicable systems significantly enhanced food literacy, technical capability, and adoption intention, while eduwisata accelerated diffusion beyond initial participants.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agriculturePERCEPTIONS ON URBAN-BASED GARDENING IN THE CITY OF ISABELA, BASILAN, PHILIPPINES
2026Bendijo, S.A., Rebuza, A.O., Pedillon, J.M., Amilbahar, G.V., Tabal, E.P. · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · Philippines
This study in Isabela City, Philippines, explored community perceptions of urban gardening (UG). While awareness was linked to food security and sustainability, and perceived benefits included health, cost savings, and social cohesion, the adoption of UG was hindered by a lack of interest and resource constraints. Preferred UG forms like rooftop gardens and specific vegetables indicated aspirations for cost savings and nutrient content, but obstacles remain.
Economic viabilityCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthEconomicsUrban Farming Initiatives in the United Arab Emirates:
2026Anamika Mishra, Rim Meziani, Ayah Alkhatib, Sara Ayman Laila · International Review for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development · United Arab Emirates
This paper reviews the current state of urban farming initiatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to initiate a discussion on urban farming spatial practices in Gulf cities. It classifies global farming initiatives into four categories and documents UAE's institutional and policy frameworks for food security. The study analyzes a database of UAE farming initiatives using this classification, identifying trends and opportunities for integrating urban farming into the city.
PolicyFood sovereignty & justiceCommunitySdílení potravin v Brně
2026Jennifer Lyons, Anna Davies · Open MIND · Czech Republic (Brno)
This report assesses the sustainability impacts of Food Sharing Initiatives (FSIs) in Brno, Czech Republic, using CULTIVATE’s Food Sharing Map and Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) data submitted by FSIs. The estimations cover environmental, economic, and social sustainability pillars, though the presented indicators are a subset of total impacts. The report notes that impact estimations will become more accurate as more FSIs submit SIA data.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceFood Sharing in Lisbon
2026Jennifer Lyons, Anna Davies · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Portugal (Lisbon)
This report, part of the CULTIVATE project, assesses the sustainability impacts of Food Sharing Initiatives (FSIs) in Lisbon. It combines insights from CULTIVATE's Food Sharing Map with sustainability impact assessment (SIA) data submitted by FSIs, estimating impacts across social, environmental, economic, and governance 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.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPolicyParticipatory Design Model for Community-Based Rooftop Urban Farming
2026Muhammad Mutammam Musthofa, Ronalmanto Ronalmanto, Listhia Dwi Orisavianti, Indrika Dwi Febianti · Jurnal Teknologi Terapan G-Tech · Global
This study proposes an optimized Participatory Design Model for community-based rooftop urban farming to enhance technical sustainability and community ownership. Using a qualitative approach within a Participatory Action Research framework, data from Focus Group Discussions informed a design model emphasizing reduced maintenance and enhanced social utility. Key strategies include selecting simple planting systems, specifically a combination of hydroponic and soil-based media, and incorporating design elements that facilitate community engagement.
CommunityPolicyIoT-Enabled Smart Plant Ecosystem Integrating Real-Time Monitoring, Automated Irrigation, and Intelligent Growth Optimization Frameworks
2026Md. Safaet Hossain, Israt Jahan, Jawata Afnan, Israt Sultana Tanny, Nashid Sultana Mim, Kayes Mahmood · Techcomp Innovations · Global
This study presents Easy Grow Plants, an integrated web and Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem designed for urban plant care, addressing issues like inconsistent watering and insufficient care knowledge. The prototype, implemented with a React frontend, Django REST backend, SQLite database, and an Arduino UNO R4 WiFi smart pot, connects plant care guidance, soil-moisture monitoring, automated watering, and plant recommendations. Functional, interface, API, IoT connectivity, sensor calibration, watering control, and LAN deployment tests confirmed that the core modules operated together as an integrated academic prototype, providing a practical foundation for smart urban gardening.
Digital agricultureDIYCommunity