Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
56 results(1 / 3)
Understanding 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 educationCommunityUrban 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 changePlant 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.
PollinatorsBiodiversityFrom cities to refuges for pollinators: Urban practices for enhancing pollinator habitats in changing landscapes
2025Ranalli et al. · Journal of Applied Ecology · Global (urban ecosystems)
2025 research on how urban agriculture and urban planning enhance pollinator habitats in changing landscapes. Urban environments offer benefits to pollinator communities: lower pesticide use, greater variety of floral resources, and increased landscape heterogeneity. Urban agriculture serves as a pollinator reservoir and source area for adjacent rural regions, contributing to food security, poverty alleviation, and pollinator conservation.
PollinatorsBiodiversityOrganic cyclePollinator communities in urban agriculture: Local-scale garden features structure pollinator communities
2025· Landscape Ecology · Global
Ecological study examining how local garden features structure pollinator communities in urban agriculture. Links biodiversity conservation to food production success.
BiodiversityPollinatorsOrganic cycleNative vs. Non-Native Plants: Public Preferences, Ecosystem Services, and Conservation Strategies for Climate-Resilient Urban Green Spaces
2025Alessio Russo, Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, Annick St-Denis, Mark G. Tjoelker · Land · Global
Compares native and non-native plants in urban green spaces. Examines impacts on pollinator diversity, ecosystem services, and climate resilience. Analyzes conservation strategies and public preferences.
BiodiversityPollinatorsSupporting pollinators in urban gardens: floral richness and abundance influence flower visitor interactions regardless of the surrounding landscape
2025Emma Plant, Ria Dunkley, Davide M. Dominoni, Dominic J. McCafferty · Urban Ecosystems · Global
Empirical analysis of factors supporting pollinators in urban gardens. Demonstrates that floral richness and abundance are critical for pollinator diversity. Garden diversity prioritized over surrounding landscape influence.
BiodiversityPollinatorsOrganic cycleAGROECOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE HORTICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
2025Lokesh Ramachandran, Keerthivasan Ragupathi, Nithishkumar Govindaraju, Ajay Raja Anandhan, Dinesh Devarajan · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Argentina
This chapter examines agroecology as a sustainable production paradigm for the horticultural sector, facing challenges like climate change and resource depletion. It reviews the conceptual foundations of agroecology, its application to horticulture, and advances in agroecological practices. Case studies, such as peri-urban horticulture in Argentina, illustrate its promise, but note that a full transition remains incomplete.
BiodiversityPollinatorsOrganic cycleClimate changePeri-urban agricultureLepidoptera diversity, richness, and distribution in semi-urban farmland and other habitats around Lumbini, Rupandehi
2025Celeus Baral, Hem Sagar Baral, Carol Inskipp, Rajana Maharjan · Our Nature · Nepal
This 14-day study examined Lepidoptera diversity in semi-urban agricultural landscapes around Lumbini, Nepal, documenting 30 moth species from six families and 39 butterfly species from five families across various habitats. Moth populations were dominated by Erebidae, and butterfly diversity by Nymphalidae, showing resilience in disturbed habitats. Statistical analyses revealed that shrubland and agricultural habitats supported the highest species richness and evenness, while grasslands hosted fewer species.
BiodiversityPollinatorsPeri-urban agricultureBuzzing in the City: The Rise of Urban Beekeeping and Its Ecological Impact
2025I Rabeena, Stankevich Sergey A., A Akash, G Nandhakumar, Deborah Mercy D · Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · Global
This article explores the potential, challenges, and opportunities of urban beekeeping as a sustainable response to declining bee biodiversity. It highlights urban beekeeping's role in pollination, sustainable urban agriculture, biodiversity enhancement, and income generation for urban communities, despite challenges like climate extremes and limited floral resources. The article suggests that urban green landscapes with high floral diversity and continuous bloom periods offer substantial support for urban pollinators, and responsible urban beekeeping can foster ecological citizenship.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceSmall Scale–Big Impact: Temporary Small-Scale Architecture as a Catalyst for Community-Driven Development of Green Urban Spaces
2025Diana Giurea, Vasile Gherheș, Claudiu Coman · Sustainability · Global
This paper explores temporary small-scale architecture as a catalyst for community-driven development of green urban spaces, using the Greenfeel Architecture wooden pavilion as a case study. The pavilion, built with reused materials, was designed to provide shelter and facilitate social interactions while protecting existing vegetation and enhancing biodiversity. Since its completion, it has hosted various outdoor activities and educational workshops, demonstrating the potential of temporary architecture for physical and socio-cultural sustainability in urban environments.
CommunityBiodiversityPollinatorsDIYBenefits from circular economy
2025Rolf Morgenstern, Bernd Pölling · · Global
This chapter explores the economic benefits and challenges of integrating nature-based solutions (NBS), including urban farming, into circular economy frameworks in urban environments. Using the proGIreg framework and an Economic and Labour Market Questionnaire, it reveals financial impacts of NBS implementations. Case studies from Zagreb, Turin, and Dortmund illustrate diverse economic outcomes, demonstrating both direct financial returns and broader economic value created by NBS.
EconomicsBiodiversityPollinatorsClimate changePotential of Rooftop and Vertical Gardens in Promoting Urban Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Services
2025Drakhshanda Saeed, Areena Sohail, Mahnoor Munir, Khush Bakht · Physical Education Health and Social Sciences · Global
This study qualitatively reviewed 15 peer-reviewed studies published from 2015 to 2025 to evaluate the potential of rooftop and vertical gardens in providing ecosystem services and promoting urban plant diversity. Rooftop gardens primarily support pollinators, stormwater retention, thermal regulation, and spontaneous colonizers, fostering horizontal habitat connectivity. Vertical gardens, despite fewer species, provide essential vertical stratification, shade micro-niches, and air filtration, enhancing multi-dimensional habitat diversity. Design and management factors were found to strongly influence ecological outcomes.
BiodiversityPollinatorsClimate changeOrganic cycleEnhancing Public Health and SDG 3 Through Sustainable Agriculture and Tourism
2025Elena Petelos, Danai Antonaki, Erasmia Angelaki, Christos Lemonakis, Alexandros Garefalakis · Sustainability · Global
This study explored how private sector initiatives in tourism can contribute to public health and SDG 3 through sustainable agricultural practices. Using a mixed-methods approach combining a systematic literature review and a case study, it examined how integrated strategies like pesticide-free farming reduce environmental health risks and improve nutritional quality. Findings indicate that business-led sustainability models can support systemic change when based on clear metrics and cross-sector collaboration. However, the absence of pre-2019 baseline data and direct health outcome measurements limits causal inference.
HealthBiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityPolicyA global evaluation of urban agriculture potential for pollinator-dependent crops in major cities
2024Rahimi E., Jung C. · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global (major cities)
Global assessment of urban agriculture's potential to support pollinator-dependent crops in major cities, analyzing contributions to biodiversity and food security.
PollinatorsBiodiversityIn defence of urban community gardens
2024Anja Egerer · People and Nature · Global
Research defending the value of urban community gardens, examining citizen participation in biodiversity conservation and the role of gardeners as central actors in nature conservation projects.
CommunityBiodiversityPollinatorsCommunity Gardens as Places for Ecological Caring in Action
2024Amal Ibourk, Lauren Wagner, Deb Morrison, Syrena Young, Justin Milledge · Science and Children · Global
This article describes a fifth-grade climate change action project involving building a community garden, aligned with science standards. Students learned about monarch butterfly migration, life cycles, and greenhouse gases by planting milkweed. The article offers educators ideas and suggestions for implementing such a project within a school community.
CommunityFood educationBiodiversityPollinatorsClimate changeAdaptacija postojećih ravnih krovova solitera u zelene krovove na području Općine Kakanj u cilju osnaživanja i promovisanja koncepta urbane poljoprivrede
2024Nedžada Zahirović, Sabina Trakić, Pavle Krstić, Lejla Biber · Radovi Šumarskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Sarajevu · Bosnia and Herzegovina (Kakanj)
This project aims to develop a conceptual plan for adapting the existing flat roofs of three towers (S-1, S-2, S-3) built in the 1980s in the Municipality of Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, into green roofs. This plan seeks to strengthen and expand urban agriculture, bringing ecological, social, and economic benefits, and promoting a healthier lifestyle through daily contact with greenery.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityHealthSustainable nature‐based solutions require establishment and maintenance of keystone plant‐pollinator interactions
2024Nicole E. Rafferty, Christopher T. Cosma · Journal of Ecology · Global
A literature search on nature-based solutions (NBS), including urban greenspaces and agriculture, found that 0%–3% of papers considered pollinators or pollination, with 12.5% in agricultural NBS papers. The study emphasizes that NBS success depends on resilient pollinator communities and calls for identifying keystone plants and pollinators to promote NBS functioning under future climatic conditions. It advocates for phylogenetic trait-based analyses to understand keystoneness.
BiodiversityPollinatorsOrganic cycleFrom School Gardens to Community Oases: Fostering Environmental and Social Resilience in Urban Spaces
2024Ioanneta Dimouli, Dimitra Koumparou, Spyros K. Golfínopoulos · Geographies · Greece (Acharnes)
This case study in Acharnes, Greece, examined a local initiative that transforms schoolyards into community gardens, involving teachers, pupils, parents, grandparents, and neighbors. The research collected data from 85 participants, including parents, guardians, and school staff, using a questionnaire to explore their perceptions, with a focus on interactions with non-human beings like pollinators. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and Kendall’s tau correlation, and the survey results revealed that these new urban green areas were "embraced" by both the school and the local community.
CommunityFood educationBiodiversityPollinatorsFood as a public service for people and pollinators: evidence-based insights from regenerative placemaking in New Zealand—the Waharoa living lab
2024Bárbara Ribeiro, David E. Pattemore, A. B. Morris, Leo Baldwin-Ramult, Daniel Exeter · Journal of Urbanism International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability · New Zealand
An action research project in Waharoa, New Zealand, transformed a former bowling green into a public, edible landscape. This 400 m2 Living Lab (LL) involved multi-stakeholder cooperation (government, community, and academia), and participants perceived benefits as transition pathways to more nutritious dietary choices, health education, and reduced criminality in a socially deprived region. Analyses of interviews, observations, and pollinator surveys conducted at the LL confirmed that 14 visiting species were drawn to the site, leading to an approach to regenerative placemaking that combines human health and biodiversity benefits.
CommunityHealthBiodiversityPollinatorsOrganic compost belowground and floral diversity aboveground interactively shape beneficial insects in urban gardens
2024Carmen K. Blubaugh, R. Chesnut, Katherine Hagan · Journal of Applied Ecology · Global
This study investigated how organic composts mediate the effects of plant diversity across trophic levels over two field seasons, conducting 18 experiments in school gardens. Vermicompost strengthened a positive relationship between flower richness and foliar-feeding omnivores, but predators increased with flower richness and were not affected by vermicompost. The net outcomes of vermicompost and plant diversity were neutral for herbivores.
CompostBiodiversityPollinatorsOrganic cycleFood educationFloral species evenness is the major driver of wild bee communities in urban gardens
2023Rossi Rotondi B. · Urban Ecosystems · Cordoba, Argentina
Surveying bees and blooms across 13 gardens in Cordoba, Argentina, the study found floral species evenness to be the strongest driver of bee abundance, diversity and functional trait diversity.
PollinatorsBiodiversityInitial assessment to understand the effect of air temperature on bees as floral visitors in urban orchards
2023María José Ludewig, Patricia Landaverde‐González, Klaus‐Peter Götz, Frank‐M. Chmielewski · Journal of Insect Conservation · Global
This study assessed bee visits to experimental blueberry and cherry orchards in an urban landscape to understand how air temperature affects the pollination contribution of honey bees and wild bees. Bumble bees and honey bees were the most important floral visitors, followed by Anthophora plumipes. Honey bees' potential contribution to pollination services decreased with air temperature changes, but this was offset by the niche complementarity of bumble bees.
PollinatorsBiodiversityClimate change