Research & reports

· Soil Systems · Sub-Saharan Africa

Reviews remediation of contaminated soils in Sub-Saharan Africa using organic waste and waste-derived products as sustainable, cost-effective amendments amid soil contamination driven partly by urban expansion.

La Ode Rustam, Darwis Darwis, Rian Arini, Abdi Abdi · Mitra Mahajana Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Kendari City)

An Internal Community Partnership Program in Mandonga Village, Kendari City, Indonesia, provided technical guidance to the Gunung Sakura and Bunga Sakura Dasawisma Groups on converting household waste into organic fertilizer for urban farming on degraded land. The program achieved an 80% outcome attainment rate, with participants reaching 100% comprehension in identifying organic waste components and acquiring skills to produce solid organic fertilizer within 14-21 days. This fertilizer aims to restore soil fertility and support urban farming sustainability.

Fitri Ayu, Benriwati Maharmi, Desi Yasri, Jesaja Ginting, Ermawati, Jean Riko Kurniawan Putra, Nurhasnah · Jurdimas (Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat) Royal · Indonesia

A community service program in Berkah Family Village Housing, Kubang Jaya Village, Indonesia, used a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach to enhance urban household food self-sufficiency. The program provided training in vertical hydroponics, organic waste processing, and e-commerce, increasing participants' knowledge and skills in these areas significantly. A single hydroponic tower yielded 7.2–14 kg per cycle with substantial income potential, and 20 households learned to process kitchen waste into liquid fertilizer.

Nelson Joseph Msacky, Amelia Alfred, Oscar Punguti, Edson Protas, Iddi Mapande, Novatus, Shukrani Phillip, January G Msemakweli · Open MIND · Global

This systematic review aims to synthesize current scientific evidence on the effectiveness of fruit-waste-derived biochar in immobilizing potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in contaminated agricultural soils. It will evaluate how fruit-waste biochar reduces metal bioavailability, plant uptake, and associated human health risks from vegetable consumption. The review also seeks to identify which fruit wastes are used as biochar feedstocks and which biochar properties and production conditions influence immobilization performance, noting that existing research is fragmented.

Pasquale Napoletano, Maha Deeb, Sara Perl Egendorf, Brooke Singer, Zhongqi Cheng, Erika Di Iorio, Anna De Marco, Claudio Colombo, Peter Groffman · European Journal of Soil Science · Global

This study tracked the development and dynamics of organic matter pools over 21 months in constructed soils (1/3 compost, 2/3 fine glacio-fluvial sediments) with eight different vegetation treatments. Time and vegetation were the main drivers influencing soil parameters. A high diversity "All" treatment significantly enriched mineral/sand-associated organic carbon (MSOC) and nitrogen (MSON) by 15% and 12% respectively, compared to a non-vegetated "Bare" treatment. The presence of sunflower was associated with low values of nitrate-N, particulate organic N, hot-water extractable carbon, and β-glucosidase.

Birgitta Goldschmidt · International explorations in outdoor and environmental education · Global

This chapter presents a basic course in soil science to help teachers and students understand and manage soil in school gardens. The basics of soil science, evaluating and improving one's own soil, and managing it with knowledge and appreciation can be learned in school gardens. Methods such as composting, careful tillage, mulching, green manuring, favorable crop rotation, and minimal compaction can keep soil fertile and vibrant in the long term.

Wiendy Puspita Sari, Resanti Lestari, Tri Widiastuty, Chasano daffansyah, Nessa Deragia Saptiyanto, Alia Reinacaesar, Syafira Ardana, Stefanny · Jurnal Dharma Bhakti Ekuitas · Indonesia (Bandung)

This community program in Cigadung Subdistrict, Bandung City, aimed to enhance residents' capacity for organic waste management using black soldier fly (BSF) larvae within a circular economy framework. Implemented at Buruan SAE Barokah and Bumi Lestari, the program involved constructing biopond systems, integrating them with urban farming, and providing technical and entrepreneurship training. Results showed improved skills and operational capacity, with maggot production increasing from 4 kg to 8–9 kg per week, and frass used as organic fertilizer for urban farming.

Mohammad Mahbub Islam, Robiul Islam, Rezowana Nizam, Nigar Afsana, Sadman Sakib, Suraya Parvin, Jubayer Al Mahmud, Md. Hasanuzzaman · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global

This 2-year study evaluated the growth, physiology, and yield response of cherry tomatoes in different rooftop soil media supplemented with vermicompost and biochar in an urban rooftop garden. Using a completely randomized design with nine treatments and four replications, the combined application of vermicompost and biochar consistently outperformed individual applications. Treatments with 74% soil, 20% vermicompost, and 6% biochar resulted in the tallest plants, highest leaf number, thick stems, high leaf greenness, high relative water content, and highest fruit yield across both years. Although fruit yield declined by 20.49% in the second year, residual amendment effects continued to enhance plant performance relative to untreated soil.

Sharad Sharma, Gita Kumari Shah, Arjun Aryal, Bipan Bahadur Tiwari, Bharat Khanal · Nepalese Journal of Agricultural Sciences · Nepal

The SOLID Health project by Nepal Development Society (NeDS) promoted household waste management and homestead farming in Bharatpur, Janakpur, and Pokhara, Nepal, from 2021 to 2024. A survey of 348 households found that 81% practiced either rooftop or kitchen gardening, with rooftop farming most prevalent in Pokhara (64%) and kitchen gardening in Bharatpur (71%). The project led to a 69% change in knowledge and attitude towards waste management and a 39% overall increase in home composting practice. Socio-demographic factors like education level, income, and land availability significantly influenced adoption, with higher education and larger homestead land areas linked to greater practice of kitchen gardening and rooftop farming.

Sustiyana Sustiyana, Teguh Soedarto · Jurnal Agrosains Karya Kreatif dan Inovatif · Indonesia (Pamekasan)

This study aimed to analyze the influence of access to organic waste, training and education on waste management, government policy support, environmental and social awareness, and business opportunities on income and environmental preservation in sustainable urban farming in Pamekasan. Conducted at Roemah Maggot Nusantara, which uses Black Soldier Fly maggots for organic waste management, the study used multiple linear regression analysis. Results showed that all independent variables simultaneously had a significant effect on income and environmental preservation. However, partially, only environmental and social awareness had a significant effect, while access to organic waste, training and education, government policy support, and business opportunities did not show a significant effect.

Luca Battisti, Adrienne Csizmady, Federico Cuomo, Luca Kristóf, Boldizsár Megyesi · Sustainability Science Practice and Policy · Hungary (Budapest)

This study examined how community gardens in Budapest and Turin function as locally embedded nature-based solutions (NbS) through the everyday practices of urban residents. Based on a qualitative analysis of 47 semi-structured interviews conducted in five gardens in Budapest and two in Turin, findings showed that gardeners practice NbS-aligned approaches. Socially, they foster well-being, inclusion, and community cohesion; technically, they adapt to resource constraints through low-tech experimentation and collaborative problem-solving; and ecologically, they support biodiversity, soil regeneration, and microclimate regulation through organic cultivation and composting.

Mayara Grazielle Consentino Ferreira da Silva, Karina Amendola da Silva Guimarães, Monique das Neves Silva · Revista Tamoios · Global

This paper discusses the challenges and benefits of composting organic waste in urban areas, examining community urban agriculture experiences, a university campus, and corporate environments. Community composting in urban agriculture showed that community involvement is crucial for success, fostering socio-environmental coexistence and low-cost use of degraded urban areas. However, composting on a university campus proved difficult to implement due to a lack of dedicated labor, despite student engagement.

Guido Evangelista, Juan David Arosemena, Gaia Stringari, Joan Romanyà, Xavier Gabarrell, Francesco Orsini, Gara Villalba · Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · Global

This study evaluated the application of 150 t ha-1 of ramial chipped wood (RCW) to degraded peri-urban agricultural soils, comparing its effects on yield, soil health, and greenhouse gas emissions for spinach and sweet potato. Spinach grown with RCW showed the lowest productivity (1.16 – 0.32 kg m-2) among treatments, while sweet potato achieved the highest yield (1.72 – 1.99 kg m-2). High RCW doses initially led to higher CO2 emissions but significantly reduced N2O emissions for spinach (from 0.36 kg ha-1 to 0.07 kg ha-1) and enhanced soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks for sweet potato, indicating agronomic and environmental trade-offs.

ANZUMAN RAHMAN NITU, Sohel Rana Mazumder, Abul Hasnat Muhammad Solaiman · Journal of Bioscience and Environment Research · Bangladesh (Dhaka)

A study conducted from December 2019 to April 2020 at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, evaluated organic manure-based substrates in geotextile vertical farming for mint, chili, and Indian spinach. The substrate combining vermicompost, coco fibre, and soil consistently enhanced the growth and yield of all three crops, producing the highest yields per plant compared to other treatments.

Farooq Ahmad Khan, Faheemullah Khan, Sumati Narayan, Mohammad Amir, Zaffar Mahdi Dar · International Journal of Research in Agronomy · Global

This review synthesizes the concept, design principles, carbon sequestration mechanisms, storage potential, and environmental benefits of carbon gardens, which are multifunctional landscapes designed to maximize carbon sequestration and deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. The article highlights their application in urban and rural landscapes and their integration with carbon-negative farming through practices such as biochar use and compost recycling. It also discusses key challenges related to carbon measurement, establishment costs, land availability, and long-term management.

Serafina Stone, Jeremy Farr, Damian Hine, Yasmina Sultanbawa, S. K. Fyfe · Local Environment · Australia (Brisbane)

This research investigated how 16 members of four urban community gardens in Brisbane, Australia, derive value from their involvement in relation to the food system, using semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The findings indicate that while urban community gardens alone cannot address food security needs, they provide spaces for building community, generating social capital, connecting to nature, and developing food systems education. These benefits are contingent on the gardens' continued existence and primarily extend to those able to participate.

Edmond P. Freo · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Philippines (Quezon City)

This study in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Philippines, assessed the feasibility of an integrated Food-to-Soil-to-Food innovation model using a quantitative approach with 85 household residents. Respondents showed very high awareness of food waste segregation, composting, and urban gardening, and a general willingness to participate, though with some hesitation regarding consistent daily segregation. While a significant positive relationship between awareness and innovation acceptability was found, critical structural barriers included lack of tools, limited community support, and urban space constraints. The study concludes that transforming urban food waste into a circular production system is highly feasible with institutional and logistical support.

Sri Khaerani Rahman, Restu Januarty Hamid, Idris Syahril, Marini Ambo Wellang · Abdimas Langkanae · Indonesia

This article discusses the TEBA (Organic Waste Bin) development program in Untia Village, Indonesia, aimed at reducing household organic waste. The program involved building 6 TEBA units, training residents in organic waste management, and assisting them in composting for productive activities like urban farming. Results showed increased community awareness in sorting organic waste, reduced waste volume sent to landfills, and the formation of a sustainable community-based waste management system.

Isabela Thomas Mkude · TANZANIA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the utilization of faecal sludge derived compost (FSDC) by urban farmers remains limited due to farmers' prejudice and hesitance. This study investigated factors influencing FSDC acceptance through a cross-sectional survey of 76 urban farmers. Results indicated that garden location in communal areas, income generation as the primary farming purpose, and accessibility of soil inputs were significantly associated with FSDC acceptance. Farmers' awareness and experience also played important roles.

Shanty Yahya, Herdy Syam, Mika Patayang · Jurnal ETAM · Indonesia

In Indonesia, a community service program was implemented at Day Care Husnul Khatimah for productive elderly women, focusing on organic vegetable cultivation on limited land. The program provided training on making liquid organic fertilizer from household waste, cultivating vegetable seeds, and organic vegetable cultivation. Participants planted several types of vegetables and showed interest in continuing the activities independently.

Siti Hadianti, Nurhasanah Nurhasanah, Teguh Prakoso, Hidayah Hidayah, Siti Hadianti · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia

A community-service report on a community-based organic waste management program in Kurungkambing Village, Banten Province, Indonesia, aimed at improving environmental quality and supporting sustainable rural tourism. Despite the village's agricultural and tourism potential, unmanaged household and agricultural organic waste had been contributing to environmental degradation and limited community awareness of sustainable waste practices. Using a participatory, empowerment-oriented approach, the program was implemented in three stages: (1) community needs assessment and stakeholder consultation, (2) training and mentoring on composting and herbal plant cultivation, and (3) environmental improvement through school garden development and compost use. The program reported increased community awareness of organic waste management, improved practical composting skills, and active participation in greening activities involving residents and schools, as well as strengthened collaboration among the university, local government and community groups that contributed to cleaner public spaces and more sustainable village conditions.

Azzahra Imairel Putri Diyati Mulyono, Herlina Fitrihidajati, Adi Candra, Nurcholis Nurcholis, Aseyan Aseyan · Journal of Community Service and Empowerment · Indonesia

A study examined adding Eco Enzyme to liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) made from garlic and onion skin waste as a potential replacement for chemical AB Mix fertilizer in growing curly lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in a vertical garden system. Conducted from September to November 2025 at the Oase Tembok Gede Smart Village in Surabaya, Indonesia, nutrient testing per Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture Decree No. 261/KPTS/SR.310/M/4/2019 found the LOF's K2O content at 2.03%, meeting the minimum standard. In a Completely Randomized Design with four treatments and three replications, ANOVA showed no significant difference between treatments (p > 0.05), though the 60 mL treatment (P3) produced the best growth—11 cm height, 7 leaves, and 11 g fresh weight—with the study noting that growth remained good despite suboptimal fertilizer nutrient quality, supported by favorable environmental conditions.

Wiwin Yuliani, Novia Indah Lestari, Bayu Mahendra, Putri Wening Ratrinia, Lisa Astria Milasari · Abdibaraya Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia

A community service program in a residential area of Tasikmalaya, Indonesia, addressed accumulating household organic waste by training residents to convert kitchen waste into liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) at home. Thirty participants, housewives and environmental cadres, took part in situation analysis, socialization on the economic value of waste, technical training in LOF production, and assisted fermentation using an EM4 bioactivator, with knowledge and skills measured before and after. Participants' knowledge rose from 35% to 95%, technical skill from 10% to 85%, and awareness of waste's economic value from 20% to 90%, and participants reported being able to produce LOF independently to support small-scale urban farming on limited land.

Scott Etkin · West Side Rag · United States

NYC's Department of Sanitation resumed mandatory composting enforcement in January 2026 after a pause. The Upper West Side shows a 13.5% capture rate as of spring 2025, above the citywide rate of about 10%, with monthly collected tonnage rising from 129 tons (Oct. 2024) to over 318 tons (Dec. 2025); 414 summonses had been issued through Feb. 10, 2026.

台東区 · 台東区 · Japan

Taito Ward partners with Daimaru Matsuzakaya and Local Food Cycling to sell subsidized home compost containers and run collection events for circular food-waste use. Over the one-year period from December 2024 to November 2025, the ward reports about 5.4 tons of food waste reduction and about 2.6 tons of CO2 reduction.