Cultivating Farmers, Connections, and Careers: The Utah Urban and Small Farms Conference Experience

Urban agriculture has gained prominence in enhancing food security and sustainability in cities globally. This research explores the dynamics of urban agriculture (UA), focusing specifically on home gardens, which are often overlooked despite their potential to contribute to sustainability in urban environments. UA involves the cultivation of crops and agricultural products within urban and periurban areas, ranging from small-scale gardens to larger individual urban farms. Its benefits span environmental, social, and economic dimensions. This research addresses a notable gap in the existing literature by highlighting the importance of sustainable practices within home gardens, particularly in low-income communities. By examining the role of civil society actors and innovative approaches employed by home gardeners, this study aims to inspire and provide insights to promote sustainable UA, even within constrained urban spaces. The significance of sustainable practices in home gardens is underscored by their potential to improve local food nutrition, reduce waste, and minimize the environmental impact of food transportation.

In this study, we examined urban agricultural production potential in New York city (NYC) in the United States and Osaka in Japan in a comparative study not only due to their similarities in population and region size but also differences in historical geographies and urban formation processes. We utilized available high-resolution land-use- and land-cover data to map and empirically compare size, land use, and spatial patterns of sites of current urban agriculture as well as land areas with potential for expanding urban agriculture. By linking current vegetable production data, and potential future urban agriculture land with per capita vegetable consumption data, we were able to estimate the total potential population that could be supported by locally produced vegetables. Our results showed that by scaling up current vegetable production in existing NYC community gardens, potential agricultural productivity on other underutilized or vacant land was 0.26 kg/m2/year for NYC. For Osaka, existing rice and dry fields could produce in comparison 0.54 and 0.74 kg/m2/year, respectively. By combining potential urban and peri-urban vegetable production measures with estimated needed vegetable caloric intake per person per year, we show that the current vegetable production levels in Osaka can feed approximately 0.50 million people. However, if the region maximizes existing underused speculative dry fields, urban and peri-urban agriculture could feed approximately 3.4 million people per year. In NYC, current vegetable production in community gardens is estimated to feed only 1700 people per year. However, if NYC maximized all available urban vacant lots and other open spaces, potential vegetable production could provide food annually for 0.55 million people. We discuss how though both community gardens in NYC and remaining rice and dry fields in Osaka have been out of formal city planning with clear land-use definition in zoning, these agricultural practices have nonetheless emerged as important sources of local food production and nutrition on the one hand, and sites of social benefit on the other.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness of Daegu citizens on urban agriculture. A questionnaire was conducted for 15 days from May 9, to May 25, 2015, and a sample group consisting of 328 residents of Daegu. The cognitions of awareness to effects and preferences of urban agriculture were analyzed. The cognition level of urban agriculture is in a very low state, the level of satisfaction in experienced groups were high. In addition, intentions of participation in the future were very high. The potential capability of urban agriculture is very strong. In motivation and purpose of urban agriculture activities, such as ‘Hobby and leisure activities’, ‘Safe food production’ were shown as high frequency. In cognition towards the effects of urban agricultural activity, ‘Safe agricultural products’, and ‘Change in dietary life’ were shown to be in high points of agreement. Furthermore, in preferences of the type and activities, ‘Rooftop garden’, ‘Learning/education type home garden’, ‘Home garden utilizing the pieces of small land’, ‘Box home garden’, and ‘Personal weekend farm’ were shown to be highly preferred types. Within the effects of urban agriculture, 4 factors were categorized; ‘Negative effects of urban agriculture’, ‘Positive effects of urban agriculture’, ‘Environmental Improving effects’, and ‘Benefits effects’. In addition, 3 factors are prevalent in type and activities of urban agriculture, ‘Participations of experiencing/education programs’, ‘Cultivation of rental home gardens’, and ‘Lifestyle home garden type’. Conclusively, although the situation of urban agriculture is in the beginning stages, the potential capability of urban agriculture is great. In the future, diverse types of hardware and software programs, such as diverse education/experiencing programs and information supporting programs, will both be required for development

Shenggen FanInternational Food Policy Research Institute and Institute of AgriculturalEconomics of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesLinxiu ZhangCenter for Chinese Agricultural Policy of the Chinese Academy of SciencesXiaobo ZhangInternational Food Policy Research InstituteI. IntroductionChina is one of the few countries in the developing world that has madeprogress in reducing its total number of poor over the past 25 years.

Does urban agriculture lead to gentrification?

Pomato is a grafted plant developed by grafting tomato and potato with an objective to achieve both potato and tomato yield from a single plant for urban and peri- urban agriculture. In the study grafting between tomato and potato was done during october, 2018 at the screen house of Sirinka. 30 days old tomato seedlings were cleft grafted in a 20 days old potato seedling. Successful graft union was observed after two weeks of grafting. The grafted plants produced new branches and flowers. Mature fruits were ready to start harvest in about 110 days after grafting and harvesting was continuing up to 150 days. The result also showed that average fruits per plant in tomato were 18, average fruit weight 53 gram and an individual plant produce about 954 gram fruits. Edible potato tubers were ready to harvest at 120 days after grafting and yielding about 4-5 number of potato around 219.27 gram tuber from each plant (table 2). Though the experiment was conducted just as observation interest to show whether the graft succeeds or not. But after the completion of the study, it may be suggested that any home gardener, urban agriculture can practice this technique as an amazing satisfaction which may fulfill home requirement to some extend for both tomato and potato.

Abstract. Wulandari I, Husodo T, Mulyanto D, Abdoellah OS, Amalia CA, Farhaniah S. 2023. Supporting food security through urban home gardening, Rancasari Sub-district, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 5618-5625. Urban areas are closely related to the increase in human population, which triggers increased demand for land for settlements or housing. The increase in human population is in line with the increase in daily food requirements. As agricultural land decreases, agricultural productivity decreases, but much agricultural land has been converted into non-agricultural land, leading to food insecurity. Urban farming through home gardening is one of the methods to maintain food security amidst limited open land. This study aimed to reveal urban farming as a role model for food security through home gardens in the Rancasari Sub-district, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia. This study used a quantitative approach. Data were collected using purposive sampling in housing >20 years old in Manjahlega and Mekarjaya Village. Plants are divided based on their utilization, including ornamental, spice, medicine, and food plants. The results showed that 803 species and 20,366 individuals of 130 families were found in Manjahlega Village, while 680 species and 10,862 individuals were found in the Mekarjaya Village. In Manjahlega, mango (Mangifera indica L.) has the highest IVI value of 64.58, while in Mekarjaya, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum Schott.) has the highest IVI value of 10.2. Based on their use, ornamental plants have the highest H and R values compared to food, medicines, and spice plants. Ornamental plants dominate home gardens in Rancasari Sub-district. Their home gardens tend to be aimed at providing aesthetic value and beauty rather than producing food, medicines, and spices in the household. Home gardening has not been fully effective in supporting urban farming in Rancasari Sub-district due to the selection of ornamental plants.

Household and Community Gardens Surge in the Philippines and Senegal during COVID-19

In this paper, the author discusses urban agriculturalfunctions and their changes in the metropolitan area of Tokyo prefecture. Following this discussion, the author analyzes some factors that have caused changes infunctions of urban agriculture, and she demonstrates the multi-functional system of urban agriculture with a case study in the Nishi-Ooizumi area of Nerima ward. Nerima is located in the northwestern suburbs of metropolitan Tokyo about ten kilometersfrom the metropolitan center, and Nishi-Ooizumi is located in the northwestern part of the ward. Although this area has had good accessibility to the metropolitan center in terms of commuting, agriculture has continued to be practiced since the 1970s. Productive green land, an importantfactor in the sustainability of urban agriculture, comprised 66.4 percent of all thefarmland in Nerima ward in 1997.Based onfield surveys and land use maps, somefunctions in terms of both agriculture andfarmland wereidentified in Nishi-Ooizumi area. They have beenclassified intofive types: agricultural production, amenity and environment, disaster prevention, leisure activity, and land supply. Changes in these functions have been divided into threeperiods: urban fringe agriculture, early urban agriculture, and growth of urban agriculture. In each period, the author considers the interaction among functions and the conditions affecting them.In the period of urbanfringe agriculture, before the early 1960s, farmland was the dominant use of land in the Nishi-Ooizumi area, and agriculture there was mono-functional and belonged to the agricultural production function. In the period of early urban agriculture, the latter 1960s and the 1970s, the land supplyfunction dominated because of high economic growth and the enforcement of the City Planning Act, but because some agriculture in the area fell under the agricultural production function, there was a dual functional system at this time. In the period of urban agriculture growth, during andafter the 1980s, agriculture continued tofall into the agricultural production and land supply functions, but the other three functions-amenity and environment, disaster prevention, and leisure-were introduced at this time. Thus, thesefivefunctions have interacted with eachother and created a multi-functional system in the last two decades. This multifunctionalization was caused by rising land prices, a review of measures against calamities after the Hanshin earthquake in 1995, and environmental conservation.The land supply function has been regarded as detrimental for sustainable urban agriculture because it also appropriated land for nonagricultural use and thus contributed to the decline of agriculture. Nevertheless, urban farmland also performed an important function in getting funds for farmers. Accordingly, sustainability of urban agriculture depended on the land supply function.In summary, the differences in function in each period were caused by the influence of enforcement of laws, business conditions, and urbanization of the area. Although urban agriculture originally was mono-functional and fell under the agricultural production function, it came to include other functions as a dual-functional and then a multi-functional system.

<p>Municipal governments across the Global North are increasingly becoming key actors in shaping urban food and agriculture policy. In the City of Toronto, recent aspirational policies, such as the provincial Local Food Act and the municipal Toronto Agricultural Program, created new opportunities to shape a healthier food system. We sought municipal perspectives on the question of “How might urban agriculture policy and programs be better supported to promote equity and health?” Analysis of findings from semistructured key informant interviews with municipal staff and policy-makers (n=18) illustrated broad support for generating better quantifiable evidence of the impacts of urban agriculture on economic development and employment, health and health equity, land use and production, and partnerships and policies. Place-specific economic and equity data emerged as particularly pressing priorities. At the same time, they sought better approaches to the potential risks involved in urban agriculture. Key informants also shared their views on the use of health impact assessment research to make a case for urban agriculture to a range of stakeholders; to manage real and perceived risks; and to move beyond enabling policies to empower new investments and procedural changes that would facilitate urban agriculture expansion in the city. The results informed the evolving praxis agenda for urban agriculture at the intersections of population health, environmental sustainability, and urban governance</p>

<p>Municipal governments across the Global North are increasingly becoming key actors in shaping urban food and agriculture policy. In the City of Toronto, recent aspirational policies, such as the provincial Local Food Act and the municipal Toronto Agricultural Program, created new opportunities to shape a healthier food system. We sought municipal perspectives on the question of “How might urban agriculture policy and programs be better supported to promote equity and health?” Analysis of findings from semistructured key informant interviews with municipal staff and policy-makers (n=18) illustrated broad support for generating better quantifiable evidence of the impacts of urban agriculture on economic development and employment, health and health equity, land use and production, and partnerships and policies. Place-specific economic and equity data emerged as particularly pressing priorities. At the same time, they sought better approaches to the potential risks involved in urban agriculture. Key informants also shared their views on the use of health impact assessment research to make a case for urban agriculture to a range of stakeholders; to manage real and perceived risks; and to move beyond enabling policies to empower new investments and procedural changes that would facilitate urban agriculture expansion in the city. The results informed the evolving praxis agenda for urban agriculture at the intersections of population health, environmental sustainability, and urban governance</p>

Municipal governments across the Global North are increasingly becoming key actors in shaping urban food and agriculture policy. In the City of Toronto, recent aspirational policies, such as the provincial Local Food Act and the municipal Toronto Agricultural Program, created new opportunities to shape a healthier food system. We sought municipal perspectives on the question of “How might urban agriculture policy and programs be better supported to promote equity and health?” Analysis of findings from semistructured key informant interviews with municipal staff and policy-makers (n=18) illustrated broad support for generating better quantifiable evidence of the impacts of urban agriculture on economic development and employment, health and health equity, land use and production, and partnerships and policies. Place-specific economic and equity data emerged as particularly pressing priorities. At the same time, they sought better approaches to the potential risks involved in urban agriculture. Key informants also shared their views on the use of health impact assessment research to make a case for urban agriculture to a range of stake­holders; to manage real and perceived risks; and to move beyond enabling policies to empower new investments and procedural changes that would facilitate urban agriculture expansion in the city. The results informed the evolving praxis agenda for urban agriculture at the intersections of population health, environmental sustainability, and urban governance.

We are living in an age of concern for mental health and wellbeing. The objective of the research presented in this paper is to investigate the perceived health, social value and happiness benefits of urban agriculture (UA) by focusing on home and community food gardens in South Australia. The results reported in this paper are from “Edible Gardens”, a citizen science project designed to investigate the social value, productivity and resource efficiency of UA in South Australia. Methods include an online survey and in-field garden data collection. Key findings include: dominant home gardener motivations were the produce, enjoyment, and health, while dominant community gardener motivations were enjoyment, connection to others and the produce. Exploratory factor analysis revealed four key factors: Tranquillity and Timeout, Develop and Learn Skills, the Produce, and Social Connection. The key difference between home and community gardeners was an overall social connection. Although home gardeners did not appear to actively value or desire inter-household social connection, this does not mean they do not value or participate in other avenues of social connection, such as via social learning sources or by sharing food with others. The combined results from this research regarding health and wellbeing, social connection and happiness support the premise that engagement in home or community food gardening may provide a preventative or supportive role for gardener health and wellbeing, regardless of whether it is a conscious motivation for participation.

PurposeThis study addresses the growing challenges of food security, livelihood generation and sustainable urban living in the context of increasing urbanization in developing countries. As urban populations are projected to rise significantly in the coming decades, urban agriculture emerges as a potential solution to support dietary needs and economic empowerment. However, urban farming practices in developing countries face unique socio-economic, cultural and technological challenges compared to developed nations. This paper aims to analyze global urban agriculture practices, examine success stories from developed countries and propose an adaptable, inclusive urban agriculture model tailored to developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe research systematically reviews global urban agriculture practices, emphasizing successful implementations in developed nations. The research highlights gaps and areas of opportunity by comparing these practices with the unique socio-economic and cultural contexts of developing countries. Focus group interviews were conducted among urban farmers from India to finalize the key variables of urban agriculture in developing countries. The second phase involves the construction of a context-specific model for developing countries and proposing interventions. A comparative method is devised to identify developed country’s urban agricultural practices and policies to derive an optimal urban agricultural model for developing countries.FindingsThe findings from the study reveal that in developed countries, urban agriculture is motivated by the urge to become self-sustainable and to maintain a connection with the community shaped by different socio-economic, environmental and technological factors. In developing countries, the prime motive is to generate a secondary income source and ensure food security. Still, they face limited technological access, insufficient policy support and socio-cultural barriers. Technology-supported urban agricultural infrastructure and support from the government and other stakeholders would be a potential solution in developing countries to implement successful integrative solutions. To support this, adaptive policies in urban agriculture are required to bridge the gap in the current system.Practical implicationsThis research offers practical implications for policymakers, urban planners and agricultural stakeholders in developing countries. It emphasizes the importance of designing policies that address resource constraints, such as land availability and financial access and promote sustainable farming techniques. The study recommends creating supportive frameworks to empower urban farmers, including subsidies, training programs and efficient market mechanisms. Integrating urban farming into city planning can foster green spaces, enhance food security and drive economic development. These actionable recommendations aim to facilitate the growth of urban agriculture as a sustainable and inclusive practice in developing countries.Social implicationsParticipation and social cohesiveness aspects of urban agriculture provide beneficial food accessibility with the concept of food for all, ensuring socio-cultural equality in accessing quality food. This study highlights the role of urban agriculture in addressing socio-economic inequalities, particularly in developing countries. By engaging communities in sustainable farming practices, urban agriculture can create collaborative networks, promote healthier lifestyles and improve access to fresh produce. The study also underscores the importance of empowering urban populations through targeted interventions in urban farming. These social implications reinforce the value of urban agriculture in enhancing the overall quality of urban life.Originality/valueThis study makes a unique contribution by focusing on the contextual adaptation of urban agriculture models for developing countries. While urban farming has been extensively studied in developed nations, limited research addresses developing regions’ specific challenges and opportunities. By proposing a comprehensive and inclusive model that bridges socio-economic and cultural gaps, this research provides a novel framework for integrating urban farming into the urban planning and policy landscape of developing countries. The originality lies in its comparative approach, leveraging global best practices while tailoring solutions to local contexts, thereby advancing the discourse on sustainable urban agriculture.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, urban agriculture, which refers to various forms of agricultural production within or surrounding the city, gained more attention from scholars worldwide. Given the multiple benefits associated with urban agriculture, these practices were adopted to address the adverse impacts in various dimensions, such as food security, health, and well-being. Simultaneously, urban agriculture also was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, influencing the practice from both theoretical and practical perspectives, which expanded the scope of research in this field across various disciplines and perspectives. Consequently, it is difficult to track the topic and scope of the current research status as a basis for developing research about urban agriculture in the future. However, a systematic review that consolidates the current state of knowledge to support advanced research had not yet been conducted. Our paper aimed to fill this gap by employing a bibliometric analysis of articles in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) to examine the research landscape of urban agriculture and Covid-19. VOSviewer was the main platform adopted to conduct the bibliometric analysis in order to construct the research landscape based on three scopes, namely, main contributors (authors, sources, organisations, and countries), hot issues, and research themes. The analysis revealed that the WoSCC had indexed a total of 214 articles, with an increasing number of publications from 2020 to 2022. Although studies on urban agriculture and Covid-19 were conducted worldwide, authors and organisations from developed countries, especially the United States, were the primary contributors to article publications. The journal “Sustainability” was the main source of published articles about urban agriculture and Covid-19, receiving the highest number of citations. Research on urban agriculture and Covid-19 was conducted under eight crucial research themes associated with the food sector, benefits for health and well-being, climate change and air quality, marginalised communities, practising the community garden, practising home gardening, lessons learned from the policies and projects, and innovation and technology. Despite research being conducted on urban agriculture and the Covid-19 pandemic within different themes and geographical contexts, the majority of studies primarily focused on the benefits and behaviour change associated with urban agriculture practices to mitigate the negative impact of Covid-19 in terms of the food system and mental health. This finding is consistent with the keywords co-occurrence analysis, which identified “food security/insecurity” and “resilience” as the main hot issues. In addition, most of the other high-frequency keywords also were associated with the food system and well-being. Based on these findings, research on urban agriculture during Covid-19 generally concentrated on the crucial problems associated with Covid-19, especially for the food sector and health, rather than urbanization, which had been the primary focus in earlier times. Finally, we provide recommended ways forward for future studies in this field by offering insights into the current scope of the research landscape on urban agriculture and Covid-19, which had been neglected in previous studies.