Urban Agricultural Activities Research Articles

Identification of Drivers of Change of the Gulf of Nicoya Ecosystem (Costa Rica)

The Gulf of Nicoya is a large tropical estuary located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and accounts for the country’s main fish production. It is increasingly impacted not only by its fisheries, but also by urbanization, tourism developments, the input of pollutants from urban centers and agriculture activities in the catchment areas of large rivers entering the gulf. Similar to other coastal ecosystems, the gulf is particularly sensitive to short- and long-term changes in the climate, such as the precipitation rate, Sea Surface Temperature, wind speed and current regimes. While the gulf has been studied for decades, until now no attempt has been made to combine the analysis of the impacts of fishing and environmental changes on the ecosystem. By following a holistic approach that uses fisheries and environmental time series data from collaborative research and simulation models, this study aims at identifying the main drivers of the observed changes in the Gulf of Nicoya ecosystem. While the model simulations indicate that variations in the catch of some target species (e.g., cephalopods and shrimps) are mainly driven by the fisheries’ exploitation rates, several other species (e.g., corvina, snook, small pelagics, and crabs) are also substantially affected by climate variations, particularly during El Nino periods of high Sea Surface Temperature extremes and increased precipitation. During these periods, phytoplankton productivity and zooplankton biomass deceases with bottom–up effects on the entire food chain. Indicators of the environmental state of the system thus have to be considered along with regulations of the fishing pressure to form the basis for the development of appropriate management strategies.

Modeling the effects of historical and future land use/land cover change dynamics on the hydrological response of Ashi watershed, northeastern China

The impact of anthropogenic activities in major river watersheds leading to alterations in the environment has triggered this study within the Ashi watershed of northeast China. Understanding individual land use/land cover (LULC) change contribution to watershed hydrology is vital for water resource planning, utilization of land resources and sustaining hydrological balance. This research investigates the influence of LULC alteration on the hydrology of the watershed from 1990 to 2014 and predicts LULC impacts on the hydrological components under different scenarios in 2030. Combined approach for Landsat images classification; Cellular-Automated (CA-Markov) for prediction and Soil and Water Assessment Tool were used. Partial least square regression (PLSR) model was applied to quantify the contribution of each LULC on hydrology. The results show that urban, water, agriculture, open canopy and other vegetation experienced an increment from 1990 to 2014. The predicted LULC for 2030 based on worst-case scenarios indicates urbanization and agriculture increase, while best-case scenario indicates a controlled expansion trend of urban and agriculture and regeneration of closed canopy. The changes in LULC increase stream flow (11.5%), surface runoff (86.6%), water yield (10.5%) but reduce lateral flow (64.9%), groundwater (27.9%) and ET (1%). Stream flow, water yield, surface runoff, lateral flow and evapotranspiration are expected to further increase under both scenarios, increasing more in the worst-case scenario. Urban, agriculture and close forest contributed in determining hydrological processes and are therefore chief environmental stressors in the Ashi watershed. This recommends regulating urban sprawl and agricultural activities to maintain hydrological balance.

Effectiveness of Urban Farming Program in Providing Multiple Benefits to the Urban Community in Malaysia

Residents have chosen to be living in urban regions in recent years largely due to the accessibility of job opportunities and public services. These led to a fast increase in the amount of people live in urban regions and cities. As a result, a large amount of the property used for agricultural activities was transformed into factories, housing units, and highways. This also resulted in a decrease in food production, growth in food prices and food import bills as the country now relies on food imports especially rice, fruits and vegetables, that can prevent the fostering of urban farming activities and then provide beneficial information essential to form it into a more consumer friendly program. Moreover, studies on urban farming are somewhat few in Malaysia and this study can become helpful for future research. The study focused on small-scale agriculture projects, such as community gardens, and community-level programs such as community supported agriculture and farmers markets. The study found that how urban agriculture enhances community resilience and wellbeing. This is the necessity for the Malaysian urban authorities to give more appropriate identification and support to city dwellers and promote them to develop the practice of urban farming.

Clay mineral transformations in anthropic organic matter-rich sediments under saline water environment. Effect on the detrital mineral assemblages in the Upper Chicamocha River Basin, Colombia

The results of this study showed how clay mineral assemblages from alluvial sediments were used to deduce the environmental impact of anthropogenic modifications in the Upper Chicamocha River Basin (UCRB) in Colombia. Two dams were investigated: La Playa dam (with anthropogenic input from farm activities and wastewater) and Sochagota Lake dam (with input from natural hydrothermal waters) and found to contain organic-rich deposits modified under highly saline, eutrophic conditions. Results from X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and analytical high resolution electron microscope AEM-HRTEM analyses indicated that the mineral assemblage in the sediments trapped in La Playa dam in the upper part of the basin is characterized by the presence of Fe-bearing smectite (up to 0.4 atoms per formula unit (a.p.f.u.)), whereas sediments downstream the Sochagota Lake dam are characterized by the presence of illite and dispersed fragments of pyrite framboids. Intense eutrophication due to organic compounds and nutrient loads from urban wastewater and agricultural activities in the area above La Playa dam created a reducing environment in which sediments promoted Fe-uptake in authigenic smectite and efficiently trapped it in the sediments. Periodic release of water from Sochagota Lake into the Chicamocha River allowed the incorporation of detrital illite grains and fragments of pyrite framboids (formed by low temperature illitization and Fe-uptake in the lake sediments) into the alluvial sediments in the lower section of the UCRB.

Shoots and leaves: exploring the impacts and fragile sustainability of sustainable place-making projects working with marginalised people

This article contributes to emerging research on sustainable place-making, but makes an important contribution through a strong focus on outcomes for marginalised people and the need for long-term sustainability. Sustainable place-making combines ‘place-making’ and ‘sustainable development’ to describe locally focused action working towards social, economic and environmental goals (Franklin and Marsden, 2015). The article explores an externally funded charity-led project working in a deprived area of the UK, implementing urban agriculture, community gardening and household energy activities. The project successfully engaged marginalised people, who strongly voiced outcomes including reduced isolation, improved mental health and increased resilience and self-reliance. Support from staff, volunteering in a team, enjoying gardening, accessing nature and financial savings provided a platform for impacts. Environmental outcomes were less tangible but included improvements to the local environment and reduced energy usage. However, after the funding finished, marginalised participants were vulnerable to outcomes not being sustained in the long term.

Concentration Distribution and Ecological Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon in Kolo Creek Niger-Delta Nigeria

The ecological risk assessment of 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) in water and sediments of Kolo creek, Niger Delta Nigeria was assessed the samples were collected from November, 2018 to June, 2019 from seven locations (A-G) along the creek. The samples were extracted using standard methods and analyzed using gas chromatography (model: HP5890 S). The concentrations of the PAHs in the water and sediment samples ranged between 0.000 - 9.239 µ/L and .002 – 374.35µg/Kg respectively. All the compounds analyzed were detected in all the sampling places, even area far from the flow stations. Hence, the urban runoffs, sewage discharges, and agricultural activities are implicated. Four rings hydrocarbon were present in higher concentration when compared to other PAHs in all sampling sites, with benz (a)anthracene having the highest values in both matrixes. Similarly, lower molecular weight (LMW) PAHs were present in lower concentrations in all sampling sites and they are known to exhibit higher lethal toxicity than the larger PAHs. HMW were present in high concentrations than LMW and are persistent in the environment as a result of their increase resistance to oxidation, reduction and vaporization as molecular weight increases. Similarly, The PAFs of the investigated creek is less than 5%, suggesting existences of minor ecological risks that are insignificance. However, the TEQs detected in high molecular weight showed that there is possibility of cancer to those who may be exposed to the bottom sediment. The indices measured in this habitat may put more pressures to the aquatic organisms and cause drastic changes to their ecosystem which may lead to species extinction.

Food First: COVID-19 Outbreak and Cities Lockdown a Booster for a Wider Vision on Urban Agriculture

The COVID-19 emergency has revealed the extreme fragility of large cities to unexpected complex global risks and crises. City lockdown has led to increasing awareness of the vital importance of food availability for citizens. The combined effect of border closure and movement restrictions increased food losses and export costs, especially for vegetables and perishable goods exposing non-self-sufficient countries. We claim the idea that urban agriculture in developed countries should be fostered with emerging growing practices and edible green infrastructures, such as vertical farming, hydroponics, aeroponic, aquaponic, and rooftop greenhouses. Notwithstanding the limitations of traditional urban farming activities, innovative and disruptive solutions and short food supply chains of fresh agricultural products might play a positive role in lessening uncertainties from global systemic risks.

Towards Sustainable Urban Planning for Puyo (Ecuador): Amazon Forest Landscape as Potential Green Infrastructure

The peri-urban area of Puyo, where agricultural, urban and conservation logics are mixed, is a contested area in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Rapid urban growth and agricultural activities are the main threats to the conservation of its biodiversity. To promote the conservation of natural spaces in urban planning instruments, it is necessary to first demonstrate their environmental and ecological value. In this paper, such value was analyzed by quantifying biodiversity value and carbon storage capacity in situ. The results show that Puyo’s periphery (a 4 km radius) is an opportunity space, where the conservation of its biodiversity is a key factor in strategies to promote sustainable urban development. Firstly, there are natural areas of high environmental value (secondary forest, gramalote pastures with trees and gramalote pastures) that all together fix 1,664,683 Mg CO2 and control hydrological risks (with 80% of the green areas linked to flood areas)—valuable ecosystem services. Secondly, the conservation of biodiversity brings associated economic activities that can promote local sustainable development. Despite this, the results reveal that the conservation of peri-urban natural ecosystems is not a goal in Puyo’s urban planning strategy. Therefore, future research should be focused on urban planning tools that promote environmentally, economically and socially sustainable urban development.

Performance of Agricultural Extension Workers in Implementing Urban Agriculture Programs in Banyumanik District, Semarang City, Indonesia

Urban farming is one of the alternatives to eliminate the impacts of the conversion of agricultural land. However, implementing urban farming activities requires various preparations, including the role of agricultural extension workers. The extension worker can make significant contributions to raise public awareness of the importance of urban farming. This study determines the performance level of extension workers in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of urban farming extension programs in BPP Kramas, Banyumanik district. This research employed a descriptive analysis approach by using a Likert scale. The results indicate that the performance level of extension workers in extension preparation, extension implementation, evaluation, and reporting are in the high category, with an average percentage achievement of 96%. It means that the urban farming program in Kramas Banyumanik district had been done well according to the formulated plan.JEL Classification: O18, Q15, Q16

Study of Urban Farming Potency to Support City Landscape Quality in the District of South Bogor

The rapid conversion of agricultural land into a built space has an impact on the quality of the city landscape. Urban farming is agricultural practice efforts in urban areas by using narrow land to produce food to fulfill the needs of urban agricultural products, while providing the benefits of landscape services especially in improving the quality of urban landscapes. This study aims to identify the potency of urban farming in the district of South Bogor to support landscape quality of Bogor city including ecological quality, aesthetic quality, and social quality of the community. From the research identified areas of agriculture covering 1.609,19 ha and agricultural activities in 49 farmer groups at district of South Bogor. In addition, a total of 164 plant were identified with a plant diversity index value of 2,774 classified as moderate. The results of the descriptive analysis of the landscape aesthetics at district of South Bogor show that urban farming and borrowing landscape from Mount Salak and Mount Gede Pangrango are able to present an attractive aesthetics of the city landscape. The results of the chi-square test showed that the respondent’s background in the form of profession and education had a significant influence on the social interaction of the community in the farmer group. Landscape management recommendations consist of a basic concept to maintain agricultural land and urban agricultural activities with 7 landscape management strategies that can be through development actions in macro by Bogor city government and micro through agricultural activities by farmer groups at district of South Bogor.

Hidroquímica das águas subterrâneas do Sistema Aquífero Barrei-ras na bacia do Rio Pirangi/RN

Este trabalho objetiva avaliar o comportamento hidroquímico das águas do Sistema Aquífero Barreiras (SAB) na área da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Pirangi - Região Metropolitana de Natal, segundo os diferentes aspectos ambientais do uso e ocupação do solo, com destaque para a avaliação dos efeitos do desenvolvimento urbano na qualidade das águas subterrâneas. Inicialmente, foi definida uma rede de monitoramento com 30 poços seguido de uma campanha de coletas e análises físico-químicas de amostras de água. A interpretação dos resultados foi efetuada com base em mapas de isovalores e diagramas hidroquímicos (Piper, Durov Expandido e Gibbs), sendo possível classificar as águas de acordo com fácies hidroquímicas e avaliar as modificaçoes hidrogeoquímicas nos diferentes contextos ambientais da área de estudo. Apesar das variações hidroquímicas observadas nos diferentes setores, de modo geral, as águas subterrâneas do SAB na área de estudo se caracterizam como levemente ácidas e de baixa salinidade, abrangendo predominantemente as fácies cloretadas sódicas magnesianas (Na+ - Mg2+ - Cl-) e cloretadas sódicas (Na+ - Cl-). Foi identificada contaminação das águas subterrâneas por nitrato em 30% das amostras, com destaque para as regiões mais urbanizadas. O aspecto climático é o principal fator controlador da química dessas águas, com a influência de fatores antrópicos do desenvolvimento urbano e de atividades agrícolas.

The Role of Urban Agriculture in Improving the Livelihood of the Urban Poor and the Challenges: The Case of Hawassa City Administration, SNNPRS, Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Hawassa City with the main objective of assessing the role that urban agriculture plays in improving the livelihood of the urban poor and the challenges. It focused on three forms of urban agricultural activities namely bio-intensive gardening, backyard poultry keeping, and sheep rearing and fattening. The study employed a descriptive survey method which is supported by qualitative data. The results of the study revealed that urban agriculture has a very positive role in changing the livelihood of the urban poor for the better. It has enabled 76% of the respondents to obtain additional income, while serving 51.4% as a food source, and creating employment opportunity for 29%. The major challenges to urban agriculture in Hawassa include lack of credit services, absence of technology to support the economic activity, lack of feed, treatment and input, and problems related to easy market access and storage places. Keywords: Urban Poverty, Urban Agriculture, Livelihood, Challenges, Hawassa City DOI : 10.7176/JESD/11-1-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

Natural background levels and validation of the assessment of intrinsic vulnerability to the contamination in the Carste Lagoa Santa Protection Unit, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The contamination of karst aquifers by anthropogenic activities causes a major issue regarding environmental policies, since they present high sensitivity, influenced by unique features such as dolines, swallow holes, and conduits. This paper is focused on the Carste Lagoa Santa Protection Unit, MG, Brazil, and presents three main objectives: to determine the natural background levels of chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate; to indicate the locations where the concentrations of those parameters exceed the natural background levels in the existing vulnerability map and, finally, to determine the proportion of the areas (in percentage) where this surpassing occurs, according to the vulnerability classes (high, moderate and low). Results have shown values (90th percentile) of 2.4 mg/L, 1.0 mg/L, 5.3 mg/L, and 0.1 mg/L, for Cl−, NO3−, SO4−2, and PO4−3, respectively, indicating that for all four parameters, there were areas (mainly distributed within moderate vulnerability portions) where the values were surpassed, which suggests anthropogenic activity due to the presence of urban settlements and agricultural activities. Therefore, the proposal of natural background levels was essential to understand the hydrochemistry of the studied region.

Selection of Suitable Urban Agricultural Practice for Indian Cities: a Sustainable Method for City Planners

Urban agriculture has become a topic of discussion for the last twenty years, due to the alarming increase in the rate of migration from rural sector to urban areas. Urban population in Indian cities is growing very fast and proper urban agricultural policies are essential to face the scenario. In the Indian context, it becomes more complex as the terms urban culture and agriculture seem mutually exclusive in their fundamental definition of activities and appearance. The step-by-step procedure of the selection of suitable urban farming practices among; Open land Agriculture (OLA) and Building integrated Agriculture (BIA) is explained. Through case studies of successfully running urban agricultural practices, the influencing parameters on selection of suitable land for OLA are identified. It is a goal-based paper on ‘achieving food security from within the city’ by promoting urban agricultural activities through emphasising the contribution of OLA to food security. The process involving representation of land in density tower, grading of land, and calculation of yielding capacity of OLA and its share in food security is explained.

Evaluation of Occurrence, Concentration, and Removal of Pathogenic Parasites and Fecal Coliforms in Three Waste Stabilization Pond Systems in Tanzania.

In Tanzania, waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) are employed to treat wastewater, and effluents are used for urban agricultural activities. The use of untreated or partially treated wastewater poses risks of disease transmission, including parasitic and bacterial infections, to exposed communities. Little is known about the occurrence, concentration, and removal of parasites and fecal coliform (FC) bacteria in WSPs in Tanzania. This study evaluates the occurrence and concentration of parasites and FCs in wastewater, the efficiency of WSPs in removing parasites and FCs, and the validity of using FCs as an indicator of parasites. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between February and August 2018. Wastewater samples were collected from three WSPs located in the Morogoro, Mwanza, and Iringa regions. APHA methods were used to test physicochemical parameters. The modified Bailenger method and Ziehl–Neelsen stain were used to analyse parasites. Membrane filtration method was used to analyse FCs. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20. Helminth egg removal ranged from 80.8% to 100%. Protozoan (oo)cyst removal ranged from 98.8% to 99.9%. The Mwanza WSP showed the highest FC reduction (3.8 log units (100 mL)−1). Both the parasites and FCs detected in the effluents of assessed WSPs were of higher concentrations than World Health Organization and Tanzania Bureau of Standards limits, except for helminths in the Morogoro WSP and FCs in the Mwanza WSP. FCs were significantly correlated with protozoa (p < 0.01) and predicted protozoa occurrence well (p=0.011). There were correlations between physicochemical parameters, parasites, and FC bacteria in the WSP systems. Inadequate performance of these systems may be due to lack of regular maintenance and/or systems operating beyond their capacity. FC indicators were observed to be a good alternative for protozoa monitoring, but not for helminths. Therefore, during wastewater quality monitoring, helminths should be surveyed independently.

The study of potential area for urban farming at Surabaya City

Surabaya City is one of the big cities at East Java with rapid area development. This rapid area development, as usual, is followed by the rising of its citizen’s growth, which creates a challenge in fulfilling the food necessity. This problem causes the food prices to escalate because of its limited amount, but on the other hand, the requests are kept on increasing. Now on, food security is an important issue for Surabaya City. Thus, efforts of increasing the food security level must be done, one of these efforts is urban farming. This study aims to locate the suitable areas for urban farming activities at Surabaya City. To gain that aim, an analysis method of Wight Overlay is used. From This Weight Overlay Analysis, the result retrieved is in the form of chosen areas’ map which can be used as the urban farming activities locations. The chosen areas are distributed over to some locations at four districts of Benowo, Lakarsantri, Pakal, and Sambikerep.

THE URBAN FARMING DENGAN HIDROPONIK MENGGUNAKAN ZAT PENGATUR TUMBUH UNTUK PENINGKATAN PERTUMBUHAN TANAMAN KANGKUNG

Urban farming activities with hydroponics techniques is one of the positive activities that can improve the creativity of people in urban areas. Urban farming activities can help improve the quality of people's lives, the environment, and play a role in maintaining food security. The study consisted of independent variables consisting of several groups, namely control (AB-Mix), 0.5 ppm of IAA (Indole Acetic Acid), BAP (Benzyl Adenine Purine) 0.5 and 1.0 ppm, and combination of IAA / BAP 0.5 /1.0 ppm. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of these treatments on water spinach plant yields that include leaves number, plant height, antioxidant content, and water content. The results of morphological growth showed that treatment with IAA 0.5 ppm was the most optimal while treatment with 1.0 ppm BAP had the average of the shortest plant height, the average number of leaves at least, and the shortest root length average. While the chlorophyll test showed that the system unit with the treatment of 0.5 ppm IAA had the highest total chlorophyll content with an average of 9.55 μg/ml. From the overall result, it can be assumed that the IAA of 0.5 ppm has the most positive effect on water spinach among other treatments.

Enhancing Urban Agricultural Activities through Renewable Energy Development

Although Urban Agriculture (UA) is widely practiced in several Nigerian cities, it faces several challenges such as insufficient data on the practice, non-recognition of UA as a land use by Nigerian urban land laws, uncoordinated practice of UA, lack of support services for urban farmers such as providing access to improved seedlings, pesticides, technical training, machinery, medicine, etc, overt discrimination against female farmers in terms of denial of land ownership rights, limited access to markets, inputs, credit, etc. The strategic use of Renewable energy in UA operations can address some of these challenges and contribute significantly to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigerian cities. In Ibadan, the energy mix favors large scale use of biomass, particularly the fermentation of animal waste in biogas digesters to produce fertilizer and methane gas. This promotes local energy independence from inefficient and centralized power stations and grids and energy security. Since 2015, Lifeforte International High School, Awotan, Ibadan has been the recipient of the International School Award, an international benchmarking scheme of the British Council. This award is meant to encourage primary and secondary school students in partner schools to develop global citizenship skills such as empathy, critical and creative thinking, conflict resolution, communication, collaboration and taking action. Such skills are meant to empower these students to become solution providers to global problems such as poverty, hunger, inequality, climate change, etc. Lifeforte seeks to consolidate on its successful crop harvest on its school farm by building a biogas digester on it. This facility will produce fertilizer and methane gas. A Business model will mobilize the proceeds from the sale of gas to train local farmers, thereby strengthening their capacity to operate their own digesters for increased crop yield, higher income and local energy independence and security.

A Systematic Review Protocol Investigating Community Gardening Impact Measures.

Existing community gardening research has tended to be exploratory and descriptive, utilising qualitative or mixed methodologies to explore and understand community garden participation. While research on community gardening attracts growing interest, the empirical rigour of measurement scales and embedded indicators has received comparatively less attention. Despite the extensive body of community gardening literature, a coherent narrative on valid, high quality approaches to the measurement of outcomes and impact across different cultural contexts is lacking and yet to be comprehensively examined. This is essential as cities are becoming hubs for cultural diversity. Systematic literature reviews that explore the multiple benefits of community gardening and other urban agriculture activities have been undertaken, however, a systematic review of the impact measures of community gardening is yet to be completed. This search protocol aims to address the following questions: (1) How are the health, wellbeing, social and environmental outcomes and impacts of community gardening measured? (2) What cultural diversity considerations have existing community garden measures taken into account? Demographic data will be collected along with clear domains/constructs of experiences, impacts and outcomes captured from previous literature to explore if evidence considers culturally heterogeneous and diverse populations. This will offer an understanding as to whether community gardening research is appropriately measuring this cross-cultural activity.

The politics of the nexus in the city of Amsterdam

The nexus concept, which focuses on connections and trade-offs between water, energy and food sectors, has received increasing attention in academia and policy-circles. The concept has actively been examined and approached on global, national and regional scales via multiple academic studies and policy reviews. In this paper, we respond to the call of “urbanising” and “politicising” the nexus. We do so through the exploratory case-study of Amsterdam. We adopt an urban political ecology approach rooted in discussions on the concept of urban metabolism. Urban metabolism studies cities as organisms and as such is focussed on understanding the interconnections of the resource provisioning and infrastructural networks of water, energy and food. An urban political ecology approach centres on the political and economic processes at play in shaping how these interconnections take form in the metabolism of a city. In drawing on insights from both political ecology and urban metabolism, we study who drives the connections between water, energy and food sectors in Amsterdam, who gets excluded, and how the process takes place. We show how the cooperation between the main water and energy companies makes the “water-energy” connections the most well-established in Amsterdam, whereas the role of food, particularly in the form of urban agricultural activities, remains more obscure. Moreover, as opposed to the search for the nexus leading to a more radical transformation of infrastructural networks of provisioning of water, energy and food and their connections, we argue that the nexus in Amsterdam is largely defined by efficiency discourses, technological innovation and market-based solutions that stay within the context of existing infrastructures and embedded ways of provisioning.