Urban Gardens Research Articles

Gathering a bountiful harvest: the impacts of cultural ecosystem service experiences on management practices and agrobiodiversity in urban community gardens

ABSTRACT In addition to their food security and ecological benefits, urban community gardens support human well-being in numerous non-material ways. In this paper, we investigate whether experience of these cultural ecosystem services (CES) shapes how gardeners choose to manage the garden ecosystem, which may influence the ability of these multifunctional green spaces to provide other local ecosystem services (ES). Using questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and plant community analysis, we assess the relationship between perception of CES by community gardeners, the management practices they utilize, and the agroecological characteristics of their garden plots, such as presence and prevalence of species that provide regulating and supporting ES. We find that while almost all survey participants report sociocultural benefits of gardening, experience of these CES varies significantly between gardeners, with garden structure influencing which group of benefits is most perceived. Experience of some CES was also correlated with local ecological knowledge and use of certain sustainable garden management practices, such as utilizing integrated pest management strategies and planting a wide variety of species, but not with observed non-provisioning plant agrobiodiversity. These results provide important insights into the complex role that CES play in encouraging environmental stewardship and shaping ecological outcomes in collectively managed urban green spaces.

Exotic and native plants play equally important roles in supporting and structuring plant-hummingbird networks within urban green spaces.

Urban gardens, despite their transformed nature, serve as invaluable microcosms for a quantitative examination of floral resource provision to urban pollinators, considering the plant's origin. Thus, knowledge has increased, emphasizing the importance of these green areas for hosting and conserving pollinator communities. However, there is a significant knowledge gap concerning the changing availability of these native and exotic floral resources over time and their impact on structuring interaction networks with specific pollinators. Over a year-long period, monthly surveys were conducted to record both native and exotic plant species visited by hummingbirds in an urban garden at Tlaxcala, Mexico. Flower visits were recorded, and the total flowers on each plant visited were tallied. Additionally, all observed hummingbirds were recorded during the transect walks, regardless of plant visits, to determine hummingbird abundance. The interactions were summarized using matrices, and network descriptors like connectance, specializacion, nestedness, and modularity were computed. Plant and hummingbird species in the core and periphery of the network were also identified. Lastly, simulations were performed to assess the network's resilience to the extinction of highly connected native and exotic plant species, including those previously situated in the network's core. We recorded 4,674 interactions between 28 plant species, and eight hummingbird species. The majority of plants showed an ornithophilic syndrome, with 20 species considered exotic. Despite asynchronous flowering, there was overlap observed across different plant species throughout the year. Exotic plants like Jacaranda mimosifolia and Nicotiana glauca produced more flowers annually than native species. The abundance of hummingbirds varied throughout the study, with Saucerottia berillyna being the most abundant species. The plant-hummingbird network displayed high connectance, indicating generalization in their interaction. Significant nestedness was observed, mainly influenced by exotic plant species. The core of the network was enriched with exotic plants, while Basilinna leucotis and Cynanthus latirostris played central roles among hummingbirds. Network resilience to species extinction remained generally high. Our findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics and structure of plant-hummingbird interactions in urban gardens, emphasizing the influence of exotic plant species and the network's resilience to perturbations. Understanding and managing the impact of exotic plants on such networks is crucial for the conservation and sustainable functioning of urban ecosystems.

In defence of urban community gardens

Abstract With the boom in urban living has come a boom in urban gardening. In particular, urban community gardening is an increasingly popular form of horticultural production, community involvement and connection to nature. Through the establishment and management of community gardens, biodiversity can flourish, with community gardens as ‘hotspots’ of flora and fauna within the urban matrix. Gardeners can deeply connect with the natural elements of gardens and thus learn about and gain appreciation for the natural world. Such interactions can combat the loss of nature experiences in cities. Despite their benefits for nature and for people, community gardens are threatened ecosystems as often temporary fixtures in city landscapes due to lack of land tenure and policy protection. In this perspective, we recognize community gardens as an important ecosystem in urban conservation and argue for the defence of urban community gardens by city policy. We formalize this activity and the value of these ecosystems with scientific evidence from ecological and social‐ecological research in 39 community gardens in Berlin and Munich, Germany. Although our data reveal that these gardens support large amounts of biodiversity and catalyse human‐nature connections, a lack of comprehensive documentation of social‐ecological benefits at the city level can make community gardens vulnerable to urban planning threats; we have seen losses of multiple research sites in the last 4 years of biodiversity research. Policy implications: To protect community gardens now and for future urban generations, we call for systematic and comprehensive data collection on community gardening activities and policy support for these urban ecosystems. Some cities are starting to do this and this can be scaled out. We argue for the recognition of urban community gardens as a physical land use and also of the gardeners themselves as important habitat managers and stewards of urban biodiversity. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Garden city planning and Nordic (de)colonial ambivalence in Tanga, Mbeya and Moshi master plans (1973–1975)

Researchers from former colonial powers and their respective former colonies have made extensive accounts of colonial planning heritage. The Nordic countries are mostly excluded from such historical narratives and rather interpreted as having been neutral, benevolent, and solidary foreign aid agents. This case study analysis of Tanga, Mbeya, and Moshi master plans (1973–1975), implemented with Finnish technical assistance, challenges this narrative and shows that Finnish agents operated in an ambivalent environment of (de)colonialism and moved between layers of colonial heritage, decolonial policy, and neo-colonial praxis. In the conflicting political pressure, they adopted and developed a planning dialect that translated the travelling concepts of suburbanisation, neighbourhood models, and urban gardening into the language of Tanzanian decolonial policy. The Tanga, Mbeya, and Moshi master plans utilised garden city planning ideas to extend the planning principles formerly reserved for the white European elite to include the entire urban population and advance the socialist project of ujamaa.

Arid Urban Green Areas Reimagined: Transforming Landscapes with Native Plants for a Sustainable Future in Aksu, Northwest China

The exponential growth of the economy and society has resulted in a substantial need for superior urban green spaces, consequently fostering a significant surge in urban landscape construction. The integration of plant landscapes in urban landscape construction is crucial. The rational use of plant landscape resources to create high-quality urban green spaces is of great significance for promoting urban sustainable development. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the landscape and ecological functions of indigenous plants in the context of urban landscape implementation and then provide utilization strategies of indigenous plants for urban landscape construction. This research focuses on the utilization of native plants in Aksu’s urban green spaces (a city in northwest China). Through a contrastive analysis of the dust retention, windbreak and sand fixation, and landscaping capabilities of these native plants, certain indigenous species are identified as suitable candidates. Specifically, Styphnolobium japonicum and Ulmus densa exhibit a dust adhering per plant of 656.50 and 388.46 g·m−2, respectively. Consequently, augmenting their planting proportion can effectively augment the overall dust adhering within the garden. The windbreak distances of Populus bolleana, Populus euphratica, and Styphnolobium japonicum were found to exceed 60 m, indicating their effectiveness in mitigating wind and sand erosion. Therefore, strategically planting these species can contribute to the establishment of a robust urban windbreak forest. Additionally, optimizing the arrangement of Rosa multiflora, Hippophae rhamnoides, Berberis thunbergii, and Salix matsudana can enhance the aesthetic appeal of urban gardens. The utilization of native plants holds promise in enhancing the ecological and landscape functions of urban gardens in Aksu. The effective enhancement of the ecological function and the landscape effect of urban gardens can be achieved through the appropriate reconstruction with native plants. The findings of this study hold significant reference value for the urban landscape architecture in arid urban areas.

Soil quality in the urban gardens of Barcelona (Spain)

PurposeUrban agriculture is expanding worldwide and is being promoted by the FAO as a strategic activity because of its environmental, socio-economic, and educational benefits for citizens. In Spain, it is estimated that there are more than 20,000 urban gardens. There are many variables to take into account when starting to cultivate an urban garden, among which the quality of the soil is crucial. Nevertheless, some studies have shown high levels of contamination in soils dedicated to urban horticulture. The sources of contamination can be various, such as previous unrecognized management and irrigation with poor quality water, or the addition of polluted compost and other soil improvers. Soil contamination can migrate to vegetables and fruits, thus entering the food chain.Materials and methodsIn this study, we analyzed the soils from ten urban gardens in the city of Barcelona, with a special focus on possible contaminants. Based on the possibility that irrigation water is a source of pollution, this was also analyzed in all investigated gardens.Results and discussionSome of the waters analyzed for irrigation have a high concentration of salts, and a few of them contain nitrites, which are listed as a pollutant. The dominant texture of the soils was sandy clay loam and loamy sand, the pH was generally high, between 7.87 and 8.41, clearly carbonated, with Ca generally being the dominant exchangeable cation, but without the risk of a high percentage of active carbonates that could make it difficult to grow vegetables. The content in organic matter was very variable, but in all cases it appeared to be potentially incrementable. The three tests used to check possible soil contamination from heavy metals, do not attest to significant pollution.ConclusionsThe soil quality overall is suitable for growing vegetables and allowing growers to work in these areas in complete safety. Although it would be necessary to analyze also other toxic elements, not considered in this study, some of the measured ones could come from the gases of road transport or even from the port of Barcelona.

Overlooked and misunderstood: how urban community gardeners perceive social wasps and their ecosystem functions

Despite their importance for agricultural food production, many insects receive little to no positive attention. While bees have become the focus of insect conservation in agricultural landscapes, social wasps still rank among the most disliked animals and their ecological role and the ecosystem services they provide through e.g. pollination and pest control is subsequently understudied. We conducted a survey on the perceptions of social wasps and their ecosystem functions in urban community gardens in Berlin and Munich, Germany. We found that gardeners rated wasps as least beneficial for urban gardens among other insect taxa, and that predation was perceived as a negative function in insects and spiders. Respondent´s emotions were predominantly positive towards bees and negative towards wasps. Trivia questions about wasps revealed that knowledge of wasp ecology was positively associated with respondents´ willingness to share gardens with wasps. Implications for insect conservation: Our results show that urban gardeners´ negative perceptions of social wasps are likely driven by both a lack of knowledge about their ecological functions and a profusion of negative emotions towards wasps. Public outreach and education on the ecological importance of social wasps and other uncharismatic taxa as well as positive encounters with these specieshave the potential to improve their public image and thereby support the conservation of wasps and other insects.

Principles and evolution of constructed soils in urban horticulture

Principles and evolution of constructed soils in urban horticulture

Sustainable urban horticulture—Providing more than just food

Sustainable urban horticulture—Providing more than just food

Occurrence of Alternaria alternata causing leaf spot on tamarillo in Brazil

Tamarillo plants (Solanum betaceum Cav.) had leaf spot symptoms in an urban vegetable garden in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. After observation of structures under optical light microscopy, the morphology indicated that it was a fungus of the genus Alternaria. The objective of the present study was to identify the Alternaria species that causes leaf spot on tamarillo in Brazil through molecular and morphological characterization, in addition to pathogenicity testing. The molecular characterization was based on the phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated TEF, GAPDH, and RPB2 genes, using the maximum likelihood method and bayesian inference. Microculture slides were used for morphological assessments, measuring 50 conidiophores and 50 conidia, randomly chosen. The pathogenicity test was performed by inoculating five plants with a suspension containing 105 spores mL−1. After inoculation, the plants were covered with plastic and cultivated in a growth chamber for daily assessment of symptoms and signs of the pathogen. Molecular characterization demonstrated the identity of nucleotides of the three genes of the isolate LEMIDSbAaPR20-01 with sequences from the Alternaria section, and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the species to be A. alternata. The morphological characteristics are in accordance with those described in the literature for A. alternata. Symptoms were observed from five days after inoculation and non-inoculated plants remained asymptomatic. This is the first report of A. alternata in S. betaceum in Brazil and in the world.

Contemporary Urban Agriculture in European and Chinese Regions: A Social-Cultural Perspective

With its early start in urbanization, Europe has accumulated a wealth of practical experience in urban agriculture (UA), exploring various development models. This paper compares and analyzes the characteristic patterns of UA in Europe and China through theoretical research, academic frontier exploration, and case analysis. In order to investigate and analyze theoretical developments and the current state of academic frontiers in a systematic, accessible, and comprehensive approach, the methodology of bibliometric analysis has been utilized. A bibliometric method is applied to analyze relevant data from the Web of Science (WoS) core collection database and 2230 CNKI publications. The case study section conducts separate field research on nine representative European practices of urban food gardening and urban farming. Additionally, the study scrutinizes UA research development and its implementation in Hangzhou, China. Based on the findings of this study, the authors recommend that European approaches to the development of UA in China’s future UA practice be taken into account, in particular their methods and strategies for realizing social and cultural benefits. It is imperative to integrate UA projects into urban green space system planning and to rationalize their construction types. Simultaneously, Chinese scholars are encouraged to explore the socio-cultural functions of UA, with a particular focus on urban agricultural heritage conservation.

Phyllosphere to Ferment: Site Conditions Structure Cacao Pod and Fermentation Microbiomes in Hawaiʻi

Microbial fermentation is crucial to the development of flavors in cacao-based products, but how the abiotic environment and pod surface microbiomes can contribute to these different sensory profiles is underdeveloped. To better understand the connections between environment, plant variety, associated pod phyllosphere microbiomes, and the fermentation microbiome, we characterized the fungi and bacteria on pod surfaces and early fermentations of two cacao varieties across wet and dry sites on the island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. We showed that site (and the environmental conditions linked to those sites) significantly influenced the microbiomes of both the pod phyllosphere and fermentations but did not significantly explain the differences between cacao varieties. Certain taxa of bacteria and fungi seemingly prefer the wet Kualoa Ranch site compared with the drier Urban Garden Center Site. Rare members of the pod phyllosphere communities became highly enriched during fermentation, where basidiomycetous yeasts ( Filobasidium sp., Hannaella zeae, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, R. paludigena, and Sporobolomyces carnicolor) became dominant at the wet site, and both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous yeasts ( Hyphopichia burtonii, Meyerozyma sp., Yamadazyma phyllophila, Filobasidium sp., Kwoniella heveanensis, R. mucilaginosa, Sporobolomyces sp., and S. carnicolor) became dominant at the dry site. The agricultural production site where cacao plants are grown should be considered carefully because it is likely important in structuring microbes that are present on pod surfaces and the microbes (mostly yeasts) that will be carried forward into fermentation. These yeasts may contribute to the development of the unique fruity or floral flavors in chocolates produced in Hawai‘i. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Nature Based Solutions: Carbon Sequestration by Standing Trees in Urban Parks and Gardens of Katni City in Madhya Pradesh, India

Aims: This study aims at estimating contribution of urban Parks and gardens by carbon sequestration and suggests suitable strategies that can be helpful in reducing climate change impacts in urban centres. The challenges of climate change can be efficiently overcome by the storage of carbon in terrestrial carbon sinks viz. plants, plant products and soils for longer periods. Selection of appropriate trees can help mitigate climate impact.
 Study Design: Non-destructive sampling method of biomass estimation was used to measure to GBH of individual trees.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Katni city, Madhya Pradesh in 2020.
 Methodology: The parks and gardens in Katni were categorized into three groups based on their sizes: (A) large parks/gardens, (B) medium parks/gardens, and (C) small parks/gardens. The height of the trees was estimated using a relascope, while the girth classes of the trees were measured at different heights, including the basal area at Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and at a 2-meter height.
 Results: 26 parks were systematically selected from a total of 62, encompassing small, medium, and large-sized areas, representing 42% of the city's green cover. The sampled parks sequestered 340 tons of carbon, projecting an annual sequestration of 414 tons by all parks combined. Among the planted trees in these spaces were (Hyophorbe lagenicaulis), Fishtailed palm (Carota urens) Ashok (Polyalthia longifolia), Neem (Azardirachta indica), Amaltas (Cassia fistula), Champa (Magnolia champaca), Saptaparni (Alstonia scholaris), etc. Furthermore, the study identified ten suitable tree species—Bargad (Ficus benghalensis), Gulmohar (Delonix regia), Karanj (Millettia pinnata), Kassod (Cassia siamea), Mahaneem (Ailanthus excelsa), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Umar (Ficus racemosa), Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Peltaforum (Peltophorum pterocarpum) and Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) ideal for planting in parks for climate mitigation. The study advocates for widespread planting of these identified indigenous species in urban areas to enhance environmental quality and contribute significantly to climate improvement efforts.
 Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the nature of carbon sequestration in urban green spaces, stressing the need for selection of tree species based on multiple criteria discussed in the paper. Holistic approaches in environmental management and conservation will help mitigate climate impact.

Multiple potentially toxic elements in urban gardens from a Brazilian industrialized city.

Urban agriculture should be promoted as long as the food produced is safe for consumption. Located in the metropolitan region of São Paulo-Brazil, Santo André has intense industrial activities and more recently an increasing stimulus to urban gardening. One of the potential risks associated to this activity is the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In this study, the concentration of PTEs (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Mo, Pb, Sb, Se, V and Zn) was evaluated by soil (n = 85) and soil amendments (n = 19) in urban gardens from this municipality. Only barium was above regulatory limits in agricultural soil ranging from 20 to 112mgkg-1. Geochemical indexes (Igeo, Cf and Er) revealed moderate to severe pollution for As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Pb Se and Zn, especialy in Capuava petrochemical complex gardens. A multivariate statistical approach discriminated Capuava gardens from the others and correlated As, Cr and V as main factors of pollution. However, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were below the acceptable range for regulatory purposes of 10-6-10-4 for adults. Soil amendments were identified as a possible source of contamination for Ba, Zn and Pb which ranged from 37 to 4137mgkg-1, 20 to 701mgkg-1 and 0.7 to 73mgkg-1, respectively. The results also indicated the presence of six pathogenic bacteria in these amendments. Besides that, the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance for Shigella, Enterobacter and Citrobacter isolates suggests that soil management practices improvement is necessary.

Exploring the evolving landscape: Urban horticulture cropping systems–trends and challenges

Urban horticulture cropping systems offer a promising solution for food security and sustainable agriculture in rapidly urbanizing areas. This paper explores their evolving landscape, emphasizing trends and challenges shaping their development and impact on urban environments. Vertical farming, rooftop gardens, hydroponics, aeroponics, Internet of Things (IoT), integration of optimized space, resources, and year-round cultivation are considered as key trends in urban horticulture. These innovations reflect the growing interest in sustainable urban agriculture and technology's role in boosting productivity and resilience. However, urban horticulture faces challenges that demand attention. Limited space requires creative land-use solutions, while soil quality and contamination concerns necessitate remediation strategies for crop safety. Similarly, access to water is crucial, driving the adoption of water-saving technologies. The urban heat island effect poses another challenge, urging heat stress mitigation for crop health. Zoning and regulations play a vital role, requiring supportive policies and secure land tenure. High costs must be managed with innovative financial approaches to ensure urban farming's viability. Finally, public perception and awareness play a critical role. Advocacy, education, and community engagement are vital to dispel misconceptions, garner support, and encourage involvement in urban horticulture. Even with challenges, urban horticulture helps to provide food for the growing population, creates business opportunities, and contributes to a greener environment for sustainable development.

Creating Local "Citizen's Governance Spaces" in Austerity Contexts : Food Recuperation and Urban Gardening in Montréal (Canada) as Ways to Pragmatically Invent Alternatives.

While there is a growing interest in citizen-led initiatives, there is still no consensus on how to situate them, especially in relation to state institutions. On the one hand, citizen-led initiatives are seen as being co-opted by formal institutions in a context of austerity. On the other hand, these initiatives are often presented as "spaces of resistance" to neoliberalism, or as political acts of reclaiming the city. Mapping and tracing urban gardening and dumpster diving from their grassroots emergence to their inclusion in the institutional world through a two-level analysis, we show that individuals and loosely organized collectives involved in such initiatives are embedded in complex relationships with local institutions and third sector organizations that do, in turn, structure their practice and its consequences. The two-level analysis we propose follows this process: it is through interactions and relationships with other "practitioners" and with their social and institutional environment that these urban social practices gradually institutionalize.

Local Habitat Complexity and Its Effects on Herbivores and Predators in Urban Agroecosystems.

In urban community gardens, cultivated vegetation provides variable levels of habitat complexity, which can suppress pests by promoting predator diversity and improving pest control. In this study, we examine three components of the structural complexity of garden vegetation (cover, diversity, and connectivity) to investigate whether higher garden vegetation complexity leads to fewer herbivores, more predators, and higher predation. We worked in eight community gardens where we quantified vegetation complexity, sampled the arthropod community, and measured predation on corn earworm eggs. We found that plots with high vegetation cover supported higher species richness and greater abundance of predatory insects. High vegetation cover also supported a greater abundance and species richness of spiders. In contrast, high vegetation diversity was negatively associated with predator abundance. While high predator abundance was positively associated with egg predation, greater predator species richness had a negative impact on egg predation, suggesting that antagonism between predators may limit biological control. Community gardeners may thus manipulate vegetation cover and diversity to promote higher predator abundance and diversity in their plots. However, the species composition of predators and the prevalence of interspecific antagonism may ultimately determine subsequent impacts on biological pest control.

Adapting to urban gardening in China: how will policymaking help migrant and native gardeners?

China’s current urban gardening promotion policies mainly focus on community gardens and lack in-depth research on the differentiated needs of different urban gardeners. To meet the diverse needs of China’s gardeners, this study proposes a typology that classifies gardeners into urban native and migrant ones based on their urban and rural living experiences in China. A questionnaire survey conducted in the core area of Chongqing city revealed significant differences and some similarities in gardening motivations and behaviors between urban native and migrant gardeners: (1) Although most of the gardeners approved of the value of food production and green scenery creation that Chinese urban gardening has, and disapproved of its value for family income generation, the urban native gardeners’ disapproving attitude towards family income generation, and their approval of green scenery creation were more assertive, while on the contrary, the urban migrant gardeners had a more robust approval attitude towards food production. (2) The urban native gardeners preferred proximity and small private spaces for a combination of ornamental vegetation and edible vegetables. In contrast, the urban migrated gardeners preferred larger areas for gardening in non-community spaces and leaned towards edible vegetables. (3) Both have shared motivations related to the recreation and ecological conservation values of urban gardening. Given the above differences and similarities, this paper proposes an urban gardening development strategy that meets the needs of the two types of gardeners in China, including space planning and design, operation, and management of gardening spaces, and organization of activities.

Socio-economic differences control species composition of urban gardens in a metropolitan area of Argentina

Socio-economic differences control species composition of urban gardens in a metropolitan area of Argentina

Opportunities and challenges for strawberry cultivation in urban food production systems

Societal Impact StatementCultivation of strawberry plants in urban production systems, whether in green open‐air spaces or under some form of protected horticulture such as vertical farming, has demonstrated to be challenging to new farmers and businesses. Commercial strawberry producers have an advanced understanding of strawberry plant physiology, enabling them to grow the crop successfully and profitably. Lack of knowledge exchange between commercial growers and new urban farmers seems to result in the abandonment of strawberries as crop of choice in urban systems. This review will confront the specific plant science challenges urban growers need to address to incorporate this nutritional crop into their revolutionary urban growing systems, whilst achieving good quality produce with high yields.SummaryTo ensure a sustainable future of farming, urban horticulture (UH) will need to be a key part of our everyday life. There are increasing demands for higher productivity and more locally produced food, even close to densely populated urban areas, to address environmental pressures and accelerate the resilience of modern food systems. UH is a broad term and can include numerous cultivation methods; rooftop gardens, public spaces, vertical walls, indoor vertical farms, as well as an array of crops including, salads, soft fruits and trees. Crops such as strawberries are expected to soon make a significant contribution to UH. Urban strawberry production promises all‐year round fruit availability, reduced reliance on imports, increased self‐sufficiency, lower food miles, a supply of high‐quality fresh fruits from hyper‐local spaces, increased employment opportunities, welfare benefits and an opportunity to promote a sense of community. Strawberry is a complex perennial crop with agronomical challenges, which requires specialist knowledge that is not always available to new urban farmers. Achieving an urban version of a strawberry field will require knowledge exchange between the commercial rural strawberry producers and the newly entered urban growers. Plant physiology, management of plant pathogens, choice of propagation material, fertigation, pollination and environmental requirements are the most common challenges for urban strawberry production. This review aims to consolidate the common bottleneck challenges of UH for new urban strawberry facilities.