This section provides access to externally produced research papers, white papers, and fact sheets that offer insight into key aspects of urban agriculture, including innovation, governance, environmental impacts, and socio-economic dynamics. These materials support evidence-based decision-making and knowledge exchange across sectors.

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Title / LinkSummarySource
SUAVE - European Urban Agriculture CasebookCasebook of cutting-edge solutions, inspiring success stories, and innovative SMEs revolutionizing urban agriculture across EuropeSUAVE Eurocluster initiative
World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of CitiesComprehensive global analysis of post-pandemic urban futures, highlighting trends, challenges, and opportunities for building more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.UN Habitat
Profitability and sustainability of urban and peri-urban agricultureΕxamines the economic viability and environmental sustainability of urban agriculture through case studies, performance indicators, and practical assessment tools.FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Urban agriculture in the Gaza Strip through vertical gardens and aquaponicsHighlights aquaponics as an integrated system combining aquaculture and hydroponics, which efficiently produces food and conserves water by using fish waste as plant fertilizer in a closed-loop system, particularly benefiting urban food security and livelihoods in challenging environments like the Gaza Strip.FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
City-to-city cooperation for urban and peri-urban horticultureDescribes the Decentralized Cooperation (DC) Programme, which fosters city-to-city partnerships to enhance urban and peri-urban horticulture, thereby improving food security and livelihoods through initiatives such as micro-gardens in cities worldwide.FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production GrantsHighlights the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, which provides competitive grants and cooperative agreements to support urban and innovative farming operations, community gardens, and related projects aimed at increasing local food production, access, job training, and education in urban and suburban areas.United States' Department of Agriculture
Urban agriculture: landscapes connecting people, food and biodiversityEmphasizes that urban agriculture, through various forms like community and commercial farms, connects people with food and nature, enhances well-being, strengthens ecosystem services, and improves food security in urban environments by fostering resilient local food systems and biodiversity.The URBES project
URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT AGRIFOOD SYSTEMSEmphasizes the critical role of urban and peri-urban agriculture in developing sustainable and resilient agrifood systems, addressing challenges like urbanization and climate change by enhancing food production, environmental quality, and livelihoods within and around cities through diverse agricultural practices.FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
AGRIRESEARCH: Urban AgricultureDefines urban agriculture as a growing field that complements traditional farming by addressing climate change and supply chain issues, encompassing diverse methods from community gardens to vertical farms, and is backed by EU research and policies for sustainable urban development.European Commission
SUSTAINABLE URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE: Key challenges and potential solutions for transitioning to sustainable urban food systems in IndiaHighlights sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in India as a crucial solution to increasing urban food demand, malnutrition, food loss, and waste, by fostering resilient urban food systems, environmental preservation, and livelihood opportunities through various sub-national initiatives and policy recommendations.United Nations
11 Facts about Vertical FarmingExplains vertical farming as a method of growing crops in vertically stacked layers, often indoors with hydroponics or aeroponics, offering benefits like reduced resource use and increased food security, while facing challenges such as high costs and the need for technological advancement and collaboration.Niagara Agriculture Municipal Learning Network
Urban Agriculture Observatory: Social and Ecosystem servicesDescribes Barcelona's Urban Agriculture Observatory, a collaborative initiative designed to establish a comprehensive database on the environmental and social benefits of urban allotments, linking urban agriculture with green infrastructure to enhance ecosystem services, biodiversity, and local food production, ultimately aiming to inform city management and foster citizen participation.CONEXUS
How Urban Agriculture Links to Urban Oriented ConceptsExplains how urban agriculture connects with urban-oriented concepts like urban metabolism, urban-rural linkages, and urban food systems, emphasizing its benefits for sustainable urban development, resource efficiency, food security, and local economies.EFUA - Project
Assessing and Planning the City Region Food System of Utrecht (The Netherlands)Analyzes the Utrecht City Region Food System, noting that while local agriculture provides limited food, urban and peri-urban farming offers social and educational benefits, with opportunities to enhance food access, support local businesses, strengthen rural-urban ties, and improve integrated food governance.FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Enhanced Market Share of Urban Women Agripreneurs, Opportunities, Barriers and Way ForwardIdentifies significant opportunities and barriers for urban women agripreneurs in Palestine, proposing interventions across market dynamics, entrepreneurial capacities, and the enabling environment to enhance their market share and contribution to local food sovereignty amidst economic challenges.Platform for Urban Agroecological Policies & Food Sovereignty in Palestine
Food for the Cities FactSheetsIntroduction to Food For the CitiesFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsUrban food security, nutrition and livelihoodsFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsUrban and Peri- urban Agriculture / HorticultureFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsUrban livestock, food security or environmental hazard?FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsForest and trees, improving livelihood through healthy green citiesFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsWater use and reuse for urban agricultureFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsUrban food market infrastructure and servicesFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsUrban food marketingFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsFresh foodFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsEnsuring quality and safety of street foodsFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsProcessed foodsFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLand tenure and food productionFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsEmergencies and crisisFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Food for the Cities FactSheetsLocal Government for food securityFOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Urban Gardening Handbook (EN)An urban gardening handbook that defines urban gardens and their benefits, gives practical guidance for starting personal or community plots, synthesizes partner-country research (including youth and expert input), outlines EU legislation and funding, and closes with recommendations, case studies, and best practices to improve implementation. - English iterationURBAN - Erasmus+ Project
Urban Gardening Handbook (GR)An urban gardening handbook that defines urban gardens and their benefits, gives practical guidance for starting personal or community plots, synthesizes partner-country research (including youth and expert input), outlines EU legislation and funding, and closes with recommendations, case studies, and best practices to improve implementation. - Greek iterationURBAN - Erasmus+ Project
Urban Gardening Handbook (DE)An urban gardening handbook that defines urban gardens and their benefits, gives practical guidance for starting personal or community plots, synthesizes partner-country research (including youth and expert input), outlines EU legislation and funding, and closes with recommendations, case studies, and best practices to improve implementation. - German iterationURBAN - Erasmus+ Project
Seven lessons for planning nature-based solutions in cities An analysis of 15 nature-based solution experiments in 11 European cities, distilling seven lessons on design, co-creation, governance, and long-term replication to guide inclusive, multidisciplinary urban planning that moves beyond grey infrastructure.Environmental Science & Policy
Understanding Urban Cooling of Blue–Green Infrastructure: A Review of Spatial Data and Sustainable Planning Optimization Methods for Mitigating Urban Heat IslandsThis study examines how the BGI cools urban space, which spatial data and methods are most effective, which methodological differences may affect the results, and what the current research gapsand innovative future directions are.Environmental and Life Sciences
Current Status of the Community-Supported Agriculture Model in Poland—Exploring Key Areas of Sustainable OperationsThis article presents the current status of active CSA groups in Poland. The paper’s main objective is to identify active CSA farms in Poland and then analyse the individual farms’ CSA offers, the number of people they reach, and their members’ characteristics, motivation, and degree of involvement.Sustainable farming systems & social innovation
the URBES Project - What is Urban Agriculture? This factsheet explains the importance of urban agriculture: the ecosystem services that urban agriculture provides for human wellbeing, food security and urban resilience; and the need for integrated planning across sectors to ensure that the ecosystem services that urban agriculture provides can proliferate.Urban Agriculture