Scoping review of the impacts of urban agriculture on the determinants of health

Urban Nutrition in the Global South: A Narrative Review of Current Research

According to the Global Food Policy Report 2017, nearly 90% of the projected urban population increase by 2050 is going to be concentrated in Africa and Asia. Parallel evidence suggests that poverty and related challenges of food insecurity and undernutrition are also urbanizing. The dynamics underlying urban nutrition is different from rural ones but also arguably represents a more complex scenario. In this review, we synthesize available evidence on urban nutrition (in)security in the Global South. Although focused on nutrition-centric literature, our review also identifies and discusses studies in the contexts of the broader notion of urban food systems. Articles that analyzed any form of mal/nutrition were eligible for inclusion. One hundred sixty-nine articles were shortlisted based on a systematic search strategy, then expanded through a backward and forward literature survey. Our review identifies key emergent themes from a large body of research on urban food systems, noting that surprisingly few address nutrition directly. Rather, current literature on urban nutrition is scattered and skewed with an overt focus on urban agriculture. Our review reveals that the existing literature with direct nutrition relevance in an urban context can be systematically organized across three themes, i.e., urban agriculture, nutrition transition, and social protection. Noticeably, this literature also draws upon successful interventions having implications for urban nutrition. Finally, the review identifies a few research gaps that hinder a holistic view of urban nutrition. These gaps pertain to gender, equity, water (along with sanitation and hygiene), and local governance.

Does urban agriculture contribute to food security, and how might this be achieved?

OBJECTIVE

Food system challenges exacerbate inequalities in access to fresh healthy food and threaten food security. Lack of food security, referred to as food insecurity, is associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes and has been identified as a key challenge to address by calls for food system transformation. Increasing food production through urban agriculture, the production of fruit and vegetables in urban areas, has been identified as a potentially effective contributor to food system transformation, but the effect of this on household or UK-level food security is unclear. This paper reviews international evidence of urban agriculture's impact on food security.

DESIGN

Narrative review.

SETTING

This paper reviews international evidence of urban agriculture's impact on food security.

PARTICIPANTS

Previously published international research.

RESULTS

Whilst findings are mixed, available evidence suggests that urban agriculture makes a modest, yet positive, contribution to food security by facilitating the availability of and access to fresh fruit and vegetables to food insecure households.

CONCLUSIONS

Capitalising on the potential for urban agriculture to benefit food security requires government investment and support at both the national and local levels; therefore, increasing access to land for food growing, reducing costs of related resources and collaboration with existing community groups to enhance sharing of skills and expertise are identified as avenues for exploration that may help to achieve this. This review also highlights opportunities for future research in this field that may strengthen the quality of the evidence supporting urban agriculture's impact on food security.

Impact of urban farming on health: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Urban farms are spaces designated for the cultivation of plants for food security, medicinal and curative purposes. Since the turn of the century, they have become more widespread and health benefits have been claimed; however, no consensus exists regarding this information. Hence, this study aims to provide information about the health effects of urban farming.

METHODS

Protocol register number CRD42023448001. We followed the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Studies addressing urban farming interventions in any population group were included without age limitation of publication from PubMed, DOAJ, CAB Abstracts and NIH. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions tool, and data were narratively synthesized.

RESULTS

The search retrieved 2578 manuscripts, reduced to seven after screening. Urban farming's impact on health has been reflected in the physical domain by increasing self-reported health levels, physical activity, perceived general health, healthy eating and decreasing drug use. Parasites' presence has also been reported. In the mental aspect, urban farming is associated with relaxation and stress reduction. From a social perspective, urban farms provide a sense of belonging, personal growth and happiness.

CONCLUSIONS

The benefits of urban farming outweigh the disadvantages. Further research should be conducted to clarify the potential benefits of this practice.

Linking Agricultural Activity Frequency to Loneliness in Rural Hospital Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Agriculture is deeply woven into the fabric of rural life, influencing the economy, and the social and health dynamics of rural communities. While it offers physical and mental health benefits through regular physical activity and interaction with nature, the solitary nature of farming activities may also lead to social isolation. This study explores the complex relationship between the frequency of agricultural engagement and feelings of loneliness among rural inhabitants with chronic diseases, addressing a gap in the literature concerning the impact of agricultural practices on social well-being. Method A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among patients over 40 who frequented the general medicine department in Unnan City, a rural area of Japan. The study utilized the Japanese version of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale to assess loneliness and collected data on agricultural activity frequency through questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression analyses examined the association between agricultural activities and loneliness, controlling for demographic and health-related variables. Results Among 647 participants, higher frequencies of agricultural activities were significantly associated with increased loneliness, especially for individuals engaging in agriculture four to five times weekly or daily. Engaging in agricultural activities four to five times weekly and daily significantly increased the likelihood of higher loneliness levels, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.80 (p = 0.039) and 2.47 (p < 0.01), respectively, when compared to engagement less than once a week. Age emerged as an influential factor, with individuals aged 75 and older showing increased odds of experiencing higher loneliness (OR 1.56, p = 0.025). Conclusion The study underscores the dual nature of agricultural engagement in rural communities, highlighting its role in both supporting physical health and contributing to social isolation. These findings advocate for developing targeted interventions that mitigate loneliness among rural populations, suggesting the need for a balanced approach that encompasses social and healthcare strategies to enhance the overall well-being of individuals engaged in agriculture.

A scoping review of antimicrobial resistance in the Australian dairy cattle industry

INTRODUCTION

Quantification of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is beneficial to inform policies and direct prudent antimicrobial use.

AIM

This study aimed to assess the current published evidence of AMR from passive and active ad hoc surveillance activities within the Australian dairy cattle industry.

METHODS

Following a scoping review framework 373 articles published before January 2023 were retrieved using the keyword search function from two online databases (PubMed® and Web of Science™ Core Collection). The duplicate articles were removed and the title, abstract, and full text of the remaining articles were reviewed following the study objectives and inclusion criteria (location, subject/theme, and data). Data from the remaining articles were extracted, summarised, interpreted and the study quality assessed using the Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 29 articles dating from the 1960 s until 2022 were identified to meet the study criteria (passive: n = 15; active: n = 14). Study characteristics such as sampling type, sampling method, and AMR assessment were all common characteristics from both passive and active surveillance articles, being milk samples, individual sampling, and phenotypic assessment respectively. Passive surveillance articles had a wider range in both the type of bacteria and the number of antimicrobials investigated, while active surveillance articles included a higher number of bacterial isolates and sampling from healthy populations. There was an overall low level of clinical AMR across all articles. Higher prevalence of non-wildtype Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus spp., although limited in data, was suggested for commonly used Australian veterinary antimicrobials for these bacteria. The prevalence of phenotypic AMR varied due to the health and age status of the sampled animals. The articles reviewed in this study suggest the prevalence of AMR genes was higher for commonly used antimicrobials, although genes were not always related to the phenotypic AMR profile.

CONCLUSIONS

Published evidence of AMR in the Australian dairy cattle industry is limited as demonstrated by only 29 articles included in this review following selection criteria screening. However, collectively these articles provide insight on industry AMR prevalence. For example, the suggestion of non-wildtype bacteria within the Australian dairy cattle indicating a risk of emerging or increasing industry AMR. Therefore, further surveillance is required to monitor the development of future AMR risk within the industry. Additionally, evidence suggesting that animals varying in health and age differ in prevalence of AMR imply a requirement for further research into animal population demographics to reduce potential bias in data collated in both national and global surveillance activities.

Quantifying the relationship between gardening and health and well-being in the UK: a survey during the covid-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Rates of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, are high and rising in the urbanising world. Gardening could improve both mental and physical health and help prevent a range of conditions by increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption, promoting physical activity, and reducing stress. However, good quality quantitative research in the area is scarce, and our understanding of the role of allotments and home gardens, and the effects of the level of engagement in gardening and involvement with food production has thus far been limited.

METHODS

We quantitatively assess the relationship between home and allotment gardening and various indicators and predictors of health and well-being using an online survey of gardeners (n = 203) and non-gardeners (n = 71) in the UK. The survey was composed of multiple validated questionnaires (including the Short Form Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFFQ), the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), the Physical Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and the Self-Rated Health question (SRH)) and self-defined questions relating to participants' involvement with gardening and food production, and relevant demographic and lifestyle factors. Data were analysed using a series of hierarchical logistic and multiple linear regression models adjusting for socio-demographic variables.

RESULTS

After adjusting for relevant socio-demographic factors, gardening related variables were associated with better self-rated health, higher mental well-being, increased F&V consumption. Higher F&V intake was in turn also associated with better self-rated health and decreased odds of obesity. Thus, gardening had a positive association with four different aspects of health and well-being, directly or indirectly via increased F&V consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that gardening in UK allotments and domestic gardens may promote different aspects of health and well-being via multiple mechanisms. Improving access to growing space and promoting regular gardening could provide a range of benefits to public health. More research on how socio-economic factors influence the health and well-being benefits of gardening will help policymakers devise strategies to maximise these benefits.

Prioritizing strategies for wheat biofortification: Inspiration from underutilized species

The relationship between malnutrition and climate change is still poorly understood but a comprehensive knowledge of their interactions is needed to address the global public health agenda. Limited studies have been conducted to propose robust and economic-friendly strategies to augment the food basket with underutilized species and biofortify the staples for nutritional security. Sea-buckthorn is a known "superfood" rich in vitamin C and iron content. It is found naturally in northern hemispherical temperate Eurasia and can be utilized as a model species for genetic biofortification in cash crops like wheat. This review focuses on the impacts of climate change on inorganic (iron, zinc) and organic (vitamin C) micronutrient malnutrition employing wheat as highly domesticated crop and processed food commodity. As iron and zinc are particularly stored in the outer aleurone and endosperm layers, they are prone to processing losses. Moreover, only 5% Fe and 25% Zn are bioavailable once consumed calling to enhance the bioavailability of these micronutrients. Vitamin C converts non-available iron (Fe3+) to available form (Fe2+) and helps in the synthesis of ferritin while protecting it from degradation at the same time. Similarly, reduced phytic acid content also enhances its bioavailability. This relation urges scientists to look for a common mechanism and genes underlying biosynthesis of vitamin C and uptake of Fe/Zn to biofortify these micronutrients concurrently. The study proposes to scale up the biofortification breeding strategies by focusing on all dimensions i.e., increasing micronutrient content and boosters (vitamin C) and simultaneously reducing anti-nutritional compounds (phytic acid). Mutually, this review identified that genes from the Aldo-keto reductase family are involved both in Fe/Zn uptake and vitamin C biosynthesis and can potentially be targeted for genetic biofortification in crop plants.

Relapse Prevention and Prediction Strategies in Substance Use Disorder: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Relapse prevention for those with substance use disorder (SUD) is an evolving practice. Initiatives focused on relapse prevention from other populations may provide the foundation for future considerations and recommendations for recovering anesthesia providers in the workplace. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine what is known about return-to-use prediction and prevention strategies in various populations struggling with SUDs to inform future considerations and implications for recovering anesthesia providers with a history of SUD.

METHODS

The Arksey and O'Malley framework was used to conduct a scoping review of the literature. A systematic search was conducted across three databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo) for relevant literature. Search terms used were "measures predicting relapse in substance use disorder" and "relapse prevention in substance use disorder AND anesthesia." Data from articles that met the eligibility criteria were extracted and summarized by the primary author.

RESULTS

The search identified 46 articles highlighting various relapse prediction and prevention strategies related to craving and stress, underlying biological factors, neuroimaging, and mindfulness. Relapse prediction and prevention strategies ranged from cell phone applications, monitoring biological markers, and functional neuroimaging of the brain.

CONCLUSIONS

Relapse is a concern for individuals with a history of SUD. For anesthesia providers, immediate access to powerful anesthesia medications requires return-to-use prediction and prevention strategies when anesthesia providers return to work after SUD treatment. Although some identified strategies are practical, more research is needed to predict and prevent return to use for recovering anesthesia providers.

Urban Agriculture in Thailand: Adoption Factors and Communication Guidelines to Promote Long-Term Practice

The purpose of this study is to clarify influencing factors on the adoption and continuing practice of urban agriculture, and to propose communication guidelines to encourage more adoption and long-term practice. The psychological theories of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and the Health Belief Model (HBM) were integrated to explain people's behavior. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed with 325 villagers of 13 communities in seven provinces of Thailand. The following techniques and instruments were used: a statistical analysis crosstab, stepwise multiple linear regression, one-way ANOVA, multinomial logistic regression, decision tree analysis, and descriptive content analysis using QDA lite miner software. The key results clearly show that attitude, perceived benefits, and perceived readiness were a significantly positive influence on those who adopted urban agriculture. Key drivers to villagers' intention to continue practicing urban agriculture for the initiator group who own agricultural land were perceived to be behavioral control and social norm, while perceived readiness and communication played a crucial role for other groups to continue practicing urban agriculture. Communication guidelines to promote long-term urban agriculture practice can be designed based on the EAST framework, by making it easy, attractive, social, and timely, and through the Critical Participatory Action Research process.

Community solutions to food apartheid: A spatial analysis of community food-growing spaces and neighborhood demographics in Philadelphia

Black and low-income neighborhoods tend to have higher concentrations of fast-food restaurants and low produce supply stores. Limited access to and consumption of nutrient-rich foods is associated with poor health outcomes. Given the realities of food access, many members within the Black communities grow food as a strategy of resistance to food apartheid, and for the healing and self-determination that agriculture offers. In this paper, we unpack the history of Black people, agriculture, and land in the United States. In addition to our brief historical review, we conduct a descriptive epidemiologic study of community food-growing spaces, food access, and neighborhood racial composition in present day Philadelphia. We leverage one of the few existing datasets that systematically documents community food-growing locations throughout a major US city. By applying spatial regression techniques, we use conditional autoregressive models to determine if there are spatial associations between Black neighborhoods, poverty, food access, and urban agriculture in Philadelphia. Fully adjusted spatial models showed significant associations between Black neighborhoods and urban agriculture (RR: 1.28, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.59) and poverty and urban agriculture (RR: 1.27, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.46). The association between low food access and the presence of urban agriculture was generally increased across neighborhoods with a higher proportion of Black residents. These results show that Philadelphia neighborhoods with higher populations of Black people and neighborhoods with lower incomes, on average, tend to have more community gardens and urban farms. While the garden data is non-temporal and non-causal, one possible explanation for these findings, in alignment with what Philadelphia growers have claimed, is that urban agriculture may be a manifestation of collective agency and community resistance in Black and low-income communities, particularly in neighborhoods with low food access.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of group-based indoor gardening and art activities demonstrates therapeutic benefits to healthy women

Background

There is mounting anecdotal and empirical evidence that gardening and art-making afford therapeutic benefits.

Objectives

This randomly controlled pilot study tested the hypothesis that participation in group-based indoor gardening or art-making activities for one hour twice a week for four weeks would provide quantifiably different therapeutic benefits to a population of healthy women ages 26–49.

Methods

A population of 42 volunteers was randomly assigned to parallel gardening or art-making treatment groups. A total of 36 participants initiated the treatment protocol and 32 (Gardening n = 15 and Art n = 17) received the interventions and completed all assessments. Treatments included eight one-hour group-based gardening or art intervention sessions. Self-report psychometric assessments were conducted for anxiety, depression symptomatology, mood disturbance, stress, satisfaction with discretionary social activities, and quality of life measures. Cardiac physiological data were also collected. Outcomes were measured at baseline, during, and post-intervention.

Results

Engaging in both gardening and art-making activities resulted in apparent therapeutic improvements for self-reported total mood disturbance, depression symptomatology, and perceived stress with different effect sizes following eight one-hour treatment sessions. Gardening also resulted in improvements for indications of trait anxiety. Based on time-course evidence, dosage responses were observed for total mood disturbance, perceived stress, and depression symptomatology for both gardening and art-making. However, gardening or art-making did not have an apparent influence on heart rate or blood pressure or result in marked improvement for satisfaction with discretionary leisure activities.

Conclusion

The data did not support the hypothesis of differential therapeutic benefits of gardening and art-making for healthy women. When taken together, group-based gardening or art-making can provide quantitatively measurable improvements in healthy women’s psychosocial health status that imply potentially important public health benefits.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03266120.

Community gardens and their effects on diet, health, psychosocial and community outcomes: a systematic review

Background

We systematically reviewed the effects of community gardens on physical and psychosocial health, health behaviors and community outcomes.

Methods

Quantitative studies that examined associations of health, psychosocial or community outcomes with community gardens were included in the review. Studies up to December 2020 were captured from searches of Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, EBSCOHost and CAB Abstracts. Data were extracted and study quality including risk of bias was examined.

Results

There were 53 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Studies examining associations between community gardens and nutrition or food security were most frequently reported (k = 23). Other factors examined for associations with community gardens were health (k = 16), psychosocial (k = 16) and community outcomes (k = 7). Effects appeared positive for fruit and vegetable intake, some psychosocial and community outcomes, but mixed for physical health outcomes. Evidence quality overall was low.

Conclusions

Community gardening was associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake, positive psychosocial and community outcomes, but poor evidence quality suggests the effects of community gardening may be overestimated.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13591-1.

The Socio-Cultural Benefits of Urban Agriculture: A Review of the Literature

Despite extensive literature on the socio-cultural services of urban open spaces, the role of food-producing spaces has not received sufficient attention. This hampers advocacy for preserving and growing urban agricultural activities, often dismissed on justifications that their contributions to overall food supply are negligible. To understand how the social benefits of urban agriculture have been measured, we conducted a systematic review of 272 peer-reviewed publications, which drew on insights from urban agriculture sites in 57 different countries. Through content analysis, we investigated socio-cultural benefits in four spheres: engaged and cohesive communities, health and well-being, economic opportunities, and education. The analysis revealed growth in research on the social impacts of gardens and farms, with most studies measuring the effects on community cohesion and engagement, followed by increased availability and consumption of fruits and vegetables associated with reduced food insecurity and better health. Fewer studies assessed the impact of urban farming on educational and economic outcomes. Quantifying the multiple ways in which urban agriculture provides benefits to people will empower planners and the private sector to justify future investments. These findings are also informative for research theorizing cities as socio-ecological systems and broader efforts to measure the benefits of urban agriculture, in its many forms.

Social entrepreneurship in obesity prevention: A scoping review

We conducted a scoping review of social ventures in obesity and developed a taxonomy of their interventions and business models. Sources included PubMed, Business Source Premier, ABI Inform, Factiva, Google, Facebook, Twitter, social entrepreneurship networks (Ashoka, Skoll, and Schwab), and social entrepreneurship competitions. Our review identified 512 social ventures in 32 countries; 93% originated from developed countries. Their areas of intervention included diet and nutrition, urban farming, physical activity, access to healthy food, and health literacy. They addressed factors beyond health such as education, affordability, employment, and the built and natural environments. To support their programs of work, social ventures developed various business models with multiple revenue or resource streams. Social ventures designed double-duty interventions that were aligned with additional meaningful social or environmental objectives. This "bundling" of objectives allowed social ventures to appeal to a wider target audience. Most of the social ventures were initiated, supported, or sustained by local communities. Social ventures offer financially self-sufficient approaches to obesity reduction and could potentially relieve the burden on healthcare systems. Policymakers should consider social entrepreneurs as partners in obesity prevention.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil health in urban agriculture

There is a paucity of data on the state of urban agriculture soils. In order to develop efficient management practices, it is necessary to understand the seasonal dynamics of the soil health of these systems. This study sampled two community gardens, and one commercial urban agriculture site on a monthly basis over the span of one year. The dynamic analysis examined soil nutritional, chemical and microbial properties. Plant biodiversity was significantly higher in community gardens compared to commercial sites. Analysis of soil nutrients revealed fluctuations of mineral nitrogen with seasonal conditions and consistently high concentrations of plant-available phosphorus. We identified gradually decreasing soil total nitrogen and carbon concentrations throughout the year. Soils were abundant in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spores. Soil metabarcoding using 16S and ITS amplicons revealed a seasonal gradient of the microbial diversity and changes after the application of organic fertilizer. Soil-borne potential human pathogens were also detected in the soils. The results of this study provide relevant information about soil management principles in urban agriculture systems. These principles include mulching and the use of nutrient-balanced composts to counteract decreasing carbon pools and the excessive accumulation of phosphorus.

Associations of Vigorous Gardening With Cardiometabolic Risk Markers for Middle-Aged and Older Adults

This study investigates the associations of vigorous-intensity gardening time with cardiometabolic health risk markers. This cross-sectional study (AusDiab) analyzed 2011-2012 data of 3,664 adults (55% women, mean [range], age = 59.3 [34-94] years) in Australia. Multiple linear regression models examined associations of time spent participating in vigorous gardening (0, <150 min/week, ≥150 min/week) with a clustered cardiometabolic risk (CMR) score and its components, for the whole sample and stratified by age and gender. Of participants, 61% did no vigorous gardening, 23% reported <150 min/week, and 16% reported ≥150 min/week. In the whole sample, spending ≥150 min/week in vigorous gardening was associated with lower CMR (lower CMR score, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and triglycerides) compared with no vigorous gardening. Stratified analyses suggested that these associations were almost exclusively observed for older adults and women. These findings suggest the public health potential of vigorous-intensity gardening in reducing CMR.

A multi-scalar perspective on health and urban housing: an umbrella review

With more than half the world's population living in cities, understanding how the built environment impacts human health at different urban scales is crucial. To be able to shape cities for health, an understanding is needed of planetary health impacts, which encompass the human health impacts of human-caused disruptions on the Earth's natural ecosystems. This umbrella review maps health evidence across the spatial scales of the built environment (building; neighbourhood; and wider system, including city, regional and planetary levels), with a specific focus on urban housing. Systematic reviews published in English between January 2011 and December 2020 were searched across 20 databases, with 1176 articles identified and 124 articles screened for inclusion. Findings suggests that most evidence reports on health determinants at the neighbourhood level, such as greenspace, physical and socio-economic conditions, transport infrastructure and access to local services. Physical health outcomes are also primarily reported, with an emerging interest in mental health outcomes. There is little evidence on planetary health outcomes and significant gaps in the research literature are identified. Based on these findings, three potential directions are identified for future research.

Relational health: Theorizing plants as health-supporting actors

'Plant blindness' stops people from recognizing the important role that plants play in society, and is acute when it comes to seeing how plants support health. The social sciences are beginning to explore how plants are imbricated in sociopolitical processes, including ones that produce health. This paper theorizes people-plant relations and the agency of plants in the production of health, drawing on data from a multispecies ethnography conducted in Toronto's largest social housing community during the 2018 growing season. The paper applies a posthumanist lens to find that food-producing plants in the area exert their agency and are health-supporting actors when collaborating with residents to advocate for community gardens and influence neighbourhood design. By arguing that plants are actual agents of change in sociopolitical processes, the article deepens an understanding of the health-supporting role of plants and provides empirical evidence for a view of health as a process, as opposed to a status, that is produced through relationships. The paper suggests that the term 'relational health' be used to describe a conception of health that recognizes that health is produced through interconnections and interdependencies, including between people and plants. The article contributes to discourses exploring the human health relationship to nature, including One Health.

Urban collective garden participation and health: a systematic literature review of potential benefits for free-living adults

CONTEXT

Collective gardens are increasingly considered a tool to promote health and well-being.

OBJECTIVE

In this systematic review, we critically appraise quantitative studies exploring the potential health benefits of urban collective garden participation.

DATA SOURCES

Articles published between January 2000 and August 2020 were used.

DATA EXTRACTION

All original research studies reporting at least 1 health outcomes associated with urban collective gardening in free-living adults from Western and other high-income countries were included. Of 1261 articles identified, 15 were included in the systematic review. Methodological quality was assessed by applying the criteria of the Quantitative Study Quality Assessment Tool.

ANALYSIS

A wide range of health indicators was used. Collective gardening was associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption than was nongardening. Mixed results were found for physical activity and physiological health. A positive association was found in most studies with mental health and social health. However, the vast majority of included studies were cross-sectional and presented selection bias (n = 13 of 15 for both) and very few used objective measurement methods (n = 3 of 15).

CONCLUSIONS

Longitudinal studies allowing the exploration of causal relationships are needed before the health benefits of collective garden participation suggested by existing studies can be confirmed.

Urban agriculture in times of crisis: the role of home food growing in perceived food insecurity and well-being during the early COVID-19 lockdown

Household food insecurity and poor well-being have increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and resulting lockdown measures. Home food growing has been associated with improved food access and well-being, but it is unknown what role it plays during food supply crises and lockdown. It is also unclear how home food growing and social restrictions may affect opinions about growing food in urban areas (i.e., urban agriculture [UA]).

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the UK national lockdown in March-April 2020 to measure home food growing, perceived food insecurity, well-being, and opinions of UA.  The participants were 477 UK-based adults (369 female, mean age 39.57 years ± 13.36); 152 participants were engaged in home food growing prior to the pandemic. Responses were compared to data collected from a separate sample of participants before the pandemic ( N = 583) to explore potential shifts in opinions about UA.

Participants who engaged in home food growing had lower levels of food insecurity ( U _­= 19894.50, z = -3.649, p<.001, r = -.167) and higher well-being ( U = 19566.50, z = -3.666, p<.001, r = -.168) than those not engaged in home food growing. Perceived food insecurity partially mediated the relationship between home food growing and well-being; home food growing was associated with less food insecurity, which in turn was associated with better well-being. There were no differences in opinions of UA compared to the sample of participants from before the pandemic.

Home food growing may have had a protective effect over perceived food security and well-being in the early stages the pandemic. Opinions of UA were positive and unchanged compared to data collected pre-pandemic. Policies that support home food growing and access to suitable growing spaces and resources may be beneficial for food system resilience and well-being.

Evidence for factors associated with diet and physical activity in African and Caribbean countries

Objective

To identify and describe summarized evidence on factors associated with diet and physical activity in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and the Caribbean by performing a scoping review of reviews.

Methods

We searched the Medline®, LILACS, Scopus, Global Health and Web of Science databases for reviews of factors associated with diet or physical activity published between 1998 and 2019. At least 25% of studies in reviews had to come from African or Caribbean countries. Factors were categorized using Dahlgren and Whitehead's social model of health. There was no quality appraisal.

Findings

We identified 25 reviews: 13 on diet, four on physical activity and eight on both. Eighteen articles were quantitative systematic reviews. In 12 reviews, 25-50% of studies were from Africa or the Caribbean. Only three included evidence from the Caribbean. Together, the 25 reviews included primary evidence published between 1926 and 2018. Little of the summarized evidence concerned associations between international health or political factors and diet or associations between any factor and physical activity across all categories of the social model of health.

Conclusion

The scoping review found a wide range of factors reported to be associated with diet and physical activity in Africa and the Caribbean, but summarized evidence that could help inform policies encouraging behaviours linked to healthy diets and physical activity in these regions were lacking. Further reviews are needed to inform policy where the evidence exists, and to establish whether additional primary research is needed.

Is urban growing of fruit and vegetables associated with better diet quality and what mediates this relationship? Evidence from a cross-sectional survey

Urban agriculture (UA), the growing of fruits and vegetables in urban and peri-urban areas, may improve food security and access, public health and dietary quality on both a broad and personal scale. However, there is little research on the relationship between UA and diet, and potential mediating factors are also unclear. This study aimed to investigate if proximity to and engagement with UA is associated with better diet quality, and what accounts for this relationship. UK-based adults (N = 583, 69% Female) completed measures of proximity to and engagement with UA, perceived access to fruits and vegetables, health and ethical food choice motivations, connection with nature, psychological distress and dietary quality in an online survey. Participants were recruited from UA-related groups and the general public. Proposed relationships were analysed using a structural equation model. Greater proximity to and engagement with UA was associated with greater perceived access to fruits and vegetables, more health-related food choice motivations, more ethical-related food choice, feeling more connected with nature, and, surprisingly greater psychological distress. Furthermore, proximity to and engagement with UA was indirectly associated with better diet quality via health-, and ethical-related, food choice motivations. While the direct pathway between proximity to and engagement with UA and diet quality was not significant, UA is associated with better diet quality, partly via healthier and ethical food choice motivations. Upscaling UA may have benefits for dietary quality via these factors, and more research is needed to test causal relationships and understand these complex interactions.

Factors Correlated with Home Gardening in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Background: In addition to increasing access to fresh and affordable produce, home gardening enhances food security. This notwithstanding, there is no evidence of studies that have investigated factors correlated with home gardening in Gauteng Province (GP), South Africa. The present study investigated home gardening across the GP. Methods: Retrospective data of residents of GP (n = 30002) collected by the Gauteng City Region Observatory were used. A binary logistic regression was employed to determine factors correlated with home gardening. Results: Overall participation in home gardening was low (12.37%). If a respondent was a resident of the poorest areas, resided in a house received under the Rural Development Programme, had a borehole/well as the main source of water, belonged to a social club, received a social grant, was >65 years, and rated his/her health as poor, then they were more likely to participate in home gardening. Factors that were negatively correlated with home gardening included if the respondent rented from private individuals and if the respondent’s health status prevented him/her from doing daily work. Conclusion: The low participation levels in home gardening observed suggest the failure of the current policies geared at fostering home gardening in the province. Policy makers and relevant authorities should target identified groups to improve participation in home gardening.

Exploring uncharted territory: Do urban greenspaces support mental health in low- and middle-income countries?

Exposure to urban greenspaces promotes an array of mental health benefits. Understanding these benefits is of paramount importance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where cities are expanding at an unprecedented rate. However, the existing evidence-base for the health benefits of greenspaces has a strong bias towards high-income countries. Here we systematically assess the emerging evidence regarding the mental health benefits provided by urban greenspaces in LMICs. We carried out a scoping review to assess the extent, type and quality of evidence investigating the relationship between greenspaces and mental health in LMICs. We systematically searched the literature databases Web of Science, Medline, Embase and CAB Abstracts using key terms related to greenspaces and mental health in LMICs. We analysed the resulting studies using a narrative synthesis approach, taking into account study quality, to assess the overall effects on mental health. 36 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the narrative synthesis. Studies were heterogeneous in design, study population, greenspace and mental health assessment. While more than 90% of LMICs remain unstudied, we found that eight out of ten studies using validated mental health screening tools detected positive associations between greenspaces and one or more mental health outcomes. These studies mostly took place in upper-middle-income countries. However, there still is a lack of evidence from regions with the highest levels of urbanisation, and only four studies assessed lower-middle and low-income countries. Furthermore, the analysis of mediating and moderating factors indicates that the relationship between greenspaces and mental health in LMICs is context dependent and needs to be assessed in relation to locally relevant environmental and cultural settings. Based on the evidence reviewed here, exposure to urban greenspaces can support multiple mental health outcomes in upper-middle-income countries. However, we still know little about poorer, rapidly urbanising countries. Our findings highlight the need for high-quality, context specific research in those urban areas with the highest levels of urbanisation, and the need to address specific challenges regarding mediating and moderating factors. Future studies should combine robust ecological assessments of greenspaces with validated mental health screening tools.

Where birds felt louder: The garden as a refuge during COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries experienced something of a boom in interest in gardening. Gardens have long been considered as refuges into which we retreat to escape various struggles and challenges. In this study we examine the characteristics and functions of the garden as a refuge during the period of increased garden interest associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of qualitative results about garden experiences from 3,743 survey respondents revealed intertwining garden and emotional geographies. Utilising non-representational and therapeutic landscape theories, we found multifarious and heightened experiences of non-material aspects of gardens; that is, the sensory and emotional aspects. People experienced, for example, a sense of joy, beauty, and reassurance, a greater attunement to the natural world and an increased sense of nature connection than they had at other times: birds felt louder. These heightened sensory and emotional experiences had therapeutic benefits, across age and geographical spectrums, during these difficult times. This research improves our understandings of the positive potential of non-material aspects of gardens in the creation of therapeutic landscapes in and beyond COVID-19.

Formalizing Objectives and Criteria for Urban Agriculture Sustainability with a Participatory Approach

The last few years have seen an exponential development of urban agriculture projects within global North countries, especially professional intra-urban farms which are professional forms of agriculture located within densely settled areas of city. Such projects aim to cope with the challenge of sustainable urban development and today the sustainability of the projects is questioned. To date, no set of criteria has been designed to specifically assess the environmental, social and economic sustainability of these farms at the farm scale. Our study aims to identify sustainability objectives and criteria applicable to professional intra-urban farms. It relies on a participatory approach involving various stakeholders of the French urban agriculture sector comprising an initial focus group, online surveys and interviews. We obtained a set of six objectives related to environmental impacts, link to the city, economic and ethical meaning, food and environmental education, consumer/producer connection and socio-territorial services. In addition, 21 criteria split between agro-environmental, socio-territorial and economic dimensions were identified to reach these objectives. Overall, agro-environmental and socio-territorial criteria were assessed as more important than economic criteria, whereas food production was not mentioned. Differences were identified between urban farmers and decision makers, highlighting that decision makers were more focused on projects’ external sustainability. They also pay attention to the urban farmer agricultural background, suggesting that they rely on urban farmers to ensure the internal sustainability of the farm. Based on our results, indicators could be designed to measure the sustainability criteria identified, and to allow the sustainability assessment of intra-urban farms.

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.