Urban agriculture and sustainability: A systematic review and thematic trends

Abstract

Urban areas serve as economic growth hubs, but their expansion threatens food production and security. This study employs bibliometric and thematic analysis to examine the relationship between urban agriculture and sustainability. The study examines the latest trends, research gaps in sustainable urban agriculture, and potential outcomes of urban agriculture that could contribute to sustainable urban development. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines guarantee high reporting standards. A bibliometric assessment reveals that environmental sciences and ecology contribute the majority of published research on SDG-2: Zero Hunger, with the United States of America (USA) producing the highest number of articles. The thematic analysis identifies several key themes prominent in literature, including economic development, resilience, alternative food networks, food security, community building, policymaking, water resource management, and smart agriculture. The results promote awareness-based initiatives to engage stakeholders for widespread adoption and successful execution of policies.