With a continued worldwide trend in population shift from rural to urban areas predicted to increase, new approaches to agricultural production must be considered and implemented. Little academic interest has been applied to determining economically viable urban agriculture crop production sites for business investment. A feasibility model to aid investors in selecting appropriate sites for the development of urban agriculture food production within population centers was created. Lettuce crop trials were performed from August 2015 to December 2015 at the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center to validate the productivity of a unique high density hydroponic system designed for the rooftop environment. The feasibility model is based on this system and with a minimal number of inputs, ranging from size of growing space to growing media costs, determines a wide range of useful outputs. These outputs include crop productivity within the facility, material inputs and a cost breakdown of starting a new agricultural venture. The model utilizes multiple sheets within one excel document to give the user a clear and organized financial perspective of a hypothetical growing operation in the main sheet. With this model, investors into urban agriculture will have a means to gain an objective view of financial considerations before substantial investment is completed.

With over 20 million Americans living in food deserts, it is no wonder why the children who living in these areas are consuming more processed foods. Processed foods and lack of proportional diet can have an adverse effect on the oral health of children and adults leading to tooth decay. Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is the most chronic disease in children and it is especially chronic within children who come from disadvantage backgrounds. The objective of this study is to explore the multiple paradigms of tooth decay that exist within the minority population of children. The mechanism behind what leads to tooth decay will be evaluated in conjunction with other factors such as: disparities within minority children, insurance coverage, and agriculture to demonstrate the high prevalence of ECC within minority children. What goes in a child’s mouth can really determine the state of their oral healthcare, however more times than not children lack the responsibility and depend heavily upon their guardian to get their dental needs met. The development of ECC can lead to more severe problems if left untreated, and currently there is a high prevalence of untreated ECC in predominantly minority neighborhoods where families are typically low income. Low-income means they are less likely to have a primary dentist leading to more untreated ECC, however it is also important to look at the federally funded programs. The government has been able to take strides in helping provided coverage for these at-risk children. ECC is chronic and can be detrimental to a child’s healthcare. What goes in the child’s mouth is also important in that in low-income neighborhoods there are deserts full of no organic options. This can have an adverse effect on the child’s help by their famine nutritional needs. There is a need for new policy to be implemented in order to increase the rate at which children go to the dentist as well as gain access to avoidable options. Although there were limits within this study, there are many suggested improvements and directions for future research to address. In conclusion, although the data reported here supports the conclusion that more evidence is needed that will lead to significant policy reform to eliminate the high prevalence of ECC especially within children coming from minority backgrounds. Positive progress is being made due to the constant support from both the government and community resources as well as dental practitioners who are focused on making a difference in the oral health and overall well-being of children.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Food security is a challenge for most developing countries (Yahaya, 2018). In South Africa, poverty continues to be a stumbling block to food security for most of the population. Due to the socio-economic challenges plaguing the country, a large proportion of the population struggles to access sufficient food which meets dietary needs. Poverty and unemployment are the key contributory factors of food insecurity in South Africa. Against this backdrop, this study sought to investigate the perceived impact of urban agriculture on food insecurity in Khayelitsha. As a survival strategy, urban agriculture has been advocated to improve food security in most developing countries. Moya Wekhaya Peace Gardens is the study organization of this thesis. The aim of the research is (1) To investigate the extent of food insecurity in Khayelitsha; (2) To investigate the coping strategies adopted by households to be more food secure (3) To investigate the perceived impact of urban food gardens on household food security and (4) To identify challenges faced by urban farmers in Khayelitsha.

Thesis advisor: Wen Fan / Urban and community agriculture projects have long been touted as harboring the cure for a range of social maladies, even as recent findings show that many such projects mainly benefit White, already economically secure people. Drawing on interviews from participants and staff members of a community farm, I examine how this farm fits into the overall narrative surrounding community agriculture, as well as the diverse motivations participants have for joining the farm and the impacts stemming from their involvement. Results show proximity and interest to be the most frequent motivations for initial involvement, while participants noted changes in eating habits and self-perceptions from their participation. Additionally, consistent with previous literature, I identify themes regarding participants' alignment with eco-habitus and issues of accessibility for certain populations. These findings open the door for further research on the interplay between motivation and impacts, and how that is influenced by farm operations. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2021. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Sociology.

Recently, various crises have occurred that have reminded Swedish authorities of the preparations needed to manage such phenomena. The recent crises are the war in Ukraine, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the man-made climate crisis. The aim of this study is to show how urban agriculture can be used to mitigate negative impacts from future crises. This thesis examines different methods used during the Second World War in Uppsala when its citizens turned to urban agriculture to sustain themselves, by studying the local newspaper, archival material, and photographs. While Sweden was neutral during the war, it still suffered the effects of the conflict, such as rations on food and decreased imports on fertilizers, which brought on the need for creating allotment gardens and land lots. This in turn changed the appearance of the cityscape of Uppsala. This thesis will trace the changes made in the urban environment through a lens of crisis studies. Thus, learning from history, a new solution to climate change and future crises are proposed.

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