Urban gardens are a key component of the traditional urban and peri-urban landscapes of the main European cities. Beyond food production and consumption, urban gardens provide a wide range of ecosystem and social services, with a positive impact on the urban and socio-residential environment.

The main aim of this project was to promote the implementation of urban gardens and agroforestry experiences as key components of the strategic framework for sustainable urban development in European cities, from an interdisciplinary approach. To this end, the project would try to achieve several objectives: 1) to identify needs, problems and opportunities concerning urban garden and agroforestry experiences; 2) to promote, through Urban Living Labs, the stakeholders’ capacity building in terms of green governance for food production and consumption in cities; 3) to drive citizens’ capacity building for the involvement in sustainable urban development experiences; 4) to foster innovative business models around sustainable and local food production; 5) to evaluate the impact of the implementation of agroforestry/urban garden experiences in their social, cultural and environmental dimensions; and 6) to set up a multi-criteria framework to support decision-making in the location of urban gardens and agroforestry plots.

Project results summary

Aim and purpose related to the project and to the call

The U-GARDEN project was officially concluding in May 2025. Over the course of the project, significant progress was made in urban gardening research, stakeholder engagement, capacity-building initiatives, and policy development. While many of the project’s key activities were completed or well advanced, some final steps remained, particularly the validation of policy recommendations with a panel of European stakeholders.

This report provided an overview of the project’s main achievements, focusing on the evaluation of urban conditions, the establishment and operation of Urban Living Labs (ULLs), the promotion of urban farming ecosystems, and the development of assessment tools and policy recommendations.

Methods used and experiences

U-GARDEN combined qualitative, quantitative, participatory, and data-driven approaches to assess urban gardening initiatives and support decision-making. In WP2, semi-structured interviews and surveys were used to analyze stakeholder perceptions, governance structures, and socio-territorial conditions, integrating spatial data analysis for a more comprehensive understanding. In WP3, Urban Living Labs (ULLs) fostered stakeholder engagement through co-creation workshops, mentoring sessions, and participatory governance strategies, ensuring alignment with local needs. In WP4, a needs-based approach informed training programs and community engagement events, strengthening capacity-building efforts in urban farming. In WP6, a Multicriteria Tool was being developed to support data-driven decisions on urban garden locations, integrating spatial and socio-environmental variables with stakeholder input.

Experiences of working in the interdisciplinary project

The U-GARDEN project fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating social sciences, architecture, urban planning, and environmental studies. This approach deepened the understanding of urban gardens’ design, location, and functionality, while also assessing their social and cultural benefits. The exchange of knowledge across disciplines led to insights beyond the initial project scope, such as the need for user-centered design criteria to enhance accessibility and attractiveness in urban gardening spaces. In WP2 (Evaluation of Urban Conditions), the integration of stakeholder analysis, qualitative interviews, and GIS-based spatial analysis connected social and territorial dynamics, refining the interview design and ensuring a context-sensitive assessment of governance structures and socio-territorial conditions. In WP6 (Policy Recommendations), findings from WP2 were systematically incorporated, ensuring that the resulting policies are not only feasible but also aligned with sustainability and governance needs. This interdisciplinary approach also highlighted the complexities of working closely with local stakeholders. It underscored the need for slow, participatory processes that respect community priorities, ensuring that urban gardening initiatives are both inclusive and impactful.

Overall results

WP2 provided the analytical foundation for the project, generating comparative insights on urban gardening conditions across participating cities. Throughout the second year, all planned research activities were completed, with final reports expected by early 2025.

In Task 2.1 (Local Human Capital Conditions), the Polish and Swedish teams finalized their reports, while Spain and Romania completed data collection and are preparing their analyses. Task 2.2 (Stakeholder Attitudes) followed a similar trajectory, with all countries finalizing data collection and progressing towards reporting.

Task 2.3 (Heritage Exploration) examined urban gardening’s tangible and intangible heritage. Poland completed this task, while Spain provided input on intellectual heritage, and Sweden and Romania continue finalizing their reports. Task 2.4 (Inventory Mapping) established a GIS-based spatial database, coordinated by Poland. Sweden contributed a partial dataset, while Spain and Romania were still developing their databases.

Task 2.5 (Valorisation) introduced an assessment model to evaluate the suitability of land plots for new urban gardens based on environmental, economic, and social benefits. This process was advancing in phases, pending full GIS data submission from all partners. Task 2.6 (Environmental Impact Assessment) was completed by Poland, while Spain reported delays.

The implementation of Urban Living Labs (ULLs) advanced significantly in 2023–2024. In Valencia, a series of participatory sessions engaged urban gardening stakeholders, creating a network of local actors. The Jornadas de Germanor, launched in November 2023, brought together representatives from various gardens to discuss governance structures, opportunities, and challenges. Subsequent sessions strengthened collaboration through SWOT analyses and knowledge-sharing initiatives. While Valencia’s ULL not fully adhered to a traditional Living Lab structure, it successfully fostered participatory urban problem-solving.

In Warsaw, ULL activities focused on greening courtyards, integrating municipal representatives, local activists, and residents in decision-making processes. Gothenburg’s ULL prioritized food security, launching participatory farming initiatives and exhibitions. In Brașov, the ULL targeted educational engagement, introducing urban gardening principles to school-aged children through awareness-raising activities.

Urban Farming Ecosystem (WP4)

WP4 advanced through preparatory work. The Swedish team developed a model farm for market gardening, linked to existing city initiatives. Information on urban farming models across Europe was collected, with a focus on phytoremediation, aquaponics, vertical farming, and permaculture. A guide for market gardening and agroforestry was in progress.

UVEG and UGOT initiated a survey on urban agriculture training needs, set for distribution in late 2024. Preliminary plans for cultural and educational events were outlined, with implementation scheduled beyond early 2025.

The Evaluation Framework was validated by partners and would be implemented in autumn 2024 to assess ULL activities, urban garden impact, and business model viability.

WP6 focuses on developing the Multicriteria Tool and drafting policy recommendations. The Multicriteria Tool, based on Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodologies, was in development. It allowed users to evaluate urban garden locations by analyzing spatial and socio-environmental factors. A web-based and desktop interface was designed, incorporating geospatial visualization and customizable weighting mechanisms.

Policy recommendations were being structured through a shared analytical framework, ensuring cross-comparability across project partners. Challenges remained in adapting recommendations to diverse governance contexts, but structured timelines aimed to facilitate a coordinated policy synthesis. Full validation would take place with a European stakeholder panel before the project’s conclusion in May 2025.