IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i21p12151-d671523.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Perception and Degree of Adoption by Urbanites towards Urban Farming

Author

Listed:
  • Larisa Ivascu

    (Faculty of Management in Production and Transportation, Politehnica University of Timisoara, 300191 Timisoara, Romania
    Academy of Romanian Scientists, 3 Ilfov str., 050044 Bucharest, Romania)

  • David Frank Ahimaz

    (Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development Management, Sunway University Business School, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway 47500, Malaysia)

  • Benedict Valentine Arulanandam

    (Sunway College, Victoria University, Bandar Sunway 47500, Malaysia)

  • Gelu-Ovidiu Tirian

    (Faculty of Engineering of Hunedoara, Politehnica University of Timisoara, 331128 Hunedoara, Romania)

Abstract

Malaysia is not shielded from the issues of food insecurity. Despite economic progression over the past few years, food insecurity is continuing to affect several vulnerable groups (Orang Asli, elderly, students, B40). It is a growing concern that should not be taken lightly, especially with the recent rise in food prices coupled with low income among vulnerable groups and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As cities develop and expand, they stretch out and occupy former farmlands forcing farms to stop operating or move further off from the city centre. New trends like urban farming are slowly emerging, which have the potential to be a solution to the developing crises of food insecurity. This research aims to determine how relevant each of the factors, ‘confidence’ (CF), ‘societal’ (SC), ‘pleasantness’ (PL), and ‘naturalness’ (NT), are towards adopting (AD) the idea of urban farming and, if relevant, among which has the most positive impact. A mixed-method approach was used to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. One hundred and thirty-three responses were recorded and used (a significant sample size according to the G-power software). The validity and reliability of the data were also tested to affirm their quality and relevance according to the factors. The main findings revealed that ‘pleasantness’ and ‘confidence’ were strong factors for adopting urban farming, in line with Cohen’s R Square of more than 32%, which signifies a high impact toward influencing adoption. In addition, qualitative analysis shows that while positive outcomes complemented the quantitative study, practical constraints were highlighted. These constraints were space, time, supply chain, resources, tools, community and government support. Hence, this study provides two significant contributions to regulators and policymakers on urban farming (further explained in the discussions section).

Suggested Citation

  • Larisa Ivascu & David Frank Ahimaz & Benedict Valentine Arulanandam & Gelu-Ovidiu Tirian, 2021. "The Perception and Degree of Adoption by Urbanites towards Urban Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:12151-:d:671523
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/21/12151/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/21/12151/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kathrin Specht & Felix Zoll & Henrike Schümann & Julia Bela & Julia Kachel & Marcel Robischon, 2019. "How Will We Eat and Produce in the Cities of the Future? From Edible Insects to Vertical Farming—A Study on the Perception and Acceptability of New Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Mohamed Haris, Nur Bahiah & Garrod, Guy & Gkartzios, Menelaos & Proctor, Amy, "undated". "The Decision to Adopt Organic Practices in Malaysia; a Mix-method Approach," 92nd Annual Conference, April 16-18, 2018, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 273485, Agricultural Economics Society.
    3. Sebastián Araya & Andrés Elberg & Carlos Noton & Daniel Schwartz, 2022. "Identifying Food Labeling Effects on Consumer Behavior," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 41(5), pages 982-1003, September.
    4. Filippo Corsini & Rafael Laurenti & Franziska Meinherz & Francesco Paolo Appio & Luca Mora, 2019. "The Advent of Practice Theories in Research on Sustainable Consumption: Past, Current and Future Directions of the Field," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Neda Tiraieyari & Roya Karami & Robert M. Ricard & Mohammad Badsar, 2019. "Influences on the Implementation of Community Urban Agriculture: Insights from Agricultural Professionals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gallego-Losada, María-Jesús & Montero-Navarro, Antonio & García-Abajo, Elisa & Gallego-Losada, Rocío, 2023. "Digital financial inclusion. Visualizing the academic literature," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    2. Yu Na Lee & Laura Stortz & Mike von Massow & Christopher Kimmerer, 2023. "Impact of ‘‘high in” front‐of‐package nutrition labeling on food choices: Evidence from a grocery shopping experiment," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 71(3-4), pages 277-301, September.
    3. Donald Coon & Lauren Lindow & Ziynet Boz & Ana Martin-Ryals & Ying Zhang & Melanie Correll, 2024. "Reporting and practices of sustainability in controlled environment agriculture: a scoping review," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 301-326, June.
    4. Garrett M. Broad & Wythe Marschall & Maya Ezzeddine, 2022. "Perceptions of high-tech controlled environment agriculture among local food consumers: using interviews to explore sense-making and connections to good food," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 417-433, March.
    5. Filippo Corsini & Natalia Marzia Gusmerotti & Edoardo Bartoletti & Francesco Testa & Andrea Appolloni & Fabio Iraldo, 2024. "Addressing Plastic Concern: Behavioral Insights into Recycled Plastic Products and Packaging in a Circular Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(3), pages 1961-1981, September.
    6. Stortz, Laura & Lee, Yu Na & Von Massow, Michael, 2020. "Do Front-of-Package Warning Labels Reduce Demand for Foods ‘High In’ Saturated Fat, Sugar, or Sodium?," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304581, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Qureshi, Salman & Tarashkar, Mahsa & Matloobi, Mansour & Wang, Zhifang & Rahimi, Akbar, 2022. "Understanding the dynamics of urban horticulture by socially-oriented practices and populace perception: Seeking future outlook through a comprehensive review," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    8. Nguyen Cong Dinh & Takeshi Mizunoya & Vo Hoang Ha & Pham Xuan Hung & Nguyen Quang Tan & Le Thanh An, 2023. "Factors influencing farmer intentions to scale up organic rice farming: preliminary findings from the context of agricultural production in Central Vietnam," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 7(3), pages 749-774, September.
    9. Theodora Karanisa & Yasmine Achour & Ahmed Ouammi & Sami Sayadi, 2022. "Smart greenhouses as the path towards precision agriculture in the food-energy and water nexus: case study of Qatar," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 521-546, December.
    10. Grace Melo & Laura Chomali & Ariun Ishdorj, 2024. "From sweet tooth to healthy choices: How Chilean food policies are changing household diets," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 550-570, July.
    11. Paraje, Guillermo & Colchero, Arantxa & Wlasiuk, Juan Marcos & Sota, Antonio Martner & Popkin, Barry M., 2021. "The effects of the Chilean food policy package on aggregate employment and real wages," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    12. Amsale K. Temesgen, 2020. "Building an Island of Sustainability in a Sea of Unsustainability? A Study of Two Ecovillages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-27, December.
    13. Clement O. Codjia & Timothy A. Woods & Yuqing Zheng, 2024. "Mandatory nutrition attributes labeling and consumer demand: a structural approach analysis of the US soft drink market," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, December.
    14. Caixia Ivy Gan & Ruth Soukoutou & Denise Maria Conroy, 2022. "Sustainability Framing of Controlled Environment Agriculture and Consumer Perceptions: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    15. Mina, Giorgio & Peira, Giovanni & Bonadonna, Alessandro, 2023. "Public perception and social sustainability of indoor farming technologies: A systematic review," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    16. Wan Nor Syafikah Wan Abdullah & Nur Anisah Syafiqah Mohamad Shukri & Norhafizah Md Zain & Farah Adilla Abdullah & Suhana Zakaria & Tengku Halimatun Sa’adiah T Abu Bakar & Norsida Man & Jasmin Arif S, 2024. "Understanding of the Fruit Farmers’ Adoption Intention toward Organic Farming," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(3), pages 1976-1985, March.
    17. Mohd Rizaimy Shaharudin & Dahlan Abdullah & Amir Imran Zainoddin & Rafeah Legino & Preecha Wararatchai, 2024. "The Evolution of Circular Economy: A Literature Review on Sustainability Transitions and Challenges," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(10), pages 102-115, October.
    18. Marilyne Chicoine & Francine Rodier & Fabien Durif, 2023. "The bright and the dark side of commercial urban agriculture labeling," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(3), pages 1153-1170, September.
    19. Aysan Safavi & Runa Thrastardottir & Ragnheidur I. Thorarinsdottir & Runar Unnthorsson, 2024. "Insect Production: A Circular Economy Strategy in Iceland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-25, October.
    20. Voraprapa Nakavachara & Chanon Thongtai & Thanarat Chalidabhongse & Chanathip Pharino, 2025. "Ethical Appetite: Consumer Preferences and Price Premiums for Animal Welfare-Friendly Food Products," Papers 2505.04042, arXiv.org.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:12151-:d:671523. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.