Work

Urban agriculture innovations for livelihoods and food security in Ethiopia: A systematic review

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Urban agriculture (UA) is increasingly recognized as a viable strategy for strengthening household livelihoods, enhancing food security, and supporting sustainable urban development in Ethiopia. This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence from peer‐reviewed studies, policy documents, and gray literature to assess the role of UA innovations in improving food access, income diversification, employment creation, and urban resilience. The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. From an initial pool of 227 records identified through database and gray‐literature searches, 123 unique records remained after duplicate removal; following title/abstract screening, 39 records were excluded, and 84 full‐text articles were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 15 were excluded, resulting in 69 documents included in the review, comprising 43 Ethiopia‐based peer‐reviewed articles, 5 gray‐literature sources, and 21 supplementary studies. Findings reveal that UA contributes to household food availability, dietary diversity, and income generation, particularly among low‐income groups, women, and youth. Innovations such as hydroponics, drip irrigation, rooftop gardening, organic composting, and urban horticulture are expanding opportunities for urban producers, enabling more efficient use of limited land and water resources. However, the sector remains constrained by insecure land tenure, weak institutional support, limited access to inputs and credit, fragmented markets, and environmental health risks. Overall, the evidence underscores that UA can play a complementary role in Ethiopia's food system, but its transformative potential will depend on integrated policy support, investment in climate‐smart technologies, and strengthened market and institutional linkages. The review highlights clear entry points for urban food system planning and calls for multisectoral collaboration to scale up urban agriculture as part of Ethiopia's broader resilience‐building, food security, and green development agendas.

Source: Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems

DOI: 10.1002/uar2.70074

Authors: Tadsual Asfaw Dessie, Abebaw Abebe Getahun, Getasew Daru Tariku, Mulugeta Amsalu Mekonen

Institutions: Mekdela Amba University, Northwest A&F University

Language: English

Topic: Urban Agriculture and Sustainability

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, No poverty, Sustainable cities and communities, Decent work and economic growth, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,820