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Building Bridges: Fostering Collaboration for Urban Agriculture Success
- Nashad Carrington
- Mar 7, 2024
- 8 min read
In the emerging landscape of urban environments, relationships between urban agriculture producers, community members, and local policymakers has often been marked by tension and discord. Competing interests often present themselves as insurmountable barriers for all parties involved, and these historical disagreements have hindered progress, stifling the potential for vibrant urban agriculture initiatives to flourish. However, amidst these challenges lies a vast opportunity for transformative collaborations that can benefit all stakeholders and foster the sustainable development of our urban spaces.
Understand the Historical Divide:
Historically, urban agriculture producers, community members, and local policymakers have found themselves at odds due to differing priorities and perspectives. Urban agriculture producers, driven by a desire to cultivate food and green spaces in their communities, have often faced regulatory barriers and bureaucratic hurdles imposed by local policymakers. Meanwhile, community members, while supportive of urban agriculture in theory, have sometimes voiced concerns about issues such as land use, zoning regulations, and neighborhood aesthetics. These tensions have created a climate of mistrust and frustration, impeding meaningful collaboration and hindering the potential for collective action.
Seize the Opportunity:
Despite these challenges, there exists a significant opportunity to forge new collaborations that transcend historical divides and create positive outcomes for all stakeholders. Urban agriculture holds immense potential to address pressing issues such as food insecurity, environmental degradation, and economic inequality. By bringing together urban agriculture producers, community members, and local policymakers, we can harness the collective expertise, resources, and creativity needed to address these challenges effectively.
Driving the Future State:
To realize the full potential of urban agriculture collaborations, we must adopt a forward-thinking approach that prioritizes inclusivity, transparency, and mutual respect. Here are some key elements of a future-state solution:
Open Dialogue and Communication: Establishing regular channels for dialogue and communication among stakeholders is essential for building trust and fostering understanding. Open forums, town hall meetings, and collaborative working groups can provide opportunities for stakeholders to share their perspectives, voice concerns, and co-create solutions.For example, in 2021, the USDA has organized a dialogue program entitled, “Youth Voices in Sustainable U.S. Food Systems” that was designed to bring together a diverse group of youth to collaborate on urban agriculture and related topics. The dialogue focused on identifying solutions for building more economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable food systems in the United States, with discussions centered on five main challenge areas in alignment with the UN Food Systems Summit’s “action tracks”[1]:i. Safe and Nutritious Food for Allii. Increased Consumer Demand for Healthy Diets that are Sustainable Producediii. Sustainable Environmental Productioniv. Equitable Livelihoods Across the Food Systemv. Resilient Food SystemsTo ensure a robust series of discussion, 41 students from universities across the United States participated, including: American University, Auburn University, California State University, Bakersfield, California State University, Stanislaus, Cornell University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, George Mason University, Little Priest Tribal College, Mississippi State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Prairie View A&M University, Purdue University, Salish Kootenai College, South Dakota State University, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Southern University and A&M College- Baton Rouge, Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University, University of Arizona, University of Colorado Boulder, The University of Georgia, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Maryland, UMass Chan Medical School, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and The Wharton School.In St. Louis, during the summer of 2023, the GRO Health Center was invited to work with Mayor Tishaura Jones’ administration to host a similar series of discussions and experience-based field days with high school aged youth across the City. Students from Cardinal Ritter College Prep High school, St. Louis University High, Lift for Life Academy High School, Vashon High School, Bishop DuBourg High School, and GATEWAY STEM ACADEMY participated in a program geared at increasing their civic awareness, understanding, and knowledge of urban conservation in the City of St. Louis. Each week, a new civic official, community member, or federal government agency was brought in to speak with the youth, teach them how they could get involved, learn more, and pursue careers in conservation related fields. The program was blessed to have representatives from the USDA-NRCS, City of St. Louis’ @Planning and Urban Design Agency, Forestry Division, Parks and Recreation, St. Louis Development Corporation, Neighborhood Stabilization Team, Community Development Administration, Office of Special Events, and Great Rivers Greenway engage with the youth throughout the summer.
Policy Reform and Supportive Regulations: Local policymakers play a crucial role in shaping the regulatory environment for urban agriculture. By advocating for policy reforms and supportive regulations, policymakers can create an enabling environment that facilitates the growth of urban agriculture while addressing community concerns. This may include updating zoning ordinances, streamlining permitting processes, and providing incentives for urban agriculture initiatives.Policy reform initiatives and support-based regulations play a critical role in fostering urban agriculture, addressing pressing issues of food insecurity, and revitalizing communities. Numerous legislative efforts have been made to enhance federal support for urban agriculture, aiming to improve access to healthy food and promote sustainable farming practices in urban areas. Representatives Adams (North Carolina) and Brown (Ohio) introduced legislation focused on enhancing federal support for urban agriculture and highlighting the growing recognition of the importance of urban farming programs.[2][3]The USDA has been directly and actively involved in promoting urban agriculture and recognizing its significance in sustainable food production systems. Collaborative efforts between governmental bodies like the USDA and local initiatives have been instrumental in driving policy reforms that support urban farming programs.[4] Policy documents like the "Cultivating Urban Agriculture in New York City" by the Mayor's Office emphasize the need for strategic policies to cultivate urban agriculture effectively, showcasing a comprehensive approach to integrating agriculture into urban landscapes.[5]Furthermore, reports like "Growing Urban Agriculture" by PolicyLink underscore equitable strategies and policies essential for improving access to healthy food and revitalizing communities through urban agriculture initiatives.[6] These initiatives demonstrate a growing trend towards recognizing the value of urban farming not only as a means of food production but also as a tool for community development and sustainability, and show that policymakers are doing much more than just giving lip service to the interests of their community members.
Community Engagement and Empowerment: Engaging community members as active participants in the decision-making process is essential for ensuring that urban agriculture initiatives reflect the needs and priorities of local communities. Empowering community members through education, training, and capacity-building programs can cultivate a sense of ownership and investment in urban agriculture projects.Successful urban agriculture initiatives often involve active participation from community members in decision-making processes to ensure that projects align with their desires and interests. One notable example is the DETROIT BLACK COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY NETWORK INC (DBCFSN), where community members actively participate in shaping urban agriculture projects to address food insecurity and promote economic empowerment.[7] Through community-led initiatives like the D-Town Farm, residents have a direct say in the types of crops grown, distribution methods, and overall management of the farm, ensuring that it reflects their cultural preferences and nutritional needs.[8]Similarly, the Philadelphia Urban Agriculture Task Force engages community members in decision-making processes to create policies that support urban farming while addressing social and environmental concerns.[9] By involving residents in discussions on land use, zoning regulations, and access to resources, the task force ensures that urban agriculture initiatives are responsive to the needs and aspirations of local communities. This collaborative approach not only fosters a sense of ownership among residents but also leads to more sustainable and inclusive urban agriculture practices that benefit the entire community.In the City of St. Louis, our organization, the GRO Health Center, has been hard at work advocating for community members interested in urban agriculture and improved sustainability initiatives. We’ve convened listening sessions with USDA and State of Missouri officials, conducted interviews highlighting the importance of urban conservation programs with federal, state, and local officials, and actively work with community groups and youth to expand their base of knowledge. These efforts continue as we grow our programs, outreach, and workshops sessions to include more opportunities for community engagement and demonstration.
Collaborative Projects and Partnerships: Collaborative projects and partnerships between urban agriculture producers, community organizations, businesses, and local government agencies can leverage diverse expertise and resources to achieve shared goals. These partnerships can take various forms, including community gardens, farmers' markets, urban agriculture training programs, and green infrastructure projects.Collaboration projects and partnerships are instrumental in fostering positive outcomes in urban agriculture policy development by leveraging the collective expertise and resources of various stakeholders. Community members actively engaging in re-imagining their urban landscapes play a pivotal role in shaping policies that reflect their aspirations and needs. The City of St. Louis exemplifies this collaborative approach through its efforts to create a new land-use map with modernized zoning advisory services, aiming to support urban agriculture initiatives effectively.[10] By involving community members in the planning process, the city ensures that the new map aligns with their vision for sustainable urban development.In addition to local initiatives like those in St. Louis, successful urban agriculture projects often involve partnerships between governmental bodies, non-profit organizations, and community groups to drive policy reforms that promote equitable access to healthy food and revitalize communities. The PolicyLink report heavily emphasizes the importance of these collaborations in implementing equitable strategies for improving not only food access but also community engagement. By working together, stakeholders can address complex challenges, such as land use regulations and resource allocation, to create a supportive environment for urban agriculture to thrive. This collaborative model not only empowers communities to take charge of their food systems but also fosters a sense of ownership and sustainability in urban landscapes. Some specific examples of successful collaboration projects in urban agriculture policy development include: i. City of Vancouver, Canada: Vancouver has developed an Urban Agriculture Land Use Policy that emphasizes collaboration and partnerships as essential components for success. [11] This policy framework likely involves engaging various stakeholders, including community members, businesses, and governmental bodies, to shape urban agriculture initiatives that align with the city's goals for sustainable food production and land use.ii. City of Seattle, Washington’s Department of Neighborhoods: The Department of Neighborhoods in Seattle has implemented supportive policies for urban agriculture, such as inventorying land specifically for farming purposes.[12] This initiative showcases a collaborative effort between the city government and local communities to create opportunities for urban farming within the city, highlighting the importance of partnership in policy development.These examples demonstrate how collaboration and partnerships play a vital role in driving successful urban agriculture policy development by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work towards common goals of promoting sustainable food systems and revitalizing urban landscapes.
In conclusion, the need for new collaborations between urban agriculture producers, community members, and local policymakers has never been greater. By overcoming historical disagreements and embracing a spirit of collaboration, we can create vibrant urban environments that support thriving urban agriculture initiatives, enhance community well-being, and promote economic engagement. By adopting a framework for improved conversations, projects, and collaborations, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and equitable future for our cities. Together, let us build bridges and work towards a shared vision of urban agriculture success. Contact us at GRŌ to learn more about how we build collaborations between key stakeholders, and let us get to work strengthening your community.
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