{"id":59514,"date":"2024-10-31T10:48:12","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T14:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/?p=59514"},"modified":"2024-10-31T10:55:11","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T14:55:11","slug":"release-new-jafscd-commentary-highlights-urgent-need-for-federal-investment-in-urban-agriculture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/blog\/release-new-jafscd-commentary-highlights-urgent-need-for-federal-investment-in-urban-agriculture\/","title":{"rendered":"Release: New JAFSCD Commentary Highlights Urgent Need for Federal Investment in Urban Agriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For Immediate Release<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Laura Zaks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition<\/p>\n\n\n\n

press@sustainableagriculture.net<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Release: New JAFSCD Commentary Highlights Urgent Need for Federal Investment in Urban Agriculture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Washington, DC, October 31, 2024 <\/em>\u2013 In a new commentary published in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (JAFSCD), authors Hagan Capnerhurst of Michigan Food and Farming Systems, Hannah Quigley of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), and Jake Hawes of the University of Wyoming (UW), emphasize the vital role of urban agriculture in fostering local food sovereignty, driving economic development, and enhancing community well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDespite the significant growth of urban farming, federal support has not kept pace, with funding remaining critically low in relation to the pressing needs of urban growers,\u201d <\/em>said Hannah Quigley, NSAC Policy Specialist, <\/strong>adding that \u201cNSAC Urban agriculture initiatives, often led by communities of color, have become essential in empowering historically marginalized groups and innovating food production practices. Yet, these local efforts are frequently hindered by restrictive policies and inadequate financial backing.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Since the establishment of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production in the 2018 Farm Bill, federal funding has been substantially below its authorized level, limiting the capacity to support this burgeoning sector. The authors highlight the urgent need for Congress to expand federal investment and stabilize funding for urban agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDespite overwhelming evidence for urban agriculture\u2019s social and economic benefits, the practice has struggled to gain federal support, <\/em>said Jake Hawes, Assistant Professor at UW<\/strong>. \u201cAmong other things, we wrote this brief to highlight recent research on synergies between social, economic, and environmental benefits from urban agriculture. Available funding and supportive policy foster longer-lasting urban agriculture facilities, which can employ sustainable practices that reduce carbon emissions and decrease dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides,\u201d<\/em> added Hawes.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The commentary highlights the opportunity for Congress to expand federal support and stabilize funding for urban agriculture. Key recommendations include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n