Urban agriculture advocates urge Farm Bill funding boost
As Congress reconvenes, urban agriculture advocates are urging lawmakers to boost funding for the USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production in the upcoming Farm Bill. The office, created by the 2018 Farm Bill, received its first funding in 2020, though at only 20% of its authorized level.
A policy brief authored by experts, including Jason “Jake” Hawes, an assistant professor at the University of Wyoming, calls for full funding to support urban agriculture’s environmental, economic, and social benefits. “It is possible to unlock extraordinary synergies between the environmental, economic and social benefits of urban agriculture,” Hawes said.
The brief advocates for reliable funding and technical support to help urban farms overcome barriers such as land insecurity and startup costs. It also highlights urban farms’ potential to achieve lower carbon emissions and reduce synthetic fertilizer use.
With sustained support, urban agriculture can offer climate-friendly practices and ecological benefits, the brief states.
Study: Policy brief: sustainable agriculture impacts in urban settings make the case for federal investments (DOI: 10.5304/jafscd.2024.141.002)
Video Library 
