There are many definitions of Urban Agriculture "UA". The one most frequently used is this:"Urban agriculture is the process of producing (other than those intended exclusively for educational or household purposes) distribution, distribution marketing, and distribution of food products and other items within the urban core zones and their outlying areas. Examples include:
- Public
- school
- backyard gardens
- rooftop gardens
- and other
Urban agriculture refers to "small areas (e.g., vacant lots, gardens, curbs, balconies, containers) within a city to grow crops and raise small livestock or dairy cows for own consumption or sale at neighborhood markets" and could provide income and food for urban dwellers.
What is Urban Agriculture and Why is it Important
Urban agriculture is a solution to local food security issues in suburban and urban regions. Urban food gardening can be in forms of rooftop, backyard and balcony gardens as well as community gardening on vacant spaces and parks (sometimes covering several urban areas) as well as urban agriculture along roadsides cattle grazing in open spaces, and extensive indoor hydroponic systems or aquaculture. Urban agriculture improves access to food, connects communities and practices for food production and makes the community more active on a variety of levels. (USDA Climate Centers)
You can also read USDA Announces Inaugural Federal Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture.
What is Urban Agriculture and Why is it Important
The advisory committee as well as county committees are a part of USDA's overall investments in the urban agricultural sector. Other initiatives include:
- Grants for food access education, business, and starting costs for farmers who are new as well as policy development in relation to zoning as well as other urban production requirements.
- Cooperative agreements that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans.
- Investing $260,000 in risk management and training in crop insurance for urban and historically underserved producers in a partnership with USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA), the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) and the University of Maryland, the University of Connecticut and the University of Michigan's Center for Regional Food Systems.
- Offering financial and technical assistance through conservation programs run in USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
- Organising the 11 Farm Service Agency (FSA) suburban and urban county committees. FSA creates additional committees.
The Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production was established by the 2017 Farm Bill. It is run by NRCS and works in collaboration with a variety of USDA agencies that promote urban agriculture. Its goal is to promote and promote indoor, urban and other farming practices that are innovative that include composting in public places and reducing food waste. For more information, visit USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers - Urban Growers and the new Federal Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee website at Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.
Other resources that could be useful to urban agriculture organizations are grant funds from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in addition to FSA loans.
USDA impacts the lives of every Americans every day in a variety of positive ways. In the administration of Biden Harris USDA is changing the American food system by focussing more on sustainable regional and local food production, fair market access for producers of all kinds, and ensuring accessibility to safe, nutritious and nutritious foods in all communities, while creating new opportunities and revenue streams for producers and farmers that use climate-smart food and forest methods, and making significant investments in infrastructure. To find out more, go to USDA
What is the reason this kind of agriculture so important?
"I believe that urban agriculture is essential since everyone should be a knowledgeable consumer. If nothing else, viewing urban agriculture farms in the cities gives people an understanding of the source of their food and the process of production," said Rob Hays, Indiana FFA Association director.
"Additionally it gives the opportunity for local customers to get involved in the production of their food. It could be in the form of offering assistance to agriculture production or community gardens, or could create the motivation to cultivate their backyard or patio. When people are more involved in these discussions as well as practices, they will be better they are aware of the importance of agriculture and food production."
Jennifer Nettles, Vincennes University agriculture/horticulture coordinator, added, "Studies have shown that the more involved you are in growing produce, the more likely you are to consume it. This is good for everyone."
Nettles added, "We need to eat more whole, healthy foods as well as less processed food items. When urban dwellers attempt to cultivate a garden they might discover the soil they have isn't most ideal to grow edible vegetables. However, there are alternative methods to cultivate produce like aquaponics, hydroponics, and vertical growth that can be employed to become more imaginative in the cultivation of plants in cities."