Op-ed: Urban Agriculture Enterprises

Urban agricultural enterprises can revive declining communities

What is urban agriculture? In the U.S., more than one-third of the dollar value of agricultural products is produced within urban metropolitan areas. Agricultural activities in and around urban areas are highly diverse. They include everything from traditional farms that have adapted to smaller land areas and unique market opportunities to intensive backyard, rooftop, and community gardens that provide food while building community relationships. From a broader perspective, urban agriculture also includes new forms of direct marketing like community-supported agriculture (CSA), and new versions of "old" forms like farmers’ markets. Other examples of the urban agriculture continuum include medicinal herbs, bee keeping, management of green space and parks, forestry, horticulture and its many "green industry" components. In addition, numerous value-added agricultural enterprises have become established in and around metropolitan areas. Food processing, retail florists and garden centers, service companies such as lawn, irrigation, and landscape maintenance and equipment companies, as well as cultural (arboretums and botanical gardens) and recreational (golf, baseball, football, soccer, etc) facilities have all become part of the integral urban agriculture continuum that supports thriving metropolitan areas. These and other components of the "new" agricultureare taking on more significance as people attempt to re-define their life styles, improve the quality of theirlives and re-establish meaningful relationships/experiences with the land and the production of their food. Pathways to Success: There are three elements that are essential for the successful establishment of urban agricultureenterprises. We will discuss the first two, land and water and briefly mention the third which is a business and financial infrastructure which will assist the enterprises to thrive. One: Access to land. Municipally owned land and unused buildings could be ideal sites for urban agricultural enterprises. Cities and towns often have vacant land that is not slated for urban development and these sites could be developed as urban agricultural enterprises. In Thunder Bay, we leased the land for our communitygarden, from the City, for fourty dollars per year.A similar arrangement could be made for an urban agricultural enterprise. Also, urban properties are confiscated for failure to paytaxes and could be made available by lease, for example, for the establishment of an urban agricultural enterprise. Appropriate bylaws will need to be passed and urban planners will need to be encouraged to support urban agricultural enterprises as an appropriate and legitimate land use Urban agricultural enterprises can revitalize low income communities. Brownfields and other vacantlands that are suitable for urban agriculture are often located in low income areas. These sites can be reclaimed by the locally owned businesses and become attractive, productive enterprises rather than empty eyesores. Urban agriculture enterprises can be created as locally owned and operated businesses. Thus, the urban agricultural enterprise can be designed as a triple bottom line business, thus maintaining the balance between social justice, the environment and economics For example, the workers cooperative business structure is ideal for the urban agriculture enterprise. A workers cooperative is owned and operated by the people who work in it. Workers cooperatives are democratically designed, for example, one voice, one vote gives all members an equal say in the business operation. Revitalizing Neighbourhoods: City planners have an opportunity to revitalize low income areas by embracing urban agricultural enterprises. Urban agricultural enterprises go beyond the traditional community garden as they do more than green a space and enable people to grow some of their own food. When looking for land that is appropriate for urban agricultural enterprises lets not forget rooftops. If the rooftops can support the weight then the space that may available for urban food production expands. The micro-ecosystem of a rooftop may be hotter and windier than a ground level garden, but if the roof is flat and strong enough then a container fruit and vegetable garden may be ideal. As in any business venture a business feasibility study will answer many questions Not all gardens need to be outdoors. Today we have the technology to grow an array of crops indoors under lights. This growing method is energy intensive so a renewable energy source such as solar power is important. There are energy efficient grow lights, such as compact fluorescent grow light systems, now on the market, that reduce the amount of energy, that is required to provide the necessary light. The establishment of an urban agriculture enterprise in a low-income community not only provides the residents with access to fresh fruit and vegetables but creates employment. On-the-job training could be incorporated into this enterprise. Conclusion: Urban agriculture is the growing of plants and the raising of animals for food and other uses, and related processing and marketing activities, within and around cities and towns. Urban agriculture has received increased attention in the past few years from development organizations and national and local authorities in developing and developed countries. With its multiple functions, urban agriculture plays an important role in urban poverty alleviation and social inclusion, urban food security, urban waste management and urban greening.