Situation

Urban agriculture and food systems are immensely important as growing food and creating or stewarding urban green spaces increases access to fresh healthy food, promotes public health, fosters a sense of community, facilitates cultural expression and improves environmental quality. Urban agriculture includes inner-city small farms; community and school gardens; backyard and rooftop horticulture; innovative production methods; maximizing yields in small areas; and controlled environment agriculture. Urban food systems include supplying urban markets and farm stands, community-supported agriculture, and supporting farms in and near urban centers. Populations in the United States continue to migrate from rural to urban and suburban communities, shifting the strength and the location of national interest and support for the Cooperative Extension System. Urban citizens benefit from the research and education programs and data that Cooperative Extension offers.

How has the Cooperative Extension System responded?

The innovation and creativity of Extension professionals has already been demonstrated in our ongoing efforts to eliminate food deserts, create new businesses, teach youth workforce skills, build communities, promote healthy eating, physical activity and the greening America’s cities to improve the quality of urban life and fight the impacts of climate change.

What more can be done?

The Cooperative Extension System helped create the most powerful rural agricultural production system in the world. We have the ability, and the responsibility, to promote and transform urban agriculture and food systems as well. With offices in most U.S. counties, the Cooperative Extension System stands ready to address the critical and growing needs of our urban citizens. The Urban Agriculture and Food Systems ECOP Program Action Team provides national leadership for this effort by focusing on:

• Resource development
• Program development and implementation
• Identifying and creating strategic partnerships with agencies and organizations that focus on or support urban agriculture and food systems
• Engaging and collaborating with Land Grant University Extension and Research initiatives that are involved in areas potentially related to urban agriculture and food systems to increase synergy and avoid duplication of effort
• Organizing, leading, and supporting Resource and Program Development Teams to pursue specific projects and initiatives.