New SARE Publication Supports Urban Agriculture
SARE Outreach’s newest bulletin Best Practices for the Sustainable Urban Farm
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture
NIFA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program
February 12, 2024
Excerpt:
Urban farming creatively utilizes limited space, conserves land and transforms vacant lots or buildings into productive greenspaces. Farming in cities can be a rewarding way?for communities to grow healthy food while receiving a wide range of other interrelated environmental, economic and social benefits.
SARE Outreach’s newest bulletin Best Practices for the Sustainable Urban Farm, outlines strategies that urban farmers can use to tackle the unique opportunities and challenges associated with urban production. It provides an overview of the important issues for new farmers to consider as they establish and manage an urban farm or community garden, and it suggests where to go for in-depth information. From accessing land and managing production challenges (including soil, water and pests) to marketing farm products, the SARE publication shares some of the current best practices that urban producers can use to develop successful operations, as well as additional resource materials.
Dr. Vance Owens, NIFA’s national program leader for SARE, said this is just the most recent example of the valuable work being conducted by SARE.
“Sustainable agriculture in both urban and rural areas is a NIFA priority,” said Owens. “Since 1988, SARE has guided more than 8,500 projects with funding support of about $389 million from NIFA. These projects cover a wide range of topics, including on-farm renewable energy, pest and weed management, cover crops, high tunnel and session extension, marketing, sustainable communities, and local and regional food systems.”
