Nakita Hemingway
Candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture, Democrat
Website: NakitaHemingway.com
Occupation(s): Cut-flower farmer, realtor
Nakita Hemingway is an entrepreneur, political leader, realtor, and fifth-generation farmer. She is running to be Georgia’s next Commissioner of Agriculture and will be the first African-American and second woman ever elected to this position in our nation's history.
Image source: asianamericanadvocacyfund.org
Our health is affected by a variety of factors that are directly influenced by policies made by and supported by the Commissioner of Agriculture:
Priorities
What priorities or key issues will you address if elected to this office?
The key issues I will address as Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture are addressing food insecurity and ending childhood hunger, helping small farmers become more profitable and growing our economy, investing in sustainable farming practices, and protecting our farm workers and putting a stop to human rights violations.
Experience
What key experiences would you bring to this role?
I come from a long line of farmers and my decision to run for office was born out of my desire to create better opportunities for every person who calls Georgia home, particularly in the areas of agriculture, land use and economic development. Georgia laws currently do very little to protect the rights of farmers and individual property owners. There are no laws to address land use for urban agriculture which is vital to addressing the growing demand for sustainable locally grown food sources.
I know firsthand the challenges that many farmers face. Several years ago, my husband and I applied for special use permits in my county of residence, to turn our 7.5 acres of agriculturally zoned land into the farm of our dreams. Although our permits were approved, the types of restrictions imposed were drastically inconsistent with the county ordinance and the laws of the state. This experience helped me to see a clear connection to how these tactics were used to disenfranchise small, and minority-owned farms throughout the state. Ultimately, contributing to a legacy of systemic injustice against African American farmers and the reduction of economic opportunity for many Georgians in rural communities.
Agriculture and Climate Change
The US EPA estimates that the agricultural sector contributes 11% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the US, making this sector one of the primary sources of emissions in the country. At the same time, warming temperatures due to climate change will alter growing conditions across the state. What policies would you enact to help the agriculture sector of Georgia thrive in the face of climate change?
Sustainable farming is essential to the health of our state and our planet. Investing in the future of agriculture is one of my top priorities and that means finding ways for farmers to thrive even in the face of climate change. I support the full legalization of cannabis because I believe this crop can have profound impacts on our economy, environment, healthcare, and way of life, if done right. Here in Georgia, we must focus on regenerative agriculture, in which farms capture more carbon than they emit. Industrial hemp is twice as effective as trees in capturing carbon emissions from our atmosphere. Not only that, it is an extremely versatile multi-purpose crop that can be used in everything from textiles to home construction. It’s important that our Department of Agriculture starts looking for alternative solutions to our climate problems, and cannabis is a good place to start in order to enrich our economy while being mindful of our environment.
