Urban Ag Research and Policy

Aaron Bigelow, Joseph Catania, Sydney Snow, Stephanie Brzeczek, Madison Bradley

Our portion of the project is to research and create a resource compiling potential organizations, programs, policies, and permits that WMEAC and New City Neighbors should connect with and consider when carrying out other aspects of the program.

West Michigan Environmental Action Council

WMEAC is an organization that aims to shape West Michigan into a community where the environment, the economy, and society are sustainably balanced and create resiliency.

New City Neighbors

New City Neighbors operates New City Farm in Northeast Grand Rapids to create a more equitable food system within the city by farming organic produce and partnering with other community groups to distribute the produce justly.

Why is Urban Agriculture Important?

Lower-income communities and those with limited access to food face a higher risk as climate change and other environmental issues threaten the agricultural production system. Food costs will likely continue to rise as the agricultural production process and food product transportation become disrupted by climate change. Urban agriculture can provide one method to mitigate increasing food insecurity and help communities to transition to equitable and localized food systems. Creating local food systems in urban settings can decrease the distance and cost food must travel from production to the consumer. Urban agriculture can also help to bring healthier food options into urban areas that suffer from a lack of grocery stores or accessible transportation methods to healthy food suppliers.

Map shows areas of food apartheid in Grand Rapids that could benefit from investment in community-based urban agriculture programs.

In order to bring fresh, healthy foods to disadvantaged residents, WMEAC must directly work with community members and local groups to create a program that meets the needs of the community.

Town Hall Meetings

Town hall meetings that unite all concerns in a community can be held to create a consensus on what the individual residents require in order to pursue urban farming. This meeting must be adequately advertised so that all interested residents are aware of the programs discussed.

Community Outreach

After town hall meetings, further outreach is necessary, including continued input from community stakeholders. Online materials, classes, and educational activities can help spread these lessons to even more people.

Current Efforts

Grand Rapids Urban Agriculture Committee

The Group advises policymakers on the development of public infrastructure needed for urban food production, processing and marketing. The GR Urban Ag Committee also educates the public on the benefits of growing and processing food in a localized system through agricultural activities and events in the city. The committee is also responsible for advising the city on how to implement health and nutrition into the process of expanding the urban food system.

Kent County Food Policy Council

The Council aims to create a sustainable and equitable food system within Kent County that supports the local economy and community members. The Council is currently working toward increasing options for food recovery, creating local food systems and markets in underserved communities, increasing opportunities for local agriculture, improving working conditions for agricultural workers, and promoting the inclusion of nutritious healthy food options in schools and the community overall.

USDA Food Programs

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of low-income families so they purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): provides grants to states for food, health care, and nutrition education for low-income mothers, infants, and children up to the age of 5 found to be at nutritional risk
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): supplements the diet of low-income persons over the age of 60 through the distribution of nutritious food and administrative funds to participating states

Grand Rapids City Regulations

The Grand Rapids Urban Agriculture Committee has an Urban Agriculture Guide that references several city ordinances that need to be followed when engaging in urban agriculture.

City Code Sec. 9.107 and Sec. 9.108: refers to property maintenance nuisances, lists residential composting and the conditions under which it is allowed
City Code Sec. 9.218 and Sec. 9.219: refers to domestic animals, farm animals, and wild animals, outlines conditions for backyard chickens and the permits required

Michigan Agricultural Policies

Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices

Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs) are updated annually based on the most current science and technology to promote environmental protection and a sustainable agriculture industry. There are GAAMPs for farm animals, farm markets, irrigation water use, manure management, and nutrient utilization.

Right to Farm Act

Michigan's Right to Farm Act was established by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development. If a farm operation is reported as a public or private nuisance, program staff investigate the operation if the farmer requests their assistance. They will determine if the farm is following GAAMPs. Farms following the guidelines are generally protected from being considered a nuisance.

References

Right to Farm. Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. (n.d.). Retrieved

from https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/environment/rtf

GAAMPs. Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/environment/rtf/gaamps

Urban Agriculture Guide. City of Grand Rapids. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Directory/Guides/Urban-Agriculture-Guide

Kotval-K, Z., Khandelwal, S., & Wills, K. (2021). Access to foods using Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a case study: Objective versus subjective issues. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 10(3), 145–159

West Michigan Environmental Action Council (2013). Grand Rapids Climate Resiliency Report. Retrieved from: https://wmeac.org/climate-resiliency-report/.

Grand Rapids Urban Agriculture Committee. City of Grand Rapids (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Government/Boards-and-Commissions/Urban-Agriculture-Committee.

Kent County Food Policy Council (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://kentfoodpolicy.org/who-we-are/.

Picture Sources

Title picture: https://www.vox.com/2016/5/15/11660304/urban-farming-benefits

WMEAC Logo: https://wmeac.org/

New City Neighbors Logo: https://newcityneighbors.org/

Grand Rapids Food Aparthied Map: Kotval-K, Z., Khandelwal, S., & Wills, K. (2021). Access to foods using Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a case study: Objective versus subjective issues. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 10(3), 145–159

SNAP Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supplemental_Nutrition_Assistance_Program

WIC Logo: https://www.signupwic.com/

GAAMP and RTF Logos: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/environment/rtf