Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development

Food insecurity in paradise

Joshua Gruver — 2024-11-25

Despite being a world-class tourist destination, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI—St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John) face significant challenges related to diversified crop production, food distribution, and food security. High poverty rates among islanders perpetuated by historical iniquities, frequent hurricane damage, drought, poor soil quality, high food production costs, and limited food distribution networks are just a few of the challenges residents face. Consequently, 97% of the food consumed in the USVI is imported. Frequent hurricane damage, such as the recent damage from Irma and Maria (back-to-back Category 5 storms that hit the islands in 2017) complicated these challenges even more and disrupted food import processes. This manuscript focuses on a case study involving a literature review, participant observation, and a series of semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with key informants about issues related to food insecurity, resilience, and farmer needs regarding business sustainability. The results highlight how the political, economic, and cultural complexities of the USVI stymie efforts to lower barriers related to food accessibility and affordability. The results also reveal a new and vibrant entrepreneurial spirit among native islanders and transplants alike, providing novel entryways into food system change and development. Finally, we share policy implications and next steps toward building agriculture and food system resiliency.

Regional food system sustainability

Serge Wiltshire — 2024-11-20

Food system sustainability, and ways of measuring it, are widely explored and discussed in academic literature. Measurement efforts are challenging because food systems are inherently complex and multifaceted, spanning diverse components, industries, sectors, and scales. Several systems of indicators and metrics have been proposed to measure sustainability; however, most existing research focuses either on narrow scales (e.g., farm level or within a single supply chain), expansive scales that can gloss over complexity (e.g., national or global assessments), or limited scopes (e.g., only considering environmental factors). A gap in the literature is a holistic local or regional approach to food system sustainability that integrates components across the system at a regional scale. In this reflective essay, we describe our development of a framework to measure and track sustainability in such systems. We use a tiered framework that includes five sustainability dimensions and a system of indices, indicators, and metrics that allows for the measurement of important food system characteristics in a feasible and reproducible way. We employ a collaborative, transdisciplinary, facilitated team science process to first propose, and then refine, a sustainability assessment framework, using the U.S. state of Vermont as a case study. This paper details our process and progress, as well as reflections on challenges and recommendations for other team scientists. We further propose a plan to implement the framework, collect data, and engage with community members. The experiences and findings described here serve as a foundation for our own team’s continued work, as well as a springboard for other similar research efforts.

Research brief: Analysis of policy responses to seed, fertilizer, food and fuel shocks in three African Regional Economic Communities

Lailà Lokosang — 2024-11-20

The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war had severe implications for global food security and nutrition. It was feared that food systems would be impacted negatively, especially food, seed, fertilizer, and fuel quantities required for agricultural production. The study aimed to ascertain the extent to which calls to action by AU policy organs, as well as recommendations by experts, to mitigate possible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, were implemented at the national level across three of the five regional economic communities and whether they yielded any tangible impacts. The study conducted a desk review of literature and key informant interviews in 18 African countries. We found a wide range of variations in terms of country responses to the pandemic. Countries in the East African Community focused more on expanding targeted social protection programs, Economic Community of West African States countries focused more on supporting smallholder farmers and digital agriculture, and the Southern African Development Community focused on budgetary stimulus packages. We found a lack of coherence in responding to the crisis within each region to improve the supply and distribution of food, seed, fertilizer, and fuel; thus, necessitating an immediate and aggressive implementation of strategies aligned with continental and regional policy resolutions and recommendations.

Garden access and barriers for low-income community members

Cherish Duerst — 2024-11-15

Gardening can be an important source of fresh food for impoverished households, yet people experiencing food insecurity in the United States often lack access to any form of garden. Although research on community gardening is plentiful, research on other forms of gardening, such as residential and container gardening, especially among rural populations, is scarce. This project investigates the garden-related experiences of food pantry customers in rural northern Minnesota, in the Bemidji area. We address gardening in its many forms, including residential, container, community, and other types of gardening. We focus on the specific barriers to garden access, and propose several solutions to these barriers, as suggested by study participants.

Over one-third of food pantry customers during the study period responded to a questionnaire administered in the waiting room of the food pantry (n = 205, N = 562). Although 91% of respondents stated that they wanted to garden, and 85% had gardened in the past, only 31% were active gardeners. This equates to 60% of questionnaire respondents who wanted to garden but were currently not gardening, and is 22% of the total customers to the food pantry during our study period. Although it may be easy to assume that these individuals simply do not want to garden, our study found many specific reasons that prevented these otherwise motivated individuals from gardening. Participants offered suggestions to relieve these barriers, some of which are in the control of local policymakers. Our findings showcase the motivation, knowledge, and experience of rural, low-income individuals and encourage policymakers to take this into consideration when trying to promote gardening.

Empowering local food security

Vaishali Sharma — 2024-11-03

Community food systems, exemplified by initiatives like community grain banks (CGBs), play a crucial role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which aims to achieve zero hunger and ensure food security by 2030. This paper draws upon a systematic review of the literature on CGBs to emphasize the relevance of community institutions in enhancing local food security. Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, this paper reviews 16 academic articles, two theses, and 19 online sources. The study reveals that CGBs offer immediate relief during food shortages, empower women, stabilize farmers’ income, reduce debt burdens, foster social trust, and enhance community resilience. This review highlights the need for international stakeholders to prioritize supporting CGBs to preserve the self-sustaining systems. Tailoring CGB designs to community-specific needs could significantly enhance local food security, offering actionable strategies to mitigate severe food insecurity globally and regionally.

Supporting new gardeners

Alyssa Beavers — 2024-11-01

While gardening has been shown to have wide-ranging benefits, very little research has focused on the experiences of new community gardeners. Our study emined the experiences of new community gardeners, as well as the perspectives of garden leaders, to determine how to best meet new community gardeners’ needs. We conducted qualitative interviews with a subset of new community gardeners (N = 34) participating in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of community gardening, and garden leaders (N = 47). New community gardeners learned to garden through classes, from other gardeners and leaders, from friends and family, and through teaching themselves. Garden leaders provided varied support to new community gardeners, including hands-on assistance and orientations. The events and degree of social interactions with other gardeners in the gardens also varied, although most gardens had a culture of helping and reciprocity, and gardeners frequently brought family and friends with them to their gardens. Challenges reported by new community gardeners and leaders included lack of gardening knowledge and support; responsibility and time commitment of gardening; poor communication from garden leaders; water, weeds, and pests; plot abandonment; and theft, vandalism, and safety. New community gardeners desired and benefited from social interaction, guidance, and support in their gardens. However, because garden leaders already have substantial garden responsibilities, placing this responsibility solely on garden leaders is frequently not feasible. This study provides insight into new community gardeners’ experiences and can be used to inform programs that support gardeners.

Exploring barriers and facilitators to direct-to-retail sales channels

Audrey Thomas — 2024-11-01

In 2020, a mobile application (app) was developed to connect small food retailers with local producers, recognizing the underutilization of direct-to-retail sales channels. Before piloting the app, formative research was conducted in Charles County, Maryland, to gain an understanding of existing direct-to-retail sales channels for locally grown produce. Seven stores were surveyed to explore current local produce stocking, and four farmers participated in in-depth interviews to provide insights into their experiences with direct-to-retail marketing channels. The results indicate a limited stocking of local produce in the small food stores, some of which was self-procured to obtain adequate quantities. Farmers expressed a passion for contributing to food security in their community and a willingness to collaborate with store owners to strengthen their direct sales; however, they cited barriers such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, competition with large distributors, and logistical challenges. Considering these existing barriers and facilitators, small food stores may still possess a unique potential to establish direct sale relationships with local farms. Such relationships could be effectively facilitated through the implementation of a digital strategy.

Barriers to access to local produce in an early childhood setting in rural Appalachia

‘Erali’ Miller — 2024-10-31

This case study examines young children’s access to fresh local produce in childcare settings in rural Appalachia. In-depth, semi-structured interviews with childcare center directors participating in farm to early care and education programming were conducted in the spring of 2023. Centering the perspective of childcare directors, this research explores why farm to school programming is difficult to implement. It specifically addresses the barriers preventing early childcare centers from providing access to fresh and local produce to enrolled children. Eight primary obstacles to implementing farm to early care and education programming were identified: lack of staff; too wide a variety of tasks for directors; the “extra” work that fresh produce requires; lack of knowledge about how to grow food; lack of required kitchen equipment; need for additional funding; unclear or out-of-date regulations about food safety; and a lack of parental time. Limitations of the research include the specific geographic location of the study and the long-lasting implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations drawn from this case study include improving communication between childcare centers and regulatory agencies; creative use of alternative gardening practices; participating in a regional food hub; and improved funding.

Sustainable agriculture impacts in urban settings make the case for federal investments

Hagan Capnerhurst — 2024-10-30

Urban agriculture has flourished in American cities under the care of communities, but its growing popularity faces a number of challenges related to scant funding, insecure land tenure, and environmental pollution. Both local and national policy in the U.S. have struggled to adequately address those challenges and meet the demand for fresh food, local production spaces, and resilient communities. In this policy brief, we explore an emerging apparatus to support urban agriculture in the U.S. Department of Agriculture: The Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. We describe the relationship between urban agriculture’s many benefits and future funding, technical assistance, and data collection initiatives through this office. Specifically, we call for consistent, permanent funding that is not subject to the annual federal budget process, which could power more tailored technical assistance programs, reformed granting initiatives, and expanded data collection to inform future policy and practice. Urban agriculture has the potential to transform communities and the future of farming, and federal policy has the potential to provide important support for this transformation. The policies outlined here offer a roadmap for this support.

THE ECONOMIC PAMPHLETEER: Government regulation: Too much or too little

John Ikerd — 2024-10-30

First paragraphs:

On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a 40-year-old Court decision that had made it easier for the federal government to enforce regulations that protect the environment, public health, workers, and consumers from economic exploitation. The six-to-three majority ruling was widely considered a victory for corporate and conservative political interests that have worked for decades to weaken government regulations.

The case has been called “the conservative-dominated court’s clearest and boldest repudiation yet of what critics of regulation call the administrative state” (Sherman, 2024a, para. 3). The same justices, by the same majority, stripped the Securities and Exchange Commission of its primary means of fighting fraud by requiring jury trials for accused violators of SEC rules (Sherman, 2024b). In other words, the current Supreme Court has demonstrated a commitment to weakening the government’s ability to write and enforce rules and regulations. . . .