Center for Regional Food Systems

On August 4-6, 2024, the National Urban Agriculture (NUag) Conference took place in Detroit for the first time. This event brought together a wide range of food system leaders, stakeholders, and agriculture agency officials. The NUag Conference highlighted efforts that strive to advance urban agriculture by connecting with available U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.   

According to Keep Growing Detroit, there are over 2,000 urban farms and gardens in the city of Detroit. The conference kicked off on Sunday with bus tours of nearby urban farms, including Beaverland Farms, D-Town Farms, Drew Farm, and Georgia Street Community Collective. There was also an opening reception hosted by Oakland Avenue Urban Farm. Over the next two days, the conference was held at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit, where, in addition to urban agriculture leaders, professors, and farmers, several specialists from the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (MSU CRFS) presented or facilitated discussions. 

Here’s a snapshot of the topics they covered:  

Community Engaged Urban Agriculture: Growing Together for a Sustainable Future 

Kolia Souza, Food Systems Equity and Advocacy Specialist at MSU CRFS, facilitated a panel of community leaders who support urban gardens in Richmond, VA, New Orleans, LA, and Philadelphia, PA. Through their discussion, it was evident that collaborating with community members to design the productive green space contributes to increased food security, environmental health, and community well-being. “One of the panelists, Duron Chavis of Happily Natural Day, emphasized that when folks ask how to engage the community, his response is that he is the community,” Souza said of the conversation. “We are the community. That's a reminder that we all have - or should have - a vested interest in agriculture at every scale.” 

USDA Risk Management Agency Urban Agriculture Resources 

Keesa V. Johnson, MDes, Food Systems Design Strategy Specialist of MSU CRFS and cofounder of the Equity and Access Design Group, presented on the Farm Business Management for the Global Majority Course (FBMGM). This multi-year program funded by the Risk Management Agency of the USDA, supported a virtual course for farmers of Color to develop skills to manage and grow their operations. This course was made possible through a collaborative partnership with Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network (DBCFSN), Keep Growing Detroit, The Equity & Access Design Group, Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), MSU Extension, Genesee County Conservation District, and Detroit Partnership for Food Learning and Innovation. “It was great showcasing a community-driven design project utilizing USDA funding. It’s an important practice to work with community partners who are closest to the solutions,” Johnson said. “FBMGM is an excellent model in removing barriers of access and education for small to mid-scale diversified farmers while also demystifying USDA resources.”  

Urban Market Access 

Madelina DiLisi, Michigan Food and Farm Network Specialist, Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center, May Tsupros, Director of Michigan Farm to Institution programs at MSU CRFS, and Joe Lesausky, Food Access Director of the Michigan Farmers Market Association, moderated a fireside chat on market access. Specifically, how producers can connect with varying size markets based on scale and interest. Participants learned from each other by sharing successes, challenges and opportunities from personal experience moving into spaces like farmstands, community supported agriculture (CSA), farmers markets, wholesale distribution and even larger markets like schools and hospitals. “It was incredible to see connections and shared learning taking place,” said Tsupros. “The participants drove the conversation, and everyone left feeling confident in clear pathways to shift or contacts they could reach out to learn more.” Fireside chats like this provide the foundation for a community centered approach to food systems change.  

“I think this session invigorated folks working in the urban agriculture space to understand that they are not alone in their struggles,” DiLisi said. “The dialogue between participants was supportive, informative, and energizing. As May said, we provided the environment, but participants provided the energy and knowledge. It is our hope that these connections and resources will continue to open doors beyond this session.” 

MSU CRFS works to build stronger, local, regional, and national food systems through applied research, education and outreach. Through a breadth of programs, MSU CRFS aims to serve many aspects of the food systems, including urban farmers. By attending this conference, CRFS staff members not only were able to share resources, but were able to learn from the voiced needs of attending producers.

“Farmers are in many ways the heart and soul of our work,” DiLisi said. “It’s incredibly inspiring to learn from the people who are doing transformative work right now in our backyard.” 

About Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems  

The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) unites the knowledge of diverse food systems stakeholders with that of MSU faculty and staff to advance regionally-rooted food systems through applied research, education, and outreach. Our work fosters a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the nation, and the planet by increasing understanding of and engagement with systems that produce food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable. Learn more at http://foodsystems.msu.edu/.