The Urban Farming Initiative exists to turn unused commercial properties into thriving urban farms and community hubs. Our reproducible model for successful urban farms allows anyone, anywhere to start a successful urban farm. We're growing momentum for change and making impact at scale.
I want to start or improve an urban farm ⟶
I’m an investor⟶
I want to understand the state of my community’s food supply and demand.⟶
2023 was a warning sign that systemic changes are needed
The economic destruction caused by Covid-19 has accelerated the pace of retail bankruptcies. The long-struggling retail sector is in freefall leaving millions of square feet of commercial properties vacant.
The Coronavirus is causing a Slow-Motion Retail Apocalypse: Axios, July 2020
This economic insecurity means that food insecurity is also on the rise. Food insecurity more than doubled as a result of the economic crisis brought on by the outbreak, hitting as many as 23% of American households.
Food Insecurity in the U.S. by the Numbers: NPR, September 2020
To make matters worse, we also face the reality of a food system collapsing under the weight of climate change. Climate change heavily impacts agriculture and our society's ability to feed itself. Increased numbers of droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events will continue to impact global crop yields.
Climate Change and Agriculture- A Perfect Storm in Farm Country, Union of Concerned Scientists, March 2019
