Food Systems
Table of Contents
Innovation Lab - Concept Developing and Prototyping: Learning resources to understand the topic.
Innovation Lab - Refinement: Tools and guides to inform developing programs.
Adoption Accelerator - Standards Emerging and Scaling: Implementation examples to show how it is being done.
Innovation Lab - Concept Developing and Prototyping:
Learning resources to understand the topic.
Facilitating community collaboration to build safe, sustainable urban food production in Portland, ME: A project to enhance community resilience by hosting three workshops where participants will work collaboratively to build 70 raised garden beds provided to low income and immigrant gardeners through the City’s Community Garden Program. (Emergent Learning Fund, 2024).
» Download
LNPK 156- Enhancing Resilience Through Food Access and Social Connectednessin Duluth, MN: A project to build climate resilience and address health disparities in a low-income neighborhood through creative placemaking and collaborative partnership development.(Partners for Places, 2024).
» Download
Cultivating a Regenerative Food Culture in Waco, TX: A project to provide education and infrastructure for composting and gardening with goals for food waste recovery, food production, and methane reduction at the landfill. (Partners for Places, 2024).
» Download
Greater Cincinnati Higher Education Sustainability Cohort: A project to create a regional cohort of higher ed institutions to network, support, and share best practices on current and future sustainability initiatives and opportunities. (Emergent Learning Fund, 2024).
» Download
FPAC Expanding Membership around Justice and Joy: A project that supports inclusive, tiered membership options, to expand capacity to mitigate historical harms in our city’s food system as a key component of the Food Policy Advisory Council’s (FPAC) Strategic Plan “to grow membership around justice and joy”. (Emergent Learning Fund, 2023).
» Download
Vancouver Circular Food Economy: Phase 4 in Vancouver, CAN: A project to prototype and test circular food waste solutions along Vancouver’s diverse food supply chain. (CNCA Game Changer Fund, 2023).
» Download
Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill in Atlanta, GA: A project to create the nation’s largest and Atlanta’s first publicly owned Food Forest to deliver environmental, economic, and social justice outcomes for the local community.(Partners for Places, 2022).
» Download
A New England Food Systems Scan: A scan of effective practices to advance urban agriculture and food systems, including policies, programs, and models. (USDN Special Project, 2013).
» Download
Food Systems & Urban Economic Development: A scan of best practices cities are taking to structure food systems infrastructure, including municipal functions. (USDN Innovation Fund, 2013).
» Download
Urban Agriculture Scan: A scan of effective practices to advance urban agriculture and food systems, including policies, programs, and models. (USDN Innovation Fund, 2012).
» Download
Innovation Lab - Refinement: Tools and guides to inform developing programs.
Urban Agriculture Dissemination in the Heartland: Materials from the Heartland regional network's dissemination of best practices from the USDN Innovation Fund Urban Agriculture Scan (see below) and the role of local governments in the local food space. Deliverables include: (1) the final agenda of from a half-day workshop; (2) a summary of the pre-meeting survey results; and (3) an Urban Ag Checklist for Local Governments. (USDN Innovation Fund, 2016)
» Download
Urban Agriculture in the Midwest: The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana regional network led a deep dive urban agriculture best practices, using USDN member products on urban agriculture, food policy, and food sector investment. (USDN Innovation Fund, 2016).
» Download
A Sustainable Food Systems Road Map for Local Government: A "road map" report for cities considering a sustainable food program, allowing local governments to build on recent innovations and an emerging body of knowledge. (USDN Innovation Fund, 2012).
» Download
Adoption Accelerator - Standards Emerging and Scaling: Implementation examples to show how it is being done.
The Philadelphia Urban Agriculture Plan: A project to develop a comprehensive citywide Urban Agriculture Plan that establishes a unified narrative and goals for agriculture, as well as strategies and targets to implement and track progress.(Partners for Places, 2023).
» Download
Growing Roots for Environmentally Equitable Neighborhoods Miami-Dade County (GREEN MDC) in Miami-Dade County, FL: A project to address food insecurity and promote environmental equity by educating residents on effective gardening practices through workshops and installation of home gardens in four low-income communities. (Partners for Places, 2021)
» Download
Good Hope Farm in Cary NC: A project to support equitable access to farmland for minority and women farmers and access to food for low-income residents through SNAP EBT and a double bucks program. (Partners for Places, 2020)
» Download
Save Our Food Cincy Program in Cincinnati OH: A project to enhance the sustainability of Cincinnati’s regional food system through strategic, collaborative activities to prevent, recover, and recycle food waste and educate the public on the issue. (Partners for Places, 2019)
» Download
Agriculture Park in Columbia MO: A project to expand Columbia’s Urban Farm as a central feature of a health-focused, community agricultural, recreational, commercial, and educational facility in a low-income neighborhood. (Partners for Places, 2019)
» Download
Lincoln, NE South of Downtown Neighborhood Sustainability Implementation: A project to implement sustainability elements of a multi-year neighborhood planning process in an area of extreme poverty and diversity. (Partners for Places, 2018)
» Download
Farmers’ Markets Help Low-Income Residents Purchase Healthy, Local Food in Minneapolis: A project to strengthen the local food system by helping Minneapolis’ 35 farmers’ markets work together, collect metrics on their impact and conduct a joint “Minneapolis Buy Local” marketing campaign. In addition, the program will expand an innovative program at the West Broadway Farmers Market’s that incentivizes low-income residents to purchase healthy foods by having doctors give patients food prescriptions (Partners for Places, 2016).
» Download
Improving the Food-Based Economy for Latino Residents in Tucson: A project to help the mostly Latino residents of the La Doce neighborhood strengthen their food-based economy by having citizen folklorists trained in ethnographic research assess local needs. The study will look at the informal economy and what home-based food businesses exist, how they and local supermarkets are faring, and what these businesses need to thrive. As UNESCO named Tucson a City of Gastronomy last year, honoring its rich food culture, the city wants to enhance the local food economy in neighborhoods (Partners for Places, 2016).
» Download
Cincinnati Food Fund and Fellowships: A project to enhance and strengthen Cincinnati’s regional food system through civic engagement, new policies, and creation of a Cincy Food Fund and food fellowships. (Partners for Places, 2015).
» Download
Food Security through Urban Ag in New Bedford MA: A project to increase food security in New Bedford and advance the Sustaining New Bedford Plan goals by promoting use of the SNAP benefits program at city farmers’ markets and enhancing engagement with community gardens. (Partners for Places, 2015).
» Download
Building Capacity in Indianapolis' Food Systems: Capacity building to strengthen the Indianapolis food system by increasing access to healthy food, enhancing ecology, and creating meaningful economic and civic opportunities. (Partners for Places, 2014).
» Download
Green City Growers' Community Gardens in Salt Lake City: Community gardens on city-owned and managed land to increase access to fresh local produce and reduces barriers to urban food production (Partners for Places, 2014).
» Download
Philadelphia Food Policy Council: A project to sustain and expand the Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council. (Partners for Places, 2014).
» Download
Resident Empowerment through Urban Agriculture in Milwaukee: A resident empowerment program that repurposes vacant lots to support local food production and distribution. (Partners for Places, 2014).
» Download
Self-Sufficiency in a Regional Food System in Boston: A study of the opportunity for self-sufficiency of Boston’s regional food system. (Partners for Places, 2014).
» Download
Urban Agriculture and Composting on Vacant Lots in Providence RI: A program that converts vacant, city-owned properties to support urban agriculture season extension, linkages to food service procurement, and school-based composting. (Partners for Places, 2014).
» Download
Urban Agriculture Project to Address Health and Food Insecurity in Hamilton ON: An urban agriculture project to address health, sustainable environments, and food insecurity in the McQuesten neighborhood. (Partners for Places, 2014).
» Download
Growing, Distributing, and Learning about Fresh Produce in Sarasota FL: A project to enhance access to, awareness about, and sustainable production of fresh produce through integrated community garden improvements, mobile produce delivery, and nutrition education. (Partners for Places, 2013).
» Download
Reservoir Community Farm in Bridgeport CT: A partnership to prove that a low-cost initiative (an urban farm) achieves municipal sustainability outcomes. Undertaking this cost-benefit analysis can help cities considering urban farms. (Partners for Places, 2013).
» Download
A Mobile Food Market in Low Income Communities of Chattanooga TN: A mobile market system/pilot to deliver fresh and locally grown produce to low-income families. (Partners for Places, 2012).
» Download
Community Funded Urban Agriculture in Miami-Dade, FL: GreenPrint, Miami-Dade County’s program to catalyze community-led, community-funded urban agriculture efforts. (Partners for Places, 2012).
» Download
Lots of Hope: Urban Agriculture on City Lots in Providence RI: The Lots of Hope program to transform vacant, city-owned lots into thriving centers of urban agriculture and pilot small-scale composting in Providence neighborhoods. (Partners for Places, 2012).
» Download
Urban Farm and Job-Training at Re-Purposed Golf Course in Appleton WI: A community-based urban farm, park, and job-training program that engages the community in sustainable practices. (Partners for Places, 2012).
» Download