Congressperson Ms. Kaptur:
Ms. Kaptur mentioned that when it comes to sustainable urban agriculture programs, there really is no U.S. city that is doing it right. In the Toledo Ohio area, there is about $500 million being spent for food and that this money is going elsewhere to pay for food grown outside of our area. This money could be spent supporting local agricultural initiatives generating wealth in our particular area. The price we are all paying for unsustainable food production is Type 2 Diabetes, loss of wealth in the local economy and much more. Kaptur stated that Food equals P
olitics and Politics equal Power. “Do we empower ourselves with that money spent to buy food?” is the question we must ask of ourselves. Marcy stated the importance of the local “gleaners” activities that allows food that would otherwise be wasted to go to feeding hungry people in our area. Marcy then introduced Dr. Wayne Roberts from Toronto Canada.Dr. Wayne Roberts:
Dr. Roberts started his presentation with the concept of global security is food security and that there is no issue facing humankind than that of food and its production. It is important to understand that food is central to all life. Food production is at the center of global issues involving child l
abor, poverty, resource degradation and more. There is a price that all of us pay for cheap food that has been grown using unsustainable methods is well understood when considering society’s health issues. As the sustainability of modern agriculture is concerned, protein travels approximately 2000 miles from farm to one’s dinner table. Presently around the world, agriculture methods use the greatest amounts of clean water compared to other users. When considering that transportation is a cost and how much money is wasted as lost labor in traffic jams, slow-downs, it becomes apparent that locally ground food becomes a better and efficient use of all resources. In order to change this model, we need to establish partnerships in our community. At the heart of this partnership, we need to understand that sustainable agriculture involves a total systems approach and not a part of it. 
Roberts mentioned a revolution now taking place in urban areas – people are empowering themselves with the growing of their own food and establishing their localized economy. People are re-discovering their source of power – that power that has always been within them. People are discovering the concept that waste is a verb and not a noun. Historically, the Quaker Communities started a protest against slavery by choosing not to purchase sugar made by enslaved people no matter where it was produced. Gandhi rose up and boycotted certain agricultural products when he thought they were produced unjustly. Today, in Canada and perhaps in the U.S. as well, there are towns and cities that are declaring themselves “Fair Trade Cities” and therefore taking charge of the food purchases and aligning it with human rights.
Partnership is the key to successful agricultural initiatives and can be the key for sustainable urban agricultural systems. Competitive advantage can be accomplished by the elimination of waste in the ag system. By starting out small, work to achieve a 1 to 5% agricultural efficiency to gain entrance into markets. Then improve through the process of Continuous Improvement (CI). Colleges and universities represent the 27th largest economic power of the world and may be appr
oached on partnership. The importance of these partnerships transcends all areas including Ag workforce (farmers, gardeners, etc.), community/social (distributors, cooks, restaurants, etc.). Roberts spoke of the three kinds of capital being generated with urban agriculture: Social Capital, Bonding Capital and Bridging Capital. Social Capital is where people build relationships and communities. Bonding Capital becomes apparent when communities unify behind the projects and become interested in the success of all players from growers to consumers. Bridging Capital is where the Ag systems make bridges to other established institutions such as community outreach, banking, restaurants and schools. The benefits have great effects on the social aspects of community life. In Toronto for example, building of “social capital” becomes positive when people are involved in their own food security. Roberts is personally involved in “progressive dinners” in his area as a way to increase social capital and help the urban agriculture movement as the same time. Toledoans who may represent an at-risk population could be a part of building their own social capital that involves the various aspects of food production and security.Where Dr. Roberts is from (Toronto, Canada), agriculture markets are a big part of the city’s beautification program. The promotion of project ownership was achieved by gardens and related markets. Roberts mentioned that in order to solve the problems of peace and war, we need to solve the problems of food. The present profound divisions among urban and rural communities need to be bridged and localized agriculture can accomplish this. Food supplies bring tolerance among communities. Roberts says that we cannot solve the problems associated with food by singular approaches. The food solutions need to be addressed as part of a whole system. Food is a provider of jobs not just for the farmer but also for the trucker, retail distributors and support jobs. Current models now set up concerning localized agriculture is restoring honor and dignity to those working in these agriculture-related jobs. There appears to be a connection to locally produced food and the generation of localized food markets which has a generating affect in establishing artisan communities which is the desire of modern urban neighborhoods. These are proving to be a valuable part of a “creative economy” made up of much diversity.
For urban areas that have brownfields in need of remediation, community Ag projects are a natural solution. Gardens can be established above the ground to grow food and therefore adding to the local economy.
The successes of localized Ag projects depend on considering “unused capacity”. In Canada, since swimming pools are only used for several weeks out of the year, some have been changed to the raising of fish for food consumption. Community
parks have brick ovens installed that allows park goers and especially small-scale business people to use and sell their products. Community parks can be enhanced with flowers and plants (agriculture projects) on a local level and with ownership will be maintained. As witnessed in Toronto, these enhancements brought people out of their isolation and into the social aspects of the community parks.In Toronto, building codes dictate that there needs to be a planned “green-space” for every five stories of building height. These green spaces pay for themselves by limiting the costs of running air conditioning for space cooling, keeping rainwater out of city sewer systems and providing inviting spaces where people can gather.
Localized agriculture has many benefits involving the democratization of communities. People have found their public voice at meeting and events, learn how to disagree without hostility, express ideas and relate connections to other aspects of life. It also has taught people how to argue points in intelligent ways.
Answers to questions from attendees:
1.) He encourages groups NOT pursue any project unless there are at least 10 benefits to it.
2.) The shipment of food is greatly redundant: Ontario farmers send food to New York State and New York State sends food to Ontario. What sense that this make?
3.) Start plans for Toledo in small ways – plan for 2 to 5% of possibilities and use continuous improvement to grow the plans. Even 10% of the possibilities are doable.
4.) Small places are perfect for small but efficient Ag projects. Those efficient Ag projects can satisfy niche markets and become profitable.
5.) The crisis of national obesity can be solved by food responsibility. Food should be a source of nutrition not comfort.
6.) Cities need efficient ways of addressing waste and this may be an opportunity for local food production.
7.) Use continuous improvement on every Ag plan.
8.) Rainwater is a serious problem especially when considering climate change. Agriculture can help by community supported rainwater reclamation projects.
9.) Find a niche market to move into, start small, use continuous improvement and evolve the Ag projects.
