General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMost Urban Farmers Aren't Making a Living
The strong social mission of most urban farms might not be enough for longterm viability, a study suggests.
http://www.citylab.com/work/2016/03/urban-farming-financial-viability-survey/471756/
"A new type of agriculture has recently taken shape in American cities. Vacant properties and high-rise rooftops are morphing into farms, yielding fresh produce and honey, and exposing urban dwellers to the once strictly rural activity of food production. But sadly (and perhaps nor surprisingly), it might be a passing fad.
At least thats what a new study published in the British Food Journal suggests. Carolyn Dimitri, the lead author and an associate professor of food studies at New York University, set out to assess the viability of American urban farming and to identify what drives urban farmers. She and her colleagues found that about two-thirds had a social mission that went beyond food production and profit. She also found that, regardless of their mission, roughly two-thirds of urban farmers say theyre failing to make a living, reporting sales below $10,000 per year.
In a survey of 370 farmers working in or around U.S. cities, Dimitri and her colleagues posed questions addressing what and how much they produce, how they sell and market their products, the risks and challenges of urban farming, and the farms size and characteristics. The researchers allowed the survey respondents to self-identify, so the respondents came from a range of farm typesvertical farms, hydroponic farms, crops planted on large parcels, on tiny lot corners and on rooftops, non-profit and for-profit, located within the downtown of a city, in the suburbs, or even in peri-urban areas.
The majority of urban farmers said that they were producing food not only for profit, but also to educate community members, improve food security, and build community. But only one-third said that they operated as non-profits. Roughly the same number reported earning a living off their farm. (There was no correlation between profit status and profit margin, however.) This raises questions about the long-term financial viability of most of these farms, located as they are on relatively expensive land with little revenue to support them.
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Perhaps someone will figure out a way to make it work, but issues of scale are going to be difficult to overcome.
Sen. Walter Sobchak
(8,692 posts)Food mass production is something we are really, really good at. Why these neckbeards are trying to do it on a roof in Brooklyn is a mystery to me.
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)I don't think they did proper business plans, however.
whatthehey
(3,660 posts)I couldn't give much of a toss about GMO this and organic that, but I'm 100% behind the idea of using vacant land to grow food. It has benefits beyond the (tiny) addition to food supply. Hell my wife and I had a veggie plot ourselves for years the yield of which we traded with other growers. Why would it matter if it doesn't make a livable income? You'd have to have both a very large vacant plot and a very relaxed attitude to work to make it even close to a full time occupation. I probably get an income of less than 10k a year day trading most years, but I'm not relying on it as my only income either. How many urban farmers are?
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)Or that was their stated intention. There's nothing wrong with growing gardens, though.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)have gardens in their yards. Our goal has never been to make a profit. We are mostly low income families who do this farming as an added benefit. We have chickens for eggs and meat, turkeys, pigs, sheep, fruits and gardens. We tried to have bees but like a lot of people ours died. Some of our family members also fish and hunt to add to the food supply. We share the costs and share the produce.
It is a healthy way to add to our food supply. We also freeze, can, and store the excess. After we started this a lot of our neighbors have also followed along.
If it makes you feel any better small rural farmers are not making much of a profit either.