2014 Highlights: UC IPM Annual Report

What Do Urban Farmers Need?

Urban agriculture is on the rise in several heavily populated areas of California. (Photo by C. Wilen)

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) is making strides to support the needs of urban farmers by providing information and technical assistance. In a project led by Sustainable Food Systems Advisor Rachel Surls, IPM advisors Cheryl Wilen and Andrew Sutherland, and others from UC ANR, a needs assessment was conducted for urban agriculture. The results were recently published in Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems—Gearing up to support urban farming in California:  Preliminary results of a needs assessment.

The needs assessment consisted of a literature review, survey of UC ANR staff, and interviews with urban farmers and policy makers. ANR staff identified the need for pest management educational materials for their urban agricultural clientele. Forty percent agreed that research-based materials would be valuable. Publications for large commodity growers and backyard growers exist, but there is little specific information for smaller-scale growers who may have particular constraints due to their location.

Preliminary surveys of urban farmers and urban agriculture policy makers echoed the needs of ANR staff. Pest management was one of three topics that they felt would be “very helpful” as online, downloadable resources.

The survey of ANR staff also showed that they are already commonly involved in urban agriculture. Support included training (UC Master Gardeners, 4-H Leaders, and other ANR volunteers on urban agriculture projects); guidance (community garden support, food safety, and support for youth involvement); and advice (production and marketing).

”This survey was extremely helpful not only in identifying gaps in resources and knowledge but also the most effective methods to deliver that information. Looking ahead, I am exploring pest management systems to fill those gaps and UC IPM is planning on updating important publications such as Pests of Small Farms and Gardens,” says Wilen. UC IPM resources are also featured in the ANR Urban Agriculture website.

According to the published paper, urban agriculture is defined as, “…the production, distribution and marketing of food and other products within the cores of metropolitan areas (comprising community and school gardens; backyard and rooftop horticulture; and innovative food-production methods that maximize production in a small area) and at their edges (including farms supplying urban farmers markets, community supported agriculture and family farms located in metropolitan green belts).”

Urban agriculture is gaining momentum in several heavily populated urban areas of California—San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, and Los Angeles.