Missouri Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture Releases Preliminary Report

“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.”
- Letter from Thomas Jefferson to George Washington (1787)

Aug 6, 2012

Excerpt:

Letter from the Chairman Representative Jason Holsman

The following report was created through the collaborative efforts of many talented and dedicated public servants. The legislative work yet to be done will not be easy, but providing a sustainable, local source of food is paramount for the continuation of our society. Simply put, everyone has to eat. It is the most fundamental of human actions.

Farmers built our nation, but over the past century we have lost our connection to the land where our food is grown. Many children now live in food deserts where it is easier to obtain a bag of potato chips than a fresh tomato.

We can and must do a better job providing access to nutritious, locally grown food to improve our health. This committee’s effort is the first step to accomplishing this goal in Missouri.

There is a national movement underway to acknowledge, celebrate, and re-educate metropolitan areas on the importance of local agriculture. The locally grown food movement is investigated in the following report. We are pleased to present our findings on our study of urban agriculture in the state of Missouri.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Food Hubs in Food Deserts
Chapter Two: Community Building with Community Gardens
Chapter Three: Land Banking
Chapter Four: Farmers’ Markets in Missouri
Chapter Five: W.I.C. in Missouri.
Chapter Six: Good Agricultural Practices
Chapter Seven: Composting
Chapter Eight: Aquaponics
Chapter Nine: Vertical Farming
Chapter Ten: Agriculture Land Trusts
Chapter Eleven: Higher Education’s Involvement
Chapter Twelve: Successful Example from Around the State
Chapter Thirteen: Legislative History of HB 1660

See the complete report here.