Title
Authorizing the Committee on the Environment to hold hearings to examine the progress made since introduction of the Philadelphia Urban Agriculture Plan, to convene agencies and stakeholders needed to make further progress, and to create an implementation strategy to expeditiously meet the goals of the Plan.
Body
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Urban Agriculture Plan, "Growing From the Root," is the City's first ever urban agriculture plan, detailing a bold vision for Philadelphia's future food system and touching on land, production, preparation, consumption, food waste reduction, and the people holding this system together; and
WHEREAS, Work on the Plan began in 2019 when Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with Soil Generation and Interface Studio, convened over 650 residents and key stakeholders - including local gardeners, farmers, educators, students, City agencies, Indigenous groups, nonprofits and grassroots organizations. The Plan was publicly released in April 2023 and, since its launch, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation has taken significant strides to meet its goal of reshaping the City's food system; and
WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, almost one-quarter of the population lives in poverty, and as of 2021 there were 479,740 food insecure residents in the Philabundance program. Urban gardens and farms have the potential to play a key role in addressing the widespread food insecurity that results from this poverty. They can do this by providing fresh, low-cost, local, and easily accessible produce to families throughout the entire City; and
WHEREAS, Urban agriculture fosters food sovereignty and self-determination, allowing communities to reclaim autonomy over their food system, preserve cultural heritage, and nurture holistic community building, abundance, and healing; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is home to approximately 450 active agricultural spaces. This equals nearly 130 acres of land including individual gardens, community gard...
Click here for full text