As the global economic and financial hub, New York City recognized the importance of urban agriculture and took a proactive step by establishing the Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture (MOUA) last year.

In October, MOUA released its annual report on Urban Agriculture initiatives, shedding light on how New York City perceives urban agriculture and the policies designed to harness its benefits.

This understanding could serve as a valuable guide for other countries looking to implement similar strategies.

Housed within the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), MOUA is on a mission to provide fresh, local food to NYC residents, combat rapid climate change by improving the city’s environment, and foster economic growth through urban agriculture.

To achieve its mission, MOUA has set forth six mandates and seven priorities.

The organization is cooperating with various stakeholders, including the federal government, city council, non-profit organizations, and local farmers.

The priorities of MOUA fall into four general categories: 1) identifying underutilized municipal land for urban agriculture and developing supportive policies for local farmers, 2) enhancing agricultural education and addressing climate change, 3) mitigating climate risks through urban agriculture, and 4) creating business opportunities for emerging urban agriculture and food entrepreneurs.

MOUA is currently developing a pilot plan for a feasibility study in East New York.

This study aims to identify underutilized city-owned land, evaluate existing regulations regarding land-use agreements, and design new opportunities to facilitate urban agriculture businesses.

These efforts will lead to innovative licensing and land-use agreements, fostering increased food production and economic activities.

Simultaneously, MOUA aims to secure land for expanding volunteer-led community gardens and greenspaces for residents.

In its commitment to supporting historically divested communities in New York,MOUA plans to increase local food contracts between socially disadvantaged farmers and the city through the “Farm to School Farmer/Producer Procurement Training Program.”

This initiative not only supports local communities but also enables collaboration with federal government organizations like the USDA and DOE in developing diverse grant programs.

MOUA is also investigating the potential of urban agriculture to mitigate climate change as part of NYC’s climate resiliency plan.

The Northern Jamaica area has been selected for this investigation, with cooperation from the NYC Department of City Planning and Cornell University for field research and data collection.

To create business opportunities, MOUA plans to increase the number of entrepreneurs holding critical certifications, such as Minority/Women-owned BusinessEnterprises and New York State Grown and Certified.

In addition, MOUA is developing an evaluation model to measure the impact of NYC’s unique urban agriculture model.

The inception of NYC’s urban agriculture policy can be attributed to Mayor Eric Adams, who assumed office in 2022.

MOUA believes that urban agriculture holds the potential to create socio-economic opportunities and improve the health, wealth, and natural environment of NYC residents.

New York City is actively positioning itself as a global leader in advancing agricultural innovation and cultivating urban agriculture, a central pillar in addressing climate change.

However, the need for urban agriculture programs extends beyond NYC.

The hope is that NYC’s model can inspire similar initiatives worldwide.

For example, Korea could potentially establish its own urban agriculture program by drawing inspiration from NYC, especially considering the high population density in metropolitan areas like Seoul and Busan.

MOUA’s program marks a promising start to an international movement advocating for urban agriculture, showcasing the immense capabilities this approach holds.

Carson Seo
Grade 10
Basis Independent Mclean