Civic agriculture refers to the practice of creating sustainable and locally-based food systems that are socially and economically beneficial to communities. It is a model of agriculture that focuses on small-scale, community-based food production, distribution, and consumption.
Civic agriculture seeks to reconnect people with the land and to promote local food systems that are rooted in social, environmental, and economic sustainability. It emphasizes the importance of regional self-reliance, the preservation of farmland and biodiversity, and the development of new forms of community-based entrepreneurship.
Civic agriculture refers to the movement toward locally based agriculture and food production that is inextricably linked to the social and economic development of a community. It is also linked to a community’s citizenship and environmentalism. Its goal is to meet consumer demands while also boosting the local economy through job creation, farm-to-food production efforts, and community sustainability.
Some of the key principles of civic agriculture include:
- Community ownership and control of land and resources.
- Diversification of crops and production systems to increase ecological resilience.
- Direct marketing and distribution of food to consumers through farmers markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, and other local channels.
- Promotion of food sovereignty and social justice through the inclusion of marginalized communities in the food system.
- Collaboration among farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders to create a shared vision of a sustainable and equitable food system.
Thomas Lyson, a sociology professor at Cornell, coined the term to represent an alternative means of sustainability for rural agricultural communities in the industrialized agricultural era. It aims to foster a self-sustaining local economy through an integrated community structure in which the entire community is responsible for food production in some way.
Civic agriculture can provide a variety of benefits to a community, including cleaner water, fresher foods, and a stronger connection between farmers and the community. However, there are some who are concerned about how civic agriculture promotes community responsibility and possibly creates a false sense of citizenship. The goal of civic agricultural practices is to shift away from the industrialized sector and toward a more localized community effort.
Overall, civic agriculture represents a shift away from industrial agriculture and towards a more community-centered and sustainable food system that prioritizes the needs of people and the environment.
