While a lot of historically Black institutions were founded with agricultural programming in mind, today many African American students pursue careers outside of agriculture. Aiming to birth a new generation of agriculturists to help improve local health outcomes in underserved communities, University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is providing a bevy of agricultural training through innovative programming.
During a ribbon-cutting at UDC’s Firebird Research Farm, located in Beltsville, Maryland, last November, university officials unveiled the new “agro-tech” classrooms, facilitating a space for students to receive hands-on education to learn the importance of sustainability and nutrition.
“Most of the food desert communities are predominantly Black communities, [which is] the reason why this is so important that we train people from their community to give back to the community by growing food,” said William Hare, associate dean for Land-Grant Programs, at the historically Black university.
Like the African American groundbreaking agriculturalists of the past, such as George Washington Carver and Booker T. Whatley, whose work innovated products, created opportunities for farmers, and addressed challenges, UDC’s program is not only for learning, but finding solutions.
As District residents continue to face insecurity, particularly in Wards 7 and 8– predominantly African American areas— UDC’s program hopes to provide the training needed for Washingtonians to bring fresh food to their neighborhoods and permanent change.
The farmland in Beltsville is a product of UDC’s specialized CAUSES program, which trains area residents to excel as certified farmers in the District. The university farm, a 143-acre space largely run by solar energy, provides opportunities to distribute water, grow food under the panels, and harvest energy.
In an effort to dissolve urban agriculture barriers, Che Axum, agronomist and director of Urban Agriculture for UDC, underscored the unique opportunity to empower local farmers of color and help improve food and nutrition security in the District.
“We have so much potential in D.C. to really grow a lot more food than we’re growing in urban spaces,” Che Axum, agronomist and director of Urban Agriculture for UDC, told The Informer. “The goal of this program is for them to come here and [to learn] how to grow. [After growing] here for a while, eventually they go back into the city to teach other people how to grow. Each one teaches one type of concept.”
Creating Opportunities for Black Farmers
Historically, Black farmers have always faced barriers presenting an arduous journey in owning and operating farmland in their communities.
The impact of UDC’s agriculture programs pays dividends for graduating students, as the school provides each farmer a 10th-of-an-acre to utilize as an incubator for their growing. The registered space is fundamental to their recognition and benefit from USDA subsidies when they are reported as a farmer, requiring farmers to report sales of $1,000 or more to the IRS and register with USDA for access to build farms in the District and food desert communities.
The Firebird Research Farm is just one of their many local food hubs dedicated to sourcing fresh produce, food production, food preparation, food distribution, and waste and water management to bolster food security and sustainability outcomes across District neighborhoods.
Along with the local grow hubs, the school offers virtual community workshops, and soilless virtual workshops for local residents interested in learning agriculture and gardening education within an urban setting.
Standing as the only public university in Washington, D.C., UDC’s agricultural programs underscore the institution’s commitment to community service and work to better the lives of local people and families alike.
“This is an incredible training opportunity that we’re really excited about, and I think it closes the loop in the future of farming and how we integrate technology into farming,” Hare said.
