CATALYZING LOCAL FOOD VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A CROSS-FUNCTIONAL ALLIANCE AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENT IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

This project aims to improve the urban agriculture landscape within Birmingham and enhance community food access througha collaborative and data-driven approach. This effort is well-aligned with the mission of the USDA NIFA. The proposed workoffers the opportunity to strengthen both research collaborations and community relationships here in Alabama. With this team,the efforts have the research and community perspectives needed to succeed. Case studies show that market identification,strategic relationships, good governance, and empowering the private sector have successfully developed stability and wealth.By creating a branded alliance, the project will stimulate changes in behavior, increase competitiveness and generate wealth forthe alliance farmers, producers, and organizations. A cross-functional alliance and food value chain will increase competitiveadvantage through transparency and collaboration. An alliance of multiple sectors creates the opportunity to collectively worktogether to improve food access, enhance policy implementation, create economic opportunity, and meet sustainability goals.This proposal intends to ensure an equitable and sustainable local food supply chain by better identifying community needs andmarkets for urban agriculture and potential agriculture sites; working with local experts to improve the performance of such sites;learning from existing successful community programs, and building relationships with community leaders to ensure the ongoingsuccess of urban agricultural projects in Birmingham. The goal is to develop a cross-functional alliance supporting capacitydevelopment along the food value chain to achieve greater equity and sovereignty. The proposed team will be led byresearchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and includes key personnel from the City of Birmingham, AlabamaCooperative Extension System, and Southern Research, NRCS, among other community partners.