Researchers and local farmers see an opportunity to create resilient supply chains, bring healthy produce to food deserts, reduce harmful environmental impacts and create economic opportunity—all at once, writes Inside Climate News.
More local growers, a healthier population and climate change mitigation are what urban agriculture advocates and researchers envision for the future of Chicago’s food systems.
Local food production is gaining traction in Chicago, according to research led by Tania Schusler, an assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago. Schusler’s analysis, published in November, examined how local nonprofit organizations’ responses to the impacts of Covid-19 are leading to food systems that are more sustainable, equitable and resilient. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, the pandemic disrupted food supply chains, creating food insecurity that disproportionately impacted people of color the most.