Modeling a localized metropolitan food system in the Midwest USA: Life cycle impacts of scenarios for Des Moines, Iowa

Stone, Tiffanie F.; Thompson, Janette R.; Rosentrater, Kurt A.; Liebman, Matt

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161095

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Shifting from small- to mid-scale table food production can increase farm income and produce benefits, from supporting local economies and improving community vitality to reducing environmental impacts (Jablonski and Schmit, 2016; Kirschenmann et al, 2008). Increasing land used for producing table foods in the US Corn Belt would diversify the landscape and could reduce greenhouse gas emission, energy use, and water withdrawal (Stone et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What would it look like? Visualizing a future US Corn Belt landscape with more table food production

Stone,

Thompson,

Zimmerman

et al. 2024

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

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Most farmland in the US Corn Belt is used to grow row crops at large scales (e.g., corn, soybean) that are highly processed before entering the human food stream rather than specialty crops grown in smaller areas and meant for direct human consumption (table food). Bolstering local table food production close to urban populations in this region through peri-urban agriculture (PUA) could enhance sustainability and resilience. Understanding factors influencing PUA producers' preferences and willingness to produce table food would enable supportive planning and policy efforts. This study combined land use visualization and survey data to examine the potential for increased local table food production for the US Corn Belt. We developed a spatial visualization of current agricultural land use and a future scenario with increased table food production designed to meet 50% of dietary requirements for a metropolitan population in 2050. A survey was administered to row crop (1360) and specialty crop (55) producers near Des Moines, Iowa, US to understand current and intended agricultural land use and factors influencing production. Responses from 316 row crop and 25 specialty crop producers were eligible for this analysis. A future scenario with increased table food production would require less than 3% of available agricultural land and some additional producers (approximately 130, primarily for grain production). Survey responses indicated PUA producers planned small increases in table food production in the next three to five years. Producer plans, including land rental for table food production, could provide approximately 25% of residents' fruit, vegetables, and grains, an increase from the baseline of 2%. Row crop producers ranked food safety regulations, and specialty producers ranked labor concerns as strong influences on their decision-making. Both groups indicated that crop insurance and processing facilities were also important. Increasing table food production by clustering mid-scale operations to increase economies of scale and strengthening supply chains and production infrastructure could provide new profitable opportunities for farmers and more resilient food systems for growing urban regions in the US Corn Belt. Continuing to address producer factors and landscape-scale environmental impacts will be critical in considering food system sustainability challenges holistically.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What would it look like? Visualizing a future US Corn Belt landscape with more table food production

Stone,

Thompson,

Zimmerman

et al. 2024

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

Self Cite

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“…These products are marketed at a variety of venues, including direct-to-consumer distribution via farmers' markets or as part of community-supported agriculture (CSA) or urban agriculture (UA) operations, or through arrangements with local grocery stores . Generally, localized food systems have been associated with lower environmental impacts associated with smaller-scale production, local distribution and less food waste Stone et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introduction and Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and opportunities for consumers and producers in Central Iowa local food systems

Huckins

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Equity and resilience in local urban food systems: a case study

Stone,

Huckins,

Hornbuckle

et al. 2024

Agric Hum Values

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Local food systems can have economic and social benefits by providing income for producers and improving community connections. Ongoing global climate change and the acute COVID-19 pandemic crisis have shown the importance of building equity and resilience in local food systems. We interviewed ten stakeholders from organizations and institutions in a U.S. midwestern city exploring views on past, current, and future conditions to address the following two objectives: 1) Assess how local food system equity and resilience were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2) Examine how policy and behavior changes could support greater equity and resilience within urban local food systems. We used the Community Capitals Framework to organize interviewees’ responses for qualitative analyses of equity and resilience. Four types of community capital were emphasized by stakeholders: cultural and social, natural, and political capital. Participants stated that the local food system in this city is small; more weaknesses in food access, land access, and governance were described than were strengths in both pre- and post-pandemic conditions. Stakeholder responses also reflected lack of equity and resilience in the local food system, which was most pronounced for cultural and social, natural and political capitals. However, local producers’ resilience during the pandemic, which we categorized as human capital, was a notable strength. An improved future food system could incorporate changes in infrastructure (e.g., food processing), markets (e.g., values-based markets) and cultural values (e.g., valuing local food through connections between local producers and consumers). These insights could inform policy and enhance community initiatives and behavior changes to build more equitable and resilient local food systems in urban areas throughout the U.S. Midwest.

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Modeling a localized metropolitan food system in the Midwest USA: Life cycle impacts of scenarios for Des Moines, Iowa

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

What would it look like? Visualizing a future US Corn Belt landscape with more table food production

What would it look like? Visualizing a future US Corn Belt landscape with more table food production

Challenges and opportunities for consumers and producers in Central Iowa local food systems

Equity and resilience in local urban food systems: a case study

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