Report on the Evolution of Urban Agriculture in Milwaukee and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Milwaukee’s urban agriculture movement has evolved from a grassroots survival strategy in post-industrial neighborhoods into a multi-faceted system contributing significantly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Initially a response to economic collapse and food insecurity, the movement now encompasses sophisticated models of food production, community development, and policy advocacy. This report details the history, key actors, and impacts of urban farming in Milwaukee, with a specific focus on its contributions to achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), among others.

Historical Development and Foundational Initiatives

The modern urban agriculture movement in Milwaukee emerged from community necessity following industrial decline and systemic disinvestment. These early efforts laid the groundwork for a city-wide approach to local food systems and community well-being.

Pioneering Community-Led Efforts

• Origins in Necessity: The movement’s roots are in the late 1960s and 1970s, as community and faith-based organizations began cultivating vacant lots to combat food access issues exacerbated by redlining. This directly addressed SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Alice’s Garden: A key early initiative, Alice’s Garden, established a two-acre urban farm as a hub for wellness, food education, and cultural programming. It served as a model for using urban land for collective healing and community building, advancing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

The Growing Power Catalyst and National Influence

The establishment of Growing Power in 1993 by Will Allen marked a significant turning point, transforming local efforts into a nationally recognized model for sustainable urban food systems.

An Integrated Model for Sustainability and Equity

1. Systemic Innovation: Growing Power pioneered integrated systems, including large-scale composting, vermiculture, and aquaponics. These methods promoted closed-loop, sustainable production, aligning with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
2. Economic and Social Empowerment: The organization provided paid internships and leadership training for youth from under-resourced communities, directly contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
3. Legacy of Advocacy: Although Growing Power ceased operations in 2017, its focus on racial and economic equity created a generation of food justice leaders who continue to advance SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) across the city.

Policy Integration and Movement Expansion

The success of grassroots initiatives prompted formal support from the City of Milwaukee, leading to the expansion and institutionalization of urban agriculture.

City-Level Support and Organizational Growth

• Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan (2011): This policy integrated urban farming into city zoning and land use planning, demonstrating a commitment to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and providing institutional support aligned with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
• Walnut Way Conservation Corp: This organization scaled up food production while integrating it with workforce development and environmental justice programming, creating a holistic model for neighborhood revitalization that supports SDG 1, SDG 8, and SDG 11.
• Victory Garden Initiative (VGI): VGI’s decentralized “Blitz” model empowered hundreds of residents to grow their own food, directly enhancing food security and promoting citizen engagement in line with SDG 2.
• Groundwork Milwaukee: Acting as an intermediary, this group facilitates land access for community gardens, ensuring that food-growing spaces contribute to education, nutrition, and environmental stewardship across all districts, fostering SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Challenges and Strategic Responses

Despite significant progress, the movement faces persistent obstacles that threaten its long-term stability and impact on the SDGs.

Key Barriers

• Land Tenure Insecurity: Limited access to long-term land tenure, especially on tax-delinquent or public properties, remains a primary obstacle to scaling operations.
• Resource Constraints: Insufficient access to capital, water infrastructure, and year-round growing facilities restricts the economic viability and stability of many farms.
• Gentrification and Displacement: Rising land values in formerly disinvested neighborhoods pose a threat to established gardens, potentially undermining progress on SDG 10 and SDG 11.

Addressing the Challenges

In response, a more strategic and collaborative approach is emerging, focused on policy and systemic change.

1. Formalizing Land Use: The city’s HOME GR/OWN program repurposes foreclosed lots for community assets, and efforts are underway to formalize garden leases to provide greater security.
2. Building Coalitions: The Institute for Urban Agriculture and Nutrition (IUAN) and the Milwaukee Food Council advocate for deeper integration of food systems into city planning, reflecting a mature approach to achieving SDG 16 and SDG 17.
3. Supporting Diverse Growers: Organizations like the Fondy Food Center provide market access and training for farmers of color, bridging urban and rural food systems and strengthening economic pathways in line with SDG 8 and SDG 10.

Conclusion: A Comprehensive Model for Urban Sustainability

Milwaukee’s urban agriculture movement is a dynamic example of community-driven development that addresses a wide spectrum of Sustainable Development Goals. What began as a response to hunger has evolved into a sophisticated ecosystem that fosters economic opportunity, social equity, and environmental resilience.

Contributions to Broader SDGs

• Climate Resilience (SDG 13): Urban farms and gardens contribute to climate adaptation through soil regeneration and improved stormwater management.
• Community Cohesion and Safety (SDG 11 & 16): Studies confirm that community gardens increase neighborhood cohesion and reduce crime in areas with vacant lots.
• Health and Well-being (SDG 3): The movement provides access to nutritious food and creates spaces for wellness and community connection.

The continued success of this movement depends on sustained public investment, secure land tenure for growers, and robust policy support. By cultivating food, Milwaukee’s urban farmers are also cultivating community strength, offering a powerful model for how cities can achieve a more just and sustainable future.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article directly addresses food security issues, describing how urban farming emerged as a response to “food deserts” and restricted food access in Milwaukee. It highlights efforts to empower residents to grow their own food, thereby increasing access to nutritious options.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article discusses economic opportunities created through urban agriculture. It mentions Will Allen’s Growing Power providing “paid internships and leadership development programs for youth” and Walnut Way offering “workforce development,” contributing to local economic growth and job skills.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• A central theme is addressing racial and economic disparities. The movement is rooted in struggles against “redlining” and disinvestment in African American neighborhoods. The article emphasizes “racial and economic equity in food systems,” support for “BIPOC-led food initiatives,” and the role of farming in cultural preservation for Hmong and Latino communities.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article focuses on transforming urban spaces. It describes the repurposing of “vacant lots, schoolyards, and rooftops” into productive gardens and orchards. It also mentions the city’s “Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan” to integrate farming into zoning and land use planning, making neighborhoods more resilient and sustainable.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article touches on environmental benefits and climate resilience. It notes that urban gardens contribute to “localized climate adaptation through soil regeneration and stormwater absorption” and that the movement is a model for “climate resilience.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article showcases numerous collaborations. It describes partnerships between community organizations (Alice’s Garden), non-profits (VGI, Groundwork Milwaukee), city government (Department of City Development), academia (UW-Milwaukee, IUAN), and federal agencies (USDA), which are essential for the movement’s success and scalability.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article describes urban farming as a direct response to “food deserts” and a way for residents to gain control over their food supply.
• Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The article mentions practices like “large-scale composting and vermiculture” and “aquaponics systems” pioneered by Growing Power, which represent sustainable and innovative agricultural methods.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. The creation of “workforce development” programs by organizations like Walnut Way and retail opportunities at the Fondy Farmers Market contribute to local employment.
• Target 8.6: Substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. Growing Power’s model of providing “paid internships and leadership development programs for youth from Milwaukee’s most under-resourced neighborhoods” directly addresses this target.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The article’s focus on “racial and economic equity,” “BIPOC-led food initiatives,” and serving neighborhoods affected by “redlining” aligns with this target of empowering marginalized communities.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning. The creation of the “Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan” to integrate farming into “zoning codes, land use planning, and neighborhood revitalization” is a direct example of this target in action.
• Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The conversion of “vacant lots” and “foreclosed city lots” into “community gardens, orchards, and outdoor gathering spaces” directly contributes to creating accessible green spaces for residents.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The article states that urban farms are seen as “models for public health initiatives and climate resilience” and contribute to “localized climate adaptation.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article details numerous examples, such as the “Institute for Urban Agriculture and Nutrition (IUAN), a coalition of city officials, academics, and nonprofit leaders,” and partnerships between local growers and the USDA.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 2 & 11 (Food Access & Green Space)

• Indicator: Number of community gardens and farms. The article explicitly states that “over 90 community gardens operate across Milwaukee today.”
• Indicator: Number of household gardens created. The Victory Garden Initiative’s “Blitz” model, which installs “hundreds of raised-bed gardens” each spring, provides a quantifiable measure of progress.

SDG 8 (Decent Work)

• Indicator: Number of individuals in job training and youth employment programs. The article implies this metric by mentioning “paid internships,” “leadership development programs,” and “workforce development” as key activities of organizations like Growing Power and Walnut Way.

SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

• Indicator: Level of investment in minority-led initiatives. The call for “increased investment in BIPOC-led food initiatives” suggests that tracking funding allocation is a key indicator of progress towards equity.

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities)

• Indicator: Existence of supportive municipal policies. The passing of the “Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan in 2011” serves as a concrete policy indicator.
• Indicator: Number of repurposed vacant lots. The HOME GR/OWN program, which “repurposed foreclosed city lots into community assets,” provides a clear metric for land use transformation.

SDG 13 (Climate Action)

• Indicator: Area of land dedicated to green infrastructure. While not quantified, the mention of “soil regeneration and stormwater absorption” implies that the total acreage of urban farms and gardens could serve as an indicator for climate adaptation benefits.

SDG 17 (Partnerships)

• Indicator: Number and type of multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article names specific coalitions like the “Milwaukee Farmers Market Coalition” and the “Institute for Urban Agriculture and Nutrition (IUAN),” which can be counted as indicators of successful collaboration.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: milwaukeeindependent.com