News from PA Dept. of Agriculture

Grant Applications Now Open for $700,000 to Grow Opportunities Statewide

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding concluded a weeklong annual tour of diverse projects across Pennsylvania, where locals are working together to feed community strength and fuel economic progress through agriculture.

“It’s a beautiful thing to meet inspirational people who are changing the public perception of what agriculture is,” Secretary Redding said. “At every stop we have seen a labor of love by devoted, passionate Pennsylvanians who are uniting neighbors who may not share anything but the common denominator of food.

“Urban agriculture is feeding Pennsylvania’s future, whether it’s helping young people find inspiration and learning life skills, selling cut flowers to fund free food boxes for low-income neighbors, putting cutting-edge science and technology to work to reduce food waste and grow healthier food, or providing familiar food and community connection to new Americans making their home in an unfamiliar place.”

At Fresh Food Farms in York, Governor Josh Shapiro joined the tour to announce The GIANT Company’s commitment of $200,000 to support 2023-24 PA Farm Bill Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants. The partnership boosts total funding to $700,000 for the state’s program aimed at increasing fresh food access in urban food deserts, addressing historical inequities, and feeding community opportunities to thrive together.

From formerly incarcerated women learning to grow food year-round in a retrofitted freight container, to children with disabilities learning life and job skills with expertly adapted tools, to public school agriculture career and technology students learning to grow produce in soil-less systems using hemp by-products, the tour introduced local and state legislators, educational and economic development officials to projects supported by state investments multiplied by private and corporate partnerships.

Pennsylvania has invested more than $2 million in urban agriculture through the program since 2019. That $2 million investment has leveraged $2 million more in local matching dollars. In total, 113 projects in 19 counties across the state are expanding fresh food access in locations often served by a single convenience store.

Applications open Monday, July 17 for 2023-24 Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants. Eligible projects will improve or create programs, sharing resources or pooling agricultural products to build a neighborhood’s access to fresh, local food. Individuals, businesses, community and agricultural organizations in urban communities may apply for either individual “microgrants” or collaborative grants for partnership projects.

Grant applications must be submitted online through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development Electronic Single Application. Applications open Monday, July 17, and are due at 5:00 PM on Sept. 1, 2023.

Full grant guidelines are published in the July 15 edition of the PA Bulletin and at agriculture.pa.gov.

Find a map of previous grant recipients and details of other PA Farm Bill grants and initiatives to grow and sustain Pennsylvania agriculture at agriculture.pa.gov/pafarmbill.

Details and photos from stops on the tour can be found at PACast.com and in the PA Dept. of Agriculture FlickR page.

Media Contact: Shannon Powers, 717.603.2056, shpowers@pa.gov

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).
   • Indicator 2.1.3: Prevalence of malnutrition among children under 5 years of age, stunting, wasting and overweight.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
   • Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

The article addresses or connects to the following SDGs:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under these SDGs can be identified as:

• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
• Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

The article mentions or implies the following indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).
• Indicator 2.1.3: Prevalence of malnutrition among children under 5 years of age, stunting, wasting and overweight.
• Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing.
• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships.

The article provides information about the commitment of funds to support urban agriculture infrastructure grants, which aligns with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. This commitment can be measured using Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships.

The article also highlights the importance of urban agriculture in addressing food access issues in urban food deserts, which relates to SDG 2: Zero Hunger. The prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition among children can be measured using Indicator 2.1.2 and Indicator 2.1.3, respectively.

Furthermore, the article mentions the need to ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services, which corresponds to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The proportion of the urban population living in slums or inadequate housing can be measured using Indicator 11.1.1.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: media.pa.gov

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