Final report for GS22-270
Project Information
Black farmers play an integral role in cultivating sustainable agricultural systems and promoting viable economic development. That notwithstanding, the number of Black farmers in the U.S. is steadily declining; which poses a risk to sustainable agricultural development and socially just food access in the U.S (Jennings, 2020). Black farmers are also actively serving as leaders in rural and urban communities, addressing historically complex food system needs from food production to food access (White, 2018). For such an important contribution, little is still known regarding how the collective leadership of Black farmers shapes the creation and trajectory of sustainable food systems in local communities. This project aims to fill that gap through a community-based case study approach with Black farmer organizers in the Commonwealth of Virginia, who are actively farming and providing local leadership to address the core goals of sustainable food system development (i.e., soil health, food access, social justice, and economic wealth) in their communities. Furthermore, this study aligns the findings through a collective agency lens for analyzing the synergies embedded in the Black farmer networks and how they are building sustainable local food access pathways. Finally, the study aims to identify recommendations for sustainable community development through agriculture led by Black farmers as illustrations of self-determination and community resiliency. These findings are of significant benefit to community stakeholders, local food movement actors, sustainable agriculture service providers, extension professionals, and rural/urban farmers. Although the study is specific to Virginia, the research may have broader implications for similar geographical regions.
- To understand how Black farmer organizers and their networks and synergies are building sustainable local food access pathways.
- To identify recommendations for sustainable community development through Black farmer-led initiatives as illustrations of self-determination and community resiliency.
- To determine the contemporary patterns leading to the decline of Black farmers.
Cooperators
- (Educator)
Research
Method
This study employed a community-based case study (Yin,2003; Baskarada, 2012) of Black farmers who are at the forefront of sustainable agricultural development in Virginia. The study also sought answers to the critical question: How are contemporary Black farmer organizers and their networks actively creating sustainable food systems pathways?
Approach
Data Collection:
Virginia Tech’s IRB Protocols for working with human subjects (recruitment of participants, interview questions, and the various determinants to the potential impacts of the research) was submitted for approval. The main qualification to participate in the study included being a Black farmer, however, other prerequisites included: being an organizer, an educator, a grassroots leader, and identifying as an underserved farmer. Three key informants who are Black farmers and have experience working with other farmers were contacted. A list of potential participants was developed with the assistance of the key informants.
A preliminary content analysis was conducted. This was in the form of website searches, social media content, and publicly available data found on the participants’ websites.
Semi-structured in-person interviews were conducted to collect individual perspectives and experiences of the farmer participants. These interviews were audio recorded. The key informants and the potential participants (n=25) were offered remuneration as time compensation per VT’s IRB policy. The interviews were coded to determine emergent trends. There was an additional focus group interview/discussion conducted, where the data collected during the first round of individual interviews was presented to the group for their perspectives. The focus group interviews/discussions were also audio recorded.
Data Analysis:
The audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed and textually coded for a priori and emergent trends using Atlas TI qualitative data analysis software.
Presentation of Findings:
The findings from this SARE-funded research were shared at departmental seminars, graduate research seminars, and local conferences, such as the Virginia Association for Biological Farming Conference (VABF). The findings were also presented at regional and national conferences, with a manuscript on the role of Black farmers organizers in promoting healthy and sustainable local community food access underway to be submitted for publication in appropriate journals, such as the Journal of Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society.
- Sustainable Local Food Access Pathways:
Black farmer organizers implemented Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) models tailored to underserved communities, collaborated with mutual aid groups, and employed agroecological practices enhancing soil health and biodiversity. These initiatives improved food access and fostered environmental sustainability.
- Self-Determination and Community Resiliency:
Participants viewed farming as a means of political resistance and community empowerment. Initiatives included youth farming programs (Sankofa farms), land trust formations, and active participation in policy advocacy, reinforcing social sustainability and community cohesion.
- Decline of Black Farmers:
Systemic barriers identified included discriminatory lending practices, limited access to technical assistance, and urban development pressures. Despite these challenges, Black farmer organizers employed strategies like cooperative models and knowledge-sharing networks to mitigate adverse effects.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Preliminary findings from this SARE-funded research were shared at the 2023 Southern Rural Sociological Association’s conference in Oklahoma City, the Virginia Tech Graduate Students’ Research Symposium, the ALCE Symposium, and the Ujima Jams with Black farmers from the Mid-Atlantic regions. Abstracts have also been accepted for the upcoming Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society conference, where the findings will also be presented.
Project Outcomes
Economic Benefits:
The adoption of cooperative models and value-added products led to diversified income streams for Black farmers, enhancing economic sustainability.
Environmental Benefits:
Implementation of regenerative practices such as composting and cover cropping improved soil health and reduced environmental degradation.
Social Benefits:
Strengthened community networks and increased youth engagement in agriculture contributed to social cohesion and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Outreach
Findings were disseminated through community workshops, presentations at agricultural and academic conferences, and publications in academic journals (in process). Collaborations with local organizations facilitated broader community engagement and knowledge sharing.
List of Outreach Events and Conference presentations
- Nunoo, N. and Niewolny, K. (2025). “We might not have had a lot of money, but we never had an empty belly”: The Role of Black Women Farmers in Virginia's Rural Food Sovereignty Movement.” The Annual Meeting of Southern Rural Sociological Association, Dallas, TX, February 202
- Nicole I. Nunoo, (2024), From plot to plate: Exploring the benefits of urban agriculture for small-scale farmers, USDA/FAS Urban Agriculture Training Workshop, Tuskegee, AL, Sept 2024.
- Nicole, Nunoo. (2024). Dramatic Transformations: The Journey from Theater Major to Social Science Research. The University of Ghana, Department of Theatre Arts Weekly Seminar Presentation, Virtual, June 202
- Nicole, Nunoo. (2024). Harvesting Justice: Bridging The Gap Between Soil, Plant, Human Health, And Environmental Sustainability. The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health Seminar, Virtual, June 202
- Nicole, Nunoo. (2024). Precision Agriculture 2.0 and Alternative Knowledge. The Annual joint conference of the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS) and Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS) conference, Syracuse, NY, June 202
- Nicole, Nunoo. (2024). Cultivating Collective Agency: Black Farmer Organizers in Virginia Redefining the Right to Food. The Annual joint conference of the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS) and Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS) conference, Syracuse, NY, June 202
- Nunoo, N. (2024). Collective Agency as a Pathway for Black Farmer Resiliency in Virginia. The Annual Meeting of Southern Rural Sociological Association, Atlanta, GA, February 202
- Nicole, Nunoo. (2023). Black Farmer Organizing for Food and Land Sovereignty in the Rural South. The Annual joint conference of the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS) and Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS) conference, Boston, MA, May 202
- Nunoo, N. (2023). Exploring the Theory of Racialized Organizations within Black Farmer Organizing for Food Sovereignty. 39th Virginia Tech Graduate and Professional Students’ Senate Research Symposium, Blacksburg, VA, March 2023
- Nunoo, N. and Niewolny, K. (2023). Collective Agency as Social Justice Praxis: Black Framer Organizer Perspectives. The Annual Meeting of Southern Rural Sociological Association, Oklahoma City, OK, February 2023
- Nicole, Nunoo, and Kim Niewolny. (2022). Examining the Role of Collective Agency in Multi-Sector Advocacy in the Food System. The Inaugural ALCE Graduate Students Mini-Symposium, Blacksburg, VA, April 202
- Nicole, Nunoo. (2022). Examining the role of Collective Agency in Multi-Sector Advocacy for Racial Justice in the Food System. The Annual joint conference of the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS) and Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS) conference, Athens, GA, May 202
- Nicole, Nunoo, and Kim Niewolny (2022). Exploring Collective Agency in Multi-Sector Advocacy for Racial Justice in the Food System. The Annual Meeting of Southern Rural Sociological Association, New Orleans, LA, February 202
- Nicole, Nunoo, (2021). Examining the role of Collective Agency in Multi-Sector Advocacy for Racial Justice in the Food System: A case of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance (NBFJA). The 8th Annual Rural Studies Students Conference. Virtual, October 2021.
- Nicole, Nunoo, Kim Niewolny, and Kasey, Owen (2021). Exploring the role of Collective Agency in Food System during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Around table discussion. The Annual joint conference of the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS); Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS); Canadian Association for Food Studies (CAFS); the Society for the Anthropology of Food and Nutrition (SAFN), and the Culinary Institute of America and New York University. Virtual, June 2021.
I gained insights into the working relationships and the strategies employed by Black farmer organizers in mitigating food access issues. In addition, I was able to build networks with multiple Black farmers who are utilizing various sustainable agricultural practices and are also using their farms as spaces to create affinity groups.
This project highlights the critical role of Black farmer organizers in advancing sustainable agriculture and community development. Their innovative approaches and resilience offer valuable lessons for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners aiming to create equitable and sustainable food systems.
For Future Research:
- Conduct longitudinal studies to assess the long-term impact of Black farmer-led initiatives on community sustainability.
- Explore the scalability of cooperative models in different regional contexts.
For SARE and Agricultural Institutions:
- Increase funding and support for Black-led agricultural projects.
- Develop culturally responsive outreach programs to better serve marginalized farming communities.