Reclaiming the U.S. Food System: A Community-Engaged Review of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Food Projects and the Promise of Food Sovereignty in the United States

Abstract

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led food organizations in the United States emerged in response to a growing desire amongst minority communities to improve their access to food and achieve food sovereignty – the right to develop and define their own food systems. Previous food studies scholarship has examined how the modern U.S. agricultural system was created through the exploitation and oppression of BIPOC communities. As a result, these communities have faced historical exclusion from conversations surrounding U.S. agricultural policy. BIPOC organizations aim to increase agricultural participation and production of nutrient-dense, culturally-relevant foods to support the needs of their communities. In this thesis, I review three case studies of minority-run food projects: a land-based farm, a seed distribution system, and an urban garden project, to assess the extent to which they have achieved food sovereignty. My central research question is: How are BIPOC agricultural projects and food pathways throughout the American Northeast supporting food sovereignty amongst minority communities? I use a community-engaged research approach to answer this question by conducting interviews with each organization’s leadership regarding their organizational strategy, operations, and level of impact. Within these conversations, I acquired information regarding challenges the organizations encounter to design research projects as a model for how university-organization collaborations can support food sovereignty efforts. Chapter one focuses on the land-based project, Soul Fire Farm, which expressed difficulties aligning community needs with the grantmaking strategies of major agricultural-project funders in the private sector. I designed and executed a mapping project of the major foundations to identify gaps in funding for certain project types and geographical locations, and foundations whose mission statements position them to support the goals of sovereignty organizations. Chapter two explores the seed distribution system, Ujamma Cooperative Food Alliance (UCFA), and the urban farm project, Project EATS. I design research projects to propose a solution to their challenges within seed rematriation efforts and long-term vacant land access in urban environments, respectively. Across the three case studies, I found that while food sovereignty presents as a guiding principle for these organizations, they have yet to achieve the financial independence required for true sovereignty due to their reliance on external funding. They currently face restrictions in their operations due to their limited organizational capacities and the current political distaste for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Therefore, to promote increased food sovereignty, I recommend initiatives that rely on collaborations between nonprofits and researchers to address current organizational challenges and systemic issues. Additionally, in the face of political moves to restrict funding for equity and race-based programs, I recommend that these organizations maintain their mission statements and focus on restructuring their organizational and financial strategies to develop reciprocal partnerships with grantmakers to achieve long-term funding goals. I argue that this will support them in lessening their reliance on funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) so they can amplify BIPOC experiences with food to advocate for the development of a holistic agricultural system that meets community needs.