From backyard gardens to commercial-scale rooftop farms, sustainable urban food production is reshaping how we grow and access food in cities.
That’s why leading scientists from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Extension faculty are offering the popular, award-winning Sustainable Urban Food Production Short Course to communities in-person and online for the fifth year, beginning Oct. 6. Classes run from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on six consecutive Mondays. Seating is limited to 25 participants. Registration is required with this link. Registration deadline is Sept. 30.
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“One of the most powerful things we can do is to show people is where their food comes from, how it’s grown, and how it impacts people’s life and the environment,” said Jiangxiao Qiu, associate professor of landscape ecology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center and the co-lead of this program. “When participants see the process firsthand, whether in a community garden, a food forest or a small urban farm, it deepens their connection to food and inspires them to grow in ways that are sustainable, productive and beneficial to their community.”
This greenhouse is part of an urban food farm operation, Harpkin Family Farm, in Davie, which was a tour site in the 2023 short course.
Photo by UF/IFAS Lourdes Mederos
Urban food forests, community gardens, urban agriculture, and the best use of composting to grow food safely are among the topics for this six-week program designed to boost urban agriculture skill sets in local communities. Through classroom learning and on-site visits, participants will gain real-world insights into how successful food production systems work in an urban setting.
Course schedule:
- Oct. 6: Introduction to Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Regulations
- Oct. 13: Business and Marketing Plan; Financial Resources
- Oct. 20: Urban Food Production Systems, Field Tour
- Oct. 27: Best Management Practices
- Nov. 3: Technology Integration in Urban Agriculture
- Nov. 10: Post-Harvesting and Food Handling
Participants will also see successful urban food systems through visits to three diverse urban agricultural sites across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. One location focuses on large-scale composting, transforming food waste into nutrient-rich soil products for both commercial and residential use. Another site blends traditional growing methods with modern sustainability practices like composting and aquaponics to produce fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. A third site grows fresh, organic produce using eco-friendly farming methods like soil regeneration to provide healthy food to people in need.
Leafy greens growing in a garden in Alachua county. Photo by UF/IFAS Tyler Jones.
The program is open to homeowners, educators, community gardeners, urban farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs eager to make a change to the food systems, and an impact on the local food movement. Through the sessions, participants will explore the social and environmental benefits of urban agriculture, learn proven management strategies and leave with the tools to start, expand and strengthen food production in urban communities.
“We don’t just cover how to grow food, we also teach participants how to run their operations like a business and in a sustainable manner,” said Qiu. “This course equips people with the complete toolkit they need to understand urban agriculture and make their ventures, regardless of commercial or non-profit, successful and sustainable.”
Participants in various industries, including nurseries, urban planning, environmental services, and culinary arts, can earn continuing education units and a certification upon completion.
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human, and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries and all Florida residents.
For more information, go to ifas.ufl.edu.
