REGENERATING OUR FARMING SYSTEMS by Angus PALMER Claudia KLEFFMANN German BAHAMON Nina LISH Nina NDICHU 18
Introduction
Deal. Our group, which consisted of landscape architects and architects explored the policy As the COVID-19 crisis continues to proliferate framework of the Green New Deal. This proposed in the United States, it has subsequently exposed package of legislation is centered around policies the nation’s inadequate systems as well as the which address climate change and economic general lack of proactivity in response to crises inequality. Using the Green New Deal as reference at the national level. Looking more closely at for our research, we were prompted to re-envision these systems, the farmland now needed to help how we think about topics surrounding the ensure community food security for the duration agriculture industry, community food security, and of this pandemic is crucial. However, much like resiliency overall. The end result was a spatial the nation’s overwhelmed health system, the U.S. urgently needs a strategic plan for both agriculture design and system that was moulded and has continued to evolve as a result of the research and farmland. done in collaboration with farmers in the Hudson In today’s climate crisis, there are certain Valley. By integrating a variety of concepts such industries that are considered to be major culprits as the principles of regenerative agriculture, our in regards to their production of greenhouse gas emissions. Increasingly so in the eyes of the public, studio group came up with a project that would have the potential to sequester significant amounts agriculture finds itself as one of the most notable of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, question contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Some the rural landscape, create new local jobs, and may wonder whether or not this has been unfairly attributed to the industry. Globally, this reputation bring together isolated farmers throughout the and perception has evoked protest and movements Hudson Valley. These concepts and proposals could be the type of thinking that the Green New against the agriculture industry; an industry that Deal needs if it is to catalyze a paradigm shift in we simply cannot live without. This is highlighted agriculture. by current events in New York City as the city undergoes a lockdown due to a global pandemic and it’s residents continue to need access to fresh Agriculture, food and the Green New Deal Democratic U.S. Representative, Alexandria produce. Our food comes from farmers throughout the nation and the commodities they produce from Ocasio-Cortez, has called for a 10-year national mobilization of the Green New Deal. Within those both their crops and livestock. resolutions provided to Congress in early 2019, Although the industry is clearly important to there were two key policies relevant to agriculture our daily lives, this does not mean we can let the and food security which can be seen below: agriculture industry off the hook in regards to their rate of emissions. This holds increasingly “Working collaboratively with farmers and true as we become more concerned with climate ranchers in the United States to eliminate change and the climates instability in the age of the anthropocene. Moving forward, it is necessary pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is that the United States re-think the ways in which technologically feasible.” it approaches agriculture. The nation needs to understand that there are more sustainable “Providing all people of the United States practices when it comes to agriculture and how with (i) high-quality health care; (ii) affordable, farmland is managed. safe, and adequate housing; (iii) economic In the fall of 2019, the Masters of Architecture security; and (iv) access to clean water, clean and Urban Design program framed their Design air, healthy and affordable food, and nature.” Studio on the Hudson Valley and the Green New
