Some of the most poignant images from the pandemic are from long lines at food pantries and food distribution centers. People who were once donors and volunteers at food banks became clients after losing their jobs. Before the pandemic, hunger and food insecurity across the country was rampant with an estimated 1:6 people going to bed hungry or not knowing where their next meal would come from, writes Christa Avampato on her website.
"The pandemic laid bare some of the ugly aspects of our society, and chief among them is just how wide the health equity gap is. Better nutrition is one way to reduce that gap. We will never close that gap without filling the dire need for sources of affordable, healthy, local food that are distributed effectively to where they’re needed. Indoor farming helps us work on this need year-round."
"The gun violence in New York has spiked in 2021 to an extent that frightens people who grew up here through the drug wars of the 1970s and 1980s. Gun violence in the city was up 73% in June 2021 compared to a year ago. Policymakers are attempting to put together plans to reverse this trend, and one of the main pillars of their plans involves job creation. Indoor farms offer the opportunity for skills development, personal empowerment, good-paying jobs, and enhanced respect for the natural world and science. The win-win-win benefits of vertical farms just keep piling up."
"So why doesn’t New York have indoor farms? Actually, it does. We just need more of them. Farm.One is an indoor farm that’s flourishing in New York City. It proves the point that the idea of small urban indoor farms works. With more support and space from the city, indoor farming could be the way to New York’s sustainable future for all its residents. Do we have the will to make it a reality?"
Read the complete article at www.christaavampato.medium.com.