Challenges to Chattanooga’s Food And Agriculture

Key Threats:

• Urban Expansion and Farmland Loss
  Historically, Chattanooga and its surrounding areas have relied on nearby family-owned farms to provide local food. However, rapid urban development is encroaching on farmland, converting agricultural land to residential subdivisions. As farmland disappears, the community risks fragmented local food systems, omission of economic agricultural opportunity, and increased reliance on imported products. Tennessee is ranked as the fourth most threatened state in the country for farmland loss with Hamilton County at higher risk of development than the majority of the rest of the state *see here*.
  
  
• Environmental Degradation and Soil Health
  Pollution from industrial activity, soil erosion, and the use of outdated practices *this would be tilling soil, cattle in ponds, etc but let’s leave that our for word count sake* have negatively impacted Chattanooga’s agricultural land. This activity degrades soil health and reduces the productivity of farmland, threatening the quality and sustainability of local food sources. Soil health is extremely important, but it’s not a huge concern agriculturally in Hamilton County as most producers are cattle farmers managing pastureland. We’d be a lot more concerned about soil degradation in an ag capacity if we were in a row crop oriented county where heavy tilling and chemical applications are more commonly made.
  
  
• Climate Change and Weather Extremes
  Chattanooga’s farmers are increasingly affected by climate change, facing higher frequency and intensity droughts, floods, and other unpredictable weather patterns, as well as an increase in pest pressure. Collectively, these. These conditions can disrupt crop yields, affecting both the availability and affordability of locally grown food.
  
  
• Food Insecurity in Underserved Communities
  Access to fresh, affordable food isn’t equally distributed. Many low-income areas in Chattanooga are “food deserts,” lacking convenient access to grocery stores with fresh produce, leading to health disparities among residents.

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Solutions

Support sustainable practices for healthier communities and landscapes. This commitment involves:

• Promoting Sustainable Farming practices that restore ecological productivity and improve resilience to climate change.
  
  
• Protecting Farmland through zoning policies that prioritize agricultural land use
  
  
• Expanding Access to Local Markets and Food Programs to make fresh, locally grown food affordable and accessible to all.

Through sustainable agricultural practices, Chattanooga can foster a healthier, more resilient food system that benefits both its people and its landscapes.