Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development

Challenges and barriers in food supply chains

Juan Aguilera — 2026-09-11

Food supply chains in the southern border counties of Texas and New Mexico face persistent disruptions driven by environmental, infrastructural, socioeconomic, and policy-related stressors. Understanding these challenges is crucial for informing coordinated efforts to enhance regional food systems. We conducted a scoping review to identify and synthesize evidence on challenges and barriers affecting food supply chains in the region. Peer-reviewed articles and grey literature published between 2014 and 2024 were searched and appraised using the AACODS framework. Nine sources met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed to characterize cross-sectoral challenges spanning production, aggregation, distribution, and retail systems. Findings reveal a set of interconnected barriers shaping regional food supply chains. Environmental stressors, including drought, aquifer depletion, extreme heat, and conflicts over water governance, limit agricultural productivity and increase reliance on external suppliers. Infrastructure gaps, particularly shortages of aggregation hubs, cold storage facilities, and transportation networks, further constrain efficient movement of goods. Cross-border dependencies, such as inspection delays, regulatory shifts, and policy uncertainties at U.S.-Mexico ports of entry, exacerbate systemwide vulnerabilities. Finally, retail-access inequities in rural colonias, where many communities rely on small outlets with limited refrigeration and constrained inventory capacity, interact with structural affordability barriers, limiting the availability and variety of fresh, perishable foods. Across sectors, food supply chains in the Texas–New Mexico border region are shaped by cascading challenges that span environmental stressors, infrastructure deficits, and cross-border policy volatility. Upstream disruptions in water governance, labor stability, and aggregation capacity amplify transportation costs and downstream retail constraints. These findings identify actionable priorities for regional decision-makers, including strategic investment in cold-chain and aggregation infrastructure, coordinated binational port and inspection processes to reduce spoilage risk, and workforce-stabilization policies that support small- and midscale producers.

Emancipatory scaling: Strengthening locally led AR4D innovation processes

Hanna Ewell — 2026-09-11

Introduction

Agricultural research for development (AR4D) increasingly seeks to scale innovations that can transform food and agricultural systems. Yet scaling is still often framed as a technical exercise of replicating solutions, expanding reach, and delivering measurable outputs. This viewpoint argues that such approaches underestimate the political, relational, and context-dependent nature of systems change. They risk privileging funder and institutional priorities, overlooking local realities, and positioning communities primarily as adopters rather than as actors with authority to shape innovation pathways. In response, we introduce the concept of emancipatory scaling. Drawing on emancipatory research traditions, responsible innovation, and responsible scaling, the concept shifts attention from scaling solutions to transforming the conditions under which scaling takes place. Emancipatory scaling is characterized by meaningful participation as co-control, reciprocal accountability, community agency over research agendas and outcomes, recognition of diverse knowledge systems, and sensitivity to socio-ecological interdependencies. . . .

Estimates of food insecurity among Cooperative Extension employees at a southeastern land-grant university

Victor Olayemi — 2026-09-10

Food insecurity among public health professionals is an underexplored issue with implications for workforce well-being and program delivery. Although Cooperative Extension (CE), the applied outreach arm of land-grant universities, plays a critical role in advancing food systems and community health, little is yet known about the food security status of CE employees themselves. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity among CE employees at a southeastern land-grant university using data from a 2024 cross-sectional survey (N = 95; 12% response rate). Food security was assessed using the USDA Household Food Security Module. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between food insecurity and sociodemographic, work-related, and financial resilience (absorptive capacity) variables. Over one in five respondents (22.1%) reported experiencing food insecurity. Higher absorptive capacity (AOR = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.0006-0.16) and educational attainment (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.17-0.92) were significantly associated with lower odds of food insecurity, while income and job classification were not. Food insecurity was significantly linked to self-reported poor physical and mental health (p < 0.05), and 23% of respondents reported using at least one nutrition assistance program. These findings revealed that economic vulnerability exists within a key public health workforce, and underscore the need for institutional policies that support employee financial resilience and food access. By addressing food insecurity among CE employees, both workforce wellness and the effectiveness of community-based programming may be enhanced.

Minding the implementation gap

Gaudy Solorzano-Morera — 2026-09-09

Values-based institutional food procurement (VBIFP) aligns institutional purchasing with shared social values, including sustainability, nutrition, and equitable supplier inclusion. Using a mixed-methods approach combining a survey of 189 producers with stakeholder interviews, this study examines producer readiness, participation, and systemic barriers to VBIFP adoption in the U.S. Midwest region, with particular attention on small-scale and ethnic-minority producers. Despite growing adoption of values-based procurement among public institutions, many producers whose operations most closely embody these principles—small-scale, sustainability-oriented, and ethnic-minority suppliers—remain largely excluded from institutional markets. Minimum volume thresholds and certification mandates emerged as the most significant barriers to participation. While small-scale and ethnic-minority producers were more likely to engage in values-based practices like cultivating culturally relevant crops and implementing sustainable practices, entrenched procurement norms centered on cost minimization continue to limit their market access. Technological limitations and the lack of supplier aggregation further restrict VBIFP adoption. Integrating resource-based and institutional theories, this study provides empirical evidence showing how producer resource constraints interact with coercive procurement rules and normative practices to exclude values-aligned suppliers. Actionable policy and procurement recommendations―including values-aligned scoring, flexible contracting models, and cooperative aggregation partnerships―can expand equitable participation in institutional food markets.

Social, cultural, political, and human capital perceptions by young food system professionals

Beatrice O. Nyarko — 2026-09-09

The Community Capitals (CCs) model has been applied to numerous food systems and community development efforts. This paper utilizes the CCs framework to understand how it informs the operations of food system organizations in Vermont. We focus on four capitals without clear units of measurement: social, human, cultural, and political. These capitals have been highlighted in previous research as being less commonly and easily identified by food systems stakeholders. We conducted interviews with 10 early-career professionals across the state. The purpose of the inquiry was to measure how our respondents understand these capitals and how they underpin the respondents’ work. Questions focused on how respondents and their organizations define and operationalize these four capitals and their roles in food resilience. Respondents emphasized the value of investing in collaborative relationships, recognizing experiential knowledge, supporting advocacy efforts, and actively addressing equity concerns. This study contributes to a broader understanding of how CCs support resilient food systems. Future research could further explore how to address diversity gaps in food system networks and promote collaboration.

“We use it … and we need it now”: An assessment of internet and technology use among farm owners and managers

Julianna Nieuwsma — 2026-09-04

Many agricultural producers live and work in rural areas that have been left behind in broadband internet expansion. A lack of digital inclusion of agricultural communities can stymie agricultural producers’ participation in e-commerce and marketing, use of precision agriculture, and access to information. To better understand how farm owners and managers access the internet and their digital skills, we conducted a mixed-methods research project using focus groups (N = 4) with participants (n = 26) living in four North Carolina (NC) counties in 2023. We used thematic analysis to qualitatively analyze the focus group data. To quantitatively assess emerging themes, we then conducted a survey of farmers (n = 113) at a statewide farm show in NC in 2024. We calculated descriptive statistics for the survey data, including demographics (gender, race, crops or livestock produced, acreage farmed) and experience with devices, social media, and troubleshooting. We identified three overarching themes: (1) experiences with internet and digital technologies; (2) impacts of internet access and digital technology, including farmers’ reflections on the critical need for internet connectivity for farm operations and perceptions of negative consequences of not having adequate connectivity; and (3) sentiments toward internet, specifically farmers’ frustration with the current state of connectivity options and opinions on initiatives to improve connectivity. Findings reveal an imperative for better digital inclusion of farms and agricultural communities across NC.

Connecting local food system actors for climate-friendly public catering in Germany

Annika Fricke — 2026-08-27

Climate-friendly nutrition is a pivotal subject for the future. The Climate-friendly Cafeterias (CliCa) project was initiated as a one-year transformative and transdisciplinary initiative to support the Karlsruhe (Germany) Climate Protection Concept 2030. Linked to this, the transformation goal of CliCa was to implement climate-friendly and sustainable measures (referred to as ‘levers’) in local cafeterias. These measures included increasing the share of organic, regional, seasonal, vegetarian, and vegan food, along with reducing food waste. The research goal (research question) was to identify the barriers for implementing levers. This was accompanied by the educational goal aimed to raise awareness among cafeteria staff and guests. The article presents the transdisciplinary design, addresses the research question, and evaluates the transformational goal by presenting outcomes (changes within the project duration) and impacts (changes after the project duration). Within the CliCa project, a heterogeneous network consisting of up to 40 actors was established, with a core group of 11 institutions engaging in regular participation. Two open questionnaires (N = 10 and N = 9) were conducted during the project’s duration, and eight follow-up interviews were conducted two years after the project’s conclusion. The data analysis revealed 10 key barriers to implementation and several measurable changes related to the identified levers. The most frequently cited barrier was ‘Guest acceptance,’ followed by ‘Missing/unclear framework conditions,’ ‘Lack of money,’ and ‘Higher price.’ The majority of barriers were mentioned in relation to the lever ‘Increasing the use of organically produced food.’ The findings of this study indicate that individual levers and barriers are interrelated and should be addressed in combination. With respect to the transformation goal, we con-clude that establishing a stakeholder network with a focus on peer-to-peer counseling is particularly effective when participants encounter similar chal-lenges and operate under comparable systemic conditions, such as infrastructure, acceptance by cafeteria guests, and economic frameworks.

Building protective data infrastructure for urban community gardens

Peleg Kremer — 2026-08-26

Across U.S. cities, community gardens embody a conundrum: they are vital to community well-being and integral to urban social infrastructure, yet they are also profoundly vulnerable due to insecure land tenure, fragmented policy support, and systemic disinvestment. This reflective essay examines how garden data infrastructure can shape both sides of this conundrum, strengthening gardens’ contributions to community life while also heightening their vulnerability to land loss. We focus on the case of the Philadelphia Garden Data Collaborative (PGDC), a multistakeholder initiative dedicated to documenting, protecting, and advocating for community-managed green space in Philadelphia. As participant researchers, we trace the evolution of PGDC’s efforts from grassroots mapping to the development of coordinated data stewardship, and we explore how these efforts have enabled both emergency interventions (such as preventing sheriff sale evictions) and long-term preservation strategies. We examine the ethical dilemmas involved in collecting and using sensitive community data in a context where bureaucratic neglect has historically rendered gardens invisible, and where increased visibility can expose them to new forms of risk. While data can strengthen advocacy and inform policy, it must be coupled with secure tenure mechanisms and sustained public investment to ensure the future of urban gardens.

“I don’t say food desert, I say food apartheid”

Ange A. Asanzi — 2026-08-25

Physical access to healthy food in the U.S. has been shaped by social and economic structures that include historical segregation and inequities in neighborhood development and investment. African Americans are most likely to reside in these historically segregated and economically challenged neighborhoods that have fewer healthy food options. Consequently, residents face significantly greater barriers to accessing healthy foods. To better understand the food insecurity experiences and food access needs of residents living in predominantly African American neighborhoods, we used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach and partnered with a community advisory board (CAB) in an urban Florida community. The CAB sought to capture the experience of living in a food desert by designing data collection tools, and recruiting and interviewing participants who lived or had family ties in Southeast Gainesville. Between February and December 2021, the team hosted three online focus groups with a total of 17 adult participants and administered a 35-item survey (N = 103). The survey response showing that 48% could not consistently afford to prepare a healthy meal was used as a measure of food insecurity. Significant predictors of this response were whether the participant also worried about running out of food (OR = 0.181, 95% CI [0.058, 0.561]), used Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance (OR = 0.515, 95% CI [0.266, 0.997]), and occasionally had to avoid their preferred grocery store for some reason (OR = 0.177, 95% CI [0.049, 0.641]). Over one third (37%) of households reported special dietary needs due to health issues, and many of those (39%) said they had trouble meeting those needs. Two major themes emerged from the qualitative data: navigating the structures of food apartheid and community food solutions. Underscoring the need for CBPR approaches to food systems planning and intervention, these results suggest that local knowledge of the food environment is critical for understanding how households in food deserts experience food insecurity and view potential solutions.

Make every bite count

Qi Jiang — 2026-08-24

Recent federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could reduce children’s access to free school meals by affecting schools’ eligibility for the Community Eligibility Provision program. In this study, we examine whether food waste reduction can be used as a strategy to sustain meal programs in South Carolina. Using direct weighing waste data and surveys, we assess potential cost savings, reinvestment opportunities, and meal quality improvements.

Note: Correction published August 25, 2026, to reinsert missing sentence and footnote on fifth page.