Jackson County Democratic Committee

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -State Rep. Jason R. Holsman, D-Kansas City, has filed a new urban agriculture bill in the Missouri House of Representatives.

The bill, HB 1848, would create the Urban Farming Task Force.  The goal of the task force would be to study and make recommendations regarding the impact of urban farm cooperatives, vertical farming and sustainable living communities in Missouri.

“Ideas like vertical sky farming and sustainable living communities just make sense for places like Kansas City and Saint Louis,” said Holsman “We can convert vacant buildings into large, sustainable hydroponic produce centers.  The urban farms would create much needed jobs in the inner city and generate revenue in unused buildings.”

The concept of indoor farming has evolved along with the technology that makes it possible. Growing food indoors in nutrient rich waters requires little pesticides and provides a potential solution to storm water run-off management.

Holsman noted that foods grown on the East and West Coasts must travel over 1,400 miles to reach Kansas City leaving a substantial carbon footprint.

“Rather than eating food shipped halfway across the nation filled with preservatives and pesticides, we could have a year-round supply fresh produce while creating jobs for the urban core.” said Holsman.