Urban Agriculture Initiative

Transforming Communities Through Technology & Sustainable Farming 

The Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) is proud to lead the Precision Urban Agriculture Initiative, a groundbreaking effort aimed at addressing food insecurity in urban areas. This initiative is made possible through $963,000 in Community Project Funding secured by Congresswoman Shontel Brown and is supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology.  

The Challenge: Urban Food Deserts 

Urban food deserts are communities with limited access to fresh, affordable, and nutritious food, which significantly impacts public health and quality of life. Through this initiative, we aim to bridge this gap by transforming underutilized urban spaces into thriving agricultural hubs.  

 

Our Approach: Precision Agriculture Meets Urban Sustainability 

The Precision Urban Agriculture Initiative integrates cutting-edge aerospace technology with sustainable agricultural practices to establish productive urban farms. This includes: 

• Drone Technology for soil moisture and crop health monitoring, optimizing water use and reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers. 

• Data-Driven Agriculture to improve crop yields and food distribution in underserved communities. 

• Collaboration with Urban Farmers & Technologists to develop scalable and sustainable farming models. 

• Workforce Development & STEM Education programs to support future leaders in sustainability. 

 

 

How OAI Supports Urban Farmers & Technologists 

For Urban Farmers: 

• Complimentary Needs Assessments in partnership with Ohio State University’s Extension Program. 

• Access to Cutting-Edge Agricultural Technologies through Ohio’s Entrepreneurial Support Providers and the LandWERX Innovation Hub (Department of Defense’s Innovation Hub). 

• Technical Assistance for implementing precision farming solutions. 

• Business Planning & Fundraising Support to help farmers achieve long-term sustainability.

For Technologists: 

• Connections to Urban Farmers & LandWERX Innovation Hub to facilitate collaboration. 

• Opportunities to Develop Demonstration Projects with urban farmers in the Greater Cleveland Area. 

• Technical Assistance to implement and manage demonstration projects. 

• Business Planning Support to secure funding through SBIR/STTR grants and investor capital.

The Broader Impact 

Beyond its immediate benefits, the Precision Urban Agriculture Initiative is designed to create lasting economic and social change. By fostering job creation, new market opportunities, and sustainable food systems, this initiative serves as a model for urban agriculture across the nation.  

“NE Ohio has always been at the forefront of urban agriculture innovation. We are honored to spearhead this initiative, leveraging our aerospace expertise to improve lives.”
— Ron Stubblefield, Senior Program Manager, OAI  

 

 

Join the Movement 

We invite urban farmers, technologists, and community stakeholders to collaborate with us in shaping the future of urban agriculture. 

For more information or to get involved, please contact:

Ron Stubblefield, Senior Program Manager
Email: ronaldstubblefield@oai.org