All of this adds to a tremendous impact on Georgia's economy, tourism, and attractiveness to newcomers. Urban agriculture also includes the marketing components linking urban agribusiness producers, suppliers and retailers with urban consumers. Those producers, suppliers and retailers are often located in rural areas. Our rural agribusinesses are, thus, exerting social, ecological and economic impacts on urban clientele and consumers and, conversely, our urban consumers are influencing rural agribusinesses. These influences often bridge rural and urban areas.
Urban agriculture is critical to Georgia's continued economic growth and security.
Our college must address the needs of these urban agribusinesses as well as the consumers they serve. The Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture is addressing these needs by coordinating research and educational programs directed to developing and disseminating unbiased and scientifically-based information on the production, marketing, management and use of these urban agricultural commodities. Wayne Gardner is coordinator of the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture.