Dallas Urban Farms Thrive With Long-Term Research Partners

In neighborhoods where fresh produce used to be miles away, urban farms are now growing food, training workers, and giving communities control over their food supply.

A new study from Southern Methodist University reveals the secret ingredient behind successful urban farming: long-term research partnerships that last years, not months. These collaborations pair evidence-based researchers with local farms to solve real problems like contaminated soil, funding gaps, and community trust.

The research highlights two transformative partnerships in Dallas. In South Dallas, undergraduate students worked with a local farm to map food deserts and create visualizations showing transportation and income barriers. Those maps now help the farm win grants and influence policy decisions.

Another partnership focused on regenerative farming practices at a campus farm, where students learned sustainable techniques while addressing food access issues in nearby neighborhoods. These aren't small community gardens but full-scale operations using hydroponics and other advanced methods to maximize production.

Marc Sager, assistant director of research at SMU's Budd Center, spent two years just building trust with Joppy Momma's Farm in historic Joppa, Texas, before starting any formal research. He observed, listened, and showed up consistently.

"Many urban farms are rooted in historically marginalized communities that have experienced long-standing neglect, redlining, and broken promises from institutions," Sager explained. "For them, actions speak louder than words."

The Ripple Effect

These partnerships create benefits flowing in both directions. Farms gain access to scientific solutions and data to support their expansion, while researchers gather real-world insights that shape better policies and practices across the country.

The collaborations tackle challenges that would overwhelm farms working alone, from testing soil contamination to securing sustainable funding streams. By bringing multiple practitioners and researchers to the table, these partnerships ensure every voice shapes the solutions.

Operations like Restorative Farms in West Dallas now serve as models, transforming vacant lots into productive spaces that combat food insecurity while teaching valuable skills. The partnerships give these farms the tools and credibility to expand their impact.

Communities that once faced food deserts are building their own local food networks, one harvest at a time.