Amplifying Voices: A Need to Address Racial and Social Justice in the U.S. Food System

Background: An under-researched area of sustainable development is social sustainability, or the equitable, viable and quality standards of living that encompass the social well-being of a geographic community or profession (e.g., farming). Farmers face systemic and environmental stressors that endanger their social sustainability, resulting in increased reports of depression, anxiety, and completed suicide among U.S. farmers. Beginning farmers need to procure technical skills, farmland, and capital, which contributes to stress. Burnout among beginning farmers is common; studies show beginning farmer success includes social and structural factors.

Methods: We utilized a community-engaged research framework in collaboration with a non-profit organization that provides education and technical assistance to farmers. Staff were concerned about beginning farmers who were experiencing high levels of distress, which was exacerbated during COVID-19. Together, we designed a mixed-methods exploratory, cross-sectional design using quantitative surveys and in-depth interviews to 1) understand the social sustainability needs and assets of beginning farmers, and 2) explore the systemic stressors that contribute to beginning farmers’ mental health. This abstract will focus on the surveys and objective 2.

Beginning farmers in the Midwest region were recruited using purposive sampling through our community partner’s email distribution list. A quantitative survey was administered using Qualtrics, and included sociodemographic characteristics, farm characteristics, items from the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, A modified Farm Stress Survey, and the Patient Health Questionaire-4 (PHQ-4). Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Our sample (n=64) included 38% men, 53% women, and 9% transgender or non-binary respondents; 94% were White, and 6% identified as Black, Latino, or Asian. Our survey findings showed a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms (58.1%) among our survey sample when compared to the general population (37.9%). Systemic stressors included having insufficient time and labor (90% of respondents), COVID-19 (84%), climate change (80%), social justice (75%), and financial worries (74%). 60% of non-white and 40% of non-binary and transgender participants noted discrimination in the agricultural community as a source of stress.

Implications: Farmers’ mental health is an important component of sustainable food systems that feed our communities. However, the stressors of farmers are multi-layered and the implications for interventions must be approached at multiple system levels. Our sample includes underrepresented transgender or non-binary farmers, and farmers of color. We worked with our community partner to re-word measurements and include more options for gender identity to amplify the voices often excluded from food systems research. An overwhelming number of participants identified discrimination and social justice issues as a source of stress. Historical trauma (e.g., land dispossession, institutionalized racism) challenges the social sustainability of farmers. $95 million are appropriated for the USDA’s beginning farmer grant program, yet little to none of the funds support efforts to address mental health, current discrimination, and impacts of historical exclusionary practices (e.g., financial capital, labor, land access). COVID-19 revealed vulnerability in our food systems. These systemic issues and challenges facing farmers working to improve food insecurity, food access, and sustainable community-based food systems should be of concern to social workers.