Building Innovation Ecosystems for Urban AgTech
In cities across the country, vacant lots and rooftops are transforming into productive, resilient farms. But growing fresh food closer to where people live is only part of the story — what happens when technology, open-source ideas, and unlikely partnerships come together to support these new urban growers?
The Ohio Aerospace Institute team sat down with Dr. Cindy Folck, Associate Extension Administrator at Central State University — Ohio’s only public HBCU and a newly designated land-grant university — to talk about how collaboration, applied research, and community trust are reshaping what’s possible for precision urban agriculture.
From practical challenges like who can actually afford the tools, to big-picture ideas about what an inclusive innovation ecosystem really looks like, Dr. Folck’s insights remind us that technology alone isn’t enough. It’s people — farmers, researchers, educators, entrepreneurs — working together that make the difference.
Opening Access Through Open Source
Open-source tools have the power to democratize precision agriculture, especially for smaller and urban farmers who often can’t afford the high cost of advanced equipment. Much of today’s precision ag technology is tied to expensive, brand-specific machinery that not every grower can buy — or even repair without dealer support. By breaking that model, open-source approaches can make technology more accessible and adaptable, allowing more growers to benefit from tools that help them farm smarter.
“The idea of having it open source really helps make it more accessible for farmers who currently don’t have access to those technologies,” said Dr. Folck. “If you’re not buying big machinery, you’re often shut out. Open-source changes that.”
Farmers have always learned best from each other. Strengthening that farmer-to-farmer exchange is critical for sharing data, tools, and best practices across diverse organizations and communities. Universities can support this by providing research-backed information, but it’s farmers who put those ideas to the test in real-world conditions and refine them for practical use. Building robust networks where growers can connect, ask questions, and learn from each other is one of the biggest opportunities — and one of the biggest challenges — in scaling innovation equitably.
“Farmers learn the most from other farmers,” Dr. Folck said. “Our role is to help create those networks so they can test what works, share what doesn’t, and make the technology fit their needs.”
True open collaboration can be difficult in a competitive tech landscape, but it’s not impossible. Companies need to recover the costs of developing new tools, but partnerships that spread those costs across broader groups of users can make emerging technologies affordable and sustainable. Clear roles, realistic expectations, and trust are all key ingredients for making these partnerships work.
“Tech companies have a product they need to sell — that’s reality,” she said. “But if we can find ways to spread costs and expand who can benefit, everybody wins.”
Making Research Real
Partnerships between public and private sectors thrive when farmers play an active role in developing and testing new technologies. If a product doesn’t work on small-scale urban farms, growers simply won’t use it — no matter how advanced it is. On-farm research ensures that what’s developed is actually useful and relevant, helping build real markets for new tools that solve real problems.
“It’s essential to have that on-farm research,” Dr. Folck emphasized. “If you create technology that just doesn’t work for a small farmer, you’ll have a product no one wants to use.”
Institutions like Central State are also uniquely positioned to connect tech developers with farmers who can test and improve new ideas. As a land-grant university, Central State works closely with a network of growers — especially minority and small-scale farmers who are often overlooked by traditional agtech markets. This connection helps ensure that new solutions reach the people who need them most.
“We can help agtech companies connect with farmers, test whether something is useful, and make sure it’s relevant,” said Dr. Folck. “That’s how we bridge the gap.”
Effective partnerships depend on everyone knowing their role. Universities bring expertise in education and research. Private companies drive innovation. Government agencies and community organizations often provide the resources and local trust needed to bridge gaps. When these partners align around their strengths, they can move faster and avoid duplicating efforts.
“When you start a partnership, you need to know who does what,” she said. “Play to your strengths and don’t duplicate effort. That’s when it works best.”
Education and applied research play a huge role in bringing technology to urban farming, especially when it comes to the growing number of beginning farmers. Many people entering urban agriculture today are first-generation growers — eager to build a livelihood and generational wealth through farming. They often embrace technology and see their farms as businesses, not just family traditions. Supporting them means providing practical, hands-on learning that combines farming basics with business skills and tech training.
“We’re seeing so many beginning farmers,” said Dr. Folck. “This generation wants to farm, and they want to use technology — but they need training on both the growing side and the business side.”
The Innovation Ecosystem We Need
If there’s one thing that gives Dr. Folck optimism, it’s the growing emphasis on urban agriculture as an innovation frontier. By expanding the focus beyond large, rural farms, new technologies can reach communities that have been left out for too long.
A truly effective urban agtech ecosystem, she notes, must be accessible, flexible, and designed for the realities of both urban and rural growers — from connectivity challenges in rural areas to the added costs of water and energy in cities. Success depends on building systems that account for real-world conditions, not just ideal scenarios.
“You really have to think through how it works in different places,” Dr. Folck said. “Whether you’re paying for water in the city or dealing with no broadband in the country — the ecosystem has to account for all of that.”
Urban agriculture is more than a trend; it’s a chance to reimagine how we feed our communities and support new generations of farmers. With open collaboration, shared knowledge, and trusted partnerships, innovation can take root where it’s needed most.
This work was performed under the following financial assistance award 60NANB24D146 from U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
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About Parallax Advanced Research & the Ohio Aerospace Institute
Parallax Advanced Research is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. In 2023, Parallax and the Ohio Aerospace Institute formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements across Ohio and the nation. The Ohio Aerospace Institute plays a pivotal role in advancing aerospace through collaboration, education, and workforce development. More information can be found at parallaxresearch.org and oai.org.