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Planning is underway to create the world's largest urban farm on more than 70 acres of vacant lands and abandoned properties within the City of Detroit, announced John Hantz, CEO of Hantz Farms, LLC.

Michigan State University Adds Expertise

Hantz Farms is working directly with Michigan State University to add its expertise on agricultural and soil sciences and consulting with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a national leader in community-based food systems.

"Urban agriculture is an opportunity to provide an effective economic development program for the Detroit community," said Jeffrey D. Armstrong, Dean of the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "This is a challenging and exciting opportunity."

"Detroit could be the nation's leading example of urban farming and become a destination for fresh, local and natural foods, and become a major part of the green movement," said Hantz, a Detroit resident. "Hantz Farms will transform this area into a viable, beautiful and sustainable area that will serve the community, increase the tax base, create jobs and greatly improve the quality of life in an area that has experienced a severe decline in population."

The plan is to grow natural, local, fresh and safe fruits and vegetables to help meet Michigan's increasing demand for locally grown produce. In addition to food and Christmas trees, the farm will harvest wind energy and utilize geothermal heat and biomass fuel from recycling compost.

"It makes great sense to utilize the blighted and abandoned land in the city to produce fresh, nutritious food for local consumers," said Rick Foster, vice president for programs at the Kellogg Foundation. "Urban development projects like this one not only create good food and connection to nature, but serve as an economic development anchor for others in the community."

Some Prefer Small Community Gardens

The developers believe that if the project is approved by Detroit city officials, work would begin immediately and the farm would be operating within six months. Some Detroiters would prefer to see vacant land used for small community gardens that would help bring neighborhoods together.