NLCU: Building-Integrated Agriculture Academy

The Building Integrated Agriculture (BIA) Academy, led by the National Urban Research & Extension Center in partnership with NLC University is an introductory cohort program that supports municipal leaders in exploring BIA as a strategy for community and environmental resilience, sustainability, food access, and economic opportunity. Participants engage in self-paced learning, monthly expert-led sessions, peer exchange, and technical assistance, with a focus on applied learning and practical implementation. The program emphasizes connections to university research and Extension partners to help cities translate knowledge into action and inform future practice.

This program is for city leaders and teams—particularly those early in exploring building-integrated agriculture—who want to develop practical, locally grounded strategies that advance food access, climate resilience, and economic opportunity.

What is Building-Integrated Agriculture?

Building‑integrated agriculture (BIA) refers to food production systems intentionally incorporated into buildings and urban infrastructure.

Examples include:

• Rooftop farms and edible green roofs
• Vertical farming systems in repurposed buildings
• Greenhouses attached to or embedded within structures

BIA helps cities make more efficient use of existing space while supporting local food systems and sustainable development.

Why BIA Matters

BIA can help cities address multiple priorities at once, including:

• Food access: Expanding local production and improving community resilience
• Climate resilience: Reducing heat, managing stormwater, and strengthening green infrastructure
• Economic development: Supporting new business models and green jobs
• Land use efficiency: Reimagining underutilized buildings and spaces

Program Overview

The Building Integrated Agriculture (BIA) Academy is a cohort based program that helps city leaders explore how food production can be integrated into the built environment to advance local priorities.

This introductory program is designed for cities that are:

• Exploring BIA for the first time, or
• Ready to move early ideas toward implementation

Participants will build foundational knowledge, assess local readiness, and develop a practical concept or next step for their community.

What Participants Will Gain

By the end of the Academy, participating cities will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of BIA and its applications
• Identify opportunities and constraints in their local context
• Explore a specific site, project, or policy direction
• Develop an actionable concept, pilot idea, or strategy
• Build relationships with peers, experts, and technical partners

Program Structure

The Academy is designed as a practical, low-barrier learning experience that integrates directly into city work.

Each month includes:

• Pre-work: Short readings and reflections
• Live session: Expert-led discussion and examples
• Peer exchange: Light engagement with other cities
• Application: Optional local follow-up activities
• Technical assistance: Ongoing access to support

Each city will complete a capstone project that applies Academy learning to a real opportunity. The capstone is intended to be practical, achievable, and aligned with city priorities.

Important Information

Please make note of this important information:

• Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on October 5, 2025. All applications must be submitted via Submittable.
• Accepted city teams will attend a kick-off event at NLC’s City Summit Conference in Nashville, TN, November 19-21.
• The program ends with a peer sharing event at NLC’s City Summit Conference in Houston, TX, November 17-20, 2027.

Watch the Info Session Recording