New research by Assistant Professor Sarah L. Hofmeyer examines how administrative requirements influence the experiences of community food producers. In two recently published articles, Hofmeyer explores how regulatory processes can create burdens for small-scale and community-based producers and identifies opportunities to reduce those barriers.

The first paper, “Permits and paperwork: Administrative burden in Kansas City's community food system,” was recently published in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. Hofmeyer details how working with local government can either alleviate or intensify the burden that food producers face. Surveys and interview data reveal that vague use definitions in municipal code and interactions with administrators can increase the learning, compliance, and psychological costs that community food producers face. In response to these findings, Hofmeyer offers several recommendations. Policymakers should codify definitions of urban agriculture, specify what uses are allowed, establish by-right thresholds for small-scall urban agriculture, and right size permitting and fees. City governments should provide training for administrators working with urban food producers. These officials should be trained in responsiveness, when to use discretion, and how to offer accurate and consistent guidance. Community “navigators” would also help to strengthen peer networks and broaden access to assistance. Finally, scholars should conduct comparative studies of different metro areas to test how generalizable this study is and identify features of particular governing structures influencing administrative burdens. 

Professor Hofmeyer’s second paper finds that administrative and civic literacy provide little protection from the burdens of administrative demands in regulatory compliance, particularly for small-scale food producers. Even food producers familiar with administrative processes face burden, especially when they have limited financial or human resources, or if the requirements seem unreasonable. Hofmeyer introduces the idea of positional burden, which demonstrates how a producer’s place in the agriculture sector as well as their available resources influence the intensity of how they perceive administrative demands. Working to clarify the perception of administrative burden held by food producers offers opportunities for intervention to reduce administrative costs undermining their investment in community food systems. The article, “Administrative Burden in Action: Agricultural Producers and Regulatory Compliance,” was recently published in Public Performance & Management Review. 

These articles are just the latest examples of Professor Hofmeyer’s examination of government action in the U.S. agri-food system. Her work aims to develop a more sustainable, stewarding, and community-centered food system. She can be contacted at sarah-hofmeyer@uiowa.edu.