The Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners (BUGS) National Conference, the largest gathering dedicated to Black agriculture in the U.S., will take place in Houston’s historic Third Ward from November 1-3, 2024.
The event will offer various activities, including farm tours, workshops, keynote speeches, and social events. The conference aims to foster a national platform for Black farmers, urban growers, and food system stewards to collaborate and reimagine the future of Black food sovereignty.
Regina Ginyard is a co-founder of Black Urban Growers and BUGS Conference. She says bringing the conference to Texas was a strategic decision.
“Texas has the largest concentration of Black farmers and ranchers in the country,” she explains. “We felt it was a great opportunity to amplify that story.” Houston, specifically, was recommended by a long-standing member of BUGS, a professor from Prairie View, Texas.
Historically, Black farmers have faced significant obstacles in the U.S., including systemic land loss, economic disenfranchisement, and racial discrimination. Ginyard says that the conference emerged as a response to the tokenization Black farmers experienced in predominantly white-led food and farming spaces.
“They felt exploited,” she says, recalling how a small group of Black farmers came together to create their own space in 2010. Since then, the BUGS Conference has become a vital gathering for Black agriculturalists.
This year’s conference will focus on empowering Black farmers and addressing long-standing challenges in land access, financial stability, and community building. More than 50 workshops will cover topics like soil health, financial literacy, and hydroponics. Attendees will also engage in farm tours of rural and urban Black-owned farms, allowing them to see firsthand the innovative practices happening on the ground.
Houston’s selection as the host city is particularly significant due to its historical roots and connection to the larger Black farming narrative. The Third Ward, where the conference will be held, is a historically Black community with a strong emphasis on self-sufficiency and local food production. Hosting the event here aligns with the conference’s mission to connect Black communities to the land and promote sustainable food systems.
Ginyard explains that the goal is to “further connect Black communities with the land” and nurture collective leadership in the movement for Black food sovereignty. By hosting the conference in Houston, BUGS aims to highlight the local efforts already underway and encourage broader participation in urban farming and food justice.
One of the conference’s most powerful aspects is its commitment to movement-building. Ginyard emphasizes that the event is more than just a three-day gathering. It is about “organizing, collaborating, and building collective power” among Black farmers and urban growers. The conference provides a space to share knowledge, resources, and strategies for creating a more self-sufficient, self-determined Black food system.
The long-term vision for the BUGS conference is to expand its reach across Texas and the U.S.
“We hope that in years to come, we’ll be able to bring the BUGS conference to different parts of Texas,” Ginyard says.
A key part of the conference’s success is its emphasis on follow-up action. On Sunday, the conference’s final day, participants will be divided into regional groups to discuss specific challenges and develop collective strategies for their communities. This ensures that the momentum built during the conference continues after participants return home.
“We want people to leave the conference not just inspired but ready to take action,” Ginyard explains. By breaking into regional groups, attendees can address local issues and create plans catering to the unique challenges Black farmers face in their specific areas.
One of the conference’s central themes is food sovereignty—empowering communities to control their food systems. Ginyard believes homegrown food is vital in building stronger, more self-sufficient Black communities. “We’re striving for more self-determined communities,” she says. By supporting local Black farmers and food producers, communities can gain greater control over their food supply and reduce reliance on external systems that may not have their best interests at heart.
Ginyard encourages consumers to actively seek out and support Black farmers, even if it requires more legwork. “It takes us as consumers to do some research—find out where your local Black farmer is hosting a pop-up market or event,” she advises. This intentional support is crucial in building sustainable, self-reliant food systems that benefit farmers and their communities.
