The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced on Thursday that they are awarding over $1.8 million to 26 Michigan producers, processors and community development organizations.

The money is to help support, retain, expand, and develop agricultural processing in Michigan.

Michigan’s monthly unemployment rate dropped slightly to 5.2 percent in August. A report from the Michigan Department of Technology says the unemployment percentage was affected by about 14,000 fewer people holding or seeking jobs. This is the fifth consecutive month that the state’s workforce has shrunk.

Detroit officials say the pilot program supports Michigan’s 2030 statewide goal of diverting 50% of food waste from landfills. They hope the pilot can divert as many as 220 pounds of food scraps daily, or over 80,000 pounds over the course of a year.  

The NextCycle Michigan Accelerator program welcomed 16 new teams including the Detroit Decentralized Composting Network, a partnership between the City of Detroit and Sanctuary Farms.

Sanctuary Farms hosted its first-ever Summer Solstice Block Party, centering Indigenous principles that honor the interconnectedness and equal value of all living things. The celebration was a joyful recognition of life’s blossoming and our shared place within the natural world.

Sanctuary Farms was featured in a national spotlight on the power of urban agriculture to heal land, honor legacy, and drive environmental justice. As part of Detroit’s vibrant farming community, Sanctuary Farms advocates for regenerative practices like composting, agroforestry, and permaculture to reclaim contaminated land and build resilient food systems. The article highlights the urgent need for Congress to fully fund the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, amplifying the voices of nearly 200 farmers and organizations calling for federal investment in sustainable, community-driven solutions.

Sanctuary Farms is proud to help lead Detroit’s composting movement as part of the Detroit Community Compost Collection Project—a new pilot launching this summer to expand equitable access to composting. Alongside six local organizations, we’ll support 200 residents with materials, training, and stipends to turn food waste into “Black Gold.” At the same time, the City of Detroit is rolling out a complementary composting program with a free drop-off site and digester system. Together, these efforts aim to reduce landfill waste and move Detroit closer to Michigan’s goal of diverting 50% of food waste by 2030.

At the recent MI Healthy Climate conference in Detroit, it was announced that the Detroit Community Compost Collection Project (DCCCP)—a grassroots coalition including Sanctuary Farms, Detroit Black Food Sovereignty Network, Sacred Spaces, and others—is launching a community composting pilot for 200 participants. Supported by Industrious Labs, the project is part of a broader push to reduce food waste and invest in climate solutions, alongside over $1 million in state funding for composting initiatives across the city.

Sanctuary Farms is proud to be a founding member of the Detroit Community Compost Collection Project (DCCCP)—a new pilot launching this year to support 200 Detroiters in backyard and community composting. Backed by state funding and a grant from Industrious Labs, the project aims to fight food waste, improve soil health, and build a more just and sustainable food system across the city.

In "Compostable food packaging in Detroit often ends up in landfills. Here’s why," BridgeDetroit explores the challenges facing compostable packaging in a city without robust composting infrastructure. Amid efforts by local cafes to switch to sustainable materials, Sanctuary Farms co-founder jøn kent offers a critical perspective, questioning the long-term viability of compostable plastics and highlighting concerns about PFAS contamination. Instead of relying on single-use alternatives, jøn advocates for deeper systems change—prioritizing reuse, education, and community-led composting models that restore soil and center environmental justice.

On The Metro, local leaders discussed composting solutions across the region—including a shoutout to Sanctuary Farms on Detroit’s east side. As a community hub for sustainable practices, Sanctuary Farms is helping lead the charge in reducing food waste and enriching local soil through composting.

At GreenBiz 2025 in Phoenix, the Emerging Leaders cohort—featuring Sanctuary Farms co-founder Jøn Kent—came together to tackle today’s most pressing sustainability challenges. This next generation of changemakers is breaking through institutional silos, translating bold ideas into action, and redefining leadership with resilience, collaboration, and purpose.

The Equity and Access Design Lab series, facilitated by the Michigan Local Food Council Network, convened food and farming leaders to practice collaborative leadership focused on amplifying collective power across communities of color.

A new survey shows that 86% of US farmers under 40 practice regenerative agriculture. But many — especially farmers of color — struggle to access land and capital.