Building Integrated Agriculture (BIA) Academy

Helping cities plan, implement and scale agriculture and green systems into the built environment.

Welcome to BIA Academy!

Building Integrated Agriculture (BIA) Academy, led by the NUREC in partnership with National League of Cities University, is a 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.

BIA Academy runs from Nov. 2026 with a kickoff at the NLC City Summit to Nov. 2027. It includes 9 modules plus a capstone project. Applications are due October 5, 2026. Participants will be announced October 15, 2026.

Learn More! Register for the August 18 info session presented by NLC.

Program Approach

BIA Academy combines applied learning with practical support. Cities will engage in:

Self-paced learning modules
Monthly live sessions with subject matter experts
Peer exchange with other cities
Technical assistance from university and practitioner partners

A core goal is to connect cities with university research and Extension expertise, helping translate knowledge into action and inform future practice.

What Participants Will Gain

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

Explain 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

BIA 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

Capstone Project

Each city will complete a capstone project that applies Academy learning to a real opportunity. Examples include:

A concept plan for a BIA project
A policy or zoning recommendation
A partnership of implementation strategy

The capstone is intended to be practical, achievable, and aligned with city priorities.

For Extension Personnel

The success of BIA depends on strong partnerships between Extension and cities. Extension brings technical expertise and education. Cities bring sites, policy context, and implementation pathways. Extension already has a foothold in many of these areas—stormwater education, urban agriculture, community engagement, and more. BIA gives us a framework to connect those efforts more intentionally and expand our impact. Together, we can turn ideas into action. Watch this webinar to learn more about Extension’s role in supporting BIA.

Do you have expertise is BIA?

We are building a Rolodex of expertise at land grant universities to support local BIA projects. Register your expertise here.

Our Partners

BIA Academy is offered in collaboration with the National League of Cities (NLC). The National League of Cities works with cities, towns, and villages to help people thrive in an environment of equity, human-centered innovation, and asset-based practices. The National League of Cities is the go-to place for city leaders seeking to improve outcomes for their communities. NLC collaborates with city leaders to build place-based solutions influenced by community voice. NLC’s work with local communities includes curricular programs, technical assistance, peer networks, multi-sector partnerships, member convenings, and direct assistance. NLC centers values of equity, economic empowerment, high-quality education, equal justice, and strong health outcomes irrespective of zip code.

USDA NIFA BIA Academy is made possible through a USDA-NIFA collaborative grant with Oregon State University and the University of Oregon with the goal of building innovative approaches to urban agriculture and infrastructure, and strengthening Extension’s ability to participate in those solutions. For more information about this project, visit our BIA project page.