We Grow Aces is an initiative grounded in a simple but powerful idea: access to fresh, nutritious food should not be limited, inconsistent, or dependent on circumstance. Developed at the University of Evansville, the program brings together innovation, education, and community focus to address interconnected challenges such as health disparities, food insecurity, and the need for more sustainable food systems.

One of the most significant advantages is probably the most obvious: resource conservation. Traditional agriculture is known to be water-intensive and often relies heavily on fertilizers and pesticides, some of which are in short supply with global supply chains are interrupted.

Freight farms are vertical farms built inside of repurposed shipping containers. They utilize hydroponic farming, in which plants are grown without soil and instead grow inside water-based solutions. The farms can be placed virtually anywhere and grow year-round because of their self-contained climate. The result is a high-yield farm that requires far less space than a traditional garden.

The draft legislation sets aside 10% of a new local food purchasing program specifically for Tribes to purchase local food and directs agricultural conservation programs to recognize traditional ecological knowledge. The only hurdle is that the passing of the bill might be delayed for more than a year due to political theatre so we wouldn't hold our breath.