Agriculture Commons^™

And Food Justice For All: Advancing Access To Just And Sustainable Food Systems, Makenna Grace Landry

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

A collection of work exploring food justice and food access programming in Western Montana, as well as a critique of the Bayer-Monsanto merger.

Changes And Relationships Of Soil Aluminum, Organic Matter, And Hydrogen Ion Concentration With Rye Cover Crop, Arron Wilder

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Soil acidity is a common agricultural problem worldwide, as approximately 50% of all potentially arable soils are affected by pH limitations. At soil pH 3+) is considered to be the chemical form of aluminum in acid soil that hinders plant growth the most. Potentially, soil organic matter (SOM) can ameliorate the toxic effects of Al³⁺ on plants and microbes by binding with Al³⁺, thus preventing Al³⁺ (and other species of aluminum) from interacting in the rhizosphere. Increasing SOM also increases soil health indicators (i.e., microbial activity, soil water holding capacity, aggregate stability, porosity, etc.) while the …

Results Of The 2022 Vermont Farmer Conservation & Payment For Ecosystem Services Survey. Vermont Payment For Ecosystem Services Technical Research Report #3a, Alissa C. White

Reports and Policy Briefs

This survey was commissioned by the Vermont Soil Health and Payment for Ecosystem Services Working Group (VT PES Working Group) to gather farmer input on the development of payment for ecosystem services (PES) in Vermont for agriculture. In particular, the survey was intended to help set appropriate levels of compensation for participation in a soil health PES program, although additional information was gathered in the survey to inform the development of a new incentive program. The VT PES Working Group has explored the potential for a performance-based soil health PES program that would compensate farmers on the basis of environmental …

The New Shiny Penny? Regenerative Agriculture Beliefs And Practices Among Portland's Urban Agriculturalists, Melia Ann Chase

Dissertations and Theses

Regenerative agriculture (RA) is a set of farming and land management practices intended to support or enhance soil health and carbon sequestration potential of soils while producing food, fiber, or other agricultural products. It has received broad acclaim from scholars, corporations, and governmental bodies as a potential means of sequestering carbon and mitigating climate change impacts. It has also received critique and pushback for its vague definition, shifting metrics, and lack of acknowledgement of the Indigenous practices underlying the modern suite of regenerative practices. The purpose of this research is to investigate the beliefs Portland, Oregon urban agricultural practitioners hold …

A Year In Syntropy: Exploring Syntropic Agriculture, Ajah Eills

College Honors Program

Syntropic agriculture is a form of sustainable agriculture that originated in Brazil around 25 years ago. Although it has since spread throughout Brazil and Australia, there has yet to be a comprehensive study of the driving scientific principles behind syntropy. For my thesis, I conducted literature research and interviews with farmers, with the goal of describing the ecological principles on which syntropy is based, including its primary goal to improve soil health. Much of my thesis contrasted syntropic agriculture with conventional agriculture as practiced in the United States today, but I also explored the differences between syntropic agriculture and other …

Growing Specialty Coffee: Economic Security And Environmental Sustainability In Global Coffee Systems, Stephen Posner, Janica Anderzen, Alejandra Guzman Luna, Ernesto Mendez

Reports and Policy Briefs

The Gund Institute has partnered with the Agroecology & Livelihoods Collaborative to create a more sustainable and just global coffee sector. Gund Fellows used this research brief to leverage our networks and engage NGOs such as The Specialty Coffee Association, funders, and companies in early discussions about how to address systemic inequity across the coffee value chain.

Intercropping For Water Conservation: Environmental And Economic Implications Of A Sustainable Farming Practice In California's Central Valley, Sophie Baker

Scripps Senior Theses

California’s agricultural sector is the biggest water consumer in the state and faces intense pressure to reduce its overall water usage. Industrialized monoculture systems dominate the industry and often disregard long-term environmental and economic externalities for short-term profit maximization. To maintain longstanding food security and economic stability as well as protect the state’s water supply, it is critical that these systems transition to more sustainable and resilient production mechanisms. As an alternative to monoculture, intercropping affords greater potential to conserve water, protect soil quality, and increase crop yields, among other metrics of sustainability. However, there has been much controversy over …

Payment For Ecosystem Services: Incentives To Support Environmental Quality & Farming In Vermont, Stephen Posner, Taylor Ricketts, Eric Roy

Reports and Policy Briefs

Environmental quality is an ongoing concern in the Lake Champlain Basin. Vermont farmers are in a unique position to manage land in a way that maintains and improves environmental quality. A payment for ecosystem services (PES) program for Vermont would both support the economic vi- ability of Vermont farms and incentivize farmers to improve water quality and soil health. How- ever, conceptual and practical implementation challenges remain.

A Multi-Criteria And Dynamic Sustainability Assessment Of Crop Rotation Alternatives, Saturnina Fabian Nisperos

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

With the food security challenge faced by nations globally, agriculture sustainability has been a significant consideration for concerned agencies. Sustainability assessments are significant tools in providing support to stakeholders in their crop production planning. Agricultural sustainability assessment, however, is complex and it involves numerous criteria that can be conflicting. Limitations on crop rotation sustainability assessment methods include: non-dynamic assessment; lack of regard to cover crops and to the individual crop production preferences of farmers; and focused only on single-year and single-crop rotation. We sought to address these limitations by developing a multi-criteria and dynamic sustainability assessment model that considers the …

Policies For Reintegrating Crop And Livestock Systems: A Comparative Analysis, Rachael D. Garrett, Meredith Niles, Juliana Gil, Philip Dy, Julio Reis, Judson Valentim

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Publications

The reintegration of crop and livestock systems within the same land area has the potential to improve soil quality and reduce water and air pollution, while maintaining high yields and reducing risk. In this study, we characterize the degree to which federal policies in three major global food production regions that span a range of socioeconomic contexts, Brazil, New Zealand, and the United States, incentivize or disincentivize the use of integrated crop and livestock practices (ICLS). Our analysis indicates that Brazil and New Zealand have the most favorable policy environment for ICLS, while the United States provides the least favorable …

Fearless Friday: Sean Pethybridge, Christina L. Bassler

SURGE

Talking with Sean Pethybridge ’15, one could easily assume his interest in agriculture and food justice developed at a very young age. Sean confesses that he had very limited knowledge prior to attending Gettysburg. “My grandpa had a garden and the most experience I had with that was picking green beans during the summer time when I was younger,” he jokes. [excerpt]

Interview With Candace Russo, Linus Pauling Institute, 2013 (Audio), Candace Russo

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Candace Russo by Kevin Foster in Corvallis, Oregon on May 31st, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Carter Latendresse, Catlin Gabel School, 2013 (Audio), Carter Latendresse

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Carter Latendresse by Carmen Vigil at Catlin Gabel School on May 30th, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Vida Shore, Alameda Elementary, 2013 (Audio), Vida Shore

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Vida Shore by Brianna Demko at Alameda Elementary in NE Portland, Oregon on May 24th, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Jaylen Schmitt, Alameda Elementary, 2013 (Audio), Jaylen Schmitt

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Jaylen Schmitt by Brianna Demko at Alameda Elementary School in NE Portland, Oregon on May 24th, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Linda Colwell, Eat, Think, Grow, 2013 (Audio), Linda Colwell

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Linda Colwell by Loraine Decker on May 24th, 2013.

Interview With Maggie Michaels, Portland Public Schools, 2013 (Audio), Maggie Michaels

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Maggie Michaels by Carmen Vigil in NE Portland, Oregon on May 23rd, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Richard "Brick" Street, Grant High School, 2013 (Audio), Richard Street

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Richard "Brick" Street by Ciji Dieringer at Grant High School in Portland, Oregon on May 22nd, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Nicole Hoffmann, Abernathy School, 2013 (Audio), Nicole Hoffmann

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Nicole Hoffmann by Nichole Bull at Portland State University on May 21st, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Susan Wiencke, Madison High School, 2013 (Audio), Susan Wiencke

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Susan Wiencke by Ciji Dieringer on May 15th, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Justin Davidson, Candy Lane Elementary, 2013 (Audio), Justin Davidson

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Justin Davidson by Nicole Bull at Candy Lane Elementary in Milwaukie, Oregon on May 15th, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Courtney Leeds, Candy Lane Elementary, 2013 (Audio), Courtney Leeds

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Courtney Leeds by Nicole Bull at Candy Lane Elementary in Portland, Oregon on May 15th, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Kristine Garnero Obbink, Portland Public School, 2013 (Audio), Kristine Garnero Obbink

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Kristine Garnero Obbink by Loraine Decker at 705 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, Oregon on May 14th, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Julie Corpron, Raleigh Park Elementary Garden, 2013 (Audio), Julie Corpron

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Julie Corpron by Margret Harburg May 14th, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Landscape Management For Sustainable Supplies Of Bioenergy Feedstock And Enhanced Soil Quality, Douglas L. Karlen, David J. Muth Jr.

David J. Muth

Agriculture can simultaneously address global food, feed, fi ber, and energy challenges provided our soil, water, and air resources are not compromised in doing so. As we embark on the 19th Triennial Conference of the International Soil and Tillage Research Organization (ISTRO), I am pleased to proclaim that our members are well poised to lead these endeavors because of our comprehensive understanding of soil, water, agricultural and bio-systems engineering processes. The concept of landscape management, as an approach for integrating multiple bioenergy feedstock sources, including biomass residuals, into current crop production systems, is used as the focal point to show …

Landscape Management For Sustainable Supplies Of Bioenergy Feedstock And Enhanced Soil Quality, Douglas L. Karlen, David J. Muth Jr.

Douglas L Karlen

Agriculture can simultaneously address global food, feed, fi ber, and energy challenges provided our soil, water, and air resources are not compromised in doing so. As we embark on the 19th Triennial Conference of the International Soil and Tillage Research Organization (ISTRO), I am pleased to proclaim that our members are well poised to lead these endeavors because of our comprehensive understanding of soil, water, agricultural and bio-systems engineering processes. The concept of landscape management, as an approach for integrating multiple bioenergy feedstock sources, including biomass residuals, into current crop production systems, is used as the focal point to show …

Interview With Weston Miller, Osu Extension Service, 2011 (Audio), Weston Miller

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Weston Miller by Jan Steinbock in Portland, Oregon on August 3rd, 2011.

The interview index is available for download.

Interview With Michelle Markesteyn-Ratcliffe, Oda, 2011, Michelle Markesteyn-Ratcliffe

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Michelle Markesteyn-Ratcliffe by Megan Rice in Portland, Oregon on May 10th, 2011.

The interview index is available for download.

Historical Perspectives On Resource Use In Food Systems, John Jemison, Amanda Beal

Maine Policy Review

No one would deny that industrial agriculture and fishing have been highly productive—but at what cost? This article explores the historical development and contemporary impact of food production on the environment, availability of water and other resources, energy, food safety, and even our waistlines

Are Biotechnology And Sustainable Agriculture Compatible?, David E. Ervin, Leland L. Glenna, Raymond Adelard Jussaume

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Agricultural biotechnology has been largely opposed by advocates in the sustainable agriculture movement, despite claims by the technology’s proponents that it holds the promise to deliver both production (economic) and environmental benefits, two legs of the sustainability stool. We argue in this paper that participants in this polarized debate are talking past each other because assumptions about biotechnology and sustainability remain simplistic and poorly defined. Genetically engineered (GE) herbicide-resistant and insect-resistant crop varieties are the most visible current forms of agricultural biotechnology, and thus the form of biotechnology that many in the sustainability movement react to. However, these crops represent …