Note: All of our projects incorporate farmer outreach and student engagement in some fashion. The ones below exclusively focus on these goals.
SOARing into agricultural careers: Closing the opportunity gap through mentored summer research and professional development experiences
(USDA-REEU, 2021-2025)
The lack of underrepresented minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) agricultural training programs results in poor representation in professional and leadership positions where solutions are often developed. This project’s long-term goal is to increase the number of underrepresented minority students entering the professional agricultural workforce through implementation of a summer program at the University of Minnesota that leverages the growing interest in sustainable food systems for training in food and agricultural research. Over the life of our five-year REEU site, our SOAR (Sustainability Opportunities for Agricultural Research) program will provide 53 participants a structure to engage in sustainable horticulture research and develop cultural competency skills and awareness via a series of community-based experiences focusing on equity in the food system. Our objectives are to 1) Develop participant knowledge of scientific research and analytical skills, and careers in STEM, through a highly supported agricultural science-based mentored research program hosting 10-11 participants annually; 2) Design and implement action-learning workshops connecting students to organizations advocating for workforce diversity in agriculture and food systems and a panel of food systems industry representatives; 3) Increase mentoring capacity of graduate students and post-doc’s through development and deployment of a 5-session mentor training workshop series. Impact of our project includes development of a robust training program, for both participants and mentors, to close the opportunity gap in the agricultural sciences
Paper Circular Chromatography: A qualitative tool to assess soil health
(Fulbright Award to Gaby Hidrobo)
Paper circular chromatography (PCC) has been applied to test soil and compost quality among biodynamic and agroecological farming communities in Europe, North and South America and Oceania. This method, introduced by german soil scientist Ehrenfried Pfeiffer in 1953, is a qualitative tool that through visual features allows to identify soil health characteristics linked to soil porosity, organic matter and mineral content, and microbial activity. The goal of this project is to explore associations between PCC visual features and quantitative biological and chemical analysis in organic vegetable rotations in the Upper Midwest.
Exploring Cover Crops to Improve Soil Properties and Vegetable Production for the Red Lake Nation
(USDA Tribal College Research Program, in collaboration with Dr. Wendy Greenberg at Red Lake Nation College)
Tribal nations farming on reservation land often contend with poor soils that are compacted, low in nutrients, or lacking sufficient organic matter for crop production. This project will develop a research and experiential learning program for Red Lake Nation College (RLNC) students on the topic of cover crops and soil health in collaboration with the University of Minnesota (UMN). Undergraduate research with cultural and community relevance is an important mechanism this project will use to engage, retain, and foster success for Native and other underrepresented minority students. Building on previous successes, University of Minnesota graduate students will be partnered with RLNC undergraduates to carry out soils and cover crop research on newly established plots at two collaborating partner sites in the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Activities will include online workshops to develop research skills, collaborative field and lab work, and tours of both institutions. RLNC student interns, working with their UMN mentors, will analyze soil nutrient, plant biomass, and soil health data. We will develop a series of online workshops to build research capacity, organize two visits to Red Lake Nation College and one to UMN to engage with students and develop research relationships. Each will culminate with a poster presentation of their findings. UMN graduate student mentors are predicted to gain cultural competence, mentoring experience, and developed important context for future work with underrepresented minorities. Topics to be addressed in the research projects and workshops include soil fertility, biology and chemistry, as well as nutrient management and agroecological farming practices.
Elevating emerging farmer voices for sustainable food production via soil health planning
(UMN Institute on the Environment Impact Goals Grant, 2022-2024)
Farmers in Minnesota are increasingly diverse, with the percentage of African-American/Black, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic and Multiracial farmers representing approximately 1.4% of the farming population in Minnesota, with most of these farmers producing vegetables. Emerging farmers, defined here as those who traditionally face barriers to the education and resources necessary to build profitable agricultural businesses, face considerable cultural, economic and language barriers to their sustainable involvement in the food system. Soil is the cornerstone of agricultural production, yet can be a black-box for farmers, since soil science concepts are often not as tangible as other ecological concepts, such as insect or crop management. In 2021, Big River Farms identified a need for tools and support for farmers to develop soil health plans, and requested development of soil test report interpretation tools. This project responds to that challenge by co-developing a holistic program for soil health management together with emerging farmers and farmer support organizations. We are using surveys and interviews with emerging farmers and leaders in emerging farm communities to better understand their approaches to soil health and management and identify needs and desires for culturally relevant tools and technical support models. Based on farmer feedback, we will then develop and pilot a train-the-trainer program and associated tools to support emerging farmers in developing a sustainable soil management plan, including a soil health plan template and three short videos related to soil health. This project was solicited and developed by the farmers and organizational leaders that it stands to benefit, with technical support provided by University of Minnesota partners. Its impact will support emerging farmers in developing soil management plans to pave the way to a socially and environmentally sustainable food future.
