We continue to grow our presence in academic and research settings at NC State, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and on other campuses, engaging with undergraduate and graduate students, two of the key audiences of CEFS Career Pathways. We offer short-term internships for current or recently-graduated students, as well as apprenticeships for community members and military veterans. During the past year, CEFS engaged more than 50 participants in these programs, launched several new internships, and started two of North Carolina’s first registered agricultural apprenticeships. CEFS Career Pathways also continues to attract future food and ag leaders from diverse backgrounds.

Your support allows us to provide research, education, extension, and professional development opportunities to each of these students, veterans, and other community members, preparing them to positively impact our food and agriculture systems for years to come.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends across all of our programs. This year, Empowering Mountain Food Systems developed Harvest Health, a produce prescription program to foster food security and health in Western North Carolina Latinx and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian communities.

CEFS’ climate change work – a cross-cutting priority across our field research and food system initiatives – also reflects our commitment to equity. CEFS believes all people deserve access to healthy soils, clean air, and clean water and that climate mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency are critical to ensuring a thriving and equitable food system.

With support from generous donors like you, Food Youth Initiative participants received eight months of professional development and training, designed and painted a mural on a food truck, and held a youth-led community event in June to raise awareness of art, food, and climate justice.

And in August, we held our first Symposium on Agriculture, Food Systems, and Climate Change, which brought together interdisciplinary researchers, policymakers, farmers, and community leaders for interactive discussions to highlight novel ideas and priorities for adapting agriculture and food systems to climate change. Keynote speakers included Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation; Dr. Rattan Lal, Distinguished Professor of Soil Science, Ohio State University; and Karen Washington, Co-Owner and Farmer, Rise and Root Farm. The event also featured farmer, agricultural research, and food systems panels. We look forward to continuing the discussions and collaborations sparked from this inaugural Symposium.