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Media Contact: Dr. Angel Cruz,  Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager – aecruz@ncsu.edu

Raleigh, NC:  The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Graduate Fellowship was developed to provide financial support and recognition for future leaders, researchers and contributors in sustainable agriculture and local food systems while they engage in academic research to further the field of study.

The Fellowship offers a one-year, $5,000 stipend for Master’s students and a two-year, $5,000-per-year stipend for Doctoral students.

The Fellowship is an important opportunity for students to meet and interact with graduate students from other departments, with other areas of expertise. “With climate change and other pressing food systems challenges, we need interdisciplinary solutions and we hope this Fellowship is the start of students working beyond their discipline. Some of our past Fellows are now collaborating with other CEFS Fellows on ideas sparked during their Fellowship experience. I’m excited to see what happens with this year’s cohort,” says Dr. Angel Cruz, CEFS Academic and Extension Initiatives Manager.

The CEFS North Carolina State University (NC State) Graduate Fellowship Program was made possible by an endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The 2023-2024 CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows and their departments/research areas are:

2023-2024 Cohort – NC State

Bianca Jimenez | Doctorate | Applied Ecology | NC State University

Bianca Jimenez is a PhD student within the Applied Ecology Department conducting research under the guidance of Dr. Rebecca Irwin. Her research is centered on understanding the underlying mechanisms that facilitate the transmission of the bumble bee parasite, Crithidia bombi, particularly in the context of spillback transmission. Recent studies have revealed that although bumble bees serve as the primary hosts for Crithidia bombi, other potential hosts can also become infected. What remains largely unexplored is the extent to which these alternate hosts can transmit these infections back to bumble bees. Parasitic infections in bumble bees have been linked to population declines, and such declines have direct implications for our food systems due to their role in pollination. Gaining insights into the spillback mechanisms associated with these infections could potentially contribute to mitigating the decline of bumble bee populations and thereby offer significant benefits for our food systems. In the future, Bianca aspires to continue her research, delving deeper into the factors driving bee population decline and their impacts on our food systems. She is also excited to connect with other CEFS fellows and work together to create sustainable food systems.

DoYeong Hur | Doctorate | Soil Science | NC State University

DoYeong Hur is a Ph.D. student in Soil Science at North Carolina State University, in the Sustainable and Organic Soil Fertility Lab led by Dr. Alex Woodley. His research is primarily focused on the evaluation of enhanced efficiency fertilizers for reducing nitrous oxide emissions and ammonia volatilization in corn systems. The objective of his research is to provide production level regional emission factors, economic assessments, and reduction potential of environmental externalities of management choices that include full and reduced nitrogen rates with the use of enhanced efficiency fertilizers. DoYeong’s research aims to investigate the possibilities of reducing N losses in the form of nitrous oxide and ammonia while sustaining crop productivity by applying enhanced efficiency fertilizers. Moreover, he intends to utilize data collected over three years from six field sites annually, in conjunction with DeNitrification DeComposition (DNDC) modeling, to simulate nitrogen cycling and assess nitrous oxide emissions.

Prior to joining NC State, DoYeong completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Soil Science at Pusan National University in South Korea. During his graduate studies, he researched recycling byproducts like bottom ash to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, he contributed to research that registered nitrous oxide emission factors from various types of animal manure in South Korea with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Throughout the CEFS program, he eagerly anticipates gaining insights from colleagues and experts in this field, all the while applying and disseminating that knowledge through research and extension initiatives.

Lillian Lower | Doctorate | Biological and Agricultural Engineering | NC State University

Lillian is a Ph.D student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University, in the Biocarbon Utilization and Sequestration Lab. Her research is focused on producing anode materials for lithium-ion batteries from unique biomasses and waste materials via catalytic graphitization. This process can produce battery-grade graphite from previously non-graphitizing materials and will enable the valorization of lignocellulosic wastes and residues while producing an energy storage material. The goal of this work is to study the particular implications mechanism, biomass, catalyst type and loading have on electrochemical performance of the anode materials produced. Lillian hopes that this work will create more avenues for sustainability and waste utilization in North Carolina’s food and agriculture systems while establishing interdisciplinary partnerships between material scientists and agricultural stakeholders. Before beginning her doctoral program, Lillian received her Bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University in Civil Engineering and her Master’s degree from NC State in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. She has also had the chance to work on small and large-scale urban and rural farms through an AmeriCorps term of service in West Virginia. She continues to pursue her passions for sustainability and service by being an active member of her department’s education and outreach group. Through the CEFS Fellowship, Lillian hopes to learn more about North Carolina’s farming systems and how her and her peer’s research and extension projects can create lasting impacts. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog and cooking.

Sam Carroll | Master’s | Crop Science | NC State University

Sam is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Crop Science at NC State under the direction of Dr. David Suchoff in the Alternative Crops Lab. Her research is part of a large grant focused on developing best field practices for fiber hemp in the Southeast. She is hoping to help establish fiber hemp as an economically viable and sustainable option for growers in North Carolina as a response to the declining tobacco acreage and increasing environmental pressures. Sam’s research focuses on yield and fiber quality. Fiber hemp is a “new” crop for North Carolina (due to legislation and loss of generational knowledge of growing practices), so she enjoys experimenting with new and improving methods for planting, harvesting, and processing fiber. Fiber hemp has numerous applications in the woven and non-woven industries, which has opened the door for partnership with the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State. She hopes to use her time at NC State to build relationships between researchers, growers, and the textile industry.

Fred Teasley | Doctorate | Crop and Soil Sciences | NC State University

Fred Teasley is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences working with advisor Dr. Alex Woodley. His research is investigating soil health dynamics of farming systems transitioning from conventional to organic management. Soil health, a concept that can be broadly defined as functioning for a desired purpose, is largely tied to soil organic carbon in agroecosystems. Soil organic carbon is important for organic farming because it promotes soil biological activity, which in turn controls the release of plant nutrients from important sources, such as cover crop residues. Farmers seeking to adopt organic management are often hampered by low soil organic carbon levels, a condition especially pertinent to the Coastal Plain region of North Carolina. Therefore, the conventional-to-organic transition period represents a period of increased risk for farmers seeking to maximize yields and maintain profit.

Soil health indicators, laboratory tests that couple the biological, chemical, and physical functions of soil, can provide useful insight into the capacity of agricultural soils for supporting organic management during the transition period. However, test results may be subject to differences between soils of different regions, necessitating region-specific studies that seek to better understand how test results should be interpreted. Fred’s research seeks to better understand which soil health indicators are of the most relevance to organically managed, low carbon soils of the North Carolina Coastal Plain.

Fred obtained a B.S. from Towson University in Environmental Science and a M.S. from the University of Delaware in Plant and Soil Science. His interest in agriculture was initially kindled while engaged in work-trade arrangements on small farms located throughout the United States. Upon graduating from the University of Delaware, he took a job unrelated to agriculture working for a local government, but realized that his interest in agriculture was not abating when he found himself running backyard, DIY field studies in soil fertility. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, cooking, and repairing vintage motorcycles.

For more information about the CEFS NC State Graduate Fellows Program, please visit the CEFS website.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of NC State University, NC Agricultural and Technical State University and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CEFS develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. For more information, visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

As a part of Farm to School Coalition of North Carolina’s “Student Wellness Project”, three North Carolina students created the Teens Talk Wellness podcast earlier this year.

The students, Brunella Escate (senior at Cato Middle College High School in Charlotte, NC), Ella Jones (senior at North Rowan High School in Spencer, NC), and Kentwan Williams (sophomore at North Carolina Wesleyan University in Rocky Mount, NC), created the podcast as an outlet to explore student wellness from a Farm to School perspective, highlighting issues surrounding nutrition, food justice and inclusivity, funding, and much more!

Their shared goal for the podcast is to spread awareness about student wellness in schools, and to inspire others to make positive changes. “One of my main goals is that when anyone comes across this podcast, they will start to think about many ways to continue to improve on providing safety and healthy food for kids,” says Williams.

Equally important to them is the hope to address and correct issues that may hinder students’ success. “I hope to enhance the school community by addressing student wellness at the root. Systemics and stereotypes are so hard to address, but so heavily rooted in inhibiting students’ ability to succeed. I hope to bring awareness and empowerment,” said Jones.

Kirsten Blackburn, Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Farm to School Outreach Coordinator, who also serves as the coordinator and mentor for the student podcasters, says another important goal is to increase funding for School Nutrition Programs and staff. According to Blackburn, “staff are working with very little amounts of money…and there are very hardworking people who are trying to make the best with what they have so I hope to see that school meals are valued more, because a lot of times that’s a meal a lot of students don’t have at home.”

Blackburn mentioned that students should not only be participating, but have leadership roles in conversations and decision-making regarding their wellness. “Student wellness is students being able to have choice and agency over decisions and policies that impact them at school whether that’s the food they eat, the outdoor education components they can participate in, or for advocating for food justice, and climate justice in their communities,” said Blackburn.

The student podcasters are doing just that with Teens Talk Wellness.

During a recent episode, “Teens Talk Food Inclusivity”, the students discussed the importance of food inclusivity in school meals and how that influences societal views of food from different cultures around the world.

This episode highlights the positive impacts for students to have their native foods represented in their school lunches. “Students need to be exposed to nutritional foods and foods that represent them and their heritage. This makes the environment more welcoming and welcomes them to recognize food as fuel, and a tool to equip them to learn,” Jones said.

Williams adds that food inclusivity is also important for the physical health of students. “I think the reason we want to have food inclusivity is because we want to make sure that the food we’re providing is going to take care of everyone, considering what kind of allergy or condition they may have that prevents them from eating certain foods. We want to make sure that everyone is safe and healthy.”

The students hope that this podcast is a useful resource for students, parents, and community members as well as all parties involved in policy, decision-making, and food systems. With episodes addressing hands-on learning in school gardens to detailing the impact of policy on student lunches, the student podcasters are curating a diverse space for information sharing and advocacy surrounding student wellness.

The student podcasters hope to inspire other students to join the conversation in hopes that sharing student experiences will help promote awareness and create positive change. “My personal advice is go for it! We need people like you to get involved because many people think the adults will take care of it, but it’s affecting [students] directly. The students are the ones that deal with the impacts of it,” said Escate.

Students being a part of the conversation leads to what Blackburn calls “community decision making” that could help students for generations to come. “These are decisions that not only impact students at the time of the policy being enacted, but future students as well, so I feel like those most impacted deserve to have a say in their wellness and nutrition,” Blackburn added.

The Teens Talk Wellness podcast can be streamed on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, SoundCloud, and Spotify!

NC Choices is a unique program of NC State’s Center for Environmental Farming Systems and the NC Cooperative Extension that works with independent pasture-raised meat producers and independent processors around the state.

North Carolina is well situated in many ways to support the growth of these agricultural businesses, according to Director Sarah Blacklin. Not only is the state well-situated in a good climate zone, it was the first state to receive millions of dollars in CARES Act money. In 2020, the state had $26 million to address the local meat supply chain which increased the sector’s capacity, and when they received federal aid in 2021, they already had a head start.

Click here to read more of this article from WNC Business.