Posts for the CEFS Agrophile Blog.
Stepping into CEFS’ early days, it was clear right away what made this new initiative different: it was an innovative, interdisciplinary, collaborative effort between different departments at multiple universities, and included voices from non-profit organizations, farmers, and the general public.
Hurricane Florence is one of the worst storms to hit North Carolina, ever. CEFS' Field Research, Education, and Outreach Facility at Cherry Research Farm is located in Goldsboro, one of the hardest-hit areas of the state. NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Research Station Manager Andy Meier and his crew have gone above and beyond -- as they always do in extreme situations -- to protect and care for livestock on the farm and minimize damage to crops and infrastructure.
Even though it is only 7 a.m., the conference center is buzzing with activity. Representatives from food councils across North Carolina have called an impromptu meeting to discuss a response to federal budget cuts which threaten funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net.
UNC-P more than doubled their year-over-year percentage of local produce (defined as sourced within 250 miles) purchased through FreshPoint, from 3.35% to 8.9%.
We continue to be inspired by these convenings as a way to strengthen relationships and voices to build power in our local communities.
In September, Local Food Economies and the NC 10% Campaign organized three Innovations in Economic Development through Local Foods gatherings to showcase investments that local and regional governments can make to support small and mid-scale food and farming businesses.
The NC 10% Campaign's Local Food Ambassador Program offers year-long paid employment to student Ambassadors to organize around local food issues on their university and college campuses. We checked in with a few former Ambassadors to learn what they gained from their experience.
The largest classroom at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University isn’t just for faculty and students.
Five questions with Angel Cruz, a CEFS Graduate Fellow who recently graduated from N.C. State with a Ph.D. in Agroecology. She used participatory action research (PAR) to conduct research with smallholder farmers in rural El Salvador for a three-year research project to evaluate the role of sustainable soil management in improving food security for smallholder farming communities.
Why would good agricultural land be planted to trees and then to pasture?
