Browsing by Subject "Sustainable agriculture"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Adaptation to Climate Change by Smallholder Coffee Producers in Latin America
    (2016-04-29) King, Danielle; Wang, Tianyu; Finley, Jennifer
    Smallholder coffee farmers in Latin America are already being impacted by and adapting to climate change. Our client, Counter Culture Coffee, a coffee roaster that sources from coffee cooperatives throughout Latin America and around the world, has a commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. As such, CCC seeks to better understand the viability of potential adaptation strategies in order to support their partners in developing resilient livelihood strategies and ensuring sustained, high-quality coffee production. We conducted participatory action research with two partner coffee cooperatives in Guatemala and Peru to determine which adaptation strategies were most desirable and feasible. Methods included key actor and cooperative leader interviews, focus groups with cooperative members, and transect walks. Based on analysis of this data, we identified five potential climate change adaptation strategies and the financial, human, natural, physical, and social capitals required to implement them. We provided recommendations on the viability of each strategy.
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    An Analysis of Optimal Agricultural Edge of Field Practices To Maximize Sustainability Efforts
    (2024-04-26) Aletani, Salwa; Cheung, Yingchi
    Agriculture is one of the biggest industries globally, with various impacts on ecosystems, climate change, biodiversity, and water conservation. Increasing the sustainability of farms is powered by innovative solutions provided to farmers to address agricultural challenges that impact the environment. This project focuses on sustainability practices that are implemented on the edges of fields, and how such practices can increase sustainable agricultural practices integration. A meta-analysis is performed to evaluate the viability of all the available edge of field practices, conduct a cost-benefit analysis to maximize opportunities for using edge of field practices, and craft a final recommendation of the practices that have the highest potential for farmers.
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    Analysis of the Feasibility and Efficacy of Sustainable Pollinator Bee Certifications for Almond Producers in California
    (2020-04-22) McNamara, Emily
    California’s almond pollination period is the largest pollination event in the world due to the vast almond acreage spanning the state and the crop’s dependence on pollination by managed honey bees. Since 1996, almond acreage in the state has increased fourfold from 428,000 to 1,700,000 acres. California supplies 80% of the world’s almonds, and 70% of US honey bee hives are transported to the state each year to meet the pollination demand. However, managed honey bee populations continue to decline nationwide, which threatens the almond industry. Experts attribute this decline to pesticide toxicity, lack of diverse and abundant nutrient and pollen sources, and stress from transportation. Several scientifically supported farm management practices show efficacy in protecting and supporting managed honey bee populations in almond orchards. Current analyses show that a majority of almond producers have not adopted these bee-friendly practices. By analyzing the feasibility and attractiveness of certification systems to almond producers in California, this project examines the opportunity to use a certification to incentivize growers to adopt recommended practices to support managed honey bee health. Results indicate that almond producers desire a bee-friendly certification yet confirm that bee-friendly practices are not widely adopted. Further, there is evidence that adoption rates and barriers for implementing bee-friendly practices differ by region, suggesting the need for a new certification that is both effective in supporting pollinator health and feasible for growers to implement.
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    Consumer Perceptions of the Connection Between Food Production and Climate Change at Five Farmers’ Markets in North Carolina
    (2009-04-24T20:29:35Z) Hozyash, Krista
    Farmers’ markets have been increasing in number across the United States since the 1970s, rising to 4, 685 in 2008. An alternative form of agriculture has increased along with the rise in farmers’ markets, focused on sustainable farming practices and civic engagement. Many reasons have been identified for increased support of alternative food systems, including the ability to purchase fresh foods of high quality, to support local farmers, to address environmental concerns, and to avoid mass production that can lead to food security problems. This study examines the main reasons for shopping locally that were identified by respondents at five farmers’ markets in North Carolina. In particular, focus is placed on environmental reasons for shopping and on whether an effort to limit personal or household climate footprints is part of the decision to shop at farmers’ markets. In 2005, the agricultural sector in the United States was responsible for 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide (7260 Tg CO2 eq). Sustainable agriculture is capable of lessening greenhouse gas contributions to global climate change through farming practices that avoid petro-chemical pesticides and fertilizers, that adopt reduced tillage techniques, and that limit fossil fuel-based inputs. Survey results showed that most respondents did not shop at farmers’ markets to reduce climate footprints, but did state that environmental concerns were important in the decision to shop locally at markets. Evidence of support for sustainable farming practices from respondents could encourage more farmers in the state to adopt sustainable farming practices. The most significant reasons given for shopping at farmers’ markets were to purchase fresh foods of high quality that were healthy for consumers, and to support local farmers. Information from and education by farmers about their farming practices may help inform more market customers of agricultural effects on the environment.
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    Environmental Benefits and Market Potential of Agrivoltaics: The Symbiotic Relationship of Sustainable Agriculture and the Energy Transition
    (2024-04-13) Kirton, Erin; Woodruff, Colleen; Wu, Sisi
    Traditional renewable energy is often faulted for its extensive land requirements. In most cases, solar and wind energy replaces farmland and faces opposition from local community members frustrated with the loss of their farming culture and livelihoods. Agrivoltaics can provide a unique solution to this challenge, combining renewable energy production with continued farming. Thus far, agrivolatics has only generated strong policy support and commercial viability in areas that are land constrained and have protections to maintain farmland. This paper explores pathways for agrivolatics to become more widely deployed by 1) exploring case studies of successful agrivoltaic deployments, 2) evaluating how these learnings can be expanded to other regions, and 3) proposing mechanisms to support the transition to sustainable agriculture through agrivoltaics.
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    Evaluating the True Cost of Cocoa Production & the Viability of Mondelēz International’s Farm of the Future Model
    (2016-04-28) Neale, Brittany
    This report examines and seeks to identify how the total costs of cocoa production, inclusive of environmental externalities, can be valued in dollars through impact quantification and monetization. It explores how Mondelēz’ proprietary Farm of the Future (FotF) model could mitigate impacts and recommends continued investment in the project given its potential to create significant true cost savings. Global cocoa demand is changing and bolstered by significant increases in emerging markets – is projected to outpace global supply by as much as 1 million tons as early as 2020. This is a critical challenge for chocolate producers, including Mondelēz International (Mondelēz), one of world’s largest snack companies. The cocoa supply chain is complex the existing fragmentation of the production landscape, declining soil fertility, diseases, pests as well as the generally poor socio-economic welfare of the millions of smallholder cocoa farmers all present difficulties and concerns. While Mondelēz has invested heavily in the mitigation of these challenges, the organization recognizes the future challenges that will impact their organization and the industry as a whole, if something does not change. This Masters project endeavors to provide a deeper understanding of the scope of these impacts and value creation generated by their mitigation. This study utilizes an adapted system of true cost assessment, incorporating concepts from systems thinking, life cycle assessment (LCA) and whole life costing (WLC) to monetize these impacts.  The first chapter examines the global cocoa production landscape, highlighting impacts associated with the current system.  The second chapter delves into the developed monetization methodology and defines the concepts.  The third chapter presents a cocoa case study that employs the above methodology as well as traditional cost assessment measures to highlight the costliest impacts.  The fourth chapter examines the proprietary Farm of the Future model, developed by Mondelēz, forecasting its efficacy in mitigating existing environmental and social issues as well as creating economic gains.  The fifth chapter applies the conclusions of the case study and demonstrates the decreased societal cost burden that the FotF model facilitates.  The final chapter provides a brief conclusion of the primary learnings.
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    Exploring the Barriers to Entry to Agriculture: Challenges Facing Beginning Farmers in North Carolina
    (2019-04-10) Robbins-Thompson, Kelley
    Agriculture is inextricably linked to issues of hunger, food security, and the environment. As our global population grows, food demand grows with it. Modern food systems—which are dominated by industrial agriculture—are ill-equipped to meet global food demand. American agriculture—embedded in this larger global context—faces its own set of challenges. Our farmer population is aging and our reliance on industrial agriculture is taking a toll on farmland, soils, and natural resources. Yet, a growing local food movement offers hope for a more sustainable future and fuels the possibility of a shift away from industrial agriculture. By localizing our food systems and using agroecological principles to guide the development of sustainable farms, we can create agricultural systems that enhance food security while simultaneously building farmland resilience. To do this, we need an influx of new, conservation-minded farmers. This paper examines the barriers beginning farmers face when entering agriculture and explores the programs and resources that help them overcome these barriers. It also explores the various policies and programs that encourage and incentivize sustainable farming practices. For this study, I used interview and survey research methods to investigate the experiences of beginning farmers in North Carolina. My findings show that access to affordable land and startup capital are the two most significant barriers to entry to agriculture. However, connecting with sustainable agriculture and conservation organizations—such as land trusts—and participating in their programs can help farmers successfully transition into sustainable agriculture. Given my findings, I recommend that North Carolina land trusts consider: (1) partnering with similar-missioned organizations; (2) implementing incubator farms, farm apprenticeship programs, mentor programs, and/or farm equipment share programs; (3) outreaching to beginning farmers; (4) engaging the community around local food issues; (5) improving market access for beginning farmers; (6) providing long-term lease arrangements; and (7) working for structural change.
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    Policy Opportunities to Increase Cover Crop Adoption on North Carolina Farms
    (2012-04-27) Miller, Lee; Zook, Katy; Chin, Jennifer
    Cover cropping is an agricultural practice that produces on-farm benefits while contributing to broader public sustainability goals. However, cover crops have not been widely adopted in the United States, while the barriers to farmer adoption of cover crops have received little research attention. This study considers the relative importance of the barriers that farmers overcome to adopt cover crops in North Carolina and identifies the resources that enable successful adoption. We used an email survey of NC farmers to gather quantitative data about cover crop use and preferences, supplemented by qualitative interviews with experts on cover crop adoption. Our data show that farmers in NC overcame three broad categories of challenges to adopt cover crops: agronomic, input costs, and knowledge transfer. The level of these challenges varies depending on farm size and income, age of farmer, farming experience, and whether information to plant cover crops was obtained through extension, farmer networks, or private industry. Timing for planting, in particular, challenges farmers regardless of their demographic characteristics. We recommend a holistic policy approach that strengthens diverse knowledge transfer networks, bolsters farmer incentives through existing cost-share programs, and invests in applied research to develop varieties that better complement common cash crop rotations.