Agraria_Journal_WINTER_2022

Research is underway at Agraria: the six sweet potato varieties growing in the high tunnel on Huston Road have changed from tiny seedlings to mature plants; the ancient grains harvested this spring are dried and ready to be processed and weighed. In addition to tending to these and other research projects, we’ve spent the past few months considering what our future research priorities should be. We are exploring which research areas will help Agraria reach its goal of enhancing community life, regional food systems, and the natural world through regenerative farming practices, taking into account the unique environmental, cultural, and food-system challenges that we face in southwest Ohio. A few priorities have emerged. One priority is a set of practical research questions that center on the regenerative farming practices that affect soil and water quality. Specifically, we’d like to conduct research that helps translate regenerative principles into practical guidance that is tailored to our local soil, hydrology, and policy environment. For example, research in other regions has shown that narrow strips of prairie perennials grown within crop areas reduce soil erosion, but how should they be applied in southwest Ohio? And what support — financial, technical, or otherwise — would farmers in our region need to start using this practice? A second priority area is research that focuses on the resilience and profitability of our food system. We believe that growing more food that is processed and consumed locally would improve our region’s self-sufficiency, provide new opportunities for local farmers, and reduce the cost and environmental impact of importing food from other places. But there are clearly hurdles to this vision related to supply, demand, and infrastructure. We’d like to learn more about the levers that are available to overcome those challenges. This includes research that builds on our current efforts to test the viability of new and alternative crops, such as the sweet potatoes growing in the high tunnel. Finally, we would like to better understand the outcomes of Agraria’s programs, such as the Regenerative Farmer Fellowship, which aims to support new and BIPOC farmers, and our youth programs, which aim to strengthen kids’ connection to the natural world. Have these programs had measurable effects on the lives of participants? If so, how durable are these effects? The answers to these questions and others will influence the design and implementation of our programs, and inform those who might want to create similar programs elsewhere. We’re excited to get to work on these questions. We have a lot to build on, including our partnership with researchers at Central State University, but acquiring the resources and expertise to turn these ideas into discrete projects will be a longer-term effort. This will require establishing new partnerships with universities and other research institutions, submitting research proposals, and developing a network of partner-farmers who are willing to share their knowledge and are open to hosting research on their farms. We are keen to hear from farmers, researchers, and community members on these topics. Please reach out to share your thoughts and ideas! Deanna Newsom is Research Director for Agraria. Research Projects and Priorities BY DEANNA NEWSOM 26 AGRARIA JOURNAL 2022 MEGAN BACHMAN Research Director Deanna Newsom, left, and Research Project Manager Alberta Dempsey examine this year's crop of sweet potato varieties.