Agroecology Program

Agricultural and Social Research for Sustainable Farming’s Future

Our current crisis in agriculture, farming, and food systems arises from many factors. Addressing it requires a many-faceted approach to supporting the health of farms, people, and ecosystems.

It is well-known that healthy on-farm ecosystems can also play a role outside of the obvious agricultural one, such as to enhance wildlife and pollinator habitat and groundwater quality, and even reinvigorate local economy.

NEFA’s Agroecology Program, made possible with donor support, is designed to conduct and manage scientific and social-science research that answers fundamental questions about social and agricultural ecology.

Beginning in the 2016 growing season, at NEFA’s three New York agricultural centers in Copake, Chester, and Kingston, New York, a multidisciplinary approach and mixed methods will be utilized to analyze the social and ecological impacts and benefits that are generated when agriculture, people’s livelihoods, and nature co-exist.

NEFA’s Unique Opportunity

The diversified farming and processing operations at NEFA’s three distinct sites each comprise three or more farm households with complementary operations. The Centers are different ecologically; in various stages of conversion from conventional to organic agricultural practices; and at different phases of adaptation to mutual association and investor ownership.

Total acreage as the living laboratory for our research: 192 at Copake; 270 at Chester; plus proposed Kingston location.

• Details of the Copake agroecology plans, plus map
• Details of the Kingston agroecology plans, plus map
• Details of the Chester agroecology plans, plus map

Research Goals

This research concentrates on three broad, critical concerns for healthy agricultural and food systems: agroecology, food access, and mutual-association farming. Its goals are:

1. To assess the impacts of agricultural practices on the structure and function of the farm ecosystems and the structure of the local food system.
2. To assess the ecological relationships that occur naturally on the farm and enhance or reestablish these relationships as needed.
3. To design and test small-scale sustainable agricultural management practices that can enhance natural ecosystems and ecosystem functions.
4. To design and test small-scale agricultural management systems that can lessen negative environmental impacts of agriculture, enhance natural ecosystem functions, and enhance food production and access.

Research Procedures and Protocols

1. We will utilize a multidisciplinary approach and mixed methods to analyze the social and ecological impacts and benefits that are generated when agriculture, people’s livelihoods, and nature co-exist. Research will be a combination of science (quantitative) and social science (qualitative).
2. We will conduct observational research that requires minimal change to crop plans, planting, or farm management.
3. We will study crops and cropping systems within existing production rotations and with minimal impact on projected yields.
4. We will implement small changes or variations in management practices that are unique but not highly specialized.
5. We will undertake simple manipulative experiments and management modifications.
6. We will establish baseline measurements of soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.
7. Periodic reports of findings will be published and also presented at regional farm conferences, beginning in winter 2016-2017.

The Project Team

Claudia Ford, PhD, Principal Investigator
Karen Fitzgerald, MLA,  Program Co-coordinator
Enathe Hasbwamariya, MS candidate, Program Co-coordinator
Cornell Cooperative Extension, Participant