‘Innovation is key to addressing the climate crisis’

Conservation measures and climate-smart agriculture got a boost last week with the announcement of a $1.2 million investment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund a robotic irrigation system at CFAES.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made the announcement during a Dec. 10 visit to the CFAES Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory in Columbus. Pictured at a town hall meeting during the visit are, from left to right, CFAES Dean Cathann A. Kress; Terry Crosby, chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service; Vilsack; and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. (Photo: Ken Chamberlain, CFAES.)

CFAES sustainability news, Dec. 14, 2021

Ohio State News, Dec. 13; featuring USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack; U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown; CFAES Dean Cathann A. Kress; Rattan Lal, Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science, CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources; and CFAES Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory

‘One of the greatest challenges of our time’

In a case of leadership by example, Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson will return to the classroom to teach a course on reducing carbon emissions.

“Combating climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time,” Johnson said in an Oct. 26 Ohio State News story, “and Ohio State is stepping up to do its part in reducing the carbon emissions that cause extreme weather events and threaten the very future of our planet.”

Read the Ohio State News story.

Where things stand on carbon science

What’s the state of the science when it comes to sequestering carbon in the soil, such as through farming? Check out an official position statement issued by CFAES’ renowned Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration. The brief statement, released Aug. 2, summarizes where the science is clear, where it’s less so, and a strategy for going forward. It mentions, too, a current hot topic, farmers earning carbon credits.

Read the full statement. (Photo: Getty Images.)

CFAES sustainability news, Aug. 30, 2021

Where have fireflies gone?

Youngstown Vindicator, Aug. 23; featuring Dave Shetlar, CFAES Department of Entomology

Hundreds of U.S. cities adopted climate plans. Few have met the goals, but it’s not too late.

USA Today, Aug. 10; featuring Aaron Wilson, OSU Extension

‘Stinkweed’ could be used for green jet fuel

Bio Market Insights, Aug. 9; featuring Ajay Shah, Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

CFAES sustainability news, July 28, 2021

Farmers make progress in improving water quality, but much work remains

Columbus Dispatch, July 27; featuring Nate Douridas, farm manager, Molly Caren Agricultural Center

Will our food break the climate or save it?

The Hill, July 27; featuring Rattan Lal, School of Environment and Natural Resources

CFAES sustainability news, July 23, 2021

National Geographic, July 22; featuring Mazeika Sullivan, School of Environment and Natural Resources

Marion Star, July 18; Whitney Gherman, OSU Extension

Cleveland.com, July 16; featuring Chris Winslow, Ohio Sea Grant, Stone Laboratory

‘Know more, waste less’

“As future leaders in the food and agriculture industry, we believe it is our social responsibility to consume and produce food in a conscientious manner.”

So says CFAES PhD student Aishwarya Badiger in our latest CFAES Story, which looks at her work with Know Food Waste, an award-winning CFAES student group.

Read the story.