Recent Blog Posts
Programs within the Cooperative Extension Service often develop partnerships with other agencies and organizations to better meet their common goals. While there are many benefits of partnerships, they can be challenging when the partners are unequal or have dissimilar needs. Using a survey and interviews with faculty and administrators at two land-grant institutions we explore the similarities and differences that pull and push at their partnership. Recommendations to strengthen partnering opportunities at the institutional and program levels are provided.
Read the full Journal of Extension article.
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Ohio State (Extension's) ongoing urban agriculture efforts have caught the attention of the OSU Foundations Relations team. They are seeking ideas (1-2 paragraphs) to take to their meeting with Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) in August. FFAR would like to see multiple research ideas, from which they will select one or two to request a build out for an eventual project that could lead to $2-3 million in funding opportunity around soil health, a diverse agricultural workforce, and urban agriculture. This is an opportunity to support an existing group for a new topic or create a new research group.
It might be helpful to review the information at the FFAR Soil Health Research Vision site with a focus on Resiliency/Adaptation and Well Being (per OSU Foundation staff). If you are interested bring a team together let Julie Fox(.264) or Jeff Hattey(.3) know and be prepared to submit a 1-2 paragraph concept by Friday August 2, 2024. If you have questions, contact Pablo Villa(.36)
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Taking your first bite of Chef Jeremy Umansky's fried chicken or pastrami sandwich is one of those blissful food moments that is guaranteed to live in your head rent-free. His secret ingredients? Koji-culturing, foraged edibles, and sustainable food sourcing that earned him four James Beard Award nominations, including Best New Restaurant, Best Chef, and for his recent book Koji Alchemy. Jeremy and his wife Allie La Valle-Umansky opened Larder Delicatessen & Bakery in 2018 in Ohio City's Hingetown district. Larder's menus are constantly evolving and Umansky's innovative techniques remind us of what is possible right in our own backyards.
Traditional knowledge of fermenting and foraging is a cornerstone for many cultures including Indigenous and African American communities. But centuries of colonization and modern urban sprawl decimated natural ecosystems. And the industrialization of our food supply forever shifted America's relationship with the food we eat. Across the country, efforts are underway to improve food sovereignty and reclaim traditional practices.
Join the City Club of Cleveland on August 7 to hear from Jeremy Umansky, on the benefits of foraging, sustainable food sourcing, and the art of fermenting in his book Koji Alchemy.
Learn more about joining the event in person or the live stream.
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More than 1.5 million Ohioans – over 13% of the state’s population – lives in the cities governed by the three July 24, 2024 forum panelists. Current mayors of Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, Ohio discuss the unique challenges and opportunities facing their 21st century cities. Hear their strategies for economic growth, urban development, transit, community engagement, and much more. This rare opportunity to hear firsthand from the mayors shaping the future of Ohio’s three largest cities. Featuring: Andrew Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus; Justin Bibb, Mayor, City of Cleveland; and Aftab Pureval, Mayor, City of Cincinnati. The moderator is Yolanda Harris, News Anchor, WBNS-10TV.
Watch the 1- hour recording
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PepsiCo Foods North America today announced its Planting Pathways Initiative, charting an industry-leading and transformative course for expanding agricultural opportunities. Recent USDA Census of Agriculture data shows that farmers under the age of 35 make up just 9% of the U.S. farming industry. The initiative aims to provide opportunities for young people and people from various backgrounds to enter the agriculture sector.
On July 15, OSU Extension Cuyahoga County had the pleasure of hosting 14-member delegation from 14 countries including the People’s Republic of China, Tunisia, Kenya, Kuwait, Poland, Austria, and Bulgaria. The focus was U.S. Agricultural Trade and Food Safety. The Morganic Garden Summer Sprout participants were gracious in allowing us to highlight food security, community building, and soil health.
There was a vibrant discussion on U.S. policies and programs related to agricultural trade, food safety and sustainable agriculture; the political, social, environmental, and economic forces that influence U.S. agricultural trade policies; how U.S. food commodities are regulated and marketed, from farm-to-table to international export; and how federal, regional, and local programs for agricultural research, inspection, trade promotion and resource conservation help ensure U.S. agricultural competitiveness in the global marketplace.
The best part was learning how their countries approach these topics and how many similarities are shared.
Many thanks to the Cleveland Council on World Affairs for the invitation, Dr. Julie Fox, Dr. Jeff Hattey, and Dr. Fernanda Krupek for joining to share their expertise and Tony Brancatelli for being the garden host.
Sourced from Cuyahoga OSU Extension Summer Newsletter
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $5.2 million in 17 new grants that support urban agriculture and innovative production. Grant recipients, including community gardens and nonprofit farms, will increase food production and access in economically distressed communities, provide job training and education, and allow partners to develop business plans and zoning proposals. These grants build on $46.8 million invested in 186 projects since 2020 and are part of USDA’s broad support for urban agriculture through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP).
“This grant program has continued to grow in popularity. We received over 620 applications this year, double from last year’s total and we are excited to support urban agriculture and innovative producers and improve access to healthy and nutritious food for local communities with this round of funding.” said Terry Cosby, Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which oversees OUAIP. “These projects support communities by growing fresh, healthy food, providing jobs and increasing access to healthy food in areas where grocery stores are scarce.” Learn more.
Sourced from Morning AgClips
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Join the FaithLands National Conference in Delaware, Ohio at the Methodist Theological Seminary of Ohio(MTSO) from August 6-8, 2024.
National FaithLands advocates from around the country will gather to learn about and enjoy the successful and beautiful 10 acre Seminary Hill Farm located at MTSO. Join a gathering of faith-community leaders and farmer advocates from around the U.S. who are interested in learning and sharing about growing food on lands owned by faith-based communities.
Join for the opportunity to participate in a structured dialogue about:
- Partnership opportunities and successful models of leasing to commercial farms, nonprofits, and more
- How to facilitate beginning, immigrant, and BIPOC farmers accessing thousands of parcels owned by faith-based institutions to grow food for communities
- Affordable Housing Development vs. Farms and Gardens: Can we do both?
Who should attend? Representatives of religious community lay leaders, and organization staff including clergy, farmers, farmer advocates, and university/seminary faculty and students.
Each day of the conference will include tours of sites representing diverse, successful models of growing food on faith community owned lands. Tours on 8/6 and 8/8 will be off-site and participants provided transportation via bus/motor coach. On 8/7 we will be touring Seminary Hill Farm located at the main conference site.
This conference is funded in part with USDA support. For more information and registration, click here.
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On June 20, 2024, Ohio Department of Agriculture Director, Brian Baldridge discussed the State’s efforts to support Ohio’s number one industry, which contributes over $124 billion annually to the economy, and to gain insights into future trends and regulatory frameworks shaping agriculture today and in the future.
Agribusiness Forum June 2024 - "Looking Towards the Future of Agriculture in Ohio"
https://ciftinnovation.org/june-2024-agribusiness-forum-looking-towards-the-future-of-agriculture-in-ohio/ Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT)
Julie Fox asked: "What are you seeing with urban ag in Ohio and across your national network?"
Here is Director Baldridge's response: https://youtu.be/2v8-4Vkc3iA?feature=shared&t=1729
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Experience the first-ever National Urban Agriculture Conference on August 4-6, 2024 at Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, Michigan.
This will be a national opportunity to celebrate the advancement, investment and dedication to urban agriculture.
The conference will focus efforts to “bridge the gap” for all those working to advance urban agriculture across the nation by building stronger connections among USDA programs and the stakeholders that they serve. This conference will intentionally increase awareness and transparency about USDA programming and bring stakeholders together for training, networking, resource connecting and relationship building.
In-Person Conference Rate: $250
Includes all of the following:
- Pre-conference bus tours and reception on Sunday afternoon (limited capacity)
- Access to all general sessions, panel discussions, and concurrent sessions
- Meals, including breakfast and lunch (Mon/Tues) and a Tuesday evening reception and dinner
- Networking breaks with exhibitors each day
- Intentional, planned time for you to create connections with other professionals who are advancing initiatives in urban agriculture across the United States.
Virtual Conference Rate: $75
A limited number of conference sessions will be available for virtual, live-stream viewing on Monday and Tuesday, August 5-6.
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