WSU Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center will present ideas about future directions in sustainable food production systems with agricultural experts on Friday, Oct. 22. The forum is free and open to anyone.
The forum consists of two panels, one in Mount Vernon and the other in Pullman, interacting via a live video conferencing feed. “We’re inviting the general public, farmers and students on both sides of the state to participate in the forum,” Lucas Patzek, a crop science graduate student said.
Patzek is one of a group of students based at the WSU Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon who are organizing the forum.
The Mount Vernon forum will be held at the WSU NWREC, 16650 State Route 536. The Pullman forum will be on the WSU campus in Room 101 of the Food Sciences and Human Nutrition building.
The event brings together experts from around the United States with local researchers, students and the general public to discuss if “local” and “organic” are comprehensive approaches to agricultural sustainability.
The forum agenda is as follows:
• 6:30 – 7 – Reception at both locations
• 7 – 8:30 – Live broadcast from WSU Northwest Washington Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon
• 8:30 – 9 – Local panel: Sustainability on the Palouse
• 7 – 8:30 – Live broadcast from WSU Northwest Washington Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon
• 8:30 – 9 – Local panel: Sustainability on the Palouse
The forum features food-system scholars and innovators, including:
• Jack Kloppenburg, professor and rural sociologist, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Diane Dempster, president, Tilth Producers of Washington
• Branden Born, assistant professor of urban design and planning, University of Washington
• Jessica Goldberger, assistant professor of agricultural and food systems, WSU, Pullman
• Tom Kammerzell, Maple K Farms, Colfax, Wash.
• Scot Hulbert, professor and scientist, cropping systems, WSU, Pullman
• Jack Kloppenburg, professor and rural sociologist, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Diane Dempster, president, Tilth Producers of Washington
• Branden Born, assistant professor of urban design and planning, University of Washington
• Jessica Goldberger, assistant professor of agricultural and food systems, WSU, Pullman
• Tom Kammerzell, Maple K Farms, Colfax, Wash.
• Scot Hulbert, professor and scientist, cropping systems, WSU, Pullman
“We plan to engage with a number of issues,” said Patzek. “For instance, how do we define ‘local’? There is no singular definition, and there are studies that show that people define local differently depending on their experience. The concept of ‘organic’ is not well understood, either, as many people think that means no chemicals are used in production – but that’s simply not the case. Organic farmers use different chemicals than conventional producers and, in terms of sustainability, we want to get a grasp on ways to reduce those inputs.”