The Eastern United States Collaborative Program for Research and Education in Sustainable Agriculture (EARTHWORKS)

Program in Development.

Similar to the Sustainable Agriculture program at Cal Poly on the west coast, EARTHWORKS is designed to promote university-level research and education opportunities in sustainable agriculture. Like the Cal Poly program, EARTHWORKS addresses the sustainability problems of soil fertility and farmer income.

In contrast to the more centralized Cal Poly program, EARTHWORKS will create a collaborative network among several key groups recognized for their contributions to environmental sustainability.

Through this program:

• Interest in sustainable agriculture will increase among   faculty and students across the east coast, with   implications for far-reaching global impacts through   international student exchange programs.

• The number of expert researchers in applied   sustainable agriculture will increase, new   sustainability curricula will be created, collaboration   across disciplines and organizations will be   encouraged, and research and development   opportunities will lead to new sustainable methods   and technologies.

During the two year developmental period, the (tentative) anticipated results for this program are:

• Recruit and hire staff

• Develop functional EARTHWORKS network between Warren Wilson College, Cornell University, Berea   College, North Carolina State University, and the New   Community Project

• Initiate fellowships, internships, and summer research internship programs at all the institutions

• Develop curricula for transdisciplinary sustainable agriculture programs

• Initiate transdisciplinary sustainable agriculture programs in second year

• Prepare to host East Coast Multi-Day Sustainability Conference in 2012

• Initiate and develop a relationship with Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Sustainable Agriculture Program

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