Major ag problems

If you could solve one major problem as it relates to agriculture, what would it be and why?

Cartoni – I would like to make farming more attractive and feasible for people to see it as their job and main source of income. This might mean changing the way the public relates to their food sources, and making farming better and more sustainable. It’s a big goal, but I’d like to think that I can make a little contribution to that.

Rawal – It would be mitigating greenhouse-gas emissions from dairy farming. Addressing this issue would not only help combat global warming but also ensure the long-term sustainability of the dairy industry.

Díaz – I would like for everyone to have food security while also being respectful of our environment.

Ramsey – If I could wave a magic wand, I would solve the issue of consolidation and the disappearance of small family farms. From growing up in a rural community and interviewing farmers for projects, I have witnessed how rural communities are slowly dying because of the disappearance of family farms. Schools have decreased enrollment, some schools close, families are forced to sell land, some families move away, land is degraded due to lack of observance, meat butchers and milk collectors are fewer and farther between, small businesses must close, people must commute further away for work … the list can go on and on. Small family farms contribute greatly to the vibrancy and self-sufficiency of small towns.

This is not to say that large farms don’t employ people and that large farmers don’t care for their communities. This is a major issue perpetuated by unequal subsidies, large agribusinesses, increasingly competitive markets, large landowners and more. It’s such a big issue that it seems impossible to solve. I aim to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Gambel – Climate change – it’s the problem of our time. It affects all other problems. There’s no solving it, but there are things we can do to mitigate its effects. I’m interested in what farmers are experiencing, and how we can help them adapt and make changes so we have enough food.

New technologies

Do you foresee artificial intelligence or other new technologies playing a larger role in your work in the future?

Gambel – It’s already happening. Most job postings indicate that employers are looking for candidates who have done work with artificial intelligence. And more researchers are using artificial intelligence in their field work.

James Crall’s laboratory in the UW-Department of Entomology is using cameras and computers to track bee movements in flowers. There are many different technologies and possibilities -- who knows what’s next?

Ramsey – Artificial intelligence and-or complex modeling systems could be useful when working with agroecology because it considers so many aspects of a community to find a solution. I can see how advanced technologies could be useful to assess complex interactions of governmental policy, climatic data, weather data, pest interactions, soil information and so on.