FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(June 9, 2022) – The Natural Farming Analysis Basis (OFRF) and the Basis for Meals & Agriculture Analysis (FFAR) are happy to announce its first award for the 2021/22 OFRF natural analysis grant cycle. Colehour Bondera of Kanalani Ohana Farm was awarded $19,900 to analysis natural farming programs choices for controlling Espresso Leaf Rust (CLR) on 5 natural farms in Kona, Hawaii.
This farmer-led analysis venture takes a whole-systems strategy to judge plant health-based choices for managing espresso leaf rust (CLR), a probably devastating illness for all espresso growers however particularly natural farmers. Lengthy-term natural growers have seen restricted efforts within the state to discover or disseminate details about natural approaches to coping with this new espresso illness.
“Funding from this OFRF grant gives a chance to assist working farmers tackle the arrival of a brand new pest by way of farmer-directed analysis,” says Bondera. “By looking for neighborhood involvement and buy-in, this venture helps the work of 5 taking part natural farms to be taught and work with Hawaii-produced espresso tree inputs to hunt impacts at controlling the pest, espresso leaf rust – CLR, which at present has no identified long-term answer within the world espresso business.”
The venture will analysis espresso leaf rust administration by growing biodiversity, utilizing on-farm and island-made inputs and sequestering extra carbon by way of elevated soil natural matter. The impacts of extra fertilizer and indigenous micro-organisms (IMO) sprays on lowering CLR might be monitored and examined, with College of Hawaii natural system school aiding with analyses. Farmers will oversee analysis, knowledge evaluation and dissemination by way of already established networks locally.
“We’re thrilled to have the ability to make investments on this analysis that helps the success of a key natural crop in Hawaii,” stated Brise Tencer, OFRF Govt Director.
This 12 months’s program prioritized farmers, early profession researchers and Black, Indigenous and Individuals of Coloration (BIPOC) candidates. Six initiatives targeted on local weather mitigation and constructing on-farm resilience have been awarded a grand complete of $119,817 in funding. The 2021/22 cycle was made potential by a $66,000 grant from FFAR and matching funds from OFRF and its analysis companions.
“FFAR is thrilled to assist six natural analysis grants by way of this collaboration with the Natural Farming Analysis Basis,” stated Dr. LaKisha Odom, FFAR scientific program director. “These analysis grants are funding audacious soil administration strategies that improve crop productiveness, enhance environmental well being and assist elevated farmer resiliency to extreme climate occasions.”
So far, OFRF has invested over $3 million in 361 grants throughout North America to advance scientific information and enhance the ecological sustainability and financial prosperity of natural farming programs. All OFRF-funded analysis should contain farmers or ranchers in venture design and implementation, happen on licensed natural land, and embody robust training and outreach parts. All analysis outcomes are freely accessible in OFRF’s on-line database.
-
- Colehour Bondera, 2021/22 Analysis Grantee
###
Basis for Meals & Agriculture Analysis
The Basis for Meals & Agriculture Analysis (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund daring analysis addressing massive meals and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established within the 2014 Farm Invoice to extend public agriculture analysis investments, fill information gaps and complement USDA’s analysis agenda. FFAR’s mannequin matches federal funding from Congress with personal funding, delivering a robust return on taxpayer funding. Via collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, shoppers and the atmosphere.
https://foundationfar.org/
Natural Farming Analysis Basis
The Natural Farming Analysis Basis (OFRF) is a non-profit basis that works to foster the advance and widespread adoption of natural farming programs. OFRF cultivates natural analysis, training, and federal insurance policies that deliver extra farmers and acreage into natural manufacturing. Venture outcomes are shared freely at ofrf.org. OFRF additionally gives free entry to all of its academic supplies and sources.
http://ofrf.org
Media Contact
Caroline Baptist, OFRF Communications Supervisor, caroline@ofrf.org
