According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, soil holds three times as much carbon as the atmosphere and is a critical resource to meet the challenges of a changing climate. Ninety-five percent of our food comes from soil and thirty-three percent of our global soils are already degraded (U.N. 2018). Restorative ecosystem management and regenerative agricultural practices can boost soil productivity and increase resilience to floods and drought, while sequestering carbon.
Join this EPN Breakfast program, on the eve of the internationally-celebrated World Soils Day, to connect with, and learn from, Ohio’s notable soil experts and explore the many sides of creating, preserving and enhancing healthy soils in Ohio! Terry Cosby (state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture) will provide opening remarks and the following soils experts with Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources, Drs. Rattan Lal, Jeff Hattey, Scott Demyan, Christine Sprunger, Nick Basta, Brian Slater, and Nall Moonilall, will present compelling topics from their respective teaching and research areas. Some highlights will include an interactive, soil erosion simulator, and an overview of hands-on, soil remediation partnerships featuring Ohio State students, local NGOs, and the cities of Mansfield and Columbus, Ohio.
Contact Information: Nicole R. Jackson
More information about Digging in with Ohio’s Soil Experts
To register for the event on Dec. 4
AGENDA:
7:15 a.m. Doors open at The Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center; coffee served
Networking session, featuring autumn Ohio State senior Capstone Project Posters on display in the registration area. Visit with presenters.
7:40 a.m. Breakfast buffet served
8:10 a.m. Welcome remarks and overview of the Capstone Posters featured during the networking session by Dr. Jeff Sharp (director of Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR))
8:15 a.m. Why soils matter to Ohio’s conservation community by Terry Cosby (state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture)
8:25 a.m. Celebrating World Soils Day by Dr. Rattan Lal (professor of Soil Science and director of the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center)
8:35 a.m. Soil Erosion simulator and environmental education by Dr. Jeff Hattey (professor of Soil Science and State Extension Specialist in Soil Management) and Dr. M. Scott Demyan (assistant professor of Soil and Environmental Mineralogy)
8:50 a.m. How do soils provide important ecosystem services? by Dr. Christine Sprunger (assistant professor of Soil Science and Rhizosphere Processes)
9:00 a.m. Experiential classroom learning in ENR 5279 Ecosystem Services of Urban Soils. A partnership with the City of Columbus and local NGOs by Dr. Nick Basta (professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry), Dr. Brian Slater (associate professor and associate director SENR), and Nall Moonilall (Ph.D. candidate in the Environmental Science Graduate Program)
9:15 a.m. Audience Q & A session
9:30 a.m. Director Jeff Sharp’s closing comments and program concludes