A Journey Through Columbia University's New Climate Smart Agriculture Course

As a newcomer to the faculty at Columbia University, I've embarked on an exciting journey teaching a course I've developed, entitled "Smart Agriculture for a Changing Climate." This course serves as an introduction to the current global agricultural landscape, emphasizing the role of both low-tech and high-tech solutions in adapting to climate changes that pose a threat to crop production worldwide. It's been a fulfilling experience to engage with the 26 students enrolled, directing them toward discovering their interests across the broad spectrum of sustainable agriculture and technology. With the course reaching its midpoint tomorrow, I felt it was an opportune moment to share an update on our progress and the subjects we've delved into.

First, let me briefly share the premise of the course. Here is the course description from the syllabus:?

Agriculture is at a pivotal point in addressing climate change, facing the dual challenge of being both a victim and a contributor to it. As other sectors reduce their carbon footprints, agriculture's emissions could rise without intervention. This sector must now embrace transformative actions, including regenerative practices and smart technologies, to adapt and mitigate climate impacts. This urgency was highlighted in global discussions, like at the COP28 meetings in the UAE, focusing on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA).

This course is tailored for future sustainability leaders, offering a deep dive into the intersection of climate change and agriculture. With climate change threatening to reduce global crop yields significantly, understanding and addressing these challenges is critical. The course explores CSA solutions, from AI and IOT to hydroponics and urban agriculture, emphasizing adaptive strategies for diverse environments. Students will analyze key agricultural regions and crops, assess real-world challenges, and discuss successful adaptation strategies.

The course demands analytical thinking and practical application of climate-smart solutions in assignments reflecting real-world challenges. Through this, students will enhance their ability to convert theory into actionable strategies, preparing them for roles in the $1+ trillion US agriculture sector or the global sustainable agriculture industry.

What are We Investigating in the Course?

Over the first five weeks, we've concentrated on the fundamental principles and technological advances relevant to climate-smart agriculture and food security. Our exploration has ranged from the meanings of climate-smart agriculture and food security to specific areas such as urban agriculture, controlled environment agriculture, precision agriculture, regenerative agriculture, and agrivoltaics. To add depth and practical insight to these topics, I invited some leading figures in agtech from my network to deliver guest lectures.

Expert Guest Lectures?

Christine R Gould , a vanguard in the fusion of technology and agriculture, graced our course with an enlightening presentation that spanned the spectrum from low-tech biochar methods to cutting-edge alternatives in meat production. She emphasized agriculture's ripe potential for digitization and innovation, highlighting the sector's current underutilization of technology. Central to Christine's message was the acronym "WTF" – "Where's the Farmer?" – underscoring the necessity of centering farmers in the innovation process. Her critique of AgTech's frequent oversight of the farmer's voice and needs to illuminate a crucial gap in the industry's approach to technological advancement.

Ben Flanner , the CEO of Brooklyn Grange , an icon in urban farming, shared the intricate realities of cultivating crops atop city buildings. His narrative was a compelling mix of successes and challenges, painting a vivid picture of urban agriculture's potential and pitfalls. Ben stressed the importance of diverse funding streams, including green infrastructure grants and event hosting, as essential components for the viability and growth of urban farming initiatives. His practical insights offered a grounded perspective on the innovative adaptations and financial strategies necessary for success in urban agricultural ventures.

Felipe Villela , formerly of reNature and now with The Landbanking Group , brought a global perspective on regenerative agriculture from his base in Brazil. His passion and depth of experience shone through as he discussed regenerative agriculture's myriad benefits and the funding challenges it faces. Felipe's lecture was a deep dive into the practice's potential to revolutionize farming by enhancing biodiversity, soil health, and ecosystem services, while also addressing the practical realities and financial mechanisms needed to support widespread adoption.

Allison Kopf 's session focused on the integration of AI and IoT in agriculture, detailing how IUNU leverages these technologies to streamline and optimize farming operations. She outlined the journey toward more automated agricultural systems, candidly addressing the hurdles in technology adoption and the gap between technological capability and its practical application on the farm. Allison's recent transition to Tract in the Netherlands, where she applies her expertise to analyze sustainability, ethical practices, and supply chain risks, was also celebrated as a testament to her ongoing contributions to agricultural innovation.

Aaron Magenheim from AgTech Insight offered an eye-opening look into the operational and financial aspects of farming, enriched by his extensive experience in field agriculture. Collaborating with Agritecture, Aaron shared his skepticism about the buzz surrounding climate-smart agriculture and certifications, grounding his lecture in real-world examples of his consultancy work. His discussion on irrigation strategies and resource management underscored the practical measures farmers can implement for significant improvements, challenging the often exaggerated claims surrounding agricultural technology and sustainability.

Each guest speaker brought a unique lens to the course, enriching the curriculum with their expertise and real-world experiences. These sessions have been instrumental in broadening our students' understanding of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in sustainable agriculture.?I am extremely grateful to all of these experts from my network who helped share their insights with our Masters of Sustainability Management students!???

What comes next?

Before we enter the second part of the course which will focus on a virtual global tour of 6 continents and the specific damage that climate change is already causing to agriculture in those regions, I asked the students to write some reactions to the climate-smart agriculture readings they have been doing. Students could research any specific aspect of climate-smart agriculture from their readings and share their conclusions. I wanted to share a few of those here.?

As the main originators of the issue, developed nations have a responsibility towards developing and least developed countries to support them in the transition towards climate mitigation and adaptation, providing resources and knowledge, and creating a more resilient global food system, which they would also benefit from. - Lucía ávila Martín del Campo

As Mark Bittman says, Food Forests, "cannot compare in scale, appearance, or yield to large rural farms but by supplying populations with real food and bringing power and understanding of food systems to urban eaters, they become important pieces of the puzzle" (Guardian, 2021). Food forests offer benefits that span environmental, health, and social in urban settings. Realizing these benefits will require bridging knowledge gaps through research, development of urban policies to support UFF, and active engagement of local communities. Through my research, I noticed a lack of literature in UFF as it is a newer trend. It will be important to have more studies to assess UFF’s role in climate-smart solutions and identify where fits in the overall urban climate smart solution. Looking ahead, successful UFF integration into urban development will require collaboration from urban planners, policy makers, and the local communities. - Taylor C.

Biochar holds significant potential for improving soil health, increasing agricultural productivity, and mitigating climate change. Bamboo, with its rapid growth and carbon sequestration capabilities, offers a renewable and versatile feedstock for biochar production, contributing to soil restoration, carbon sequestration, and rural development. By harnessing the synergies b/w bamboo and biochar, farmers and land-use managers can enhance soil fertility, restore degraded landscapes, and build resilience to climate change, creating a sustainable future for agriculture and the environment. - Akshay Malhotra

BIG thank you to my TA's for this course Akashraj Murthy & Munkhtsetseg (Muuku) Baasansuren

Learn more about the Masters of Sustainability management program here: https://www.sustainability.ei.columbia.edu/

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