A recent workshop hosted by the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from the agriculture sector to discuss sustainable practices and energy resiliency. Held on October 21 at Colorado State University’s Ag Innovation Center, the event aimed to foster collaboration among farmers, technology innovators, and researchers to explore innovative agricultural methods and partnerships that could enhance sustainability in farming.
The workshop featured a range of speakers, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NREL, and CSU, who shared insights on topics such as emissions mitigation, soil health, and the implementation of agrivoltaics—an approach that combines agriculture with solar energy production. Brittany Staie, the lead for the Sustainable Agriculture Catalyzer, emphasized the importance of connecting researchers with farmers. “Getting folks who are working on impacts to ecosystem services and the environment together with actual farmers whose daily lives and bottom lines are impacted by implementing new solutions is one of the main goals of this work,” she stated.
Throughout the day, discussions revealed some of the complexities facing the agricultural sector. Farmers expressed a need for real-world demonstrations of new technologies before adopting them, citing concerns about economic viability and the potential dependency on incentives for sustainable practices. “The agriculture sector is very complex,” Staie noted, highlighting that each farmer operates independently and requires tailored solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
The collaborative atmosphere of the workshop has set the stage for future initiatives, including plans for additional workshops and demonstrations on farms to showcase new technologies in practice. Elizabeth Doris, JISEA Center Director, expressed optimism about sustaining the momentum generated by the event. “Success looks like keeping the momentum going, getting all of those voices in the room at once, and especially engaging more agricultural producers,” she said.
As the agriculture industry faces increasing pressure to adapt to climate change and sustainability challenges, workshops like this play a crucial role in fostering dialogue and innovation. By bridging the gap between research and practical application, JISEA and its partners aim to cultivate a more resilient and sustainable future for agriculture.
