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Episode 29: Northeast SARE Teresa Leslie PhD - How Can We Increase Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education?

Release Date: 03/12/2025

Episode 31: Cornell University Michael Mazourek PhD - How Can We Breed Vegetables for Flavor and for Local Growers?

Food For You and the Planet

Michael Mazourek, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics, and Horticulture. Michael Mazourek, PhD, is the Calvin Knoyes Keeney Associate Professor of Vegetable Breeding at Cornell University. Michael is a breeder of peas, beans, squash, cucumbers and peppers and has released numerous cultivars and breeding materials that are shared by small, regional seed companies and incorporated into breeding program of the world’s largest seed companies. Michael’s specialty is biochemical genetics in vegetables; he explores the...

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Food For You and the Planet

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Episode 29: Northeast SARE Teresa Leslie PhD - How Can We Increase Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education?

Food For You and the Planet

Teresa Leslie, PhD, Director of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Teresa holds a doctorate in medical anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a master’s degree in medical anthropology from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Howard University. She has experience cultivating relationships with diverse stakeholder groups to create innovative, evidenced-based policy and practice solutions. Founded in 1988, USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is a...

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Food For You and the Planet

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Food For You and the Planet

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Food For You and the Planet

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Food For You and the Planet

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Food For You and the Planet

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Food For You and the Planet

Ryan Zinn is the Regenerative Projects Manager at Dr. Bronner’s. Ryan focuses on Dr. Bronner’s international supply chains and farmer training. He has worked in the food and farm justice movement at home and abroad for 20 years, including with such organizations as the Center for International Law, Friends of the Earth-Paraguay, Global Exchange and the Organic Consumers Association. Dr. Bronner’s was founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, a third-generation master soapmaker from a German-Jewish soapmaking family. He used the labels on his superb ecological soaps to spread his...

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Teresa Leslie, PhD, Director of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.

Teresa holds a doctorate in medical anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a master’s degree in medical anthropology from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Howard University. She has experience cultivating relationships with diverse stakeholder groups to create innovative, evidenced-based policy and practice solutions.

Founded in 1988, USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is a farmer-driven research and knowledge-sharing program that encourages farmers, ranchers, educators and researchers who are passionate about innovating to experiment and make growing food more rewarding for themselves, the environment and their communities. The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program offers grants and education to farmers, educators, service providers, researchers and others to address key issues affecting the sustainability of agriculture throughout the Northeast. The program serves Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The program is administered by Northeast SARE's host institution, the University of Vermont.

TOPICS EXPLORED

0:00 – 1:11 – Introduction

1:11 – 4:14 – What is the Northeast SARE Program and what type of work does it do?

4:14 – 5:45 – How did you become interested in sustainable food and agriculture?

5:45 – 8:49 – What are some of the key topics Northeast SARE is focused on?

8:49 – 10:36 – What are some examples of impactful research that has been funded by Northeast SARE and what have some of the key findings been?

10:36 – 13:19 – What are some ways you think agriculture can support communities?

13:19 – 17:08 – Why is it important to build local and regional food systems and how can Northeast SARE support that work?

17:08 – 19:36 – One challenge farmers face is climate change. What can be done to help farmers with this?

19:36 – 22:08 – Is there anything else you would like to share about Northeast SARE’s grants, training opportunities, and resources?

22:08 – 25:01 – What are some of the greatest challenges and benefits related to achieving sustainable food and agriculture systems?

25:01 – 27:16 – What do you think is the future of sustainable agriculture?

27:16 – 28:15 – Things to share and wrap up

NORTHEAST SARE INFORMATION

https://northeast.sare.org/

RESOURCES

SARE: https://www.sare.org/

30 Years of SARE: Our Farms, Our Future: https://www.sare.org/resources/30-years-of-sare/

SARE Funded Projects: https://projects.sare.org/search-projects/

SARE Resources and Learning: https://northeast.sare.org/resources/

Northeast SARE Grants: https://northeast.sare.org/grants/

FOOD FOR YOU AND THE PLANET PODCAST INFORMATION

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