Although North Carolina has historically been known for its production of mega-crops like tobacco, corn and soy, for more than a decade the state has been taking initiatives to cultivate a system of sustainable agriculture.
Cherry Farm, the 2,000-acre research and organic education center in Goldsboro, North Carolina, is the result of collaboration between The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and two of North Carolina’s leading universities. Research conducted at Cherry Farm includes streamlining sustainable pork, beef, goat and dairy production methods, increasing organic farming yields and optimizing the space of small farms.
“I think there are many ways in which farming systems have a major impact on the environment,” Nancy Creamer, PhD, CEFS director at North Carolina State University, told Organic Connections. “There is plenty of potential to shift our farming practices to be more environmentally sustainable, especially now that there’s a resurgence in interest."
Read more in Organic Connections.
