Planting the Seeds for On-Campus Farming Success
Research ramping up to establish strong roots for Trent Experimental Farm
This spring, Trent faculty and students will be getting their hands dirty as they help prepare the newly-relocated Trent Experimental Farm on Trent’s Symons Campus for future crops.
“Our goal is to create an inclusive, comprehensive agricultural space for teaching, learning, and research that optimizes on-campus food production while protecting biodiversity and the natural environment,” says Dr. Karen Thompson, assistant professor at the Trent School of the Environment and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems program coordinator.
The relocated Trent Experimental Farm is housed on underutilized farmland with new potential for improved carrying capacity, diversified production, water regulation, rich soil and nutrient cycles, and symbiotic interfaces with habitat and wildlife. Relocating to the new farmland is a key initiative under the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan.
Getting the lay of the land
The 2022 season is going to be a busy one on the new farm, with the team planning several research projects, analyses and small infrastructure developments, such as hoop houses and raised beds.
“This summer, we will again be hiring an intern to work on soil and plant characterization,” says Professor Thompson. “We’ll also be welcoming international Mitacs scholars who will be working on farm crop trials, and Trent undergraduate and graduate students will be working on research projects, including examinations of microbial function and assessments of soil health as impacted by agricultural management.”
Two research assistants are also finalizing a survey—part of a collaborative research project through the Environmental and Related Technologies Hub (EaRTH District)--to support the integration of on-campus food assets into the curriculum. Their findings will also inform the farm’s advisory and governance committees on faculty and student priorities for on-campus food asset development and will direct future funding objectives.
More initiatives will be taking place over this summer to help establish and begin running the new farm in its new location, and Trent’s School of the Environment, including students in the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems program, will play an integral role in these projects, from research to community relations.
Learn more about Trent's Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems program.