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The Science and Politics of Our Changing Soils: Food Literacy for All
Talk description:
Climate change and food security are connected in many ways, and both are underlain by soil. Close to 1 billion people globally lack food and nutritional security, and the soil resource needed to produce food is being degraded by human action. In the context of food security, climate change is a threat multiplier, meaning human-caused climate change is exacerbating the existing threat of food and nutritional insecurity globally. Increased temperatures, higher frequency of droughts and other weather phenomena related to climate change are causing land degradation and reduction in yields of major crops, increased food prices, and a decrease in the income of food growers. Climate-smart soil management practices that focus on improving soil health can also contribute to reversing the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. I will discuss different land management practices that are critical for ensuring food and nutritional security for the growing human population while ensuring the sustainability of soil.
Speaker biography:
Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, a Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry and Falasco Chair in Earth Sciences and Geology, and Director of the Sierra Nevada Research Institute and Climate Institute at the University of California, Merced. She previously served as Director of the United States Department of Energy’s Office of Science (Senate confirmed, Presidential nomination) and Associate Dean for Graduate Education at UC Merced. Dr. Berhe’s cutting-edge research bridges the disciplines of soil science, geochemistry, global change science, and political ecology. Her research aims to improve our understanding of the soil system’s role in regulating the Earth’s climate; how soil carbon and nutrient cycles respond to environmental changes, including climate change, land-use changes, erosion, and wildfires; and the dynamic two-way relationship between soil and human communities. Dr. Berhe has deep expertise in science education, communication, and developing practices to ensure inclusive excellence in the science & technology enterprise. She holds the distinction of being an elected member of the United States National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America, and is a recipient of many other awards and honors.
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