Event Contact
Dr. LaKisha Odom Lodom@foundationfar.org
View the convening report.
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), Dr. Joseph Blankinship (Founding Director of the Desert Agriculture Soil Health Initiative [DASHI]) and the Yuma Center for Excellence in Desert Agriculture (YCEDA) hosted a convening in Yuma, Arizona, to advance soil health research and practice in arid agricultural regions of the Southwestern United States. Desert agriculture plays a critical role in the U.S. food supply, producing more than 175 crops, including 45% of U.S. leafy greens and 20% of U.S. cruciferous vegetables. However, most soil health science was developed for wetter climates and does not fully address the needs of producers farming in dry regions with water scarcity, salinity, rising temperatures and rapid crop rotations.
The two-day convening brought together more than 40 attendees from 21 organizations, including researchers, producers, industry partners and funders. Participants collaborated to shape a shared vision for improving arid and semi-arid agriculture. They also refined research priorities that could support a long-term program to sustain arid-land agricultural systems and communities in the Southwestern United States. The event was sponsored in part by AgWest Farm Credit; Gowan Company; People, Food & Land Foundation; Regenerative Agriculture Foundation; and The University of Arizona Office of Research & Partnerships.
Key takeaways
- Arid agriculture needs soil health tools, measures and practices designed for dry regions.
- Three core research areas identified: assessment, management and adoption.
- Assessment priorities include defining and measuring soil health in arid systems and understanding the economic return for growers.
- Management priorities include practical, water-efficient ways to reduce salinity and support field-scale decision-making.
- Adoption priorities include field trials, financial incentives and partnerships that could reduce risk for farmers.
- Future research should be farmer-focused, scalable across arid regions, suited to public-private partnerships and able to show clear benefits in the first year.