Farmers Share Knowledge on International Level

The organization Agri-Culture was invited to make a presentation this week at the international conference, "Agriculture: Promoting Livelihood in Conflict-Affected Environments," sponsored by the Center for Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

participated in a panel discussion on institutional approaches.

Agri-Culture’s presentation was "Solving Big Problems Locally: Santa Cruz County Agriculture," highlighting the local program Ag Against Hunger. The other two panel members were a professor from Wheaton College who spoke on "Property Rights and Agriculture in Post-Conflict Settings" and a State Department representative speaking on "GIS for Agriculture in Conflict-Affected Societies."

The conference, called, "Farming: the Way to Rebuild," had 45 people attending from all over the world, including North Sudan and Timor-Leste. The purpose of the conference was to provide participants with a deeper knowledge of the variables influencing agriculture and its governance, and the role of agricultural development in establishing political stability. It also allowed participants to gain familiarity with grassroots practices for designing livelihood and agricultural programs.

The Center for Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies is a practitioner-oriented teaching institute that develops and hosts educational programs for peace building and humanitarian professionals operating around the globe. Established at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 2004 through the vision and congressional support of U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel), the center designs and conducts an array of programs to foster dialogue among the various communities of practitioners. These programs help practitioners develop new strategies and refine best-practices to improve the effectiveness of their important global work.

Managing conflict, mitigating human suffering and dealing with weak states is a reality in this era of international affairs. These activities have become vital components of U.S. national security and foreign policy. The Center for Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies is a critical education and training institute designed to help create the tools to facilitate peace building initiatives.

The center leverages the post-graduate naval school's world-class education and research capabilities by involving the university’s faculty in the design and facilitation of it workshops.

Jess Brown is the executive director of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture, an organization that provides educational programs to the community and support to local farm workers.