Creating “Employment Niches” Based on Diversity and Ecosystem Services: New Frontiers in Managing Nutrient Recycling 

“There is a growing recognition that diversified farming systems can provide strong and resilient localized agricultural and food system employment, as a counterweight to rural economic declines. Garibaldi and Pérez-Méndez (2019) showed where countries with higher crop diversity were shown to support more agricultural employment and did not sacrifice socio-economic development or economic growth. They note that higher crop diversity may require a more diverse set of inputs, logistics, machinery, skills, and services throughout the year (“employment niches”). Students will be guided in their exploration of employment niches based on diversity and ecosystem services on a local level, examining how alternative systems of nutrient cycling and composting might lead to ecological agriculture enterprises and how policy changes can be supportive (i.e., composting policies in Vermont).”

-Barbara Gemmill-Herren and Robin Currey