University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
IN-25: Innovation B

Subtropical Organic Agriculture Research (SOAR) Partnership: A participatory academic program to fill research needs of farmers in S. Texas (Funded by USDA-NIFA-Organic Research Transitions program) Organic farmers in South Texas, and those interested in transitioning to organic production, face many challenges, including extremely intense pest pressure and uncertainty with changing climate and water availability. Especially since the 2011 closing of the USDA-ARS Subtropical Agricultural Research Center in Weslaco, Texas, there has been very little research support available to these growers, in one of the most important agricultural regions in Texas. Strategically situated in subtropical south Texas, the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley will build upon its status as a USDA-designated Hispanic Serving Agricultural College and University (HSACU) by launching an innovative new academic program that engages students in rigorous, well-designed research projects designed to address real-world problems faced by organic farmers in South Texas. Using a participatory research approach, the project team will identify pressing research needs by interviewing farmers, agency staff, and organic inspectors. The project will also provide an research-based educational program to inform growers, extension agents, and others about organic requirements, certification, marketing, processing facilities, enterprise budgets, and production methods. The ultimate goal of the project is to make South Texas organic producers more competitive by meeting some of their most urgent research needs and by publicizing research findings widely.

http://www.utrgv.edu/agroecology/research/soar/index.htm https://www.flickr.com/photos/119380037@N08/sets/72157644143150846/ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDu0ElBiEy9x7YyLIpqu8mTdLRuInfMNG https://features.texasmonthly.com/sponsored/utrgv/ https://reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/1003540-subtropical-organic-agriculture-research-soar-program-a-participatory-academic-program-to-fill-knowledge-gaps-for-organic-farmers.html http://www.aascu.org/rural_development_program.pdf