HRT/PSM Spring 2026 Seminar Series Jennifer Blesh Abstract Here
January 21, 2026 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Abstract: Long-term experiments show that diversified farming systems can sustain
productivity, build soil organic matter, and reduce nutrient losses to the environment, but it is
still less clear how to optimize multiple outcomes across working farms. In practice,
diversified farming systems sometimes yield inconsistent results, in part due to the context-
dependency of agroecological practices. I will present research focused on understanding the
context-dependent performance of cover crops as farms transition to agroecological nutrient
management. Results from an experiment on working farms spanning a gradient of soil
properties show how crop diversification results in feedbacks that improve outcomes, such as
biomass production, nutrient retention, and nutrient availability, over time. I will also
consider policy implications, sharing results from studies using citizen science and remote
sensing to understand cover crop adoption and performance at larger spatiotemporal scales
in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Linking experimental and observational research can
produce both generalizable and site-specific understanding of agroecosystem functioning.
More broadly, I argue that transdisciplinary approaches that blend agroecological science
with the expertise of agricultural communities are needed to transition food systems toward
sustainability.
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