Research Archives - Greenacres Foundation

12 Apr 2023

tall metal-framed deer exclosure in the forest in early spring

Research Leonore Salvado 0 comment

Improving Restoration of Forest Understory

Improving Restoration of Forest Understory:

Experimental Deer Exclosure, Invasive Plant Management, and Enrichment Planting

Each year, Greenacres Foundation funds research proposals relating to ecology and the environment. One funded project currently underway is through Miami University, examining forest restoration and the impact deer are having on invasive plant management and subsequent native species plantings.

In the woods on our Indian Hill campus, two deer exclosures were constructed to keep deer out, and each is paired with plots that deer continue to have access to. Two treatments are being applied to the forest floor in each of the test plots: herbicide and no herbicide. Enrichment planting will take place across all plots. Data collection will include survival and growth of both currently occurring and planted wildflowers and tree seedlings.

Start Date: Fall 2022

End Date: Summer 2025

Budget: $86,496

Partner: Miami University

Questions About Greenacres Research?

If you have questions regarding this project, please contact Jennifer Mansfield at jmansfield@green-acres.org.

If you would like to apply for funding for your research project, click here for more information about our grant funding process.

17 Feb 2023

Featured, News, Research Leonore Salvado 0 comment

Arts and Agriculture Come Together in New Documentary Film

Arts and agriculture
Come together in new documentary film

Produced by Interlochen Arts Academy and Greenacres Foundation, the film will showcase the power of generative farming practices and its connection with human nutrition and the environment.

Greenacres Foundation and Interlochen Center for the Arts are proud to announce their partnership on a new film project exploring the impact of generative agriculture. The film will be produced by Interlochen Arts Academy’s Film & New Media students and will feature interviews with farmers and scientists as well as data from agricultural research conducted by Greenacres and its partners.

“It is great to have a partner to bring to life the research we’ve done,” said Greenacres President Carter Randolph, Ph.D. “Partnering with Interlochen Center for the Arts will allow us to reach a wider audience and bring attention to the importance of generative agriculture through impactful storytelling. There are so many truths in the research and science and it’s time to make it available in a format that resonates with consumers.”

“It is great to have a partner to bring to life the research we’ve done. Partnering with Interlochen Center for the Arts will allow us to reach a wider audience and bring attention to the importance of generative agriculture through impactful storytelling. There are so many truths in the research and science and it’s time to make it available in a format that resonates with consumers.”

Carter Randolph, Ph.D., Greenacres President

Interlochen Film and New Media students will do just that.

“The film aspires to tell a human, accessible story that will emotionally connect with, inspire and educate audiences, empowering them with knowledge to act,” said Interlochen Center for the Arts Director of Film and New Media Michael Mittelstaedt. “Our students will be integral to the creation of this film under the guidance of our faculty and resident artists. Their voice is an important one in these issues and this will be one of the first times their perspective is shared with the world.”

“The film aspires to tell a human, accessible story that will emotionally connect with, inspire and educate audiences, empowering them with knowledge to act. Our students will be integral to the creation of this film under the guidance of our faculty and resident artists. Their voice is an important one in these issues and this will be one of the first times their perspective is shared with the world.”

Michael Mittelstaedt, Interlochen Center for the Arts Director of Film and New Media

As part of the educational experience, Interlochen students will enroll in a new hands-on science class utilizing Interlochen’s on-campus organic farm and the RB Annis Botanical Lab. The class, entitled Biology: Regenerative Agriculture, explores the complexities of regenerative agriculture through the lens of documentary film study.

“It’s important for students to understand the philosophy and science behind regenerative agriculture. Students learn on such a deeper level when they actually get to see it in practice and actively participate in the process,” said Interlochen Director of Sustainability Emily Umbarger.

“It’s important for students to understand the philosophy and science behind regenerative agriculture. Students learn on such a deeper level when they actually get to see it in practice and actively participate in the process.”

Emily Umbarger, Interlochen Director of Sustainability

“We are thrilled to join with Greenacres Foundation to produce this film and bring broader attention to the critical benefits of regenerative agriculture,” said Interlochen Center for the Arts President Trey Devey. “This partnership provides unparalleled opportunities for our students to work across artistic disciplines, engage with professional artists, explore new facets of sustainability, and create meaningful, world-changing art.”

“We are thrilled to join with Greenacres Foundation to produce this film and bring broader attention to the critical benefits of regenerative agriculture. This partnership provides unparalleled opportunities for our students to work across artistic disciplines, engage with professional artists, explore new facets of sustainability, and create meaningful, world-changing art.”

Trey Devey, Interlochen Center for Arts President

In 2016, Interlochen’s Board of Trustees adopted a sustainability resolution, pledging to “create an environmentally friendly and sustainable campus” at Interlochen Center for the Arts. In the six years since, the organization has constructed a botanical lab and community garden; initiated campus-wide recycling and composting programs; installed water-saving appliances and restroom fixtures; established sustainability education programs for Interlochen students and members of the local community; and donated thousands of pounds of organic fruits and vegetables to the local food pantry at Redeemer Lutheran Church. In 2019, the United States Department of Education designated Interlochen Center for the Arts a Green Ribbon School in recognition of the organization’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact, improve the health and wellness of its students and staff, and provide effective environmental and sustainability education. Later this year, Interlochen will also release its first-ever formalized climate action plan, which will outline further steps toward mitigating climate change and reducing the institution’s carbon footprint.

The film is set to begin production this fall, with a goal of premiering at national film festivals. It will then be made available to the public through a streaming platform and community screenings.

About Interlochen Center for the Arts

The nonprofit Interlochen Center for the Arts is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts and the only organization in the world that brings together a 3,000-student summer camp program; a 500-student fine arts boarding high school; opportunities for hundreds of adults to engage in fulfilling artistic and creative programs; two 24-hour listener-supported public radio services (classical music and news); more than 600 arts presentations annually by students, faculty and world-renowned guest artists; and a global alumni base spanning nine decades, including leaders in the arts and all other endeavors. For information, visit Interlochen online at www.interlochen.org.

About Greenacres Foundation

Greenacres Foundation is an Ohio-based nonprofit and underwriter of the project. The foundation’s work focuses on education, conservation and generative agriculture with an emphasis on encouraging appreciation of nature by providing the public, particularly children, opportunities to study plant and animal life in their natural settings. For more information, visit Greenacres online at www.green-acres.org.

22 Dec 2022

News, Research Leonore Salvado 0 comment

Ecology and Environment Research Grants

Greenacres researchers setting up plots to measure invasive species.

Research Grants Available

Supporting Ecology and the Environment

A Cincinnati based non-profit, Greenacres Foundation, is awarding up to $200,000 in grants for research focused on ecology and the environment. The foundation was established in 1988 with the intent of preserving the land for the education and enjoyment of future generations.

Greenacres Foundation seeks proposals for research that addresses one or more of the following outcomes:

Improved practices in woodland restoration and/or preservation
Improved invasive species mitigation and management
Improved forest ecosystem health
Improved practices in prairie establishment and prairie ecosystem health

Qualified organizations have through January 13th, 2023 to submit their letters of intent for this year’s grant cycle.

Applicants must have an interest in sharing knowledge about what they learn with land owners and land managers. Translational research projects that include both researchers and practitioners will be prioritized. Projects are expected to be completed within 48 months of funding date.

For more information please visit, https://green-acres.org/research/ecology-and-environment-research-grants/ or email research@green-acres.org

03 Oct 2022

News, Research Leonore Salvado 0 comment

Metabolomics Research Project

Researchers exploring the impact of regenerative farming systems on food quality and human health

As new data has come out suggesting that plant-based meat substitutes are worse for gut-health, our research team has been busy conducting ground-breaking nutritional research with Utah State University in the hopes of better understanding the connections between farming practices, diet, and human health. The team is specifically focusing on an area of nutrition known as food metabolomics, which is the study of metabolites.

Metabolites are endogenous compounds such as amino acids, lipids, sugars, organic acids, etc., found within an organism. These compounds can transfer from soil to plants and also to the animals that eat these plants. Until now, there has been limited research into what then transfers to the human consumers of these various products. With this research we are hoping to gain new insight into the quantities of metabolites that are able to transfer during each phase, and the effect different farming practices have on this amount. It will provide evidence as to how agro-ecological farming practices directly affect human health.

Our researchers are collaborating with Utah State’s Dr. Stephan Van Vliet who has done previous research on metabolites. His early work has indicated that agro-ecological farming practices do increase health-promoting phytochemicals in meat. Now, we want to know if these phytochemicals transfer to humans through meat, produce, and dairy and if they help promote overall health.

researchers collecting soil samples in gardens

“Regenerative farming has potential benefits for soil health and biodiversity above and below ground. Despite promising environmental benefits, it is currently not known if producing food regeneratively also has a benefit for consumers. We hope to find how regenerative vs. conventional farming systems impact the nutrient density of food and biomarkers of human health. This work uses a novel metabolomics analysis to look at 500 compounds in foods and their potential transfer to human metabolism; an approach best described as being from farm to table to us.”

Dr. Stephan Van Vliet, Utah State University

During this two-year study, a registered dietitian has come up with a 7-week meal plan for the participants. These participants are moderately healthy adults between the ages of 30-60. For nearly two months, participants are fed foods produced using regenerative farming methods, including meat, eggs, and produce grown at Greenacres that the team ships out weekly. The participants are then fed the same 7-week meal plan, but with ingredients that come from conventional farming practices. During both phases of the diet, markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, gut microbial diversity, and circulating metabolomes are monitored and compared.

“Despite potential major ecological benefits, we lack critical knowledge regarding the benefits of food consumed from regenerative farming systems to human health. To address this question, Greenacres Foundation is partnering with Dr. Stephan Van Vliet and Utah State University to investigate the impact that agricultural production practices have on crop and animal nutrients and ultimately the health of humans.”

Jennifer Mansfield, Greenacres Research Specialist

We are also providing the Utah State team with soil, forage, and fecal samples to better understand how the nutrients transfer from soil to forage to animal to human.

For questions about this research please send inquiries to mail@green-acres.org

12…12 Next →