Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture

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Beyond Emergency Relief: Evaluating and Reforming International Food Aid Programs for Sustainable Food Security
Rodriguez, Elara; Kim, Joshua; Grewal, Sehaj; Saad, Sheree (Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture, 2024-07-20)
Malnutrition and hunger affected 828 million people in 2021, an increase of about 46 million from the year earlier and 150 million from 2019. This literature review investigates the benefits and limitations of international food aid programs in addressing malnutrition. We focused on the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United States Aid for International Development (USAID), because both programs are influential powers in the world of food aid. To best examine these two programs, we focused on three countries severely impacted by conflict, economic instability, and environmental challenges that were highly malnourished and in need of food aid: Yemen, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. WFP and USAID were also extremely active in these areas, which helped us best investigate the effect these food aid programs had. We collected data from over seventy sources and reviewed forty articles in-depth while assessing program objectives, implementation strategies, outcomes, strengths, limitations, and influencing factors. The findings reveal that while both programs provide critical short-term relief, they face significant challenges, including logistical barriers, political constraints, and limited funding. Therefore, our solution values interconnectedness, equity, and education. It is imperative for governments to take the initiative to promote education on hunger and malnutrition while changing policies to promote open food trade and equitable produce access. These policies include regulation of the school environment, food reformation, and support for informed consumer choices, all proven to be effective. Our solution provides more long-term benefits to communities suffering from malnutrition than food projects initiated by international programs like WFP and USAID. This analysis can help to overall improve the world of food aid and assist in goal two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: having zero hunger by 2030.
Childhood Obesity: A Study for the Future Researching Causes and Prevention Methods
Aidis-Klemas, Asta B.; Chung, Jocelyn H.; Uppalapati, Rishik; Zahir, Zaib S. (Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture, 2024-07-20)
Now recognized as a worldwide epidemic, childhood obesity has been an overlooked critical health condition in which one retains an excessive amount of body fat negatively impacting their overall health in both the present and future. The causes for childhood obesity that continue to be explored include lack of physical activity, often due to a sedentary lifestyle, limited variety in food choices, socioeconomic status, marketing, and packaging. An unexpected factor contributing to this issue is the marketing of a product which can heavily impact an individual's likelihood of purchasing this item through the use of vibrant colors, children’s cartoons, and graphics. The lack of education and knowledge about one’s nutrition from both children and parents is also recognized as a cause of childhood obesity. To fully understand obesity’s impact on younger generations, the numerous effects are crucial to address. Through research, it was discovered that there are many effects of childhood obesity ranging from short-term to long-term physical and mental effects. The topic of discussion connects to three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; the first goal, which focuses on ending poverty, the second goal, which targets ending hunger, and the third, which aims to improve global health and well-being. Following the determination of key causes and effects of childhood obesity, we researched possible solutions and chose one. To target childhood obesity, it is important to recognize these children as a vulnerable population; most of the time they are not old enough or capable of understanding and educating themselves on the nutritional value of certain foods. This is why parental involvement and awareness of what they should be feeding their child are key factors for the prevention of childhood obesity. Influenced by these ideas, we found that creating a nutritional app and holding child nutrition and physical activity classes are the best options to get parents involved and improve the population’s access to nutrition label education which can help reduce obesity overall.
Childhood Obesity: Evaluating the Causes and Proposed Solutions of a Global Epidemic
Ramesh, Sowmya; Vitko, Veronica S.; Stark, Aaron E.; Riisager, Ian F. (Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture, 2024-07-20)
Childhood obesity has become a pressing issue in modern society. Obesity rates have doubled in the last 30 years, impacting the health and well-being of our youngest generation at an alarming rate. We explored factors regarding the multi-faceted causes of childhood obesity, previously implemented solutions, and potentially effective strategies to mitigate this issue. A non-systematic literature review explores factors contributing to the increase in childhood obesity while concurrently evaluating solutions that emphasize diverse stakeholders. We conducted this literature review in alignment with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Zero Hunger (2), Good Health and Well-Being (3) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Topic of Food and Nutrition Security. Traditional diet norms and societal perceptions of body image significantly influence children's eating habits and physical activity levels. Access to affordable, nutritious food is pivotal, particularly for underprivileged families who often face barriers to purchasing healthy options. In addition, sedentary lifestyles further fuel the high prevalence of obesity among children. Addressing this wicked problem demands a well-rounded strategy to engage diverse stakeholders. Effective strategies include social marketing campaigns to reshape societal perceptions of nutrition and deter children from a sedentary lifestyle. Additionally, investing in community infrastructure, such as exercise parks and playgrounds, holds promise in encouraging active lifestyles among children. Combating childhood obesity requires coordinated efforts to tackle its causes and empower families and communities to adopt healthier lifestyles. Through proactive steps in our communities, we can create environments that support healthy development in children.
Climate Restoration: Optimization Challenges in Carbon Sequestration Through Urban and Rural Settings
Tuck, Adelynn C.; Seo, Geonwoo; Blackwood, Hall A.; Paek, Seojin (Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture, 2024-07-20)
It is widely known that carbon dioxide emissions are a leading cause of climate change. In agriculture, climate change due to these emissions can be mitigated by carbon sequestration. Soil carbon sequestration is the process of taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil as soil organic carbon (SOC). Carbon sequestration can be optimized in urban and rural settings through specific practices and strategic choices of plants and soil. Significant carbon sequestration strategies that will help reduce carbon emissions in rural settings include planting cover crops and recycling organic matter. In urban settings, artificial ecosystems, such as green roofs, can be used as a practical method to sequester carbon. Green roofs can also be efficiently built and implemented into urban buildings by offering incentives like tax cuts to building owners. When it comes to improving plants, several characteristics play into the sequestration ability, including growth rate and lifespan. Perennial crops, which are crops that yield a harvest for multiple seasons, can also be utilized for edible benefits in a carbon sequestration effort. Soil is also an important factor to improve because it keeps the carbon trapped in the earth and out of the atmosphere. Figuring out how to optimize soil so it can sequester the most carbon is a crucial step in reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, many of the challenges to the practical application of carbon sequestration can be solved through policies such as financial incentives and public education. Overall, soil carbon sequestration can be optimized through the adoption of strategies that are proven to be efficient.
Identifying and Comparing the Benefits of High Oleic Soybeans and DHA Canola on Combating Global Food Insecurity
Kendall, Blythe; Veluri, Aruni; Varshney, Mehul; Yoon, Nathan (Virginia Goevernor's School for Agriculture, 2024-07-20)
This paper evaluates the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to alleviate global hunger. Traditional agricultural technologies alone cannot solve issues related to food security, hence the use of GMOs to increase nutritional values and yield. This paper compares two prominent GMOs, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) canola and high oleic soybeans, by researching previous scientific literature to assess their ability to withstand limiting conditions such as disease, drought, climate, and other environmental stressors. DHA canola is modified to contain supplemental omega-3 fatty acids commonly found in fish oil. High oleic soybeans, on the other hand, have been modified to maintain higher concentrations of oleic acid, a monounsaturated acid that increases stability and longevity compared to regular canola. To conduct this literature review, Virginia Tech Library databases such as Google Scholar, Gale, and EBSCOhost were used to find previous research. The main keywords used include high oleic soybean, DHA canola, advantages of soybeans or canola, disadvantages of soybeans or canola, and genetically modified organisms. The findings from the studies reviewed found that high oleic soybeans can resist certain herbicides while also reducing the risk for certain cardiovascular diseases, due to their lowered saturated contents. As for DHA canola, it has been proven to be an effective plant-based source of omega-3, thus reducing negative implications on the environment, such as overfishing, while ensuring the consumption of omega-3 supplements in the human diet.
Mitigating Foodborne Illness Through Improved Water Quality: A Review of Causes, Challenges, and Solutions
Meller, Sofia R.; Naglapur, Neel; Sarkar, Yoshi; Terwilliger, Sarah E. (Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture, 2024-07-20)
From the commonly known “food poisoning” Norovirus, to the deadly pathogen Salmonella, foodborne illness, facilitated by poor water quality, impacts millions of lives every year. Throughout production and processing, food is consistently exposed to water, and the presence of illness-causing pathogens raises concerns for public safety. In an attempt to propose a feasible and effective solution to this issue on the federal level, a comprehensive literature review was conducted assessing areas of current research regarding foodborne illness policy and mitigation. Libraries such as EBSCOhost and Google Scholar were utilized to compile information from research articles; these articles were used to compare various solutions, from widely used technologies to newly developed methods, on criteria such as cost, energy-efficiency, and overall efficacy. A three-part, integrated solution was recommended. First, sand filtration of microorganisms can be conducted on farms and agricultural facilities during the harvesting process to prevent the transfer of bacteria that can proliferate in shipment. Second, nanofiltration in public water systems is energy-efficient, thus making it cost-effective and a system that can be implemented on a large scale. Lastly, comprehensive consumer education regarding safe food handling practices is essential to prevent these illnesses on the level of consumers themselves. The findings of this literature review emphasize the magnitude of foodborne illness, and by extension the critical need for improved water quality management and greater consumer education. By implementing the integrated solutions discussed, it is possible to both address current issues regarding public health and significantly contribute to a future with reduced incidence of foodborne diseases, thus contributing to a healthier and safer society.
Prevention and Reduction of Salmonella in Organic Poultry through Decontamination, Packaging, and Policy
Ashpalia, Jivansh; Boyd, Elliot E.; Gatling, Grayson L.; Manukonda , Preet (Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture, 2024-07-20)
Salmonella is a prevalent bacterial disease found most commonly among produce and poultry that are undercooked and mishandled. This infectious bacteria often harms older adults, children under six, and the immunocompromised, while leading to millions of infections globally on an annual basis. To prevent infection rates from increasing, producers and consumers on a national and international level must hone in on a myriad of techniques to stop the spread of Salmonella in food products. To address these techniques, we focused our research on Salmonella prevention via the packaging industry of organic chicken while emphasizing cost-effective solutions. To obtain our information, we used several scholarly databases, research articles, and government regulations that addressed Salmonella, its prevention techniques, cost-effective solutions, and organic poultry in order to conduct a nonsystematic literature review. While chicken and other poultry can become contaminated by a surplus of other bacteria, Salmonella taints chicken most frequently through mishandling and other natural reasons, such as bacterial presence within the natural environment. Basing our research on this knowledge, we looked at past and current preventative measures to identify potential cost-effective solutions that targeted the pre-packaging, packaging, and post-packaging aspects of the organic chicken industry. We specifically placed an emphasis on organic acids that decontaminate poultry of Salmonella, chitosan nanofibers that strengthen packaging while providing antimicrobial prevention, and employee/industry regulations that aid in preventing cross-contamination in processing. These solutions help address all aspects of packaging, from start to finish. Furthermore, these solutions can hopefully address the ongoing issue of Salmonella infections, to ensure that the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Zero Hunger (2), Good Health and Well-Being (3), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (8) are promoted on a national and global level.
Resilient Agroecosystems: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Beef and Ethanol Production Amidst Climate Change
Armstrong, Laurel A.; Ketterman, Teagan M.; Khalid, Widad A.; Stubbs, Christopher B. (Virginia Governor’s School for Agriculture, 2024-07-20)
The agricultural sector is a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 20 to 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions–including methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). This literature review investigates selective breeding, optimized cattle diets, methane capture, and agrivoltaics. Selective breeding works to produce low-emitting cattle using recent technology in genetics without compromising productivity. Dietary additives such as red seaweed, oils, and fats also can reduce CH₄ emissions by up to 82%. Another viable method involves adopting bioenergy technologies through the use of a CH₄ capture system using anaerobic digesters, which convert waste into biogas energy. Similarly, agrivoltaics is a burgeoning area of research with rapidly evolving technology and policy that supports global food and energy security. We also discuss precision agriculture as an innovative strategy to mitigate ethanol production emissions by integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing technologies, robotics automation, and GPS field mapping for efficient fertilizer application and crop monitoring. Moreover, the implications of cellulosic ethanol include using leftover corn stover, chemical pretreatments, and enzymatic hydrolysis to enhance ethanol yields while minimizing waste. We examine the production systems’ environmental impact and current mitigation strategies–aligning with United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Affordable and Clean Energy (7), Responsible Consumption and Production (12), Climate Action (13), Life on Land (15), and Partnership among Stakeholders (17). Our study integrates USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Topics, including Environment, Farming and Ranching, Animals, Advanced Technology, Plants, Business and Economics, and Natural Resources. Our findings emphasize the need for continued innovation and policy support engagement to achieve a more sustainable agricultural industry. In addition, this research contributes to the broader understanding of how integrated approaches in agriculture can lead to significant environmental benefits and co-benefits among sectors of the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus. Policy support from the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), Farm Bill, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as well as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), and carbon credits are just a few of the programs that help fund research and implement solutions.
Sustainable Ethanol Identifying and Assessing Sorghum and Jerusalem Artichoke as Alternatives to Corn as a Source of Ethanol
Carson, Emma; Choi, Peter; Sama, Rohan; Velaga , Supraj (Virginia Governor's School for Agirculture, 2024-07-20)
This research explores sorghum and Jerusalem artichoke as sustainable alternatives to corn for ethanol production in the United States. With nearly 30% of the U.S. corn supply dedicated to specifically ethanol production, concerns over corn use distribution and environmental impact have been raised. Sorghum and Jerusalem artichoke offer promising solutions due to their resilience and efficiency in varied environmental conditions. This study evaluates sorghum's suitability through its high biomass yield, drought resistance, and adaptability across different climates. Research highlights its potential for sustainable ethanol production, emphasizing its low carbon emission rates and biomass production per acre annually. Integrating sorghum into existing agricultural systems will push toward biofuel production efficiency without unnecessary funding for infrastructure changes. Similarly, Jerusalem artichoke is a robust alternative, thriving on marginal lands without consistent irrigation or fertilization. Its perennial trait to pests and diseases makes it a strong alternative for ethanol production. One of the most advantageous benefits of this crop is that it offers twice the ethanol yield that corn can produce per acre. The crop's inulin-rich tubers allow for efficient conversion into ethanol. Overall, Jerusalem artichoke is more sustainable and produces higher yields of ethanol. Findings indicate that both sorghum and Jerusalem artichoke align with sustainability goals by efficiently creating clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions when ethanol is being produced. Challenges such as harvesting infrastructure and technological adaptation for widespread adoption are assessed, alongside the potential economic and environmental implications of transitioning to these alternative crops. Ultimately, this research contributes to understanding the feasibility and benefits of finding biofuel sources beyond corn, aiming to support global clean energy initiatives and achieve USDA-NIFA sustainability goals by 2030. Adopting sorghum and Jerusalem artichoke as primary biofuel sources holds substantial promise in promoting responsible land use, reducing dependency on finite resources, and ensuring energy security in the face of climate change challenges.

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