Learn about sustainable farming at virtual agriculture conference

The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership will host its 16th Annual Agriculture and Food Conference on Sunday, Feb. 26. 

This year’s event will be held virtually over Zoom, beginning at 9 a.m. with a keynote address from Neftali Duran, a chef and activist focused on food system reform.

The conference will also feature panels and workshops on a variety of topics, including growing culturally relevant crops for diverse communities, the value of urban agriculture, protecting your chickens from avian flu, innovations in aquaculture , and farming with considerations for polyfluoroalkyl substances — also known as “forever chemicals.’

Every year, SEMAP hosts its Agriculture and Food Conference, designed to bring together producers, homesteaders, advocates, community members and folks from across the food system. 

Workshops range in topics from on-farm practices and crop management, to business skills such as labor retention and diversified market outlets, to broader issues of agriculture as a solution to climate change. This year’s conference offers something for folks all across our local and regional food system, whether currently running a farm, looking to get into farming, growing vegetables or raising animals in the backyard, or simply supporters of local farms and food.

Tickets for the Conference are on sale now, and are available on a sliding scale.

To register, visit semaponline.org and click on the “Conference” banner on the front page. Scholarships are also available on the SEMAP website.