despite their intentions, the act of doing this can be detrimental. invasive species, according to national ocean service, are species that are not native to the environment to which it has been relocated to and therefore causes ecological or economic harm. though this is not people’s intention, many gardeners and people fascinated by exotic pets and plants contribute greatly to this problem. 

tackling the cogon grass invasion

in alabama, one of the most pernicious invasive plant species is cogon grass. the yellow-green grass features 12 to 30 inch long leaves and is endemic so much of asia. it was first introduced to the united states in the early 1900s through a port in mobile, alabama.

chuck byrd, a land steward of the nature conservancy and a member of the alabama chapter of the sierra club, described the species as a “green cancer.”  one reason the species may be hard to manage is its unassuming appearance, as it is usually easily missed driving or even hiking in a park. 

according to byrd, cogon grass was initially used as packing material and could be found in imports received in mobile county. however, once this species was introduced, it took a life on its own and spread throughout central and northern alabama and in more southern states like mississippi and florida.

the impact of its rapid spread has been felt by farmers across the south as the invasive species’ high silica content makes it tough for animals to eat, byrd said. silica is a mineral that is needed for plant growth and development that makes it hard for insects to fully digest the plant. this can be a problem because, if insects will not eat the plant or animals, the plant will just continuously grow, taking over the area it resides in.

according to byrd, farmers have complained that even their goats will not eat it, which is drastic as most know that goats will eat almost anything. this poses a problem as the cogon grass is not only crowding out feed grass for livestock, but is also disrupting natural ecosystems across the state.  it chokes the growing and useful plants around it while also burning really hot when it comes into contact with fire, said byrd. this can be detrimental to land, animals, and all types of people when the grass catches fires and spreads quickly, hurting farms, killing animals, and impacting communities with human deaths as well.

management of the grass has been difficult, as the alabama forestry commission notes that, “cogon grass is so widespread that eradication efforts are continuous, arduous, and expensive.”

byrd explained that when he first began tackling the issue of cogon grass, he used a gps device to scan the area and help identify where the invasive species were located. byrd explained that when searching for invasive plants like cogon grass, they “used a handheld device like a phone or tablet to accurately track the location of the plant within a three to five meter area.”

to keep track of and analyze the data, byrd uses geographic information systems. the technology helps mark what had been previously found, mark new sightings, and keep track of “what was treated, how it was treated, and when it was treated to make sure that the cluster was completely eradicated,” said byrd.

he and his team also conducted extensive research on invasive species, like cogon grass. this has helped them identify which seasons the grass populates the most, as well as the easiest season during which to exterminate it, which was found to be august through october.

according to byrd, the research he and his team conducted show that there are only certain times of the year when the seeds of the plant are noticeable and are fluffy in appearance which makes them easy to spot, but hard to treat as the seeds spread very easily.

once he and his team have properly identified the cogon grass, they then spray the grass with herbicide. byrd stressed that you do not want to overdo or under-spray the mixture, as too much could have no effect on the plant, and too little will not kill it at all and the chemicals have the potential to harm other nearby plants.

how can we help?

according to byrd, residents of alabama can support invasive species management by properly sanitizing themselves before adventuring out in nature and between moving locations.

this can be achieved by wiping yourself down, shaking your hair, and wiping your vehicle down as well as your pets. byrd said that you could even reach out to your local park to see if they are helping with these efforts, noting that some parks are allowing people within the community to help the nature conservancy’s efforts by pulling the grass out of the ground. 

if you decide to buy a plant from the store, try to ensure it is native to your area. there is research that the extension services have provided to know which proper plants can be bought that will not hurt the species around it. “there are beautiful plants that mother nature has put in this environment for a reason and by buying those, it will positively impact our environment,” byrd said.

it’s a hot, summer day and you turn on your kitchen faucet to fill up a glass of ice cold water. for many americans, we don’t think twice about the safety of drinking this water, nor where it comes from. we rarely think about the meticulous treatment or extensive research that goes into ensuring that our drinking water is clean or the individuals who have spent their lives working towards clean water for everyone.   

raymon shange, ph.d., is a professor in the department of agriculture and environmental sciences at tuskegee university, al. in addition to this role, shange is the director of the carver integrative sustainability center located on the university’s farm, the associate dean of the college of agriculture, and much more. over his career, he has worked in farming sustainability and policy issues that have impacted farmers in the rural south, along with other projects.

according to shange, when human activity occurs like the cutting down of trees, there can be an increase in soil particles that end up in our surface-water. this will eventually contribute to the presence of bacteria and other pollutants as well. for humans, bacteria in water can cause conditions from diarrhea to salmonellosis. animals who drink stagnant water can also suffer from multiple conditions like poisoning, muscle tremors, liver damage, which leads to death, according to a paper by donald l. pfost and charles d. fulhage of the extension university of missouri.

big issues with microscopic beginnings

microbial ecology is an important area of study when it comes to determining the healthiness of water. according to shange, microbes “are studied to understand their contribution to the environment.” for instance, if the water that plants take in is contaminated by certain bacteria, that could negatively affect the plant’s lifespan, which then affects other living things who depend on those plants to survive.

fascinated with something that is too little to see with the human eye, shange took an interest in microbes and began to conduct more research on them. though microbes are everywhere, he found that the zone around the root of the plant was where microbes thrived. when this occurs in nature, this is a great relationship for plants because microbes are a key source of nutrients, shange said. 

across the state of alabama, communities ideally get their water after three stages of treatment. unfortunately, less affluent communities sometimes cannot afford a third stage of treatment.

“primary treatment is the physical separation of water,” shange said. this is where water is held and where heavy solids fall to the bottom of the cell. after this happens, water gets moved to the secondary stage, which involves chemical treatment. according to shange, the reason that the second stage is so important is because pathogenic bacteria thrive in low oxygen levels. adding oxygen and chlorine derivatives helps to kill those types of bacteria.

by starting that second stage, and introducing high levels of oxygen, the remaining bad bacteria die.

“communities with money can afford both of these treatments in addition to a tertiary treatment that can remove less known but still harmful pollutants and poor communities can only afford the primary and secondary treatments,” said shange. this means that less fortunate communities could have a higher chance of being introduced to contaminated water and are therefore more at risk of experience negative health outcomes.

implementing solutions 

“bacteria in water has been a problem at times in the united states years ago,” said shange. he further explained that as a solution, animals should not be allowed to graze around water sources. avoiding heavy uses of inorganic fertilizer and other chemicals can prevent them from getting into the groundwater and surface water, and has also been a significant step forward. 

luckily for the state of alabama, we seem to be doing well in terms of “good” or healthy water compared to other states. when i asked shange about the state of alabama and the state’s relationship with water, he stated that “[alabama] has plenty of surface water and groundwater that is still untapped”. 

to put into perspective how successful alabama is at providing water to its citizens, the alabama department of environmental management (adem), reported that between 2020 and 2022, about 850 million gallons of water was retrieved daily and was eligible to drink by citizens.

while alabama does seem to be doing a great job in water quality, there have been a few hiccups. pfas are “…long lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time” according to the environmental protection agency. studies have found that exposure to these chemicals might be associated with some negative health outcomes in humans and animals.

in february 2023, the epa announced it would be giving alabama 52 million dollars to remove pfas chemicals from sources of drinking water. these funds are intended to allow the proper tools to be used to strain out these harmful chemicals and restore the water to its utmost quality.

when more citizens become aware of the steps that go into purifying water and by being able to positively contribute to efforts themselves, water quality will increase nationwide. this is an issue that should not be regarded lightly, as water pertains to the lives of every being on the planet. shange’s commitment to clean water is inspiring, and while nationwide clean water may be years away, taking a class or even taking the time to research the subject will be a great help. 

food waste is the unnecessary discarding of food that is still edible for human consumption and is a serious problem in many parts of the world, given that even the most developed countries have large populations of homeless people who are often forced to go without a meal. according to the food and agriculture organization of the united nations, about 14 percent of food is lost between the stages of harvest and retail, while another 17% is wasted at the retail and consumer levels.

by unknowingly or carelessly tossing out a surplus of food, we continue to aid this problem while also throwing out a resource that somebody who is less fortunate would greatly appreciate. 

everyone is family

food waste may not be an entirely new issue, but it has certainly worsened in recent decades as fast food restaurants, and commercial food packaging have exponentially increased across the county. the answer to mitigating food waste may lie in the practices and ways of life that came before the fast food boom. 

my godmother, philana suggs, grew up on a farm in alberta, alabama in the black belt region. she described her young life as community centered being that the elders within her community were just one generation out of slavery. her neighbors were all considered family and when someone had a surplus of a crop, they would give it to another. in this way, food would not be wasted and to preserve the food’s shelf life, they would either eat it or conserve it properly by deep freezing it.

this connects to the homelessness issue in the world because this city found a way for the food that they personally did not need, to not just be thrown away. this community style approach contributes to combating this global issue.

on her grandfather’s farm they grew vegetables like corn, mustard, collard, and turnip greens. they had animals like pigs, cows, chickens, rabbits, and horses. there were plentiful apples, berries, peaches, pecans, and plums and her uncle would even hunt animals like rabbits and deer as another source of meat. her family had ponds that supported all types of life like catfish and trout, turtles, frogs, lizards, and ducks. there was also algae present, which she explained as important because it gave nutrients in the ponds.  

she also talked of how one animal would be a source of many different foods. for example, cows would be used for meat, but also for milk that would be used to simply drink or to make ice cream. chicken would be used as a food source as well, but their eggs would also made other dishes. by doing this, they still utilized the grocery store’s resources, but they were not solely dependent on their products. 

because of her background of growing up on a farm, food waste and homelessness is something my godmother is extremely passionate about. when asked about how she felt about this issue she said, “forging ahead, our future is in the hands of the next generation. the knowledge from the past needs to be taught to them so that the mistakes we are currently making regarding wasting of food can be minimized.” with inflation on the rise, more people are living paycheck to paycheck, but this issue does not seem to be a main concern to many americans. in today’s society, many are focused on our own individual lives instead of ways to support our broader community. in my godmother’s view, if we see someone struggling, we should help, instead of thinking that every man is for himself. 

for example, we should not be producing more food than we can eat, and we should especially not be throwing it away when someone else can put it to good use. if we do have a surplus in food, we should give it to an organization that knows how to properly distribute it to those in need. restaurants should not require their employees to throw away the food that was not eaten during shift and should instead bring it to the nearest shelter.

strategies for reducing food waste

i had the pleasure of interviewing desmond mortley, ph.d. and lucy asare-baah, ph.d. of tuskegee university. asare-baah is a professor at tuskegee university who teaches in the agribusiness program. moretly is also a professor at tuskegee who is involved in numerous activities, but his recent project is focusing on post-harvest food loss and waste. i sat with them both to grasp the concept of food waste and how one would go about decreasing this issue   

asare-baah explained that developing countries seem to focus on home economics more than its developed counterparts. because of this, more people in developed countries are less eager to cook and may depend on restaurants to house their meals. this is an issue, because we allow these franchises to determine how little or how much food we receive and why when it comes down to an unfinished meal, we have no problem throwing it away. as stated before, restaurants do not know how to properly handle these unwanted dishes and will throw them out instead of giving them to someone who may need it. 

mortely believes one of the issues that contributes to food waste lies on the labels found on food packaging. “we believe that as soon as a product hits an expiration date, we must immediately throw it away, even if the product does not appear expired,” said mortely. 

this reminded me of when i was a child and saw that the more-than-halfway-gone milk in the fridge was “expired” and i poured it out in the sink. my mother asked me if i tried it, but i told her, “no,” because it was expired. she then explained that i must examine the product before immediately throwing it out, because it may not have even been bad. the more i talked to asare-baah and mortley, the more i realized that i unknowingly contribute to food waste, and that other people may not realize it as well. 

when asked about suggestions for decreasing this issue in america, mortley recommended more educational awareness. everyone should take the time to do their own food research and learn about things like food shelf life. asare-baah said that buffets should be looked at more. some buffets do try to help this issue by charging people who do not finish their plates but these rules often don’t go far enough. “people are too quick to throw away and waste a product because they believe that since they paid for it, it is not hurting anybody,” said asare-baah.

both mortley and asare-baah also advised that we learn how to cook. we need to learn how to be more adaptable in the kitchen. for example, asare-baah brought up bananas. “when they appear to be turning brown, instead of throwing them away, we should use them for another dish like banana pudding or banana bread that does not require ripe fruit”, said asare-baah.

lastly, when i asked them both where they felt this issue was going and what the younger generation should know, mortley stated that he requires his students to go to tuskegee’s communities and volunteer to distribute food that would go bad on campus, into the community.

similarly, asare-baah gives her students plenty of assignments on food waste, like polling people in the cafeteria on what this issue means to them. she believes that the solution is to involve the youth so that they can learn from the older generations. engaging young people is important as they are the ones who will face the brunt of climate change’s impacts in the future.

as laid out in the food and agriculture organization’s 2015 report on climate change and food security, climate change is expected to increasingly impact agricultural productivity in the future and, “the people who are projected to suffer the earlier and the worst impacts from climate change are the most vulnerable populations.”

by hearing stories of my godmother’s experiences on the farm and by learning from tuskegee professors desmond mortley and lucy asare-baah’s experiences in helping the decrease of food waste, i can say that i have learned to become more aware of how i handle my food. instead of throwing away a dish that i did not like, i make sure to eat it all or if i am unsure about a dish, i will start off with a little helping instead of immediately filling up my plate. i think that if everyone becomes aware of how they personally contribute to food waste, then we can decrease this issue as well as ease the hunger of the homeless population. . 

two major projects “… will improve and change the agricultural industry and will show how to better sustain materials” said jacqueline carlisle, technical writer, college of agriculture, environmental and nutritional sciences of tuskegee university.

uma karki, ph.d., a professor of animal sciences at tuskegee university is heavily present in these two projects. her academic interests include “promot(ing) the sustainable livestock production system, especially focusing [on] small-scale, limited resource producers” among other environmental specialties like goat grazing and management. 

project one: expanding the participation of marginal producers and landowners to promote climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices: continuous efforts of 1890 agroforestry 2022年世界杯亚洲预选赛结果

the first project entails increasing the number of farmers and knowledge of forestry among them and landowners, said karki, who also listed three additional institutions who will participate. these schools are alabama a&m university, virginia state university, university of maryland eastern shore, and tuskegee university. 

the project will offer its members courses in climate-smart and environmentally sustainable principles to benefit the world we live in. the specific goals include an initiative to increase trees in open pasture areas. karki states that for this project, trees will play the role of creating windbreakers in crop fields to act as shields from erosion. according to karki, the presence of trees in pastures will help keep nutrients in the land, so that they are not washed out by water or more serious flooding. they also act as a buffer for toxic waste, emerging from the water out of the open fields.

along with these benefits, this project will teach farmers how to handle their land properly. the main focus of this project is to ensure that underfunded minority-owned companies and farmers in the states of alabama, maryland, and virginia receive the funding they deserve to achieve environmental success.

project two: improved practices of climate-smart livestock production systems and agricultural commodities while enhancing carbon sequestration in the southern usa: innovating toward a new climate-smart commodity by investing in minority producers

the second project that tuskegee university has received funding for has numerous goals that range from “implement[ing] climate-smart production practices…” to “develop[ing] markets and promot[ing] the resulting climate-smart commodities” according to the george washington carver agricultural experimental station (gwcaes), an organization that is documenting this project’s aspirations and its membership.

joining tuskegee university in this project are institutions including mississippi state university, alabama a&m university, langston university, and the u.s. department of agriculture. overall, the gwcaes states that the intended outcome is for an expansion in durability “…of agriculture, forest sectors, and communities”’ in the face of changing climate conditions.

looking towards the future

this funding comes at a pivotal moment as climate change is a rising issue that many are still skeptical about, despite tangible and drastic changes in the environment around us. by 2050, researchers predict that the earth will hold about “…10 billion people,” said karki. with this expected population increase, carbon dioxide and other pollutants will have increasingly detrimental effects on the planet. experts also predict that livestock production will deplete, leading to a decrease in food production, among many other issues. if this problem of food production is not solved quickly, the earth will not be able to properly sustain human life. 

the good news is that these initiatives also open up opportunities for students majoring in environmental studies and beyond. carlisle stated that students “… will help with research” and that “… other students from different majors can reach out to help as well.” this is an important factor because students from all different backgrounds can express their interests in the world around them. for example, vet students may not be necessarily involved in growing plants, but the vegetation grown will be a source of food for the animals they are caring for. so, by the projects improving the durability of land on the farm, the animals will eat better which will lead to a longer and healthier life expectancy.