51·çÁ÷¹ÙÍø

IANRE launches seminar series on Arctic food systems

The Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension at the 51·çÁ÷¹ÙÍø is launching a monthly seminar series to spark conversation, collaboration and innovation around northern food systems.

Beginning Oct. 14, from noon-1 p.m. in the Elvey Building Globe Room, IANRE will host lunch seminars designed to engage researchers, students and community members. Each session will feature a 30-minute presentation followed by open discussion, encouraging audience participation and interdisciplinary connection. These seminars will also be streamed on Zoom. Register to attend at .

Across the circumpolar North, communities face similar challenges in building resilient and sustainable food systems due to harsh climates, remote geographies and rapidly changing environmental conditions. These systems also often include a rich bounty of wild-harvested foods and a growing agricultural industry. 

While the Circumpolar Connections series centers on agriculture and wild-harvested food in Alaska and other northern regions, its broader goal is to inspire curiosity, strengthen partnerships and support resilient, sustainable food systems.

The series will kick off with a welcome from 51·çÁ÷¹ÙÍø Interim Chancellor Mike Sfraga. Jodie Anderson, IANRE director, will then share insights from her recent visit to Norway, where she met with agricultural researchers and toured northern farms. Her talk will highlight how 51·çÁ÷¹ÙÍø’s Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station contributes to global conversations around northern agriculture.

Future seminars will feature experts from across disciplines, including soil science, plant breeding, livestock nutrition, greenhouse technologies, sustainable high-latitude food systems and community-based natural resource education.

Conversations with the following 51·çÁ÷¹ÙÍø faculty and staff will take place from noon-1 p.m. in the Elvey Building Globe Room and on Zoom on the following dates:

• Oct. 14:
• Welcome — 51·çÁ÷¹ÙÍø Interim Chancellor Sfraga 
• From Alaska to Norway: A Look at High-Latitude Agriculture — IANRE Director Anderson 
• Nov. 11: Jan Dawe, assistant professor of natural resource education and community engagement
• Dec. 9: Glenna Gannon, assistant professor of sustainable food systems
• Jan. 13: Meriam Karlsson, professor of horticulture
• Feb. 10: Lacey Higham, Georgeson Botanical Garden directing manager
• March 3: Jakir Hasan, research assistant professor of plant genetics
• March 31: Jim Vinyard, research assistant professor of livestock nutrition
• April 14: Caley Gasch, research assistant professor of soil science

Seminars are open to researchers and students from UA, other circumpolar institutions, land-grant university experiment stations and the public.

For more information, contact Laura Weingartner at 907-474-6009 or lgweingartner@alaska.edu.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris2@alaska.edu or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu. 

This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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