Design of Productive and Regenerative Food Systems Through a Landscape Architecture Studio Framework

Abstract

Agriculture and food systems are foundational in delivering ecosystem goods and services. There are significant opportunities for landscape architects to engage in the planning and design of regenerative agricultural systems. Particularly when conducted at a land grant university, design studio courses can prepare future landscape architects to work collaboratively toward more resilient and equitable food systems under a changing climate. This paper presents a studio course pedagogy for designing agroforestry systems in a rural county by linking research to extension through student design proposals. A central goal of the course is to establish reciprocity in which new knowledge is generated collaboratively between students, landowners, extension, and agency-based landscape architects. The course served as a platform for the landscape architecture program to connect university agricultural resilience initiatives such as the Nebraska Regional Food System Initiative and the Regional Food System Summit to landscape architects working in government agencies. For students, the course provided practice in designing regenerative food systems and an awareness of professional opportunities in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), such as the Forest Service’s Resource Assistants Program. For landowners, the students’ work illustrated opportunities to integrate agroforestry concepts into existing operations in new and novel ways. Participating landscape architects also gain new perspectives and insights by engaging with students and landowners. The course demonstrates how to provide students with skills and experience to pursue career opportunities in agencies while strengthening sustainable food system research and teaching initiatives through collaboration between the university and its partners.

Citation

Karle, Sarah; Bentrup, Gary. 2023. Design of Productive and Regenerative Food Systems Through a Landscape Architecture Studio Framework. Landscape Research Record. 12: 49-60.