First project publication

Alisha and I are excited to announce the online publication of our first academic journal article based on the Growing Veganic research project!  “Veganic farming in the United States: farmer perceptions, motivations, and experiences” appears in Agriculture and Human Values, one of the leading journals in the realm of agrifood system studies.

The abstract is as follows:

Veganic agriculture, often described as farming that is free of synthetic and animal-based inputs, represents an alternative to chemical-based industrial agriculture and the prevailing alternative, organic agriculture, respectively. Despite the promise of veganic methods in diverse realms such as food safety, environmental sustainability, and animal liberation, it has a small literature base. This article draws primarily on interviews conducted in 2018 with 25 veganic farmers from 19 farms in the United States to establish some baseline empirical research on this farming community. Its qualitative perspectives illuminate farmer perceptions of and experiences with veganic growing, including definitions, knowledge acquisition, values, and challenges. Results highlight a lack of agreement about the meaning of veganic agriculture in terms of allowable inputs and scope. Participants have drawn on a wide array of veganic and non-veganic resources to ascend their veganic production learning curves, also relying on experimentation and trial-and-error. Their farming is motivated by a diversity of real and perceived benefits, most notably consistency with veganism, food safety advantages, and plant and soil health benefits. Veganic product sourcing and the dearth of veganic agriculture-specific resources present considerable challenges to farmers. The article briefly discusses possibilities for developing veganic agriculture in the United States, such as through a US-based certification system and farmers’ associations, based on considerations of the trajectory of the US organic farming movement and veganic developments in Europe. Finally, the article suggests the importance of expanded research into soil health and fertility in plant-based systems to support practicing and potential veganic farmers.

The article may be accessed at https://rdcu.be/cl7iC. If you are not able to download the piece, please contact Alisha or myself.

We are so grateful to our backers for their support of our research project, and also to the folks following along with this Experiment page and offering “likes” and comments. The publication of this article marks a big step forward in increasing familiarity with veganics in the research community, and we could not have done this without you all.

Look out for another lab note soon, announcing the publication of a sister article. Until then, be well and happy summer!