University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) Associate Professor Jennifer Blesh is a distinguished agroecologist whose interdisciplinary research aims to understand our food systems’ ecological and social implications. Her Soil and Agroecosystems Lab conducts research on agroecosystem management and soil nitrogen and carbon cycles, specifically focusing on the role of legume nitrogen fixation, cover crops and perennials in improving ecosystem sustainability. Blesh also employs a mixed-methods approach to identify leverage points for transitioning toward a more ecologically sustainable and socially just food system. At SEAS, she teaches core food systems courses, including Foundations of Sustainable Food Systems, Agroecosystem Management: Nutrient Cycles and Global Change, a seminar for the U-M Transformative Food Systems Fellowship Program, and Food Literacy for All, a course she helped launch in 2017 that is free and open to the public. We sat down with Blesh to learn more about her research, what excites her about her work, and her hobbies outside the lab and classroom.

What inspired you to pursue your research in diversified agroecosystems and transformative food systems?

When I was an undergraduate, I knew I wanted to study environmental science and sustainability. So, I majored in ecology at the University of Georgia's Institute of Ecology. While there, I had the opportunity to work as a summer research assistant on a project at the Land Institute, which is a nonprofit organization in Salina, Kansas. The Land Institute is leading the way in food systems transformation; they're breeding perennial versions of our staple grain crops. I was instantly hooked. There, I learned how urgent and important food systems transformation is. At the same time, I was also working in a restaurant, and it just clicked for me that because we all eat, food is a way to connect people to environmental and social justice issues. 

Why should people care about our food systems in the context of climate change?

Industrial agriculture accounts for about 20% of all human-derived greenhouse gas emissions, but when you think about the whole food system, it's more like one-third. We can't mitigate climate change without transforming agriculture and the food system. It's also important to recognize that agriculture also affects many other aspects of global change. It's a leading cause of water pollution, soil erosion, biodiversity loss and numerous other problems. The good news, however, from a soil perspective, is that there's a lot of potential to reduce emissions from agriculture and to return CO2 to the soils that have been degraded by industrial agriculture. 

What does a transformative food system look like to you?

It would be more diverse in every respect, and there’s no single solution. Ecologically, it would involve farmers managing biodiversity to support environmental and human health with a special emphasis on perennial crops that do not have to be replanted each year. Doing that would mean having more people participating in farming and agriculture, more prosperous rural communities, and more equitable access to the resources needed to farm, such as land, seeds, credit and equipment. It would also address major social inequities so all people can access diverse, healthy and culturally appropriate diets. 

What do you love most about teaching?

Many things, but definitely learning with and from my students. I take a pretty horizontal approach to teaching to build community in the classroom. Teaching also gives me much hope for the future, and I find our students have so much passion and energy. Also, it's exciting to see that many of my students have gone on to have meaningful careers in the food system. It feels good to recognize that I've had a small role in helping to build this new generation of food system leaders and those working on food systems change. 

What is a book you think everyone should read?

"The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture" by Wendell Berry. It was written in the late '70s but it's such an important overview of this process in the United States where family farms that were based on close relations with the land transitioned to a more industrial model of agriculture and the consequences of that transition.

What show are you binge-watching on Netflix right now? 

The French show "Call My Agent!" is a lot of fun.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished reading "Birnam Wood" by Eleanor Catton.

Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?

I've had a steady yoga practice for the past decade, even now with young kids. I also love cooking and gardening, and I play piano when I get a chance. 

What would you like future students to know about your work?

I have a couple of new projects starting this summer and fall. Most of the recent work in our Soil and Agroecosystems Lab is based on managing crop diversity for multiple benefits and understanding how farms can transition to more sustainable and resilient practices, so our work is highly interdisciplinary. Many of our projects are on real farms in partnership with farmers and the agricultural community—we're listening and learning so our work can have more impact. Doing work on real farms also allows us to understand what drives variation and outcomes across different contexts, and that can help inform how to shift resources to where they'll be most effective. It's an exciting and busy time in the lab, so we'll be hiring research assistants this year. I hope some SEAS students apply to join the team!

What advice would you give future sustainability leaders?

Be creative and imagine new futures. There's so much work to be done in all sectors. So find what you're most passionate about, learn what you're good at, and be intentional about working at that intersection—because, in my experience, that's the key to both success and happiness.