Growing Alternatives: An Exploration Of Veganic Agriculture In The United States And Opportunities For Future Synergies

Veganic farming is a growing agricultural approach rooted in the exclusion of farmed animal inputs and promotion of diverse, plant-based ecologies. It offers a range of direct and indirect benefits, spanning from farm soil health to climate resiliency to improved human/non-human animal welfare (e.g., farmer/worker livelihood; consumer food safety; animal rights). Veganic farmers' experiences, worldviews, and motivations vary, however many include dimensions of social and environmental justice akin to that of the agroecology movement. This dissertation examines veganic agriculture and complementary approaches through three distinct discussions. First, veganic agriculture is explored in relation to soil health and fertility strategies reported through a sample of 25 veganic farmers in the United States (U.S.). Subsequently, it is proposed that there is value in Agricultural Outreach Professionals (AOPs) (e.g., University Extension personnel) gaining a greater familiarity to veganic approaches, not only to serve veganic farmers, but the greater agricultural community that could benefit from an expanded toolbox of resiliency strategies. Next, veganic agriculture is considered in context to agroecology with exploration of future synergies between the two approaches. This paper provides a foundational contribution of veganic agricultural principles as identified through the aforementioned field work with veganic farmers in the U.S.. These are then discussed in comparison with agroecological principles, using the thirteen principles outlined by Wezel et al. (2020) as a guide. Findings suggest that despite the misalignment on the integration of farmed animals (and the associated animal inputs), there is high compatibility and opportunity for transdisciplinary engagement across the two respective sciences/practices/movements going forward. Lastly, the co-creation of knowledge is examined with specific emphasis on agriculture and the application to agroecology. The intersection between ‘traditional’ and ‘scientific’ knowledge highlights potential for integration of farmer-centered perspective for improved process and outcomes. While the focus is on agroecology, it extends the same potential benefits to veganic agriculture. Given the expanding veganic farming community, participatory co-creation of knowledge may become an increasingly important tool for learning and knowledge development within and outside of the U.S.. As a whole, this dissertation is guided with the concept of a sustainable transition framework, specifically through the multi-level perspective (MLP). The concepts explored illuminate the plethora of ways veganic farming offers alternatives to the prevailing agrifood paradigm, especially when paired with other approaches, such as agroecology.