“Agriculture and Water Management: Essential Tools for Peace Workers”
By Aleksandra Zaborowska (Duke MIDP ’25)
Summer 2024 AFE Blog Post Series
Do you think agriculture and water management are not part of the peace worker toolkit? Think twice – and think environmental justice, equitable access to healthy food and clean water, and food security.
My Journey with the Natural Resources Defense Council
In a world with shrinking resources, unsustainable agricultural practices, and water pollution, the Rotary Peace Fellowship has provided me with an incredible opportunity. I am interning with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), splitting my eleven weeks between their offices in Santa Monica, California and Washington, D.C. The California office focuses more on local legislation, while the D.C. office handles broader policy initiatives.
After seven years in international organizations, I wondered if non-governmental work was right for me. Five weeks into my NRDC internship, I already know the answer – this experience has been the missing piece of the puzzle. It has given me the ability to push boundaries and remain uncompromising in my efforts to create change.
My Role and Projects
As a Water and Agriculture Fellow under the Nature department, I am working on two main projects with my Soil team:
Reducing Nitrogen Overapplication
The NRDC is investigating how to address one of the most overlooked climate change mitigation strategies in agriculture: reducing the overapplication of nitrogen fertilizers. These fertilizers negatively impact drinking water quality, reduce biodiversity, and contribute to the massive “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. By identifying potential collaborations with drinking water managers to incentivize nitrogen reduction, we recognize the need for more data to support our efforts. Our goal is to organize a virtual workshop that will bring together drinking water managers, farmers, and nitrogen researchers to address this issue and brainstorm effective solutions.
Understanding Organic Seeds on EU Farms
Supporting organic farming has long been a major focus for the NRDC. Organic systems are significant compost users, benefit pollinator diversity by eliminating pesticides and synthetic inputs, and improve soil health. In the EU, organic farms are required to use organic seeds when they are commercially available. While some countries have clear guidance on “equivalent varieties,” no such guidelines exist in the U.S. Our objective is to create a memo that summarizes existing rules around organic seed procurement worldwide to help inform a U.S. proposal.
A Dream Come True
Working with the NRDC has been a dream of mine for years. They authored ‘REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE: FARM POLICY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY,’ a leading work for anyone in the field. One of the authors, Arohi Sharma, together with Dr. Daniel Roth, a soil scientist, interviewed me for the position. Now, I am proud to call them my teammates, colleagues and above all – my mentors.
We learn a lot from each other, especially since the EU’s legislation on sustainable farming and water resources protection in some dimensions is ahead of the U.S. They are interested in adapting some of these practices to the U.S. political and legislative framework environment. I also see the most committed non-profit professionals in action – they have given me the possibility to apply the knowledge I’ve gained during my first year at Duke in courses such as Food and Agriculture Law and Water Resources Law or Native Land and Water course. Working alongside NRDC’s litigation teams has deepened my understanding of the consequences of recent U.S. Supreme Court cases like Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless Inc. v. Department of Commerce (Chevron Deference).
This is a hydroponic system made out of rain gutters – built by Crop Swap LA
Community-Based Actions
We often discuss how local and community-based actions, especially on watersheds, build trust and grassroots support within communities. Too often, federal and state regulations are seen by farmers and fishers as impositions, leading to pressure to use derogations. Supporting communities and amplifying their voices to strengthen political and regulatory pressure on legislators is crucial for gaining broader support for systemic changes in our food system and natural resource management.
Engaging with the Community
Recently, I participated in an event hosted by the Los Angeles Food Policy Council where Arohi Sharma was a speaker at Crop Swap LA, an urban farm using a CSA-like model. They deliver fresh produce to their neighbors at a low price. This concept of local food resiliency and urban agriculture (e.g., hydroponics) demonstrates how we can build local food security and support our communities. One of the speakers, Matthew Teutimez, who is a Council Member on California’s Environmental Protection Agency’s Tribal Advisory Council, talked about the importance of restoring the functionality of tribal lands to support indigenous food systems and bringing back highly nutritious indigenous crops to be part of the change in the food systems.
Jamiah E. Hargins is the founder of Crop Swap LA and grows food on unused spaces, creating green jobs, independent economies, and nutrient-dense food. This is a DIY demonstration.
Environmental justice is critical for local communities, especially minorities predominantly affected by water contamination. Through my work with NRDC, I am committed to addressing these issues and advocating for equitable access to healthy food and clean water.
Let’s not forget that agriculture and water management are vital tools in the peace worker toolkit, contributing to a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.