New York, NY (PRWEB) August 16, 2013
On August 16, impact investor and advocate of sustainable agriculture, Philippe van den Bossche, commends the University of Minnesota for providing its students with an opportunity to get hands-on experience with organic farming.
According to an August 7th, 2013 article published by Minnesota Daily, titled “Student farm serves community,” University of Minnesota students are getting hands-on organic farming experience by maintaining a “self-sustaining, certified organic farm.” Named the Cornercopia Student Organic Farm, this farm sits in the middle of University’s St. Paul campus and its produce is sold to University organizations or local farmers markets.
Philippe van den Bossche, an impact investor and advocate of sustainable agriculture, believes youth involvement in this industry is imperative to the growing popularity of organic farming. “These students are prepared to become well-versed in sustainable agriculture through a proactive and innovative approach, giving them the tools they need to succeed in the organic farming industry,” he says.
Students will begin planting in the greenhouses in February. Then, from May to November, volunteers and interns spend approximately 25 hours each week “replanting, weeding and harvesting vegetables and herbs.” Currently the farm sprawls across 2.5 acres with plans of continued expansion for the future.
Courtney Tchida, student programs coordinator for the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Cornercorpia farm manager, further explains the benefits that stem from the program. “It’s outreach, it's education, it’s feeding our local community and it’s research,” she says.
Cornercopia marketing intern and horticulture senior, Ben Boo, believes he is receiving a valuable experience through his work with the student farm. “I think that’s a cool perspective that we offer to the academic community. This is what tomatoes actually look like, and this is what it’s like to get your hands in the soil. A lot of people in academia haven’t experienced that.”
Philippe van den Bossche is an impact entrepreneur and investor and Chairman/ Owner of Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA), a leading organic agricultural and horticultural consulting and manufacturing company located in Middlefield, Ohio. AEA provides consulting services and specialty nutritional products to farms throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. van den Bossche is an advocate for organic farming and agriculture.
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