Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University | Tallahassee, FL

Consumer/Public Interest | January, 2011 – January, 2016

Jennifer Taylor is Coordinator of Small Farm Programs and Associate Professor at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) where she works with farming populations and communities to identify needs and assists in development of alternative capacity building programs to help meet those needs. She developed and is implementing the FAMU StateWide Small Farm Programs, a participatory multidisciplinary capacity building program designed to assist and equip underserved small farm populations toward a thriving sustainable development. A recent USDA Census indicated that nearly 90% of all farms in the United States are small farms – suggesting an increase from previous census.

She developed and is implementing a Growers’ Market Approach that provides fresh seasonal produce daily, direct from local small farmers. The value added market approach provides awareness of local food resources, enhances farmer/community networking, integrates workshops and learning experiences, and encourages a local sustainable table. She developed and is implementing a sustainable alternative energy small farm demonstration model that provides education and hands-on training in biofuels production, management. Farmers and students have participated in the on-organic methods farm learning sessions. Organic methods farms provide a uniquely sustainable farmscape and are beneficial to the global environment and local communities.

Taylor works with farming communities to identify needs and provides education, hands-on training, and technical assistance in sustainable agriculture systems including: agroecological farm strategies, transitioning to organics, organic integrated pest management, building healthy soils, urban farming, sustainable living, farmer to farmer trainings, and learning farm tours, and other linking paradigms - to enhance sustainability, viability, well-being, and quality of life. She has participated in the United Nations Sessions on Sustainable Development. Jennifer Taylor is a member of the Advisory Council for The Center for Biological Control at Florida A&M University.