The University of Arizona: Tumamoc Talks – Agrivoltaics

When    5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Oct. 2, 2024            Tumamoc Talks bring together University of Arizona research to the greater Tucson community.    Agrivoltaics is a novel way of linking the societal needs of food and energy in a way that benefits both - all while reducing dependence on irrigation. Through this agrivoltaics approach, the understory gets protection from the summer sun and winter freezes, and solar panels are cooled by the transpirational water loss from plants below. More recently our team has been working with food system leaders across Southern and Central Arizona to coordinate Climate-smart food transitions with Arizona farmers - utilizing best and new practices to grow regionally adapted foods that require less water. We are connecting farmers, researchers, and rural community leaders across Arizona to rebrand what it means to produce sustainable agriculture in our arid lands.  Our speaker:  Greg Barron-Gafford, Professor and Kellogg Chair in Southwest Borderlands Food and Water Security, is a Biogeographer and Earth System Scientist who has been building the field of agrivoltaics - the co-location of an ‘understory’ of agriculture below an ‘overstory’ of renewable energy production. Greg began this work in the borderlands of southern Arizona to study the benefits across the food-energy-water nexus. More recently Greg has been working with food system leaders across Southern and Central Arizona to coordinate Climate-smart food transitions with Arizona farmers - utilizing best and new practices to grow regionally adapted foods that require less water. Working to develop science-based solutions to help people adapt to the increasing pressures that come from a changing climate is a personal and professional goal.    Tumamoc Talks are located at the Boathouse at the base of Tumamoc Hill.    Learn more and RSVP at tumamoc-hill@arizona.edu.