Anne LaForti will share some examples of biomimicry "out in the world" as well as some considerations of how we might mimic patterns we find in the soil. We'll ask the question -- how would nature solve this problem? Then Dr. Elaine Ingham, Dr. Adam Cobb and Anne will have a discussion about soil and food, followed by Q&A.
About our Panelists:
Anne LaForti is a soil nerd, myco enthusiast, and all-around biophile (nature lover). She has a master's degree in Biomimicry and is a Project Manager supporting nature-based innovation in the built environment and beyond at Biomimicry 3.8. She has a deep interest in ITEK (Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge), gardening, permaculture, urban and regenerative agriculture, and growing nutrient-dense foods. Anne was the 2022 Spring Nature, Art, and Habitat Residency (NAHR) Fellow in Santa Ynez, working on "Soil as Pattern Language: Emulating Healthy Soil Communities" and is currently a NAHR Ambassador.
Dr. Adam Cobb's passion for agriculture emerged during his several months of volunteer work on organic farms in New Zealand. His time in graduate school cultivated a broad vision for the restoration of living soils, as well as the power of research and community engagement to address global food production challenges. After completing his PhD at Oklahoma State University, Adam spent five years as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and University Instructor. He joined the Soil Food Web School in 2021, following his dream to help regenerate soils, improve human nutrition, and heal our planet.
Dr. Elaine Ingham has advanced our knowledge about the soil food web for over 4 decades. Widely recognized as the world’s foremost soil biologist, she’s passionate about empowering ordinary people to bring the soils in their community back to life.