CEFS Summer Internship in Sustainable Agriculture

Summer Interns with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) come from all over the country and world to work with faculty members on weekly classroom learning activities, hands-on farming experience, community projects, field trips to local farms and markets and focused research projects conducted at CEFS' 2,000-acre research farm in Goldsboro, N.C.

2013 Summer Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program

(June 3 – July 26, 2013)

Internship Background

We are seeking highly-motivated undergraduate students from a variety of different backgrounds, with a strong interest in sustainable agriculture, to participate in a unique 8-week summer internship. Summer interns will learn about the concepts and practices of various aspects of sustainable agriculture from expert faculty and staff at CEFS and through hands-on farm work, lectures and discussions, community engagement, and field trips to local farms and markets. In addition, a highlight of this program is that interns will gain hands-on sustainable agriculture research knowledge through working with a diversity of CEFS Faculty Researchers from various disciplines.

Goals

For students completing the CEFS Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program, the goals are to

describe sustainable agriculture and community food systems from a broad systems perspective;
observe and evaluate a variety of agricultural systems and practices for their sustainability;
improve professional development and collaborative learning interactions with university faculty and staff, farmers, extension agents, researchers, non-governmental organizations and the community;

communicate how sustainable agriculture research is conducted, basic techniques, and data collected from a variety of disciplines in sustainable agriculture

Background of CEFS

CEFS was established in 1994 by North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to serve as a center dedicated to sustainable agriculture research, extension and education. CEFS is nationally and internationally recognized for its excellence in sustainable agriculture research and education.

CEFS is one of the few facilities nationwide dedicated to sustainable agriculture research, extension and education. Our goals are to provide new economic opportunities in rural and urban communities, develop technologies that promote a cleaner and healthier environment, educate the next generation of farmers, consumers, and scientists and engage all citizens in the food system.

Our mission is to develop and promote food and farming systems that protect the environment, strengthen local communities, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond.