By D'Lyn Ford
Using feedback from farmers across the state, researchers with NC State University’s Food Animal Initiative are developing a new tool to help connect livestock and poultry producers with farmers who can use manure as a source of organic fertilizer.
Stephanie Kulesza, FAI’s platform director for integrated, sustainable food animal systems, is leading the project, which began in 2025 with support through an FAI talent development grant.
“For sustainability in animal agriculture, generally the first thing to come to mind is manure management,” says Kulesza, an associate professor of nutrient management and animal waste in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.
“Relocation of nutrients to where they’re best utilized and don’t have excessive accumulation is the grand challenge of manure management,” she says. “If we create a tool that can help people optimize relocation, then from a market perspective, we will help them financially, as well as improving sustainability from an environmental perspective.”
Practical Application
The first step in designing a useful manure marketplace tool is understanding how the current system works. Researchers are incorporating input from more than 140 interviews in 2025, including many with livestock and poultry farm operators.
Source : ncsu.edu