Solar + Agriculture = Agrivoltaics

Agrivoltaics brings solar energy and agriculture together and is gaining popularity in Europe and other locations around the globe, including Colorado in the United States. Linked below is a video that shares the story of agrivoltaics in Longmont, Colorado. We encourage you to watch the video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations with others around the globe!

Agrivoltaics: Solar Farm to Table

Discussion Points

• What surprised you the most from the video and why?
• What do you believe are the greatest benefits of agrivoltaics? What potential challenges are there regarding the use of agrivoltaics?
• Do you believe that agrivoltaics are a practice that could be adapted in your home area? Why or why not?
• How else might renewable energy sources and agriculture work together?

Fukushima Dairy

When people think about the Fukushima area in Japan they often remember the earthquake and tsunami that caused a nuclear crisis in 2011, but one couple is trying to change that reputation with their Jersey cattle. Linked below is a story about Daisuke and Nana Shimizu's farm. They discus their challenges and successes in the article. Within the article there is a six minute video that showcases their farm and how it operates. We encourage you to read through the article, watch the video, and utilize the discusion points to guide conversations around the globe.

Couple Dreams of Revitalizing Fukushima with Jersey Milk

Discussion Points

• What challenges do the Shimizu's face on their farm and with consumers? What are they doing to overcome these challenges?
• What are the similarties and differences when you compare dairy production at Farm Tsubasa compared to your home region?
• What did you find most interesting from this story? What is your big take away? Explain.