Episode 92: Professor Alex Racelis on Agroecology and the Rio Grande Valley

The Checkout speaks with leading scientist Professor Alex Racelis on the intersections of race, class, and food justice on the U.S./Mexico border.

Professor Alex Racelis is an Assistant Professor at the School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences with a joint appointment in the Department of Biology at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande Valley is a diverse, working class community at the heart of the U.S./Mexico border and produces massive quantities of food for export, yet has tremendous poverty and food insecurity. Professor Racelis researches agroecological farming methods to improve the health, livelihoods and environment of communities in the Rio Grande Valley.

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Episode #92 Notes

:30 Introduction to Agroecology
7:05 Areas of research
9:50 What is Agroecology
12:15 Research strategies
15:40 Agroecology and Regenerative Ag
18:00 Agroecology and GMOs
23:00 Agroecology, Justice and Farmers
29:20 Local food systems
39:50 A Just transition
48:50 Further Reading