Peter Makinde Leads Advocacy for Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Farming

Raheem Akingbolu

A graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria and Graduate Assistant OHIO Master of Science in Environmental Studies, Peter Makinde, has emerged as a leading figure in sustainable agriculture, particularly in the field of organic farming.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering focusing on food processing and sustainable energy, and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, Makinde has a solid foundation in the principles of sustainable practices.

Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Science at Ohio University, USA, with a focus on sustainable agriculture, Makinde’s passion for organic farming has been evident in his recent achievements.

He played a pivotal role in certifying the Ohio University Student Farm for organic farming, making it the first in Athens County and at Ohio University. This accomplishment highlights Makinde’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices and giving back to the community.

According to him, “Organic farming is a method of agriculture that relies on natural processes and materials, such as compost and crop rotation, to maintain soil fertility and control pests. It avoids the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms, making it environmentally friendly and promoting biodiversity.”

“Organic farming also promotes healthier soil, water, and air, contributing to a more sustainable food system,” he added.

In a short YouTube video titled Lessons from the field featuring Peter Makinde to celebrate the accomplishments of Makinde in Organic farming and sustainable agriculture, David Rosenthal, Associate Professor, OHIO Environmental & Plant Biology, said “While we teach sustainable agriculture, we actually are effectively an organic farm but we are not certified as such but Peter is working on transitioning part of the farm to an organic, certified organic operation.”

Rosenthal stated that the other part of Peter’s project is to keep us on the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) protocol, which is essentially a great way to maintain, sort of a cradle to grave approach, knowing when the plants were grown, when they were harvested and who they were sold to so, that if something comes up in the food system, some kind of pathogens for instance, we can trace that back to certain place at the farm and a certain day it was harvested, he added.

Makinde’s work in certifying the Ohio University Student Farm for organic farming demonstrates his dedication to advancing sustainable agriculture practices. His achievements in this field have not gone unnoticed, as he was recently awarded a Medal of Honor by the Sugar Bush Foundation for his outstanding contributions to sustainable agriculture. As Makinde continues to make strides in the field of sustainable agriculture, his work serves as an inspiration to others looking to make a positive impact on the environment and society.