EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ—East Brunswick Public Library (2 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive) and the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental partner to host the event “Sustainable Agriculture Projects in Zimbabwe.”

Climate change is wreaking havoc in rural farmers’ lives in Zimbabwe, often leading to poor or no harvests in back-to-back seasons. This talk will focus on results from a four-year effort to help rural farmers transition from vulnerable large-scale field-based agricultural practices like corn/soybean growing to small-scale controlled environment system like shed-grown mushroom and hydroponics. The talk covers how a demonstration center’s development helped provide incentives for local farmers and international experiences for Chirenje’s university students.

Chirenje holds a Ph.D. in Trace Metal Biogeochemistry from the University of Florida (Florida), an MS in Earth Science from the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) and a BS from the University of Zimbabwe (Harare, Zimbabwe).

At Stockton, he teaches courses in environmental chemistry, including water chemistry, environmental remediation and biotechnology, environmental toxicology, and environmental pollution and regulation. He also teaches and engages students in international sustainable development projects in Zimbabwe, Ecuador and Brazil.

The free event is presented online, and closed captioning will be provided. Tickets are required for this event; to reserve, go to www.ebpl.org/optiongreen.

“Sustainable Agriculture Projects in Zimbabwe” is part of East Brunswick Public Library and the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission award-winning Option Green series of environmental education and awareness programs. To learn more about this initiative, go to www.ebpl.org/optiongreen.

Other partners in the Option Green: Climate Change & Community event series include Highland Park Public Library, Matawan-Aberdeen Public Library, New Brunswick Free Public Library, North Brunswick Public Library, Old Bridge Public Library, Plainsboro Public Library, and South Brunswick Public Library.