The Siposium - First You Need the Farmers: Rebuilding Local Food Systems

Ever wish your favorite NPR segment or Ted Talk came with trivia, drinks, and real conversation? Welcome to The Siposium—a live, interactive gathering where we deep dive into surprisingly niche topics with expert guests, thoughtful dialogue, and just enough irreverence to keep it fun. Think NPR-style curiosity, casual community vibes, and real-time interaction. With drinks.

This month, in conjunction with COSI Science Fest, Kip Curtis will share how his work with the American Farm Initiative (AFI) focuses on rebuilding local food systems by starting with the people who make them possible: farmers. Drawing on research and on-the-ground projects in Ohio and beyond, he will discuss why many well-intentioned food and sustainability efforts fail when they ignore the practical realities of farming. We'll explore how small-scale, urban, and regional farms can be economically viable when supported by the right cooperative structures, markets, and community partnerships. Ultimately, the talk asks a simple question: if we want a better food system, what would it look like to design it around farmers rather than abstractions?

Speaker Bio: Kent "Kip" Curtis is an environmental historian at The Ohio State University whose work bridges research, education, and applied sustainability practice. He is the founder of the American Farm Initiative, a hybrid research and consulting organization focused on building viable local and regional food systems. Curtis has worked extensively with farmers, communities, and institutions to develop cooperative farming models and market structures that support both economic resilience and environmental stewardship. His work emphasizes turning ideas about sustainability into practical, working systems.

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