Land Use Changes, Exurban Studies and Food System Assessment

Drs. Jeff Sharp, Elena Erwin and Jill Clark in collaboration with the Swank Chair in Rural Urban Interface, Mark Partridge, lead the Exurban Change Project with the objective of analyzing economic, social, agricultural and land use change throughout Ohio’s townships, regions, and rural areas. The overall goal of the project is to perform applied research on these topics and to disseminate data and research results to local officials, professionals, and interested citizens to support their planning and decision-making. 

AMP helped support the initial phases of this work.  In addition, support was provided to the Rural Sociology Summit, which was focused on the results of a major Ohio survey, conducted by Sharp and others on the role and perceptions of agriculture in the State.  More recently, a team from OSU including Jeff Sharp, Molly Bean Smith, Jill Clark, Jeff McCutcheon, and Greg Davis is conducting a food assessment in Knox County focusing on the economic development possibilities, limitations, and opportunities for local food system development.

The assessment currently underway involves adaptation of a number of existing tools from the retail market analysis program, business retention and expansion program, and Social Responsibility Initiative in the departments of AEDE and HCRD.  Team members Jeff Sharp and Jill Clark also serve on the Ohio Food Policy Council’s Food Systems Assessment Task force, chaired by Casey Hoy.  The methodologies developed in the Knox County are currently being explored for statewide implementation.

Contact Jeff Sharp sharp.123@osu.edu, Jeff McCutcheon, mccutcheonj@cfaes.osu.edu ,  or Jill Clark, clark.1099@osu.edu , for more information.