As the weather cools and leaves turn, many young people go back to school to learn, research and continue with their studies, while other researchers explore strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure our survival for future generations. But an academic setting is not the only place where that type of experimentation, learning, problem-solving and innovation can happen.

We are the next generation of agriculturalists, innovators, problem-solvers and leaders who will shape the industry’s trajectory, and find solutions to some of our most pressing challenges, including climate change and the ever-increasing need to feed our growing population. According to the global food emissions database (EDGAR-FOOD), as reported in a study published in Nature Food, one-third of greenhouse gas emissions can be linked to agriculture, encompassing deforestation, soil tilling and the accumulation of food waste from our kitchens. It is evident our food systems are in need of regenerative and resilient transformations to ensure food security for all communities.

It is thus essential to provide farmers with access to the resources required to implement innovative changes and solutions. Farmers should also have a seat at the table during crucial decision-making processes and policy changes that impact agriculture. Equally as important, is the need to attract and support more young people into agriculture and show them it’s not only a viable career but also a dignified, purposeful and essential public service.

But it’s not just about providing resources. It’s also about investing in solutions to ensure the resilience of agriculture and our food supply.

Water scarcity and drought, for instance, pose significant challenges to our communities. Climate change only exacerbates and perpetuates this problem. These challenges, along with the difficulty of accessing resources and infrastructure, deeply shaped my approach to farming.

I looked to greenhouse operations and hydroponics, both water-smart technologies, as a foundation for my agricultural practices and enterprise. At Emerald Gardens, we also utilize vertical farming for microgreen production, and utilize controlled-environment applications for mushroom cultivation. Both of these agricultural operations have allowed us to produce food for our communities year-round.

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Now we are moving into phase III of our farm plan, which emphasizes soil health and land stewardship. Working with local mycologists and agronomists, and supporting a partnership with an agroecology youth education nonprofit, we are proving that food forests – a diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems found in nature – are possible and scalable on the eastern plains. With the newly launched Ag & Food Lab, a nonprofit organization, my team and I have created a “maker’s space” to rapidly prototype innovative models of agriculture. These are context-specific and culturally rooted to buffer the impacts of climate change and supply-chain disruptions by supporting producers and food businesses that advance food resilience with access to technical assistance, operational and administrative support, land utilization and capital. The lab has become our vehicle for experimentation, community engagement and business development as we support and incubate the operations of other first-generation farmers.

Investing in young farmers and local food systems can transform communities. As a farmer, I’ve seen firsthand how it can create a vibrant, sustainable and equitable food system. By providing greater access to resources for farm and ranch families to transition the farm to the next generation, we can ensure farming stays in the family and becomes a multi-generational enterprise.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture prioritizes supporting the future of agriculture and those who will lead the way by providing them with the tools needed to thrive with programs like the Agricultural Future Loans Program, Ag Workforce Development Program, the Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office, STAR Soil Health, Community Food Access Program and NextGen Agricultural Leadership Grants. These are some of the ways we can ensure young farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to succeed and implement climate-smart solutions in agriculture. Colorado needs to be doubling-down on its support for these programs and the ones like them to ensure agriculture has a strong future in Colorado.

As harvest season winds down, let’s consider the critical role young farmers and innovators play in creating a more regenerative, equitable and vibrant food system for all of our communities. Though we still face significant challenges when it comes to climate change, all industries should work to create innovative solutions to remedy those challenges. Let us consider land as a lab, farmers as researchers, farming as a public service and access to food as a basic human right.

Roberto Meza, of Brighton, represents District 1 on the Colorado Agriculture Commission. He is a first-generation farmer, artist and local food advocate. He is the co-founder of Emerald Gardens, a year-round greenhouse farm in Bennett, and he is chief executive of East Denver Food Hub, a local food supplier based in Denver. He also serves as vice president of the board of the National Young Farmers Coalition.