Talitha Neesham-McTiernan

Talitha Neesham-McTiernan is a second year PhD student in the Department of Geography, Development, and the Environment at the University of Arizona. Talitha is studying the potential of agrivoltaics, a novel technology integrating solar panels and agriculture, to enhance food security and resilience in the face of climate change. With a background in environmental science and physical geography, Talitha is passionate about understanding how innovative agricultural practices can contribute to sustainable food systems in semi-arid environments. Her research integrates quantitative analysis with community perspectives to evaluate the suitability of agrivoltaics in various settings, aiming to understand how the unique microclimate created by these systems can be of benefit in a changing climate.

The CRFS award will support Talitha's research investigating the impact of agrivoltaics on crop nutritional quality in semi-arid environments. This summer, she will collect and analyze crop samples from agrivoltaic and control (traditional open field) conditions at Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona, to understand how the altered microclimate influences nutrient concentrations. The findings will inform strategies to maintain or enhance crop nutritional quality in agrivoltaic systems, contributing to the development of resilient and nutrient-dense food systems in an era of climate change.