GLG 446 Students Visit Sandborn Farms

October 2, 2025

Students in GLG 446: Ecosystems Modeling, Water and Food Security, taught by Dr. Bruno Basso, took their learning out of the classroom with a field trip to Jeff Sandborn’s farm in Portland, Michigan on October 2nd.

Sandborn, a longtime collaborator with the Basso Lab, welcomed the class to share how he integrates yield data, crop modeling, and machine learning into his farm management practices. By using data-driven insights, he has been able to make more informed decisions about fertilizer use, planting strategies, and resource management.

The visit gave students a firsthand look at how agricultural research translates into real-world applications. "Seeing how the models they study connect to actual farming practices makes the science come alive" said Dr. Basso.

The field trip highlighted the important link between research and practice, demonstrating how technology and collaboration between farmers and scientists can help build more sustainable food systems.