At the University of Georgia, researchers Alexa Lamm and Kevan Lamm are working to improve communication in agriculture. Their focus is on how people, policy, and technology interact within the food system.
Kevan Lamm, an associate professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UGA, explained their approach: “There is the food system, which we all know. But on top of that food system is this human dimension.” He said their work aims to bridge production agriculture with consumers and policymakers. “We sit at the interface between production agriculture, consumers and policymakers — we care about them all and want to help them make informed, science-based decisions.”
Alexa Lamm leads the Lamm Science Communication Lab at UGA. She studies how individuals and communities engage with agricultural and environmental issues. “Food connects us all — we all consume it every day so decisions about food are deeply personal,” she said.
Both Lamms have backgrounds that combine practical experience with academic research. Alexa spent nearly a decade as a county extension agent after earning degrees in animal science and extension education. Kevan’s path included engineering before returning to his agricultural roots for doctoral work in leadership development.
Their real-world experience—managing a cattle ranch near Denver while balancing other careers—shaped their perspective before they moved into academia full-time. In 2008, they relocated to Florida for doctoral studies before joining UGA’s Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication in 2018.
The need for effective science communication has grown as digital media expands. Alexa’s research looks at how complex topics can be communicated to audiences with limited attention spans. “We’re not just screaming into the void anymore with one message that anyone between 8 years old and 80 years old is going to see,” she said. “We can target our messages and be more strategic than ever before.”
Her lab conducts experiments on issues such as water quality, plastic use, climate variability, food security, safety, and pest management. Alexa noted her motivation comes from making real-world changes: “If a few more people don’t go hungry because they have access to food, if a few more people live a longer life,” she said, “that’s good enough. Helping one person is enough.” Over her career she has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles and secured more than $70 million in research funding.
The Lamms often collaborate on interdisciplinary projects involving research, Extension services, and teaching. They have played key roles in initiatives like the Real Pork Trust Consortium—a partnership among five universities and the National Pork Board focused on consumer perceptions—and a USDA-funded project testing alternatives to peat for plant growth substrates due to rising costs of peat harvesting.
In these projects they coordinate communication among scientists, growers, economists, sellers, and extension offices involved in developing new growing materials such as shredded wood or coconut coir as possible replacements for peat.
Alexa highlighted broader interest generated by sharing their research: “Two of our scientists have already been approached by NASA to grow food on the space station,” she said. “That’s what can happen when we share our story and what we’re doing.”
Kevan also leads efforts funded by USDA that introduce systems thinking through gamified teaching models developed with North Carolina State University, University of Minnesota, and North Carolina A&T State University. These tools are being piloted at UGA undergraduate classrooms to encourage students’ problem-solving skills regarding agricultural production networks.
“We see our mandate as helping others be able to make informed decisions,” Kevan said.
Through storytelling training combined with leadership development strategies both Lamms aim to help those working in agriculture better communicate their experiences—a skill increasingly important for influencing corporate or political decision-makers today.
“I don’t think either of us would be where we are without the other,” Alexa said about their partnership both professionally and personally.
“While we bring different expertise from the leadership and communications perspectives, the two complement and strengthen one another,” Kevan added.“One of the best parts of our jobs is the ability to bring this combined expertise to the teams we work on with the goal of making a more safe reliableand resilient food system.”
