Karen Chapman

Manager, Agriculture Sustainability

Work

Areas of expertise: nutrient loss, fertilizer management, supply chain solutions, endangered species, environmental justice

Karen Chapman works to expand EDF’s successful nutrient use efficiency programs designed to increase agricultural productivity while reducing nutrient losses to water and air through innovative projects and partnerships. She is a manager on the Agricultural Sustainability team and is based in the Midwest.

In this position, Karen helps assess nutrient optimization tools and technologies, coordinate farmer networks geared toward better fertilizer management, and link supply chain companies’ sustainable sourcing goals to on-the-ground projects. Her special focus areas include water quality, soil health and best management practices to address nutrient runoff.

Background

Karen holds a B.S. degree in Mass Communication (Spanish minor) from Miami University, Ohio. Her varied career includes two years as an agriculture volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps (Ecuador), five years as bilingual outreach coordinator and manager of the National Audubon Society’s Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary, four years conducting U.S.-Mexico border coastal and freshwater policy analysis with the Texas Center for Policy Studies and the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, and four years implementing endangered species habitat restoration on private lands in the U.S. and Mexico with EDF Texas.

Karen’s past recognitions and boards include: National Advisory Committee, Chair (advisory to U.S. EPA Administrator as a member of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation); the Good Neighbor Environmental Board; the Texas Regional Water Planning Committee; the Ohio State Technical Advisory Committee (to NRCS); Farm Services Agency State Wildlife Team and the Ohio Controlled Animal Feeding Facility Advisory Committee.