Megan Nasto

Megan Nasto joined AFT in November of 2026, bringing more than 15 years of experience in soil and ecosystem science, applied research, and science translation across the croplands, pasturelands, rangelands, and forestlands of the western U.S., along with a track record of building partnerships with producers, agencies, and conservation organizations and developing producer-facing trainings and resources. In her role as Senior Climate and Soil Health Scientist for AFT’s national Climate and Soil Health Team, Megan advances connectivity across science, science translation, partnerships, and implementation strategies that accelerate adoption of resilient soil health management systems, with a focus on biochar integration and other climate-beneficial approaches. She leads applied research, synthesis, data analysis, and publications for farmers, advisors, and scientists. She collaborates on trainings, on-farm trials, and tools and resources that support decision making and address barriers to adoption and persistence, including AFT’s national soil health trials network and the Beef Grazing Network.

Prior to joining AFT, Megan founded and directed the Soil Science Program at Working Lands Conservation, where she led a federal- and foundation-supported portfolio of projects examining how land management affects soil health and carbon across western U.S. landscapes, and built the program’s soil biogeochemistry laboratory. She has also advised carbon registries and project developers on soil carbon measurement protocols, served on the Science Committee of Utah’s Agricultural Voluntary Incentive Program, and contributed to national syntheses on the climate benefits of rangeland and pasture management. She holds a Ph.D. in Forest and Conservation Sciences from the University of Montana and a B.S. in Environmental Science (Applied Geology) from Northern Arizona University.