University of California Division of Agriculture and...

University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural

Resources

STRATEGIC VISION February 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 1

I. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 5

ANR Vision for California 2025.......................................................................... 5

Development of ANR Strategic Vision.............................................................. 5

Challenges Facing California in 2025 ............................................................... 6

ANR Mission ....................................................................................................... 7

ANR: Who We Are ............................................................................................. 7

California Trends To 2025.................................................................................. 8

II. ANR’S ROLE IN ADDRESSING CALIFORNIA’S CHALLENGES........................... 16

Water Quality, Quantity and Security ............................................................. 16

Science Innovation In Food and Natural Resource Systems ....................... 17

Management of Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases......................... 17

Food Safety for Healthy Californians.............................................................. 18

Youth Development.......................................................................................... 19

Science Literacy around Agriculture, Nutrition, and Natural Resources .... 19

Energy ............................................................................................................... 20

Environmental Impacts .................................................................................... 21

Markets for California Agricultural Products ................................................. 21

Food security for healthy Californians ........................................................... 22

III. RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE CALIFORNIA .. 23

APPENDICES............................................................................................................... 24

Appendix 1. Initial Contributors ..................................................................... 24

Appendix 2: UC ANR ....................................................................................... 27

Appendix 3: ANR Making a Difference .......................................................... 33

UC ANR Strategic Vision February 2009

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UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

STRATEGIC VISION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2025, California will be a much more populated and diverse society. This society will have differing demands for goods, services, and resources related to differences in lifestyle, culture, age, education, and economic status. The University of California, and its Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), are key players in improving California’s future by providing leadership and innovation in research, education, and outreach to local communities. The Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources has a bold vision for this diverse, complex California of the future.

ANR envisions a thriving, vibrant California in 2025 with sustainable and productive food, fiber, and natural resource systems strengthened by a close partnership between the University of California and the people of the state. By actively connecting the public with the University’s research and educational resources, ANR serves as a catalyst for science-based innovations that enable the state to adapt to ever-changing physical, social, and economic conditions. Mutually sustained by this strong alliance, the University remains relevant, and the people of California enjoy a high quality of life, a healthy environment, and economic success in a global economy.

Californians demand and their future depends on:

o A sustainable, nutritious, and safe food supply o A clean, healthy, and sustainable environment o Clean and secure supplies of water o Secure supplies of sustainable energy o A science literate population capable of making informed choices o Translation of science relevant to policy and decision makers o Choices and solutions that come from innovation o Economic opportunities and jobs

Achieving these demands is threatened by a number trends or challenges that must be addressed through multiple mechanisms and partnerships. UC will play a vital role by providing research innovation, educating future leaders, and delivering science-based programs to local communities. Within UC, the ANR system is a vital, statewide network of highly innovative and productive academics who conduct cutting edge research, education and delivery programs that Californians rely on to produce a safe and secure food supply, advance environmental quality, improve human nutrition and health, and help agriculture and natural resource producers stay competitive in local and global markets. The UC ANR system currently has offices, programs, and academics in every county in California, ten Research and Extension Centers (RECs) located in different ecosystems across the state, and faculty on three campuses with multiple campus-based field stations. Sixteen Statewide Programs focused on specific issues such as water, food, pests and diseases, wildland fire, and energy provide a means to connect faculty from ANR campuses and counties with UC faculty from all the other campuses, allowing for


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integrated teams to work on complex issues which need multidisciplinary approaches to finding solutions. ANR connections also include faculty from the State University system, private colleges and universities, and stakeholders representing federal and state governmental agencies, organizations representing agricultural and natural resource production, NGO’s, and other interest areas including the environment, youth, and nutrition. The challenges facing California are numerous and will require multiple strategies to ensure ANR’s Vision for California becomes reality and that UC and ANR meet the demands that California’s future depends. ANR, with its UC and other partners, can strategically focus its efforts on some of these challenges. Human population growth requires increased food production The state’s increasing population will result in an expanding urban footprint and a decrease in the most fertile lands available for agricultural production. This will create an even greater need for increasing crop production per unit area, requiring research and educational programs to address such issues as crop improvement, nutrient management, sustainable management systems, and pest and disease management strategies. It will require informed land use decision makers who understand the role fertile land plays in economic food production. One in four Americans reports an experience with food-borne illness annually. This is even higher in California, partially due to the state’s rich diversity of cultures. With increasingly more of our food and food ingredients imported from countries with different production practices, we can anticipate more food recalls and food allergies. Older Californians, young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses will continue to be at heightened risk for food-borne illness. The ANR system and its unique research and education programs offers the opportunity to respond to local needs for increased food products and value, as well as the opportunity to test varieties which will respond to global food and marketing needs. The network of Research and Extension Centers offers opportunities for testing and evaluation of plant and animal varieties as well as systems of production. Opportunities abound for field testing of biotechnology developed in campus labs, and evaluation of methods for reducing the impact of invasive species, including biological, new pesticides, and cultural practices through a continuum of county and campus-based academics. Industry needs and requirements can be discussed, applied and tested in soil, water, and weather conditions throughout the state. Increased population and climate change results in intensified competition for water resources among urban, environmental and agricultural uses. The state’s expanding population, increased water allocations for environmental purposes, and changes in timing and distribution of precipitation will result in decreased water availability. Urban development on prime agricultural land pushes production to more marginal land which requires more water to produce the same quantity of product. Together these trends create a need for production processes that utilize both less water and lower quality water. The ANR system works with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to identify local and regional water policy issues and can be the catalyst for initiating research and educational programs that develop solutions. Many of ANR’s REC and campus field stations have the infrastructure to investigate short term and long term approaches to water conservation. For example, many field stations have sophisticated irrigation systems that allow for precise water applications. These systems enable research in water use efficiency, deficit irrigation, and management


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strategies to reduce water needs. The field stations also have the capacity to support alternative crops research that may identify new varieties or crops that require less water.

California faces diminishing and more costly energy supplies The demand and cost for energy continues to rise as a result of population growth, urban development, and global competition. Innovative strategies for management and use of the state’s natural and agricultural resources will help create a more sustainable energy future. In particular, ANR’s research and extension network can provide California agriculture with new production technologies and practices which minimize energy consumption and utilize renewable energy sources. ANR innovations with partners can provide technology, marketing and policy advancements to enable expanded use of forest, range, and agricultural resources for renewable energy production. Environmental constraints will continue to increase in California California’s environmental regulations, already the most intense in the country, will affect agriculture and natural resource production. Research, extension, and education programs offer the potential for multiple stakeholders to compare the impacts of regulatory and land use programs, and recommend new and creative methods for protecting the environment while simultaneously producing goods and services. Links between campus and county programs allow for collaboration in regional and local research and outreach programs and provide policy-relevant science to regulators and policy makers. The mixture of regional crops grown in California will change A combination of factors, including climate change, population growth, water availability, technological change, and global demand, will accelerate changes in the type and distribution of crops grown in California. Projected changes in temperature, rainfall and snowpack will result in geographical shifts in crop locations Population growth will continue to occupy what is currently prime agricultural land forcing production onto other more marginal lands. Associated with population growth is the increasing municipal demand for water which will change water allocation in many areas, resulting in inadequate supplies available for current crop production and requiring relocation of agricultural operations. Global demand for products will also have a significant influence on the types and amounts of crops grown throughout the state. ANR is uniquely positioned to address the shifts in crop production that will occur. ANR has the capacity to investigate the suitability of areas for growing crops not previously produced in similar climates and to alter or develop production systems to create sustainable systems in these new environments. Both short and long term research can be conducted under controlled situations not available when utilizing cooperators’ operations. The capacity to use nutrition to positively impact human health will be a reality Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, cancer, and bone disease are some of the human health threats that are related to poor nutrition as well as life-style choices. Currently fourteen percent of Californians are born under or overweight due to poor maternal nutrition and/or are iron deficient leading to anemia. Societal influences, including production and marketing of empty calorie foods, lack of physical activity, and quick fixes in the form of supplements, diets and other nutrition products fuel the problem. Individual factors, such as cultural practices, consumer misinformation, and socioeconomic status compound these problems. ANR in partnership with other UC medical and health schools researchers will help evolve solutions to nutrition related human health issues. ANR educational and science-based


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outreach programs will inform the public about diseases associated with nutrient deficits, excesses, and imbalances and food sensitivities. Current and future technologies based on genetics, genomics, proteonomics and other methods will contribute to the creation of designer foods to enhance nutrition and reduce health risk and health costs. California’s youth need multiple opportunities to reach their full potential. A major challenge for the future of California is development of California youth into resilient, positive, and engaged citizens. Resilience refers to the human capacity to adapt in the face of threat, be flexible in the midst of challenge and change, and to transform risk into positive development. Resilience is a capacity of all human development systems, including individuals, families, schools, and communities and it is our human development systems that teach caring relationships, high expectations, and opportunities as individuals and in our schools and communities for participation and contributions to the next generation. ANR’s system of research-based, non-formal education programs can be used to develop new approaches to science literacy and school readiness (pre-K) especially among low income and underrepresented populations. ANR can provide, through its 4-H Youth Development programs, alternative academic pathways and promote leadership development and citizenship opportunities that keep youth engaged in their educational pursuits and positive development. With UC and other partners, ANR programs will complement the K-12 school system and reinforce development of skill sets to prepare youth for higher education, future career opportunities, and informed participation in civic affairs and public policy. In order to meet the demands of Californians and reduce the threat of current trends and future challenges, UC will need to ensure that resources are available to keep the integrity of the campus-county continuum strong, and opportunities for new initiatives, new solutions thriving. The continuum is where research innovation is generated through individual creativity that may be influenced by the desire to find solutions to local and world problems. Through the ANR system of academics, cutting edge science is developed and delivered to individuals, communities, and state decision makers to improve the lives of Californians and beyond.


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I. INTRODUCTION California’s future will include a more populated and diverse society with differing demands for goods, services, and resources based on lifestyle, culture, age, education, and economic status. The University of California and its Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources are key players in improving California’s future by providing leadership and innovation through education, research, and service. To meet the growing demands of the state, California’s future depends on:

o A sustainable, nutritious, and safe food supply that improves the health and well-being of its population

o A clean, healthy, sustainable environment including comprehensive strategies to prevent and control California wildfires

o Clean and secure supplies of water to meet the needs of people, agriculture, and the environment

o Secure supplies of energy with increased energy efficiency in agriculture and natural resource systems, and improved use of biofuels and other by-products

o A science literate population capable of making informed choices o Choices and solutions that come from innovation o Economic opportunities and jobs

ANR Vision for California 2025

The Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources has a bold vision for California, which can only be fulfilled if the trends in California which cause multiple challenges can be met.

We envision a thriving California in 2025 with sustainable and productive food, fiber, and natural resource systems strengthened by a close partnership between the University of California and the people of the state. By actively connecting the public with the University’s research and educational resources, we serve as a catalyst for science-based innovations that enable the state to adapt to ever-changing physical, social and economic conditions. Mutually sustained by this strong alliance, the University remains relevant, and the people of California enjoy a high quality of life, a healthy environment, and economic success in a global economy.

Development of ANR Strategic Vision

In order to prepare for the future, the Division has embarked on the development of a Strategic Vision which will be followed with the development of a Strategic Implementation Plan. Projecting the future is a difficult task, and ANR has drawn on some of the best minds across the breadth of the University of California as well as leaders in agriculture, nutrition, human and community development and natural resource fields. Under the general guidance of a Steering Committee, five teams were


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recruited and charged to identify general themes and issues anticipated for California in the year 2025 and ANR’s capacity to address future trends and issues. The five areas were:

§ The Future Structure of California § The Future of Agricultural and Food Systems § The Future of Natural Resource Systems § The Future of Health and Nutrition Systems § The Future of Human Development Systems

These teams spent 8 weeks drawing on scientific literature, surveying leaders and thinkers in their respective areas to document the issues and challenges facing California in 2025. They reported their findings in White Papers. In addition, an independent consultant surveyed stakeholders outside of the university to determine their opinions about the major challenges and issues facing the state. Members of the Steering Committee, working groups, and information about the consultant can be found in Appendix 1. The ANR Program Council, comprised of Berkeley, Davis, and Riverside campus associate deans, ANR regional directors and program leaders, and other ANR leaders, synthesized the five reports and survey data into a Strategic Vision. The draft Strategic Vision was further refined with Steering Committee review in late January. ANR academics and staff, and external stakeholder reviews will occur in February and March, with edits responding to received comments for preparation of a final document to be delivered to the UC Regents in late spring 2009.

Challenges Facing California in 2025 There will be many challenges facing the state in 2025, and many opportunities to ensure California remains an economic, social and cultural leader in the world. The most compelling of these challenges include:

o Accommodating 8.5 million additional residents while sustaining our natural and agricultural resources.

o Successfully innovating for and adapting to the impacts climate change will have on forests, watersheds and agricultural lands.

o Ensuring Californians have adequate access to a safe, nutritious and sustainable food supply.

o Innovating to provide Californians with clean, safe and secure access to water. o Evolving viable agricultural and natural resource production systems and land use decisions to support communities, the State’s residents, and the economy.

o Improving Californian’s nutritional health through education so that people can make good food choices.

o Contributing to a citizenry who can make informed decisions on governance and public policy through improved science literacy


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UC ANR’s research, education and service activities will provide a vital role in ensuring a California of thriving communities, clean environments, and a safe, secure food supply driven by economic-engine that will lead the world in sustainable production. California depends on the University of California to provide:

o World class education that is accessible and affordable to all levels of society o Knowledge, skills, solutions, and leadership from graduates and faculty o Research to solve tomorrow’s problems and innovations to drive California’s economic engine to improve society as a whole

o Service programs to teach the public at large thereby amplifying the use of science-based knowledge throughout society

ANR Mission

Within UC, ANR’s mission is to:

o Develop and nurture campus to county connections that fully engage UC with the people of California

o Achieve innovation in science, research, and education that supports o A sustainable, safe, and nutritious food production and delivery system,

o Economic success in a global economy,

o A sustainable, healthy, productive environment,

o and develops an educated science literate public

ANR: Who We Are The UC ANR system is comprised of Agriculture Experiment Station faculty and Cooperative Extension specialists on 3 UC campuses, and Cooperative Extension advisors in the counties. ANR currently has offices, programs, and academics in every county in California, plus ten Research and Extension Centers (RECs) located in different ecosystems across the state in addition to campus field stations. ANR is unique in placing scientists in communities to work directly with the individuals who use UC research results to make decisions for their businesses and every day lives. Cooperative Extension advisors are the bridge between communities and the campuses, taking problems to campus-based CE specialists and AES scientists to study, and then bringing the solutions back to the people in communities throughout the state. Sixteen ANR Statewide Programs focused on specific issues such as water, food, nutrition, pests and diseases, wildland fire, and energy provide another means to connect faculty from ANR campuses and counties with UC faculty from all the other campuses, allowing for integrated teams to work on complex issues which need multidisciplinary approaches to finding solutions. ANR connections also include faculty from the State University system, private colleges and universities, and stakeholders representing federal and state governmental agencies, organizations representing agricultural and natural resource production, NGO’s, and other interest areas including the environment, youth, and nutrition.


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California Trends To 2025

PEOPLE Population

o California will have 8.5 million more residents by 2025, an increase of more than 22% from 2008, giving the state a population of 46.7 million. Inland areas will experience the most rapid rates of growth, up to 45% in some counties. The Central Valley will experience a faster rate of population growth than employment growth, with consequent transportation infrastructure and housing challenges.

o California will be a more pluralistic state, with no one ethnic group representing more than 50% of the population. Whites and Latinos will each comprise roughly 40-45%.

o The state’s population will be significantly older, with the proportion of seniors age 60 and older increasing from approximately1-in-7 to about 1-in-5.

o Youth (age under 20) will continue to constitute a large proportion of the population, about 1-in-3.

o Single parent households are expected to continue rising in number.

Education o Only 7 of every 10 students graduate from high school in four years and only 1 in 4 graduates is college-ready. A lower percentage of the population will achieve college degrees in 2025; there will not be enough college graduates to meet the needs of the state’s employers. The shortfall of college graduates will be more than 10% of what will be needed.

o The loss in science literacy in our society is expected to continue. For over a decade, national and international assessments of science education and literacy have shown that U. S. youth perform at levels below those achieved by their peers in many developed countries.

o Currently there is roughly a 150 – 200 point difference between the California Academic Performance Index (a scale with a range of 800 points) for White and Asian students vs. African-American and Latino students and there is no evidence that this pattern will substantially change, in either direction, by 2025.


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Workforce

o The baby boomer generation will be retiring, and many projections indicate that, as a whole, California’s replacement workers will have lower levels of educational attainment.

o Currently, many California industries face critical skills shortages and some recent studies warn that soon more of the state’s employers may be unable to find workers with the skills they need to remain competitive. Projections for California’s economy indicate that even more highly skilled workers will be required in the near future.

o Economic disparities are increasing among geographic areas due to unequal access to quality jobs, schools, transportation and affordable housing.

o Employment will shift from manufacturing and natural resources/mining to service industries.

o Access to a stable agricultural workforce will continue to be uncertain, pending resolution of immigration policy issues.

FOOD PRODUCTION

o World population will rise by approximately 30%, creating significantly greater net demand for agricultural products including food, fiber, and renewable biofuels. This will require more intensive farming practices and higher yields for many crops.

o Shrinking water and land resources will further necessitate higher yields and more efficient farming systems.

o There will be increased demand for higher quality foods due to globalization and increased buying power and the rise of the world middle class, particularly in China, India and Russia. California, as the nation’s premier food producing state, will be particularly impacted, as demand for fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, milk products, and specialty crops and higher value crops increase worldwide.

o Emerging technologies (genomics, bioinformatics, molecular genetics) coupled with classical approaches (genetic selection in breeding plants and animals, agronomy, soil science and animal nutrition) will facilitate innovation in the search for new and nutritionally enhanced food products

RESOURCES Land Use

o Continuing urbanization of agricultural land will require additional conversion of marginal lands to produce food and fiber. If projected development continues to


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grow in low-density development (with only 10% infill), it will consume 5.1 million acres of previously undeveloped land; high-density development (with 30% infill) would consume 2.6 million acres.

o California will continue to lose farmland to urban uses in the Central Valley, several coastal valleys and places within commuting distance of the Bay Area as the population continues to grow. Noticeable strains on farming will occur at the interface between urban and rural land use. This will include rural sprawl on prime agricultural land.

o Currently most urbanization and suburbanization have occurred at the expense of agricultural lands. Future urban growth is projected to shift more towards rangelands and forests, increasing the wildland/urban interface issues. As urban centers expand:

o More private forests will be converted at the projected rate of 31,000 ha/yr (76,570 acres/year) largely due to real estate development, resulting in the reduction of ecosystem services and increased fragmentation of the remaining forests.

o Biodiversity will be impacted by increased habitat loss and fragmentation. o Coastal and marine resources will experience degraded water quality o Coastal communities will become less sustainable o The demand for water will increase, and more recycled wastewater will be used to augment the supply of water

o Conflict over alternative uses of rangeland will continue to escalate.

Water o Population growth will require an additional 5.9 to 7.4 million acre-feet of water per year, assuming agricultural use rates remain constant. Half of California’s population growth is expected to be in hotter areas with high water demand for landscaping -- Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, the Central Valley, and the Sacramento metropolitan area.

o California will have to reduce its use of Colorado River water by 0.8 million acre-ft by 2015. Few new sources of water have been identified.

o Projected efficiencies in water usage in the agricultural sector may mitigate the need for additional irrigation water. The scarcity of water will slow the conversion of cropland to permanent crops, encourage shifting to crops that generate more value per unit of water, and hasten conversion to production technologies that use less water.

o New water will be needed to support aquatic wildlife.

o New water sources will be needed to reverse the trend of overdrafting of groundwater basins. This is estimated to add another 1.5 – 3 million acre-ft to the demand.


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o The loss of water during storage and transport in the State’s aging infrastructure of reservoirs and canals from leakage and evaporation will require a coordinated response by state, regional, and local agencies.

o Water quality will be affected by global climate change causing more intense rainfall events and increased losses from surges in runoff and sedimentation.

Air Quality o Population increases will cause further degradation of air quality throughout California, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley region. Sources include transportation, power generation, and agriculture.

o Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) will continue to seriously threaten human health, increasing the risk of lung disease and asthma. Several California airsheds are among the worst PM regions of the US. Particulate matter as well as ozone precursors (VOC and NOx) will continue to pose threats to air quality and human health.

o State and Federal regulations will require reduction in air pollution from agricultural sources in California, including ammonia and hydrogen sulfite, to address public health concerns. Likewise, California agriculture will need to reduce nuisance pollutants such as odors, dust, and flies in order to mitigate agricultural-urban conflicts.

Energy

o Fossil fuels are likely to remain the dominant transport energy source beyond 2025, although electricity will emerge as a more important source of transportation energy.

o Climate change will impact the timing and variability of hydrological flows for hydropower generation, summer demand for electricity, and the potential for power outages.

o Despite potential expansion of reservoir storage capacity, shortfalls will persist that will most likely be met through a mix of natural gas and other energy sources.

o Regulatory constraints on motor fuels are likely to raise the costs further for California agricultural producers relative to other regions, affecting the whole production and marketing chain.

o The physical infrastructure for energy supplies, transport and handling of inputs and outputs will continue to be concerns for California agriculture.

INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET CALIFORNIA’S NEEDS

o California will continue to face difficulties in maintaining the state’s existing transportation system, with 38 percent of road miles in “mediocre” or “poor”


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condition and 29 percent of road bridges “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete.”

o Continuing population growth will require expansion of transportation capacity in both passenger and freight travel.

o Aging sewer systems, if not improved, will lead to failing sewer lines, increasing environmental and health risks from contaminated water. On the other hand, if wastewater infrastructure is improved, it may also support increased recycling options.

o New water conveyance systems will be required to efficiently transport water from natural watersheds to areas of high demand while simultaneously protecting ecosystems.

CLIMATE CHANGE

o Anticipated weather extremes and changes in the pattern of precipitation and snow pack will degrade water quality and quantity.

o Anticipated changes in temperature, rainfall and other environmental parameters will:

o Increase the impacts of some endemic and new invasive pests and diseases.

o Cause some native species to disappear in certain geographic regions and new species to emerge and dominate.

o Necessitate changes in agricultural cropping patterns across the state. o Anticipated changes in terrestrial plant and animals ecosystems will adversely impact coastal and marine ecosystems.

o California will have increased regulation related to climate change.

GOVERNANCE/POLICY

o California faces the threat of increasing political gridlock and potential citizen disengagement as larger numbers of youths enter adulthood lacking the decision-making skills and knowledge base to participate in informed public policy determination.

o California policy-makers and the public at large face emerging legislative and regulatory issues for which science-based information will be critical for effective, equitable and transparent policy development.

o California agriculture and natural resources will continue to face a stronger and more costly set of regulatory environmental constraints than those in most competitor regions. These costs will result in higher prices to consumers and a less favorable market position for producers.


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o California faces continuing challenges for coordination and integration of public policy, due to the multiplicity of regulatory authorities, such as the hundreds of entities involved in the allocation and delivery of water for agricultural, urban, and environmental needs that operate independently and impose differing regulations even within common geographic regions.

ECONOMICS AND MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

o California agriculture faces uncertainty about its economic viability, at the individual farm and industry-wide levels – requiring updated data, models and techniques for monitoring and predicting economic trends

o Increased consumer interest in organically grown and locally produced products is creating a growing market for some California products -- the organic share of the food budget has grown rapidly from a tiny base to a few percent of the total food budget. California is by far the most important producer of organic food.

o Population trends suggest that there will be greater challenges in access to affordable, nutritious food by lower-income groups.

o The greatest potential for growth for California agricultural products in the next 20 years will be in exports to developing countries, where population increases will be largest, and where world income growth is likely to be concentrated. Population growth and the emergence of a new middle class will create markets for higher quality foods.

o California’s success in future export markets will be dependent in part on trade policies and market competitors. Significant competition exists and production innovations, as well as careful consideration of policy, are needed to keep California competitive.

ENDEMIC AND INVASIVE PESTS AND DISEASES

o Insects, weeds, diseases, and vertebrates have a dramatic direct impact on agricultural productivity and natural resources. Insects alone are thought to be responsible for reduction of the world food supply by 20-30%.

o The homogenization of our world through international travel and shipping is contributing to the introduction of exotic pests and diseases that pose new threats to California.

o Invasive species not only directly affect our agricultural economy through direct losses or quarantines, but also impact urban systems and can displace native species from wild habitats.

o Climate change will impact the distribution of pests and diseases as new habitats are created.


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FOOD, HUMAN NUTRITION AND HEALTH Consumer Demand Concurrent with the demographic changes and the increased prevalence of chronic disease and food safety problems, consumer demand is expected to increase for the following:

o A variety of convenient, portable, portion-controlled food products, ethnic foods and fruits and vegetables and other foods for which California is a dominant producer.

o Innovative functional foods that target specific health conditions and/or, promote health.

o Home-grown and home-preserved foods. o Access to farmers’ markets, and other alternative forms of fruit and vegetable marketing, particularly those that support local and regional food systems and provide organically-grown foods.

o Credible information related to agriculture, food safety, nutrition, and consumer economics, especially information that is tailored to individual needs and available through convenient media such as the Internet.

o Better point-of-purchase labeling information of food products in the supermarket, school lunch, and restaurants, particularly to meet the needs of consumers with food allergies

o Assurance of safety of the food supply -- particularly for fresh produce, tree nuts, meats and dairy products -- and more reliable knowledge about the sources of food ingredients.

Nutrition and Health

o Related to the rise in obesity rates, diabetes diagnoses in California are expected to more than double by 2025. More children will develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease and risk factors related to chronic disease due to poor nutrition and lack of physical activity.

o Food allergies will continue to be a concern o Other health problems will include those associated with poor prenatal and postnatal nutrition and toxicity associated with excess levels of vitamins and minerals from supplements and other biologically active products.

o Health disparities will persist. One out of every two Latino females born in the year 2000 is projected to develop diabetes. African Americans will have the highest cancer rates.


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Food Access and Security o Food security and food access will remain a challenge for millions of Californians: o Increasingly limited and more costly agricultural water and energy will place greater upward pressure on food prices.

o Income disparities will increase as economically disadvantaged segments of the population grow, resulting in greater inequities in access to safe, nutritious and affordable food.

Food Safety and Food Defense

o Globalization of the food supply, and consumer demand for year-round food products that must be imported, will increase the risks of food-borne illness due to poor and unsafe agricultural practices in many countries, and the lack of international food inspections

o The segment of the population at greatest risk of food-borne illness--older adults, young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses-- will increase.

o The continuing rise in food borne illness outbreaks and food recalls will lead to lower consumer confidence in the food supply.

o Chemical adulteration such as melamine will continue to result in domestic and international food safety concerns.

o Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the vulnerability of the food supply to bioterrorism.


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II. ANR’S ROLE IN ADDRESSING CALIFORNIA’S CHALLENGES

The previous section has described many of the important trends that California must address to prevent overwhelming challenges to a high quality of life, a healthy environment, and economic success for generations of Californians. ANR can address some of these formidable challenges, and the following represent the best opportunities for ANR’s considerable infrastructure and talent to seek new initiatives, new resources, and new ways of partnering within and outside UC to find solutions for California.

Water Quality, Quantity and Security Water is the life blood of California’s economy. As such, water supply and quality for agricultural, urban, and environmental systems are some of the most critical over-arching issues facing the state over the next 20 years and beyond. Key issues and trends are: 1) the supply of water will be limited for all users, in some cases severely 2) competition for water will intensify among agricultural, urban, and environmental users, with water being transferred from agriculture to the latter two groups, 3) short- and long-term climate trends will exacerbate the problems associated with water availability, 4) degradation of water quality will become more important as a major public issue, and 5) sudden legal and regulatory decisions will have significant impacts on water use and quality among all sectors. ANR’s role will include:

• Developing innovative scientific techniques, products, and/or processes to improve water-use efficiency and water management practices to conserve water. Examples include the development of:

o techniques to improve irrigation efficiency and management, to more precisely match crop requirements to water supply (both quantity and quality), including monitoring, delivery, uniformity and scheduling.

o genetically improved crops to increase yields, introduce novel traits, and to adapt plants to water-limited conditions

• Improving California’s water quality, by developing and encouraging the adoption of management practices to prevent degradation of water resources caused by pesticides, salinity, chemicals, animal wastes, nutrients, and pathogens and by developing expertise on utilization of degraded water sources (saline water, urban and agricultural wastes).

• Assisting in the development of flexible and effective water policies and strategies using its econometric, hydrological, and policy expertise

• Utilizing science-based research and educational approaches to address these issues in partnership with others, including agricultural groups, environmental groups, and regulatory bodies


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Science Innovation In Food and Natural Resource Systems California agriculture’s competitiveness will be critically dependent upon adoption of new scientific and technological innovations derived from new knowledge in agriculture, natural resources, and nutrition. The future promises to be an information- and knowledge-based economy, and food systems are no exception. California has been an innovation leader for more than a century, a major factor in enabling the state to become the nation’s premier food producer, and to adapt to ever changing challenges and opportunities. Investments in agricultural research and development (R&D) have yielded benefits worth 20 times the cost. ANR’s role will include:

• Developing and encouraging innovations in genetic, genomics, biotechnology, and traditional plant breeding approaches to develop

o new cultivars of crops and forest species that thrive in California as climate changes,

o crops with drought tolerance and tolerance to sub-optimal soils (e.g., saline),

o crops for biofuels, unique applications, improved quality, and to produce value-added products, and

o new crops to enhance nutrition and reduce chronic diseases and specific health conditions.

• Developing innovative new approaches for pest and disease management for crops, forest species, and animals which will address key production issues while protecting the environment.

• Encouraging innovation in a wide range of new technologies which impact the California agricultural, food and natural resource economy, including

o mechanization in agricultural production, o irrigation water management, o postharvest quality and ‘value added’ products, and o development of new forest products and utilization of forest byproducts.

• Encouraging appropriate partnerships with private sector partners, government agencies, and other partners to enhance economic opportunities.

Management of Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases Management of pests and diseases is an overarching theme that affects agriculture, natural resources, and the quality of life for the citizens of California. Endemic and exotic insects, nematodes, weeds, vertebrates, and diseases have a dramatic direct impact on agricultural productivity and natural resources. The homogenization of our international travel or shipping has increased the introduction of exotic pests and diseases into the state. To ensure the sustainability of the state’s food and agricultural


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production systems and its natural resources, California needs constantly updated systems for exclusion, detection, eradication and control of invasive pests and diseases. ANR’s role will include:

o Developing innovative technologies for detection of endemic or exotic pests and diseases

o Developing effective and economical technologies and tactics for use in diverse agricultural, natural, and urban systems to mitigate or control organisms for reduced environmental impact,

o Developing economical control or management strategies to maintain price competitiveness in global economy.

o Increasing knowledge of invasion biology to better assess risk, prediction and intervention.

o Increasing understanding of how changing environments will influence emergence of endemic pests and diseases, and introductions of new species.

o Extending the scientific knowledge to state and federal policymakers to ensure science-based policy in inspection, detection and quarantine, and movement of people and goods.

o Building a spectrum of interdisciplinary expertise from field to bench, whole-organism to molecular, to ensure effective translation of scientific advances into practical applications.

. Food Safety for Healthy Californians Food-borne illness affects 1 in 4 Americans annually, with higher numbers in California. Outbreaks place a burden on a medical system and impact the productivity of our workforce. Globalization of the food supply, combined with the lack of international food inspections increases the risk to our food systems. The food supply, particularly international sources for food ingredients will result in increased food-borne illness resulting in food recalls, and food allergies. Older Californians, young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses will continue to be at heightened risk for food-borne illness.

• Californians expect a food supply that is safe. Three related concerns predominate: (1) inadvertent microbial contamination of food products, such as E. coli or Salmonella; (2) chemical contamination such as the recent tainting of imported products with melamine; and (3) concern about the impacts of potential terrorist attacks on our vulnerable food system.


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• Increasing number of Californians have concerns about food allergies, this will impact the food system leading to increased demand for better product labeling information of food products in the supermarket, school lunch, and restaurants.

ANR’s role will include:

• Developing methods to prevent, detect, respond and recover from outbreaks, including trace-back and trace forward labeling systems to identify contaminated food products

• Testing methods to identify contaminated products

• Creating and applying technologies to eliminate contamination

• Develop strategies for response/recovery for food systems.

Youth Development The major challenge for the development of California youth into positive, engaged citizens is the establishment of resilient systems. The systems concept of resilience refers to the human capacity to adapt in the face of threat and stressors, to be flexible in the midst of challenge and change, and to transform risk into positive development. A major target audience will be underrepresented students. To ensure that our youth develop this resilience the following issues will need to be addressed. ANR’s role will include:

• Developing new approaches to school readiness (pre-K) especially among low income and underrepresented populations.

• Providing through 4-H Youth Development alternative academic pathways and promoting leadership development and citizenship opportunities to keep youth engaged in their educational pursuits and development. (promote positive youth development)

• Complementing the K-12 school system and reinforcing development of skill sets to prepare youth for higher education and participation in future career opportunities.

. Science Literacy around Agriculture, Nutrition, and Natural Resources Accurate science-based information is the cornerstone of making sound personal decisions and public policy. California needs a public with greater understanding of science, so that they can make informed personal choices and public policies regarding food production, diet and health, and the natural and human-made environment.


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ANR’s role will include: • Providing accessible science information to enable people to adapt to ever-changing physical, social and economic conditions.

• Delivering field programs, tours, etc to provide hands-on experiences in farms, fields, and labs to enrich personal connections with the science base in agriculture, natural resources and nutrition

• Educating graduate and undergraduate students in classroom and field courses in food and natural resource production systems, diet and health, and the environment.

• Forming partnerships with other educational, state, and federal entities to develop curriculum and deliver programs

• Utilizing distance learning opportunities to better connect California communities with UC resources.

Energy California faces diminishing and more costly supplies of energy while the demand for energy continues to rise as a result of population growth and increased world demand. Demands from the public for renewable sources of energy and for more energy-efficient agricultural and food systems will be major factors affecting our food production and transportation systems. Innovation is needed to efficiently manage energy resources in agricultural and food systems, and to explore and develop environmentally-sustainable conversion of biofuels. ANR’s role will include:

• Research and supporting innovative new agricultural production technologies that minimize fossil-fuel energy consumption and utilize renewable energy sources throughout the California food-production system.

• Utilizing innovative new technologies, marketing, genetic, genomic, engineering and agronomic techniques to produce sustainable biofuels from forest, waste, and agricultural resources for renewable energy production. This includes genetic and biotech innovations from UC scientists.

• Forming highly interdisciplinary teams across UC, agency, and private sector partners to accomplish energy savings in food systems, water systems, and innovations in biofuel production.

• Developing science-based policy-relevant research and information that will guide lawmakers in the important areas related to energy.


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Environmental Impacts In order to ensure the continued vitality of the state’s food and agricultural production system and the natural environment and human communities with which it is intimately linked, California needs to minimize agriculture’s adverse environmental impacts and maximize the environmental benefits yielded by farms and ranches while preserving their economic sustainability. ANR’s role will include::

• Developing new production technologies and practices for California agriculture that conserve natural resources and preserve environmental quality.

• Producing technology, marketing and policy advancements to enable expanded use of agricultural resources for the production of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, waste recycling, wildlife habitat, and renewable energy generation.

• Providing science-based information to regulators to inform the development of policies and regulations that protect environmental quality while sustaining the economic viability of agricultural production.

Markets for California Agricultural Products The economic viability of California agriculture is dependent on local, national and global markets. UC scientists have a key role to play in introduction of new crops and enterprises and new uses for existing crops and animals. It is vital that future research and educational efforts result in enhancement of the opportunities for markets and new products. Examples are innovations such as introduction of new biofuel crops or new crops such as blueberries, improved processing techniques, new strawberry varieties, unique quality traits of wine grapes, dairy products, grass-fed beef, organic melons, or new uses for existing products such as rice straw. UC and ANR must harness new biological knowledge in genetics and genomics to address new markets, unique traits, and market opportunities. To ensure the sustainability of the state’s agricultural and food production systems, California must adapt to the changing nature of both the underlying demand conditions and the conditions of competitors in those markets. ANR’s roles will include:

o Developing and disseminating science-based practices for organic production and systems for local marketing that will help ensure continuation of the competitive advantage generated from previous ground-breaking efforts.

o Exploring the potential of new commodities for production in California, expanding the uses and markets for existing commodities, and extend information on production and marketing practices to the agricultural and consumer communities.


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o Generating science-based information and marketing strategies to develop international markets for existing and new California agricultural commodities in developing countries, where population increases will be largest, and where world income growth is likely to be concentrated over the next 20 years.

o Developing and disseminating knowledge on the role of consumption of California products, particularly fruits, vegetables and nuts, associated with healthy diets and control of obesity in children and adults. California’s natural advantage in production can be enhanced by continued development and adoption of resource-efficient production practices and improved cultivars and varieties.

o Identifying agricultural crops and systems that share mutually beneficial uses for wildlife and recreation.

o Developing “Farmaceuticals” plants for medical/ nutritional needs.

Food security for healthy Californians Food security is the ability of people to reliably access and afford nutritious food. It affects communities and the state as nutrition is directly related to numerous human diseases with increased health care costs. Food insecurity, which currently affects one in ten California households will continue to challenge millions of Californians in the year 2025 as the populations proven to be the most vulnerable to food insecurity are projected to grow much faster than those who are not. Only an interdisciplinary approach can effectively address the severe challenges to social and environmental justice, including the inability to achieve food security.

ANR‘s role will include:

• Fostering direct marketing options, such as farmers’ markets in low-income communities.

• Teaching people better ways to manage their money to maximize their food budgets.


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III. RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE CALIFORNIA

ANR has a long history of making a difference to the lives of Californians (see Appendix 3). However, the trends are clear that there are formidable challenges facing the state, and now is the time for ANR to clearly articulate its vision and begin the process of examining its infrastructure to best meet the demands and challenges articulated in this document. With judicious support and keen attention to new, strategic initiatives, ANR can help ensure a vibrant, thriving California. The following recommendations are a beginning.

§ Organize and fund new research and outreach activities around integrated, multi-disciplinary teams focused on the challenges facing California in agriculture and the environment. Utilize teams of faculty from across California’s counties and campuses.

§ Support ANR’s leadership role in finding science-based solutions to relevant problems in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition and youth development and extending that knowledge to the people of California.

§ Develop and support new and existing initiatives to improve competitiveness in the recruitment and retention of world-class faculty, students and staff who reflect the communities we serve.

§ Utilize, enhance, and expand county based academics and facilities as the local face for applied research and outreach activities for UC.

§ Encourage collaboration with local community college and CSU system programs in agriculture and natural resources.


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APPENDICES Appendix 1. Initial Contributors

ANR Strategic Planning Steering Committee

Daniel M. Dooley, Co-Chair Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources University of California Frederick Ruiz, Co-Chair Regent, University of California Ruiz Foods, Inc Thomas O. Baldwin Dean and Professor, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University of California, Riverside Steven Beckwith Vice President, Office of Research and Graduate Studies University of California J. Keith Gilless Dean and Professor, College of Natural Resources University of California, Berkeley

Robert D. Grey Interim Provost University of California Bennie I. Osburn Dean and Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine University of California, Davis Richard Rominger Partner, Rominger Farms Jeanette Sutherlin County Director, Fresno County University of California Cooperative Extension Neal Van Alfen Dean and Professor, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences University of California, Davis Stuart Woolf President, Woolf Enterprises


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ANR Program Council

Chair Barbara Allen-Diaz Assistant Vice President-Programs, ANR Associate Deans Donald Cooksey College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University of California, Riverside

Bob Buchanan College of Natural Resources University of California, Berkeley

Donald Klingborg School of Veterinary Medicine University of California, Davis

James MacDonald College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences University of California, Davis Regional Directors Peggy Mauk Central Coast and South Region Linda Marie Manton Central Valley Region Kim Rodrigues North Coast/Mountain Region

Program Leaders Marylynn Yates Natural Resources and Animal Agriculture

Tim Paine Agricultural Policy and Pest Management Dan Putnam Agricultural Productivity Lucia Kaiser Human Resources Ex officio members Richard B. Standiford Associate Vice President, ANR Kay Harrison Taber Asst. Vice President-Administrative Services, ANR

Authors of the Five Working Group Papers The Future Structure of California

Timothy Paine, ANR Program Leader, Agricultural Policy and Pest Management Inez Fung, Professor, Institute for the Environment, UC Berkeley Steven Wheeler, Professor, Landscape Architecture, UC Berkeley Jonathan London, Director, Center for Study of Regional Change David Roland-Holst, Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Berkeley Susan Handy, Professor, Environmental Science and Policy, UC Davis

The Future of Agricultural and Food Systems

Daniel Sumner, Director, Agricultural Issues Center Julian Alston, Professor, Resource and Agricultural Economics, UC Davis

mailto:%3ca%20href='mailto:[email protected]'%[email protected]%3c/a%3e


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Elizabeth Grafton-Cardwell, Director, Lindcove Research and Extension Center and CE Specialist Sonya Varea Hammond, UCCE County Director, Monterey Dan Putnam, ANR Program Leader, Agricultural Productivity

The Future of Natural Resource Systems

John Battles, Professor Environmental Science and Policy, UC Berkeley Bill Frost, Associate Director, ANR Research and Extension Centers Maggi Kelly, CE Specialist, Environmental Science and Policy, UC Berkeley Russ Moll, Director, California Sea Grant, UC San Diego Ken Tate, CE Specialist, Plant Sciences, UC Davis Marylynn Yates, ANR Program Leader, Natural Resources and Animal Agriculture

The Future of Health and Nutrition Systems Connie Schneider, Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor, Fresno Rob Atwill, Interim Director, Western Institute for Food Safety and Security, UC Davis Margaret Collins, Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor, Tuolumne and Mariposa Christine Bruhn, CE Specialist, and Director, Center for Consumer Research Sharon Fleming, Professor, Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, UC Berkeley Christy Getz, CE Specialist, UC Berkeley Donald J. Klingborg, Associate Dean for Public Programs, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis Gail Woodward-Lopez, Associate Director, Center for Weight and Health, UC Berkeley Additional contributors: Patti Wooten Swanson, Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor, San Diego MRC Greenwood, Director, Foods for Health Institute Pat Crawford, Director, Center for Weight and Height Jeanette Sutherlin, UCCE County Director, Fresno

The Future of Human Development Systems

Bonnie Benard, Senior Program Associate, West Ed Dave Campbell, CE Specialist and Director, UC California Communities Program Richard Enfield, UCCE County Director and 4-H Youth Advisor, San Luis Obispo Julie Fetherston, UCCE 4-H Youth Advisor, Mendocino Keith Nathaniel, UCCE 4-H Youth Advisor, Los Angeles Yvette Rowlett, Executive Office, California Department of Education

Survey of Opinion Leaders by Kerry Tucker of Nuffer, Smith, Tucker, Inc. 59 personal telephone interviews and 43 e-mail interviews


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Appendix 2: UC ANR ANR is a statewide network of UC researchers and educators dedicated to the creation, development, and application of knowledge in agricultural, natural and human resources. Programs are delivered through two organizational units: the Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension. To help understand the organization, this section describes the roles of ANR administrative leaders and different components of the organization. A basic premise of ANR is that all operations are driven by priority needs and opportunities, which are identified by programmatic leadership in consultation with key stakeholders. Agricultural Experiment Station The Agricultural Experiment Station in California is located on three campuses within three colleges at UC Berkeley, Davis and Riverside; the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis; and on 10 statewide research and extension centers. Although all three colleges and the school have deep roots in agriculture, their missions also include environmental, natural resources, and human and community development topics. This breadth of mission is reflected in the college names – the College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley; the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis; and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at UC Riverside. Within the UC system, AES is formally categorized as a Multicampus Organized Research Unit (MRU). Organizationally, the California AES is located within ANR. Authority for its programs lies jointly with the chancellors and deans on the UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC Riverside campuses and with the ANR Vice President. The Vice President is officially the Director of the AES, and the four deans are designated as Associate Directors. AES comprises some 711 faculty members housed in 38 departments. These scientists represent a variety of disciplines and are charged with conducting both fundamental and applied research that fulfills the mission of the AES. AES scientists are one of the driving forces behind California’s $35 billion agricultural industry. AES also provides worldwide leadership in the environmental sciences, nutrition and youth development. Its faculty collaborates with CE specialists and county-based CE advisors in their research and in extending their findings to the public. Cooperative Extension Today, the CE system represents a national, publicly funded, non-formal educational system that links educational and research activities and resources of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), land grant universities, and county administrative units. This educational system includes professionals in each of America’s original land-grant universities (in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa, Micronesia, and the District of Columbia) created in 1862; the historically black land-grant universities added in 1890; and tribal land-grant colleges added in 1994. CE in California is staffed by 111 CE specialists attached to campus departments and 219 CE advisors working out of a statewide network of county CE offices covering every


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California county, except tiny Alpine County. CE advisors work closely with local clientele, communities and cooperators to identify critical and emerging needs in agricultural, natural and human resources, and with campus partners to develop research-based approaches to solve local problems. CE specialists are integrated into academic departments at UC Berkeley, UC Davis and UC Riverside, where they conduct research and develop new technologies. CE specialists work to connect local CE advisors to the campus-based AES and other resources that may provide appropriate research and new technologies to address myriad issues and needs throughout California. AES faculty work directly with CE advisors and specialists to address critical CE provides California residents who may never set foot on a UC campus with local access to UC resources. Local CE advisors often work with teams of non-academic staff and volunteers to deliver services through programs such as 4-H youth development, master gardeners, master food preservers, and master composters. Three regional ANR offices administer county-based CE programs: the North Coast and Mountain Region, the Central Valley Region, and the Central Coast and South Region. The organizational units of county-based CE are described at: http://ucanr.org/ce.cfm. Campus-based CE programs are administered by the deans and department chairs in departments to which CE personnel are assigned. .

a

a

Central Coast and South CE Region

North Coast and Mountain CE Region

Central Valley CE Region UC Berkeley

UC Davis

UC Riverside


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Statewide Programs and Campus ANR Centers More than 20 unique statewide programs were established over the past 35 years to focus on specific high-priority areas of special concern to Californians. They have covered such topics as mosquito research, integrated pest management, sustainable agriculture, integrated hardwood range management, and agricultural policy issues. Some statewide programs have been closed, reorganized or merged with other programs, for a total of 16 statewide programs administered by ANR today. Many of the statewide programs were initially established by the Legislature or by Congress, either through direct legislation or budget language. Statewide program functions focus on multidisciplinary issues that cut across campuses, departments and counties. Some programs provide competitive grants and technical support to leverage departmental and county resources. Several statewide programs have directors who carry split appointments between statewide ANR and a campus academic department or county CE office. Directors are responsible to one of the four ANR program leaders programmatically and their budgets are administered through the Office of the Vice President. Some statewide program directors report to a department chair or county CE director for the portion of their appointment that relates to their faculty AES or CE assignment. Each statewide program undergoes a review approximately every five years to assess accomplishments, needs, goals, future plans and continuing need for the program. Shown below are the 16 current statewide programs in ANR: Agricultural Issues Center (http://aic.ucdavis.edu/) Analyzes issues important to California and Western agriculture and conducts applied research. California 4-H Youth Development Program (http://www.ca4h.org/) Helps young Californians become responsible adults. California Communities Program (http://groups.ucanr.org/CCP/) Fortifies local governance, builds citizenship capacity and enhances economic development. Center for Youth Development (http://fourhcyd.ucdavis.edu) Conducts research and evaluation that increases understanding of youth development and extends knowledge to UCCE and other youth development professionals. Center for Water Resources (http://www.waterresources.ucr.edu/): Engages the resources of the University of California with other institutions in the state to develop ecologically sound and economically efficient water-management policies and programs in California. Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (http://efnep.ucdavis.edu/)

http://aic.ucdavis.edu/

http://www.ca4h.org/

http://groups.ucanr.org/CCP/

http://fourhcyd.ucdavis.edu/

http://efnep.ucdavis.edu/


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Teaches low-income families (particularly those with young children) how to make the most of their food resources and meet their nutritional needs. It is a federally funded program. Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program (http://danr.ucop.edu/ihrmp) Dedicated to the conservation of California’s oak woodlands. Integrated Pest Management Program (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/): Develops and promotes the use of integrated and ecologically sound pest-management programs in California. Kearney Foundation of Soil Science (http://kearney.ucdavis.edu/): An endowment-supported program that funds research and sponsors outreach activities directed to a five-year mission. Master Gardener Program (http://cemastergardeners.ucdavis.edu/) UC-trained volunteers extend research-based information to the public about home horticulture and pest management. The information is provided to the public in classes, via telephone hotlines, at community events, through web sites, and in demonstration gardens. Mosquito Research Program (www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ucmrp) Develops an understanding of mosquito biology and ecology and epidemiology of vectors and diseases. It also develops environmentally sustainable and effective management strategies for vectors of diseases. Office of Pesticide Information and Coordination http://www.envtox.ucdavis.edu/research/opic.html) Coordinates and reviews ANR activities pertaining to pesticide research, experimentation and use. Renewable Resources Extension Act Program (http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/freeform/RREA/) Addresses educational needs in managing the nation’s renewable resources. It is a federally funded program. Sea Grant Extension Program (http://www.csgc.ucsd.edu/ABOUTUS/Advisors.html) Supports advanced research and extension related to marine issues of vital concern and is the California branch of a national program. Small Farm Center (http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/default.asp) Provides production and marketing information to small-scale farmers not reached by traditional extension programs. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/)

http://danr.ucop.edu/ihrmp

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/

http://kearney.ucdavis.edu/

http://cemastergardeners.ucdavis.edu/

http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ucmrp

http://www.envtox.ucdavis.edu/research/opic.html

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/freeform/RREA/

http://www.csgc.ucsd.edu/ABOUTUS/Advisors.html

http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/default.asp

http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/


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Integrates three main goals related to agricultural sustainability: environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. In addition to the ANR-administered Statewide Programs, each campus has established centers that link CE and AES resources to solve specific problems. ANR Research and Extension Centers The University of California operates the largest system of agriculture and natural resource research and education field stations in California. The 10-center system annually manages more than 375 research projects and conducts over 600 education-outreach programs per year reaching 16,000 adults and 8,000 K-12 students. The Centers are geographically located through-out California, with a couple of notable exceptions, and are focal points for community participation in UC programs and for active UC involvement in identifying and addressing regional agricultural and environmental problems/issues. The Centers currently support more than 35 county-based cooperative extension academics and 80 campus-based academics, as well as researchers from land grant institutions in other states, the CSU system and USDA in conducting their research and education programs. The REC system is the only statewide program in UC that provides a premier research management organization that delivers services to academics that they can’t get elsewhere (e.g. one of the last group of people in UC that can actually “grow a crop”, mend a fence, fabricate tools, equipment etc. so that researchers can actually conduct manipulative field research in a protected, managed environment). The Centers are often the public-face of the University of California in both rural and urban environments. Not only does the REC System have the land, facilities, equipment and staff capable of supporting cutting edge research, but the System also has Center Directors that are Cooperative Extension Specialists and Advisors who serve as catalysts for initiation of innovative, collaborative research and educational programs that involve AES and CE colleagues, as well as conducting their own independent research and educational programs.


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ANR Research and Extension Centers


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Appendix 3: ANR Making a Difference Making a Difference for Agriculture For nearly a century, California farmers and ranchers have stayed competitive and sustainable by being early adopters of cutting-edge research, new technologies and innovations, and best management practices developed on UC campuses and in the field. California agriculture has a farm gate value of $35 billion, producing 350 commodities, accounting for 50 percent of the nation’s fresh produce, and generating 1 million jobs. This makes California by far the largest agricultural state in the nation, with higher value than the second- and third-rated states (Texas and Iowa) combined. California is the exclusive U.S. producer of 13 commodities, including almonds, pistachios, olives and raisins. The state also produces 70 percent to 98 percent of the total U.S. production for another 12 commodities, including apricots, grapes, strawberries, lettuce and processing tomatoes. Agricultural producers have increased yields, improved water efficiency, reduced pesticide loads, become more sustainable, and implemented new food-safety practices, all with the help of ANR. UC has produced new varieties of strawberries, walnuts, citrus, grapes and other crops, helping California agriculture lead the nation, while improving food quality and nutritional value for consumers. UC-patented strawberries represent 80 percent of strawberries produced in the United States. California became the largest dairy producing state in 1993, currently producing 41 billion pounds of milk annually. Average production per cow has increased by 15 percent over the past decade, with advice from UC’s animal scientists, veterinarians and agronomists. UC research has helped agriculture stay ahead of new introductions of invasive insects, pests and diseases, saving growers millions of dollars a year in crop damage and keeping export markets open to fresh fruits and vegetables from California. ANR’s Integrated Pest Management Program has revolutionized pest management practices in the state. Pest sampling thresholds and sampling protocols developed by UC are regularly utilized by Pest Control Advisers in the state and has resulted in dramatically reduced pesticide use over the past two decades. Making a Difference for Communities The location of a University of California office in 57 of California’s 58 counties gives a very strong presence to community and human development programs. ANR houses the 4-H Youth Development Program, one of the largest youth development programs in the country. In California, 4-H serves over 120,000 youth (ages 5-19) through after school, science literacy and traditional club programs delivered in every county. There are 20,000 4-H volunteers, serving as official agents of the University of California in virtually every community in the state. 4-H alumni have learned valuable science, citizenship and healthy lifestyle skills that serve them in their adult lives. The linkage


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between human development and physical and life science faculty ensures strong science-based curriculum and effective delivery to youth in all parts of the state. ANR is responsible for the Master Gardener program. ANR academics train volunteers with the most advanced information on landscape management and horticulture. These UC Master Gardeners interact directly with communities by providing landscape professionals, homeowners and backyard gardeners with research-based information and advice on plant selection, reduced pesticide use, water conservation and implementing “green” practices. In 2007-08, there were 4,100 UC Master Gardeners in California (a 22 percent increase in two years). The Master Gardeners volunteered over 300,000 hours, which represented 145 full-time positions for an annual value of almost $6 million. Making a Difference for Water Supply and Water Quality ANR researchers and CE advisors and specialists are seeking answers and solutions to problems facing the California Delta – declining ecosystems, reduced water exports to farms and Southern California, risk of levee failure, and competing demands. A recent policy review of alternatives for the California Delta, coordinated with the Public Policy Institute of California, was led by several faculty with Agricultural Experiment Station appointments. Faculty with AES appointments and CE advisors and specialists introduced drip irrigation and other water conservation methods to California – these innovations help agriculture reduce per-acre water use and protect natural resources. UC is providing dairies in the San Joaquin Valley with science-based tools and practical methods to meet new waste-discharge regulations and implement cost-effective nutrient management and monitoring practices on dairy lagoons. ANR academics are working closely with producers and the environmental regulatory agencies to develop management strategies that maintain water and air quality. Making a Difference for the Environment and Energy Conservation UC is researching and developing more sustainable farming and timber harvest practices to maintain the economic viability of these important business sectors, while improving environmental quality and conserving natural resources. A local CE office in the North Coast spearheaded an innovative ownership of redwood forestland by a conservation trust organization that provided cash flow through sustainable timber harvesting. Rice growers, with the help of UC scientists, solved a rice straw disposal problem in the Sacramento Valley, while creating more than 100,000 acres of seasonal wetlands habitat for migratory waterfowl through research showing the benefits of winter flooding of harvested fields. These strategies also dramatically decreased the open burning of rice straw in the fall, improving air quality in this heavily populated airshed. Landowners, government agencies and emergency responders are working closely with UC to develop new tools to predict and control wildfires, reduce risks to wildlife, property


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and lives, and speed up postfire revegetation. The UC Cooperative Extension office in San Diego County has developed important educational tools that it is extending to residents through web-based technology. This proactive educational effort is credited with reducing confusion during the 2007 firestorms and aiding in post-fire restoration efforts. Research under way by ANR academics at Berkeley, Davis and Riverside and the local CE offices into biofuels, wind and solar power, and other alternative energy sources will help Californians reduce their dependence on oil and other fossil fuels. The Energy Biosciences Institute at UC Berkeley, the largest privately funded research at a US university, is being led by an AES faculty member. An AES faculty member at UC Davis and a CE specialist at UC Berkeley identified the cause of Sudden Oak Death, a pathogen responsible for killing millions of oaks and tanoaks in Northern and Central California. Together with other faculty in ANR and local CE offices, ANR has helped to develop strategies to minimize the spread of the pathogen and are well on the way to developing a cure. Making a Difference for Health and Wellness CE nutrition academics are reaching out to at-risk and low income families to encourage adoption of more healthful eating habits through “hands-on” training in nutrition, food preparation, money management and basic shopping skills provided by the UC Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. Researchers with the UC Berkeley Center for Weight and Health, co-led by a CE Specialist and a faculty member of the School of Public Health, and Cooperative Extension Advisors, are making inroads into documenting the relationships between childhood obesity, diabetes and wellness. UC acted rapidly and proactively to deploy teams to the Salinas Valley beginning in late 2006 to conduct field research, monitoring and testing following the food safety and consumer confidence crises tied to E. coli contamination of locally grown leafy greens vegetables. CE Specialists in the School of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, have designed strategies to minimize the spread of this human pathogen through agricultural management practices and monitoring strategies. Both of these ANR college and school have partnered with the produce industry to develop a Center for Produce Safety, designed to fund high priority research on food safety issues. Reaching Around the World In addition to making California agriculture the most successful in the world, and ensuring maintenance of high-quality environmental standards throughout the state, ANR’s work has touched people’s lives throughout the world. ANR crop breeding programs have helped to feed the world. Wheat is the staple crop for billions of people worldwide. UC AES scientists and CE specialists and farm advisors have worked to develop both the lab-based genetic and genomic approaches


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to wheat genetics, and field-based testing systems so that interactions between the crop and the environment can be better understood. This has resulted in both new varieties that benefit farmers in California and marker-assisted selection methodologies, which impact genetic improvement of wheat throughout the world. This project has released five varieties. UC Riverside’s cowpea breeding program is an outstanding example of modern plant-breeding methods applied to improving the nutritional well-being in sub-Saharan Africa. This program also provides opportunities for student exchange programs to provide important education opportunities for African future scientists.

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