The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. Vice President Glenda Humiston and I had the opportunity to meet with many scientists working on agricultural issues in a Mediterranean climate similar to California's. Because California farmers face many of the same challenges their counterparts in Europe and the Middle East are dealing with, joint research and collaborating on solutions will benefit all of us.
In October, Atef Swelam, who worked at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization before joining UC ANR as director of the Kearney and West Side Research and Extension Centers, arranged for us to meet with key leaders of the UN-FAO in Italy and Jordan, where we signed important research agreements.
On Nov. 8, on his return from the Pacific SIDS (Small Island Developing States) Solutions Forum in Fiji, UN-FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu and Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol used a short layover in Los Angeles to visit us.
Valerie Borel, UCCE horticulture and Master Gardener Program coordinator, gave them a garden tour. We met with Florence Nishida and other local UC Master Gardener volunteers and members of Green Grounds, a volunteer organization working with UC Master Gardeners to help residents of South Los Angeles create their own edible gardens.
This week Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, Daniel Obrist and I have been visiting UCCE colleagues in Los Angeles, Ventura and Kern counties.
On Nov. 19, we visited Augustus F. Hawkins Nature Park in Los Angeles where UCCE advisor emeritus Janet Hartin, UCCE specialist Edith de Guzman and a representative of the South Coast Air Quality Management District gave presentations on planting trees to cool urban heat islands in low-shade neighborhoods.
Here are some pictures from my recent travels.
