As a result of the UC 4-H Mindful Me classes, 77% of participants agreed that they were better able to manage negative emotions, improving their health and wellness.

The Issue

The social-emotional health of American youth is of growing concern. The Centers for Disease Control reports that anxiety and depression are on the rise in American children ages 3-17, with an estimated 7.1% and 3.2% of children currently being clinically diagnosed, respectively. There are many postulated factors that may influence these trends including social isolation, too much screen time, a focus on personal desires, hyper-competitive activities, over-scheduling, poor diets, lack of sleep, less time outdoors in nature, and over-stimulation. 

Skills can be learned to help to mitigate these challenges. For example, learning to be more optimistic and grateful towards others, and for what we have, enhances happiness and quality of life. These positive social skills are important because not only do strong relationships help fend off depression, they are often cited as the most crucial to school and work success. Learning positive coping and emotion regulation skills helps prevent youth from succumbing to common risky stress management techniques, like alcohol and drugs.

How UC Delivers

Three teenagers from the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program taught mindful practices to nearly forty young children. These teens attended several days of training and were guided by their UC ANR Healthy Youth, Families, and Communities Advisor. The teens gained teaching and leadership experience, in addition to their own growth in the practice of mindfulness techniques. 

Teen teacher Evelyn Mandujano shared, “Working with adults and teens to teach children the Mindful Me project was a great experience and opportunity to learn how people of all ages can benefit from being mindful and using these practices in our daily lives.” Another teen teacher Ethan Horowitz reflected “that our mindful me project was extremely beneficial towards the children that participated, especially in the category of personal mindfulness and stress management.” Teen teacher Carson Bain added, “What I liked best about doing this project was seeing the kids coming in every week excited and anticipating what the lesson would be for the day.” 

Children listen to stories read by the teen teacher about empathy, managing emotions, and how to improve skills related to attention and focus.

Thirty-six first to third graders attended one of the six classes offered in an after school program in Northern California. Skills taught during these classes ranged from mindful eating, active play and breathing exercises, attentive listening skills, practicing gratitude, learning to live in-the-moment, and emotion regulation. Storybooks were foundational to the lessons, and experiential activities further enhanced the learning. The 4-H Mindful Me curriculum was used, which was developed by the University of California 4-H program. These materials are peer-reviewed and available from National 4-H.

The Impact

Seventy-seven percent of participants agreed that they were better able to manage negative emotions as a result of the Mindful Me classes. Current research has demonstrated the importance of mindfulness training in promoting favorable academic, social-emotional, psychological and behavioral outcomes for youth. The management of negative emotions is critical for problem-solving, on-going positive social interactions, and classroom compliance. It can also improve cardiovascular health, given cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Americans.

Upon completion of the lessons, 55% of students felt they learned to be better listeners. Listening skills are critical components of focus and attention. Over nine percent of children today suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Several studies have shown that deficits in focus and attention make learning in school difficult, which impacts long-term academic success and college readiness. Mindfulness enhances neurological structures for improved cognitive function, which aid in self-regulation and decision making.

At the completion of the classes, 77% of children agreed that you should tell people when you are thankful. Learning to be grateful (and to tell people as much), has been found to increase optimism and positive mental affect. This can lead to a reduction in anxiety and depression, an increase in hopefulness, better work performance and greater social ties. Current research indicates that poor mental health, such as excessive pessimism, anxiety and depression interfere with school success, work success and quality of life. They can also manifest into negative physical health outcomes.

The majority of children in the class -- 77% -- would refer a friend to participate. The 4-H Mindful Me program helps to direct youth on a path to improve the health, wellness, and college readiness of youth. In this way UC ANR is contributing to promoting healthy people and communities in California.

Children learn to be thankful by making gratitude cards during a 4-H Mindfulness class in an after-school program.

At risk seniors at three low-income housing sites in Alameda County strengthened their food safety skills, reducing their chances of foodborne illnesses.  

The Issue

Seniors with diminished learning and retention capacity, physical impairments, on multiple medicines, and with weakened immune systems are less able to fight foodborne pathogens. Adults over 60 years are more likely to have complications, be hospitalized, and die because of foodborne infections. About 80% of the seniors in the US have at least one chronic condition and 50% at least two. In California, at least 55% of seniors over age 65 suffer from hypertension; 24% from heart disease; 17% diagnosed with cancer; nearly 15% with diabetes, and 10% with asthma. UCCE Alameda Advisor Mary Blackburn's research found up to 40% of low-income housing seniors living with multiple nutrition and lifestyle related chronic diseases. Safe food handling by consumers in their homes and community is among the nutrition recommendations for adults over age 50, and is integral and necessary for a comprehensive healthy living program.

Participants learned to refrigerate cut fruit

How UC Delivers

In 2014, UCCE Alameda Advisor Mary Blackburn, with a specialist and other advisors, published research on the Make Food Safe for Seniors initiative from ten counties assessing the food safety practices and food behaviors of seniors living with multiple chronic diseases. They developed food safety materials addressing the identified needs, and pilot tested it with over 700 seniors, caregivers, and senior volunteers. In 2019, a UC ANR Master Food Preserver and UC CalFresh Healthy Living staff person conducted safe food handling workshops using the Make Food Safe for Seniors materials with pre- and post-tests. The training reached 80 seniors in three low-income housing sites. Overall, nearly 86% of participants said the training was helpful, and would share food safety information and handouts with friends and neighbors.

A participant takes the post test

A participant shows off her clean hands

The Impact

Research shows seniors have lower levels of knowledge retention compared to young adults, however the results were positive, and showed that Make Food Safe for Seniors participants increased knowledge in multiple areas.

• 32% knew produce, raw meat, poultry, unwashed hands, and insects are sources of harmful bacteria -- compared to 7% at the start
• 32% understood appearance, odor, and taste do not correctly determine if food is safe to eat -- an increase from 14%
• 36% knew washing meat and poultry is not recommended -- an increase from 7%
• 54% knew to use a thermometer to check temperatures of cooked food -- compared to 28% at the start
• 54% knew to leave perishable food un-refrigerated for 2 hours when the room temperature was less than 90 degrees -- compared to 14% at the start
• 67% knew the correct refrigerator temperature (< 40 degrees Fahrenheit) -- an increase from 14%
• 71% knew raw food should be stored below ready-to-eat foods in the refrigerator -- compared to 14% at the start
• 75% knew to leave perishable food un-refrigerated for ONLY one hour when the room temperature was 90 degrees and above -- compared to 46% at the start 

Additionally, most participants agreed that in the future they would defrost meats in the refrigerator instead of on the counter or in the sink, clean their hands, use refrigerator and freezer thermometers, cook and store food properly, and check food temperatures. These measured changes demonstrate improvements in understanding and intent to change food handling behaviors. Similar research showed that food safety education improved safe food-handling practices among low-income elders participating in congregate meal programs and home-delivered meal programs. As workshop participants implement the practices they learned it should help reduce incidences of foodborne illness amongst this vulnerable population. In this way, UC ANR is contributing to improved food safety and safeguarding abundant and healthy food for all Californians.

Participants calibrating thermometers

Because of UC ANR's IPM research on spider mites and almonds, 80,000 acres were not treated with miticide, saving $2.2 million and reducing CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions by 880,000 pounds.

Spider mite feeding on almond at harvest

The Issue

The almond industry in California produces approximately 80% of the world's almond supply and currently consists of approximately 1.2 million bearing and non-bearing acres. In an effort to reduce the risk of economic loss from spider mite damage, producers have adopted the strategy of applying a preventative miticide during the month of May – a period when mite populations typically are well below the economic threshold. During the 2017 growing season, approximately 517,000 acres received at least one miticide application during May with a single miticide, abamectin, accounting for 93% of applications. On almond, the strategy runs contrary to sustainable, integrated pest management (IPM) practices. The preventative sprays adversely affect spider mite natural enemies and forgo making a pesticide application based on monitoring and an economic threshold. Finally, the heavy reliance on abamectin has caused some populations in the mid-San Joaquin Valley to become 16-fold more resistant to the miticide than susceptible populations. 

How UC Delivers

UC Cooperative Extension Advisor, Kris Tollerup partnered with the Almond Board of California (ABC) and a large-scale almond producer to conduct applied research evaluating the effectiveness of applying a preventative miticide spray. The large-scale field trials provided almond producers with scientific results showing that the strategy does not provide any benefit. To extend the results to his clientele, Tollerup organized field meetings, consulted with growers andpest control advisers, and gave educational presentations stressing sustainable IPM of spider mites on almond. One client attests, "Tollerup has correctly identified the problem and has spoken out both in public and private about not treating unless economic thresholds have been met. Because of Tollerup's role we have been able to collaborate with farmers to hold off on spring treatments at many ranches and only treat when warranted, which has essentially removed a spray treatment on a vast number of our acres."     

The Impact

In formal and informal surveys conducted between Dec 2017 and Nov 2019 pest control advisers reported that approximately 80,000 acres did not receive a preventative miticide application in May of 2018 and 2019 growing season. This represents a reduction in treated acres of approximately 5.5%, a savings of about $2.2 million in miticide and application costs. Moreover, we calculated that eliminating the spray reduced the use of diesel-engine application equipment on approximately 56,000 acres - a reduction in CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions of nearly 880,000 pounds. Via this research partnership, UC ANR has begun moving the industry away from preventative miticide applications and toward better IPM practices against spider mites. In the coming growing seasons, we anticipate producers will rapidly adopt better IPM of spider mites. For each 1,000 acres on which preventative sprays are not applied, $27,500 are saved and 15,700 fewer pounds CO₂ are emitted. In this way, UC ANR increases agricultural efficiency, profitability, and ecological sustainability, contributing to the public values of promoting economic prosperity in California and protecting California's natural resources.

As a result of UC ANR's Almond Pest Management Alliance Project, use of mating disruption as an ecologically sustainable pest management practice tripled over two years by growers and pest control advisers who influence over 400,000 acres of almonds in the San Joaquin Valley.

Pair of mating navel orangeworm

The Issue

Navel orangeworm is the single most important pest of more than 1.3 million acres of almonds in California. It feeds exclusively on almond kernels, rendering them unmarketable. Larvae are also associated with Aspergillus sp. fungi which can produce aflatoxin contamination of kernels at harvest. Control of navel orangeworm is essential to prevent yield losses, off-graded kernels, and kernel contamination.

How UC Delivers

Entomology Advisor David Haviland discusses mating disruption at an educational tour stop sponsored by the University of California

For the past three years, UC ANR Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisors David Haviland, Jhalendra Rijal, and Emily Symmes demonstrated an innovative new approach to worm management called mating disruption to more than 16,000 farmers at more than 120 conferences in 36 cities and 20 counties. This technique is done by releasing large quantities of a chemical pheromone used by female moths to attract males. This disorients males and substantially impairs their ability to locate a mate, leading to reduced offspring. Eight demonstration orchards were established across the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys as part of an Almond Pest Management Alliance grant in conjunction with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, almond farmers, pest control advisers, and the Almond Board of California.

The Impact

PMA project participants learn about implementing mating disruption

More than 93% of participants in the Almond Pest Management Alliance Project stated that information that they received was considered when making pest management decisions, with 81.4% reporting that they changed their practices because of what they learned. In the southern San Joaquin Valley, pest control advisers reported increases in the percentage of their acreage using mating disruption from 16.3% in 2017 to 39.0% in 2019 and, in the northern San Joaquin Valley, from 6.5% in 2017 to 37.7% in 2019. These growers and advisers influence over 400,000 acres of almonds.

Mating disruption is agriculturally efficient and profitable because, at harvest, there was a 47.4% reduction in navel orangeworm damage on average across all participating orchards over two years. This increased crop value by more than $250 per acre, which is more than twice the cost of employing this novel management technique.

In addition, the pheremone-based approach is more sustainable because it reduces reliance on pesticides, reducing groundwater contamination and avoiding resistance problems for pests and diseases, respectively. Recent pesticide use reporting data for Kern County underscored these changes in practice, showing a 26% countywide increase in the adoption of mating disruption from 2017-2018 on the more than 200,000 acres bearing almonds in the county.

In this way, UC ANR increases agricultural efficiency, profitability, and ecological sustainability, contributing to the public values of promoting economic prosperity in California and protecting California's natural resources.