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UC ANR shares insights, promotes partnerships at EcoFarm Conference

  • By Pamela S Kan-Rice
The two men are standing behind a table of OAI logo hats and bags and brochures.
Rob Straser, left, and Houston Wilson promoted the Organic Agriculture Institute.

UC ANR academics and staff were active participants and presenters at the 44th Annual EcoFarm Conference, held Jan. 17-20 in Pacific Grove.

Vice President Glenda Humiston engaged in conversations on the future of organic and regenerative ag with conference attendees and discussed current Farm Bill negotiations in a panel session.

Four women sit at a long table
When asked during the Farm Bill discussion how to increase support and policy for organic farming, VP Glenda Humiston, second from right, said, "One way to get your foot in the door is to initiate pilot programs. Legislators like funding projects that give you a sample of what could be.”

At the EcoFarm expo, Houston Wilson, Organic Agriculture Institute director and UC Cooperative Extension entomology specialist, and Rob Straser, extension coordinator, promoted OAI resources for farmers.

Richard Smith at EcoFarm
Richard Smith at EcoFarm

Richard Smith, emeritus UCCE Monterey County advisor, moderated three EcoFarm sessions. Patricia Lazicki, UCCE vegetable crops advisor for Yolo and Solano counties, and Margaret Lloyd, UCCE Capitol Corridor small farms advisor gave workshop presentations.

Researchers from the UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital's Department of Population Health and the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security had a display at the conference expo to highlight the importance of food safety and technical skills in urban farming. The Civic Urban Farmer Program, led by UC Davis assistant project scientist Sara Garcia and supported by UC Cooperative Extension, strives to uplift BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities.

Saoimanu Sope of Strategic Communications also attended EcoFarm. She shared via social media video interviews with Lindsey Kelley, organic and small farms community educator for Yolo and Sacramento counties; Annemiek Schilder, director of UCCE Ventura County; Rob Straser of the Organic Ag Institute; Darlene Ruiz, Small Farms Network staff research associate for San Diego County; and Bailey Smith-Helman, climate smart agriculture community educator for Santa Cruz County.

Saoi Sope, wearing an Organic Ag Institute hat, and Annemiek Schilder grin for a selfie near a street.
Saoi Sope, left, shot video interviews for social media with Annemiek Schilder and other UC ANR colleagues.

Diana Cervantes of News and Information in Spanish attended the Spanish language sessions and wrote about the event in Spanish.

Mia Reyes, UC Davis student and UCANR's Global Food Initiative fellow, gave TikTokkers a two-minute tour of EcoFarm: https://www.tiktok.com/@uc_anr/video/7326037349291347243.

Two women pose beside a banner of red strawberries and another banner that reads:
Sara Garcia, left, who created the Civic Urban Farmer Program, and UC Davis student Mia Reyes promoted the program’s free, 10-week food safety course for urban farmers.

Manuel Jimenez, UCCE small farms advisor emeritus, and his wife Olga received the EcoFarm Justie award, which honors people who advocate for social justice as a critical aspect of ecologically sustainable agriculture and food systems.