The UC President’s Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources met on June 16 via Zoom.
Addressing the group, President James B. Milliken noted that before the meeting he had shot a video celebrating America’s 250th birthday and UC's contributions to advancing opportunity and innovation.
In the video, Milliken touts – before CRISPR, fusion and the internet – UC’s development of drought-resistant crops in helping make California the #1 agricultural state in the nation.
Among his agriculture connections, Milliken mentioned that he attended Ag Day at the Capitol in April and met 4-H members.
PAC Chair Mike Mellano kicked off the meeting by briefing Milliken on how UC ANR research and extension are making a positive impact. Mellano said UC ANR helps keep Mellano & Company, his cut flower business, competitive and meeting the challenges of pest management.
Sharon Nance, president of NTAPROBLM, LLC Consulting, spoke about the role of UC ANR in supporting California communities. After attending UC ANR’s Farm Robotics Challenge awards ceremony on May 21 held at Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale, she left impressed with the students’ innovative ideas and ability to work together to build the robots.
In briefing the PAC on the state of California agriculture, Karen Ross praised the effectiveness of UC ANR community educators working with farmers to make sure they know about the cultural practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use and to provide technical assistance.
Looking toward the future, Milliken asked the PAC members for their thoughts on artificial intelligence and lifelong learning.
He emphasized the importance for UC to lead the way in defining how AI is used effectively and ethically – from health care and research to climate science and robotics – and participate in public discussion on AI’s opportunities, implications and impact.
Milliken also said the university needs to reimagine where and when it educates people and offer California’s nearly 40 million residents education for a lifetime, not just a four-year degree.
“You’re going to need education, retooling, upskilling throughout your life,” he said. “Extension has been providing that kind of education and it will become more important.”
Vice President Glenda Humiston delivered an update on the UC ANR Annual Report, California’s Working Landscapes Report, California Agricultural Research and Innovation Roadmap, the Council for Agricultural Research Extension and Teaching (CARET) and Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities’ (APLU) Board on Agricultural Assembly conference, and UC ANR’s memorandum of understanding discussions with campuses.
The PAC will meet next on July 17 via Zoom.