Program Areas and Program Teams
California’s Challenges. UC’s Expertise. Collaborative Solutions.
Research Collaboration and Collective Action
UC ANR’s Program Areas and Program Teams provide an organizational framework that facilitates collaboration around shared challenges and opportunities. Research and extension efforts are organized around six thematic Program Areas, grouped to encourage dialogue, align priorities, and support progress on common programmatic goals.
Program Areas draw on expertise across broad thematic and disciplinary domains to identify issues of current and emerging importance and to shape shared directions for ANR’s work. Each Program Area Chair represents their Program Area through service on UC ANR’s Program Council, helping ensure alignment between Program Area efforts and organization‑wide planning.
Program Areas are further organized into Program Teams. Program Teams focus efforts around specific disciplines and provide a platform for academics, staff, and external partners to engage with peers, share knowledge, identify priorities, and work collectively to address identified challenges. To strengthen collaboration across the UC ANR network, each Program Team is co‑chaired by one field‑based and one campus‑based academic.
Together, Program Areas and Program Teams strengthen coordination across UC ANR and support collaborative work aligned with the organization’s Strategic Vision, core values, and cross‑cutting priorities.
Explore our Program Areas and Teams: Agronomy and Horticulture | Animal Production Systems | Community and Economic Development | Integrated Pest Management | Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes | Youth, Families, and Communities
Agronomy and Horticulture
Advancing resilient, productive, and sustainable crop and horticultural systems through science-based research and extension.
Program Area Chair: Tom Turini
Program Teams
Animal Production Systems
Supporting livestock and aquatic food systems through research, education, and stewardship of working lands.
Program Area Chair: Dan Macon
Program Teams
Community Economic Development
Strengthening regional economies, workforce capacity, disaster preparedness, and innovation through community-engaged research and partnerships.
Program Area Chair: Keith Taylor
Program Teams
Integrated Pest Management
Preventing, diagnosing, and managing pests across agricultural, urban, and natural systems to protect productivity, ecosystems, and human health.
Program Area Chair: Jhalendra Rijal
Program Teams
Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes
Protecting and restoring ecosystems while supporting the resilience of forests, rangelands, watersheds, and working landscapes.
Program Area Chair: Jeff Stackhouse
Program Teams
Youth, Families, and Communities
Advancing nutrition, youth development, community partnerships, and science literacy to support healthy, resilient communities.
Program Area Chair: Natalie Price
Program Teams
Get Involved
Interested in joining a Program Team? Contact the leaders of the Program Team(s) you are interested in joining to express interest and get connected.
A Note on Program Team Websites: Program Teams are currently developing web content to support collaboration and outreach activities. As sites are created or updated, links will be added from this page to provide direct access to individual Program Team resources and information.