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UC ANR Strategic Initiatives

The Strategic Initiatives are the focus areas under which UC ANR research and outreach is organized. They are focused on strategies to unify, communicate and advocate for the work we do.

The Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases Strategic Initiative protects our food, natural resources and communities, each threatened by a wide variety of pests and diseases including arthropods, vertebrates, weeds, and pathogens. The initiative creates, improves and enriches our abilities to prevent, control and mitigate pests and diseases. 

Initiative Leader: Tom Turini, Vegetable Crops Advisor

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The Healthy Families and Communities Strategic Initiative is dedicated to the key areas of food literacy and healthy lifestyles, scientific literacy for youth and adults, positive youth development, and community development and public policy.

Initiative Leader: Stephen Worker, 4-H Youth Development Advisor

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The Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiative supports California by focusing our work on our total food (and intensive ag) systems; bringing good science and outreach to bear on key areas related to sustainable production, safe processing, and enhanced access.

Initiative Leader: Jennifer Sowerwine, Associate Specialist, Environmental Science, Policy and Management

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The Sustainable Natural Ecosystems Strategic Initiative works to preserve forests, rangelands, and wetlands. Research and extension efforts aim to identify and prioritize issues and solutions in the key areas of healthy rangelands, forests and working landscapes; fighting fire; protecting healthy landscapes and urban forests; and enhancing our water supply.

Initiative Leader: Josh Davy, Livestock, Range and Natural Resources Advisor

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The Water Quality, Quantity and Security Strategic Initiative works to protect water, the lifeblood of our economy and the underpinning of our diverse ecosystems. Water supply and quality are critical issues facing the state's agricultural, urban, and environmental settings now and in the foreseeable future. The initiative works in the key areas of safe and secure drinking water, safe and secure surface water, safe and sustainable groundwater, and holistic water management.

Initiative Leader: Helen Dahlke, Professor in Integrated Hydrologic Sciences

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On this page

Strategic Themes

Connecting is Key

Find Practical Answers: Knowledge and Skills

Funding Opportunities

 

Strategic Themes

Addressing Major Challenges
Challenges

Our Strategic initiatives (SIs) bring the power of science to deliver practical solutions in California.

Issues Being Pursued

Initiative Themes and Grand Challenges (pdf)

Visions of the Future (pdf)

See our Public Value Statements for more.

Community Resilience

Concept Note: Building Resilience Across California's Communities

DEI in Urban Areas

Concept Note: Building California’s Urban Community

Concept Note: Urban pest management safety network

Extension of the Future - Meeting Urban needs

Concept Note: Working Cross State and Cross Institute

Working to Ensure Relevance 

Fire

Concept Note: Fire Advisors Network

Fire Summit 

Fire Resources and Information

Food Systems

Concept Note: Food Systems

Spotlight Webinars

Food Systems Elements (diagram)

Health

Concept Note: Health Equity

Concept Note: Climate and Health

Concept Note: Food and Drinking Water Security

Concept Note: Health Resilience Network (revised)

Prop 63 - Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63 specific concept note)

Community health CDC Vaccination Toolkit

Virtual Reach

Integrated Web Platform (Summary Overview) (The IWP is a strategic plan goal. Input is being broadly collected)

Video: How to Make How-to videos

Webinars: Create Engaging Webinars 

Water

Concept Note: Water Resilience

Connecting is Key

Workgroups and Program Teams (web)
Partnerships

Drawing on members from:

And working with hundreds of collaborators from the private and public sectors.

Find Practical Answers: Knowledge and Skills

  "Solutions for you"

Learn from colleagues

Knowledge Bank 
Knowledge Bank

Sharing technical solutions

Best (Extension) Practice Hub 

Sharing best practices

Learning and Development

Build your skills

Funding Opportunities

Contracts & Grants (UC ANR)

Investment Program (2020) (UC ANR)

Opportunity & Matching Grants

Small grants for urgent time-sensitive needs

Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) Program RFP

SI Activities supported

The SIs have some funds for cross-cutting activities. Here are the criteria to help guide what is supported.

Examples to date include workshops, think-tanks and clinics to build our Fire, Video, and Food System presence and strategies.

Partial Webinar Support

Partial Webinar Support from the SIs

PSU fees

PSU event application form

 

What do SI Leaders do? Here's the TOR

 

SI-related Blogs