Legislators hear about UC ANR research, outreach to improve California

From left, Cindy Chen, Glenda Humiston, Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Esmeralda Soria, Gabe Youtsey and Victor Francovich, chief consultant for the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

UC ANR held its annual advocacy day on April 10, meeting with state legislators to build awareness of how Californians are benefiting from its work across the state. The group, led by Vice President Glenda Humiston and Associate Vice President Brent Hales, met with Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Esmeralda Soria, Assemblymembers Vince Fong and Juan Alanis, and Senators John Laird, Bill Dodd and Anna Caballero.

From left, legislative staff Quincy Stivers, Gabe Youtsey, John Laird, Glenda Humiston and Cindy Chen.

They also met with the staff of President pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senators Monica Limón, Steve Padilla, Roger Niello and Josh Becker, and Assemblymembers Bill Essayli, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Jesse Gabriel, Damon Connolly and Steve Bennett.

From left, Haris Gilani, Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Assemblymember Vince Fong, Brent Hales, Cindy Chen and Gabe Youtsey.

This year, Anne Megaro, government and community relations director, and Sheron Violini, associate director government and community relations, added a midday coffee break to showcase UC ANR's wildfire resiliency research and outreachand offer resources for legislative offices to share with their constituents in May, which is Wildfire Preparedness Month. Assemblymember Vince Fong sponsored the room in the Capitol for the briefing. Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Fire Network director, spoke about the importance of prescribed burns and forest management practices and associated job opportunities. Missy Gable, director of UC Master Gardener Program, described how UC ANR is helping communities become more resilient and prepared.

“Our knowledge and prepared outreach materials could be used by offices to help their constituents mitigate wildfire risk,” said Violini. “We garnered great interest from representatives of several caucuses and offices and we are already working with them to share information.”

From left, Cindy Chen, Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Loyal Terry and Glenda Humiston.

In meetings with legislators and their staff, the UC ANR representatives shared a one-pager that included the new Luna UCR avocado, reducing food insecurity, and pest management in urban communities as well as on farms.

Humiston and Gabe Youtsey, chief innovation officer, discussed the merits of CropManage, an app used by growers to reduce water and fertilizer inputs while harvesting the same crop yields. The decision-support tool developed by Michael Cahn, UCCE irrigation and water resources advisor, will be showcased at the UC Innovation Fair at the state Capitol on May 8.

From left, Brent Hales, Senator Bill Dodd, Lenya Quinn-Davidson and Haris Gilani.

Cindy Chen, UC Cooperative Extension woody biomass and forest products advisor in the Central Sierra, and  Haris Gilani UCCE biomass and bioenergy advisor in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, described UC ANR's role in ARCHES, California's initiative to accelerate renewable hydrogen projects and the necessary infrastructure. The scientists are identifying ways to use biomass to provide energy and consumer products while creating job opportunities in rural areas.

To continue the learning relationship, they invited the legislators and staff to attend UC ANR events in their respective districts.

From left, Brent Hales, Assemblymember Juan Alanis, Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Haris Gilani and Anne Megaro.

Assemblymember Megan Dahle gave the group a tour of the Assembly Chamber.

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