PAC discusses strategic vision, Fire Network

The PAC members kicked off a recent meeting by watching a video recap of the UC ANR statewide conference. The UC Integrated Pest Management team photo is featured in the video.

UC Merced, UC Santa Cruz deans join for first time since becoming AES campuses

The UC President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources met Aug. 11 via Zoom.

Vice President Glenda Humiston welcomed deans Rakesh Goel of UC Merced and Katharyne Mitchell of UC Santa Cruz, the new Agricultural Experiment Station campuses.

The group watched a video highlighting activities at the UC ANR statewide conference in April, then discussed the strategic visioning process. Kathy Eftekhari, chief of staff to the vice president, reported that the UC ANR Strategic Visioning Survey would be sent out Aug. 21 with a deadline of Sept. 8 for responses.

To help address new challenges, Humiston announced that a position call for 10 more UCCE specialists will be coming soon. 

As evidence of community support, UC ANR raised over $5 million in donations during fiscal year 2022-23, Greg Gibbs, Development Services director, reported. 

During the deans' reports, the PAC members heard from deans of the new AES campuses. UC Merced Dean Goel announced his campus is building a 40-acre smart farm. UCSC Dean Mitchell of UCSC, who is a social scientist, said she is excited about the interdisciplinary work the AES members can do on climate change with an eye on equity and social justice. 

UC Riverside Chancellor Kim Wilcox, ex officio member of PAC as chair of UC ANR's governing council, lauded the achievements of Kathryn Uhrich, who is stepping down as College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences dean after eight years, but will continue serving as a UCR Distinguished Professor of Chemistry. Peter Atkinson, UC Riverside entomology professor, will become interim dean on Sept. 1.

Vice President Humiston provided an update on California Department of Food and Agriculture's Ag Vision and efforts to strengthen collaboration between the UC, California State University and California Community College systems to enhance economic, workforce, and community development.  She highlighted examples of successful current higher education collaborations across the state, such as F3 Innovate with UC Merced, Fresno State and others.

Lenya Quinn-Davidson, director of UC ANR's Fire Network, gave a presentation on the wildfire team's work. They are doing research and outreach on prescribed fire, community resilience and planning, home hardening, policy, regional wildfire mitigation planning, post-fire recovery and resilience and seed sources and tools for reforestation. They are also building synergies with UC ANR colleagues such as collaborating with UC Master Gardener volunteers in their extension work. 

UC President Michael Drake led a discussion about regenerative agriculture. PAC members explained some of the challenges it brings for farmers. They also suggested ways that UC ANR research and outreach might demonstrate that it can work and be financially sustainable to encourage adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. 

The commission's next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2024.

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