PAC discusses water and food initiative

On Dec. 15, President Napolitano met with the UC President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources in Oakland for their biannual meeting.  A well-attended meeting, PAC members from all across California, including three new members: Jack Hanson, owner of Willow Creek Ranch; Jerry Lohr, founder and president of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, and Miles Reiter, CEO and chairman of Driscoll's, weathered the storm to join President Napolitano, VP Barbara Allen-Diaz, PAC Chair Don Bransford and the deans from UC Berkeley CNR, UC Davis CAES, UC Davis School of Vet Med and UC Riverside CNAS for a lively discussion on agriculture and natural resources research and programs at ANR and the four colleges, as well as the UC systemwide initiatives.

President Napolitano gave updates on the Global Food Initiative and tuition and discussed the importance of both to the state of California.  Ever engaging, Napolitano solicited suggestions and opinions from the commissioners, encouraged an open dialogue on her many initiatives and discussed her most recent decision to increase tuition. For their part, the commissioners offered the president their assistance and support.

Allen-Diaz, who co-chaired the meeting with Bransford, provided the PAC members with a brief update on the state of ANR and her plans for the future. Following her address, AVP Bill Frost announced that ANR will be hiring 29 UCCE advisors and 16 UCCE specialists distributed around the state over the next two years, which was well-received news. 

To round out the session, the industry leaders had an opportunity to learn more about ANR's California Institute for Water Resources and the newly formed Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI). Director Doug Parker told the group what UC has been doing to help Californians cope with the drought. Director Lorrene Ritchie explained the Nutrition Policy Institute's mission, their work on the UC Global Food Initiative, and NPI's current collaboration with PAC member Rodney Taylor on the Fruit and Veggie Hub. The presentations provided the commissioners and President Napolitano a better understanding of the depth of ANR's research and the extent to which ANR's research positively impacts individuals and communities in California.

After the meeting, the president hosted a private reception for the commissioners at her home.

Dan Dooley, who was a charter PAC member and former VP of ANR, attended the meeting and reception. PAC members thanked him for his leadership over the years. Dooley retired from UC as senior VP for External Relations on Jan. 2.

The PAC will meet again in the spring.

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