Strategic Initiative Brief: Growing nutrition & health (amongst others) for the future

Unify-Communicate-Advocate

The UCANR Strategic Initiatives offer a home for strategic thought - drawing on members of the wider UC ANR community and beyond to 1) help people connect and 2) to help them identify and address issues of current and emerging importance. 

The road ahead. Photo by Johannes Plenio

Where to now? Growing nutrition & health (amongst others) for the future

The recent news on the increase in UC ANR's budget is exciting. We know the needs and the funds required to meet those needs across the state will require even more support. Although this will position ANR better, it will not fund all needs. A key to moving forward is to know what is needed, our role, and potential collaborators and partners to support the work for greater positive community impact. 

So what are the areas for the future? With input from many, a number of opportunities have already been outlined related to factors such as fire, resilience, water, etc. See Strategic Themes.

One area to build on relates to opportunities around nutrition and health. Our existing work provides multiple health benefits - and these benefits emerge across many programs such as 4-H, EFNEP, California Naturalist, Nutrition Policy Institute, Master Gardeners, UC Integrated Pest Management, UC Master Food Preserver and CalFresh Healthy Living, UC. Additionally, COVID helped us realize how much more is needed and highlighted that we can do much more. 

This month, the SI leaders will facilitate a discussion to build on what has recently been emerging in relation to our health work. In essence we want to know "What is our vision for the future of our nutrition and health work?" Stay tuned, but reach out to the SI leaders if you have thoughts and get involved when opportunity presents. 

For more on the SIs and their activities, contact:

Jim Farrar: Pests (EIPD)

OPEN: Natural Ecosystems (SNE) (Let us know if you are interested in making sure SNE has a voice)

David Lewis: (Water)

Deanne Meyer: Food Systems (SFS)

Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty: Families and Communities (HFC)

Mark Bell: Vice Provost (Strategic Initiatives and Statewide Programs)

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