SAREP program review provides recommendations for new strategy

Recently, the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program completed a UC ANR five-year statewide program review in 2019. Vice President Humiston and I extend a thank you to the ad-hoc committee for their time commitment and thoroughness in examining the program and providing recommendations to UC ANR's Program Council. We greatly appreciate the time the UC SAREP program staff spent providing detailed information on all aspects of the program. Feedback submitted by UC SAREP partners and stakeholders during the review process is also appreciated.

We recognize the program has made significant accomplishments towards food systems goals that have led to greater health and well-being for Californians. The program has contributed to public values and condition changes such as: 

• promoting economic prosperity by developing new markets for farmers through the Farm to School program, agritourism and new specialty crops;
• improving food security by supporting urban gardening, food hubs networks and food policy councils; 
• developing an inclusive and equitable society, by helping to increase diversity, inclusiveness and cultural competency in California's workplaces by working with small-scale and immigrant farmers and providing trainings for extension professionals on uprooting racism; and
• protecting California's natural resources by assessing environmental risks, leading to policies for ensuring safe drinking-water standards for nitrates and mitigation targets for greenhouse gas reduction in crops.

The UC ANR five-year program review was coordinated with the timing of the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences review of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute. UC SAREP has been operating as a unit housed in ASI since a memorandum of understanding between UC Davis and UC ANR went into effect in 2007.

Recently announced changes to the MOU with UC Davis and the leadership of SAREP were not an outcome of the program review. However, in response to recommendations from Program Council and the ad hoc review committee, and as a result of the recent organizational change, SAREP will begin to develop a new strategic plan that addresses the program's original legislative mandate to support long-term research toward food systems and agriculture production. The strategic planning committee will be asked to consider the following recommendations as it develops the plan:

• Explore how to better meet the needs around agriculture production.
• Determine how to best engage colleagues around the state who are working in sustainable agriculture.
• Support existing work being done by UCCE by being a facilitator, translating research to useful products for clientele, and collaborating with academics on final extension products.
• Consider including rangelands as part of agricultural production and food systems.
• Clearly define sustainability for the program's mission and vision.
• Be a conduit between UC students and UCCE and the research and extension centers by providing job training and internships.
• Consider an affiliate program such as the UC IPM model, identifying advisors to be affiliates for five years.
• Consider a role as a hub/curator of sustainable agriculture information from across the UC ANR network. Increase collaboration in development of, production or distribution of how-to materials for practitioners.
• Consider developing a precise strategy to engage with UC ANR Program Teams and other UC ANR Statewide Programs and Institutes. Work with these groups to develop user-friendly, sustainable agriculture practitioner documents.
• Increase representation of UC ANR academics on SAREP's Academic Advisory Committee.
• Develop a communications strategy for disseminating and archiving information, with input from the UC ANR network. 
• Identify additional opportunities for partnerships across UC and beyond.
• Develop a fundraising plan working with UC ANR Development Services.

I look forward to working with UC SAREP as it pursues these and other opportunities that may arise. Best wishes for the ongoing success and growth of UC SAREP!

Sincerely,

Wendy Powers
Associate Vice President

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