At the request of the California State Legislature, the University of California established the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) in 1986 both to help Californians understand the significance of participating in a sustainable food system and to assist farmers and ranchers in developing and implementing sustainable production and marketing systems.

In celebration of  SAREP's 25th anniversary, we asked present and past collaborators to reflect on their work with SAREP, and on SAREP's history with California agriculture.

 The top 100 questions of importance to the future of global agriculture / Las cien preguntas mas importantes para el futuro de la agricultura global

A recent paper co-authored by ASI Director Tom Tomich has been translated into Spanish.

Dozens of scholars from around the world contributed to "The top 100 questions of importance to the future of global agriculture." The author list includes ag and food experts from major agricultural organizations, scientific societies and academic institutions.

The College Cafeteria Revolution
By Kelsey Meagher, UC Davis
 
 I find it hard to believe it’s only taken one or two generations for most Americans to lose touch with the source of their food.
 

Turlock, CA dairies share knowledge, experience.

California dairies have a lot of cows. Therefore, they also have a lot of cow urine and feces to deal with. How this nitrogen-rich waste is managed can have a lot of impacts on how nitrogen moves around and through the dairy. 

There are general principles to manure management, but on-dairy specifics may vary. Members of the California Nitrogen Assessment team visited two large dairies in Turlock, Calif., to learn more about how those dairies, and dairymen generally, are managing their manure. 

This Tuesday, June 22, join Agricultural Sustainability Institute director Tom Tomich and other UC Davis and ASI-affiliated researchers for a field day at our Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility.

Researchers will present research results and discuss work conducted at the facility. Presentations will address irrigation management, greenhouse gas emissions, weed management, pollination ecology, soil microbiology, and tomato and legume cultivars. 

Ildi Carlisle-Cummins, a UC Davis graduate student pursuing her passion for sustainable agriculture, has been awarded a $15,000 fellowship from the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation.

As part of her graduate studies, Carlisle-Cummins works on a chile pepper project at the UC Davis Student Farm to teach fellow students and the public about the importance of plant diversity and breeding.

Read the full story.

ASI's Student Farm announces the 10th annual Okra Cook-off and (new this year) Pepper Party!
 
WHEN: Saturday, September 11 at 5:00 pm, at the Student Farm, Ecological Garden picnic tables.

Bring a dish containing okra or peppers or something else to share such as bread, rice, drinks, fruit, or apple pie. As usual, we’ll ask chefs to describe their dishes. Please bring your own plates and silverware and friends.

Everyone is welcome!

UC Davis students: A group of students from several undergraduate majors and graduate programs are working with Student Farm Director Mark Van Horn to coordinate the annual seminar on alternatives in agriculture for the Winter 2011 quarter.