Feeding a hungry planet

Why innovation is key Our first to our food supply. 4 Outlook

speaker series!AGE 2 Making the case for DETAILS ON P agricultural research. 13

College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences • UC Davis • Fall/Winter 2011 this issue

is a publication of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis

e x e c u t i v e e d i t o r Ann Filmer

m a n a g i n g e d i t o r John Stumbos

a s s o c i a t e e d i t o r Robin DeRieux

g r a p h i c d e s i g n e r Eric Rohr

contributing w r i t e r s Alumni Spotlight: San Francisco Food Bank leader Jan Kingsbury Christine Schmidt Paul Ash has found new ways to bring fresh produce Neal Van Alfen to those in need. Page 20 o n l i n e m e d i a Trish Ang Cover photo: From left, faculty Tyler Randles Dean’s message 3 members Kent Bradford, Shrinivasa Cover Story 4 Upadhyaya, and Karen Klonsky administrative s u p p o r t Students and studies 14 work on projects to enhance the Leslianne Foster Making a difference 16 Jennifer Woo Honor roll 18 food supply. Pictured at Nugget Alumni spotlight 20 Market in south Davis. c a &e s o u t l o o k o n l i n e Around the college 21 Photo by Neil Michel/Axiom http://outlook.ucdavis.edu College Celebration 23

mark your calendar d e a n ’s o f f i c e University of California One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616-8571 Phone (530) 752-0108 [email protected] New Speaker Series You are invited to learn more about the challenges of feeding the planet from Dean www.caes.ucdavis.edu Neal Van Alfen and three faculty experts featured in this issue of CA&ES Outlook, who will speak on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the UC Davis Conference Center. This publication is funded partially through gifts from 8:30–9 a.m. Continental Breakfast the James G. Boswell Foundation. 9–9:30 a.m. Welcome: Dean Neal Van Alfen

p r i n t e d o n r e c y c l e d p a p e r 9:35–10:20 a.m. Capacity building: Dr. Beth Mitcham

The University of California 10:25–11:10 a.m. Sustainable agriculture: Dr. Kate Scow does not discriminate in any 11:15–noon Biotechnology: Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam of its policies, procedures, or practices. The university is The $35 fee includes a $10 donation to the CA&ES Dean’s Circle. an affirmative action/equal For more information, visit http://outlookspeaker.ucdavis.edu FEEDING A opportunity employer. or to register, visit https://registration.ucdavis.edu. HUNGR Y PLANET 2 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Our first Outlook Why innovation is key speaker series! to our food supply PAGE 2 DETAILS ON . 4 Making the case for agricultural research. 13 C O L L E G E O F A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D E N V I R O N M E N T

A L S C I E N C E S • UC DA VIS • FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 1 dean’s message

colleagues have developed a labor-saving mechanical The challenge weeder for tomatoes. Our Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility of 9 billion tests innovative agricultural practices that may contribute to the long-term viability of our food system. For instance, pollination ecology professor Neal Williams is Ample food for the future experimenting with wildflower mixes to enhance crop pollination from native insects. Fifty years ago, research produced high-yielding varieties of wheat, rice, and corn that helped avert famine in parts of the developing world. Renowned scientist Norman Borlaug—the father of this “Green Revolution”—believed that increasing crop yields would limit deforestation and conversion of wild areas to

agricultural use. Today we face a similar challenge. i s J o h n S tumbos /UC D av The world’s population will climb from seven billion people this year to an estimated nine billion by 2050. How will society produce the food necessary to sustain this growing population while protecting the environ- ment? That’s an issue being addressed in academia, at nonprofits, and by governments throughout the world. We’ve been working on a secure food supply since the University Farm was established at Davis a century ago. We continue to innovate with new technologies and programs to address the many facets of “food security” —access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Ronald Voss (left) speaks with college dean Neal Van Alfen Biotechnology enables us to make crop improvements about the Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Program that he leads. The program, which funds projects in the that we couldn’t through conventional plant breeding. developing world, is featured on page 10. A good example is the work of plant sciences professor Abhaya Dandekar, who has engineered rootstocks to We also host two international Collaborative Research fight crown gall in walnuts and Pierce’s disease in grapes. Support Programs (CRSP) working to alleviate poverty and hunger in the developing world. The Horticulture CRSP funds projects to improve farming techniques, We continue to innovate with new postharvest handling, and market access in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The Assets and Market Access CRSP technologies and programs to focuses on risk management and improved access to finance and markets. address the many facets of “food We can make the world more food-secure with security”—access to sufficient, safe, renewed investments in research to keep agricultural productivity apace of resource constraints, pest and and nutritious food to meet dietary disease pressure, and the uncertainties of climate change. Without a sustained commitment, however, we risk a needs and food preferences for an future with food shortages, higher food prices, loss of biodiversity, and greater threats to the environment. active and healthy life. I believe society will find a way to feed the world’s growing population, but at what cost to the things we value besides food. That’s really the challenge, and that’s “Precision agriculture” is helping make farming where a lot of our efforts are going to be in the future. more productive and efficient. Agricultural engineering professor Shrini Upadhyaya and fellow researchers are using global positioning systems, wireless networks, and Neal Van Alfen, dean FEEDING A innovative sensors to improve crop quality, efficiency, College of Agricultural and HUNGR and resource use. Professor David Slaughter and Environmental Sciences Y PLANET 2 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 3 Our first Outlook Why innovation is key speaker series! to our food supply PAGE 2 DETAILS ON . 4 Making the case for agricultural research. 13 C O L L E G E O F A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D E N V I R O N M E N T

A L S C I E N C E S • UC DA VIS • FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 1 Cover story

9 billion mouths to feed 4 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 The world’s population is growing fast. And everyone needs to eat. The challenge is to satisfy growing demand for food with less impact on the environment.

ne billion people suffer from hunger every day. Yet the earth’s population is expected to increase from seven billion in 2011 to more than nine billion people by the year 2050. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) predicts that food production will need to increase by 70 percent over the next four decades to meet anticipated demand. Part of this increase will be driven by higher demand for animal protein, especially in developing countries with rising incomes. Where will the food come from? The FAO projects that, globally, 90 percent of the production increases will come from increasing yield and cropping intensity on existing farmland rather than by bringing new land into agricultural production. Innovative technologies and new approaches like those currently being developed at UC Davis will play a crucial role in meeting global food demand while enhancing agricultural sustainability. Our faculty and students are exploring new Story by John Stumbos biotechnologies that hold promise to revolutionize and Robin DeRieux agricultural productivity and lessen environmental impacts. Agricultural engineers are making strides Photos by Neil Michel in precision agriculture to help manage farms more efficiently and productively. Scientists are also studying innovative ways to grow crops at Russell Ranch, a testing ground for new sustainable agriculture practices. Horticulturists and resource economists who lead global research and development programs are working in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to reduce hunger by improving local food and agriculture techniques. What will it take to ensure a stable and 9 billion affordable food supply in the years ahead? Our economists have documented the substantial long- term benefits of agricultural research and make a strong case for reinvigorated investment in research and development to meet future food needs. Read on and learn more about our work to feed a mouths to feed hungry planet. 4 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 5 Kent Bradford, director of the UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center, is a leader in demonstrating how biotechnology can support the goals of agricultural sustainability.

the promise of Biotechnology

“We only have two choices to organism are referred to as “ge- feed nine billion people by 2050,” On the web netically modified,” “transgenic,” or said plant sciences professor Kent “genetically engineered” (GE). Bradford. “Either we increase Seed Biotechnology Center Genetically engineered crops yields on the land that is already http://sbc.ucdavis.edu have proven both highly productive in agricultural production, or we and highly controversial since they expand agriculture onto new land. Animal Biotechnology were first commercialized in the Those are the only two options.” http://animalscience.ucdavis. 1990s. Concerns about potential Director of the UC Davis Seed Bio- edu/animalbiotech environmental impacts or effects on technology Center, Bradford believes human health, uncertain consumer that biotechnology should play a sig- Agricultural Biotechnology acceptance, and fears about the nificant role in meeting the challenge http://agribiotech.info risks of GE foods have led to federal of sustainably feeding a growing regulatory hurdles and international global population. Using biotechnol- opposition, slowing the adoption of ogy, scientists can create genetically organism to confer disease resis- biotechnology in agriculture. engineered plants and animals with tance, beneficial nutritional traits, “We’re feeding six billion people desired traits that can’t be achieved reduced environmental impacts, now, but we still have almost a through conventional breeding. Re- or other characteristics. Plants and billion people who aren’t getting combinant DNA technology allows animals that have been modified by enough to eat,” said Bradford. “The scientists to genetically modify an the insertion of a gene from another population keeps increasing, and

6 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 food demands as well. We need a input,” said Alison Van Eenennaam, quantum leap. We need new yield a UC Davis Cooperative Extension breakthroughs like those made specialist in animal biotechnology. “I during the Green Revolution of the know that term is very controversial. 1960s. Given these challenges, and Animals bring up different emotions i s R ob i n D e Ri eu x/UC av 15 years of production and con- than plants.” sumption of GE crops with demon- Van Eenennaam believes that strated environmental benefits and biotechnology can help meet the no safety issues, why aren’t we using growing demand for meat, dairy, biotechnology every way we can?” and eggs—particularly in developing More than 100 agricultural crops countries—and that it will increase have been genetically engineered by the efficiency and sustainability researchers worldwide, though less of animal production, decrease than a dozen have been deregulated environmental impacts, and improve and approved for commercial pro- animal well-being. “Developing duction. The most widely planted disease-resistant animals is where GE crops are herbicide-tolerant soy- I see the most potential benefits of beans, corn, and canola, and insect- genetic engineering,” she said. Alison Van Eenennaam, an expert in resistant cotton. According to the In her outreach work as a biotech- animal genomics and biotechnology, is USDA, 90 percent of the soybeans involved in outreach efforts to educate nology specialist, Van Eenennaam and 88 percent of the corn grown in the public about the full spectrum of informs audiences that conventional the United States are genetically en- genomic technologies. breeding of plants and animals also gineered varieties. Although biotech holds potential risks for animal field crops have expanded rapidly, eating GE plant foods for many health and the environment. “The biotech horticultural crops (fruits, years. However, there have never risks with genetic engineering are vegetables, nuts, and ornamentals) been any GE animal food products not different than the risks associ- are rare in the marketplace. on the market in the U.S. “Genetic ated with selective breeding, but the Since soy and corn products are engineering is one of the tools we perceived risk is much higher, and often incorporated into processed have to get animals to target weight the regulatory burden is infinitely foods, most Americans have been more efficiently with less feed higher,” Van Eenennaam said. — RD

Preventing fruit and nut crop diseases with biotechnology Biotechnology can help save fruit and nut crops from devastating diseases. One approach is to genetically engineer rootstocks to resist pathogens, and then graft a conventionally bred scion—the top part of the plant that produces the edible portion—to the GE rootstock. i s J o h n S tumbos /UC D av Plant sciences professor Abhaya Dandekar created this technique to fight crown gall disease in walnuts and Pierce’s disease in grapes. His lab has also begun to investigate a similar approach to combating Huanglongbing disease (HLB) in citrus. “Theoretically, it should be easier to get plants with transgenic rootstocks through the regulatory process,” Abhaya Dandekar experiments with genetically engineered said Dandekar. “The rootstocks won’t be producing rootstocks to combat deadly plant diseases, such as Pierce’s seeds, pollen, or fruit when grafted, so there is no disease in grapes. concern from a gene flow standpoint.” Currently, the primary defense against Pierce’s for the diseases. A biotechnology solution—if disease and HLB are chemical pesticides, which approved and commercialized—could increase yields control the insects that spread the bacteria responsible and reduce pesticide applications. — RD

6 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 7 Precision management of crops

A hundred years ago a revolution of biological and agricultural information systems (GIS), wireless took place in American agriculture engineering. “The ultimate objective networks, and innovative sensor as farmers switched from muscle is to respond to the needs of each technology. Upadhyaya and power—their own and their plant. Since not all trees in an colleagues from across campus animals—to the mechanical orchard or grapevines in a vineyard and at other western land-grant power of diesel, gasoline, and yield the same, they shouldn’t be universities are in the midst of steam engines to cultivate the treated all the same.” a three-year project focusing on soil and harvest crops. Today, a precision irrigation and canopy new revolution is unfolding as management in almonds, walnuts, scientists harness the power of “The ultimate objective apples, hazelnuts, pecans, and wine advanced information technologies grapes. to help farmers produce higher is to respond to the The UC Davis team includes quality, more-abundant food more needs of each plant.” department colleagues David efficiently to help feed an increasing Slaughter and Mike Delwiche, Bruce population. Lampinen and Ken Shackel from “With the computer technology This type of site-specific plant sciences, Mark Matthews we have, it is now becoming management or “precision from viticulture and enology, possible to treat each area in a agriculture” is making huge strides Karen Klonsky from agricultural farm differently,” says Shrinivasa by combining global positioning and resource economics, and Upadhyaya, a UC Davis professor systems (GPS), geographic Greg Browne from USDA and

Agricultural engineering professor Shrinivasa Upadhyaya and a team of researchers are finding new ways to tap the potential of information technology for precision agriculture.

8 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 plant pathology. Other research J o h n S tumbos /UC D av i s partners include the University of Arizona, Oregon State University, New Mexico State University, Washington State University, Trimble Navigations Ltd., and VERIS Technologies. “Our long-term goal is to develop a suite of sensors for a farm-based mobile platform that will assist growers in making better management decisions to improve crop quality and increase production efficiency and farm profitability while reducing the environmental footprint,” Upadhyaya says. Lampinen is working with Upadhyaya on the project to measure photosynthetically active Above, Professor Shrinivasa Upadhyaya (left) and graduate student Vasu radiation with a tractor-mounted Udompetaikul examine one of a suite of sensors for potential use on a farm-based mobile platform. Below, agricultural engineer Robert Coates checks a node on an “light bar” sensor. A separate sensor experimental wireless network in a UC Davis nursery greenhouse. The technology measures canopy shape. Other sen- collects data through sensors connected to the node for improved water management. sors used in this research include an infrared thermal sensor, ambient J o h n S tumbos /UC D av i s temperature and humidity sensors, and a wind-speed sensor—all help- ful in determining plant water status, crucial information for irrigation management. Fine-tuning informa- tion for farm management also helps reduce the amount of fertilizers and pesticides needed for crop health. “We set out to provide growers the capabilities they will need to embark on the next wave of precision agriculture, where the value added will come from efficient information management practices at the individual tree or block of trees level,” Upadhyaya says. “What matters most to growers is how this information can help make better, automatically, and then knowing costs are often for weed control. faster, and economically sound the latitude and longitude of every “We’re using technology at decisions.” plant, we can automate weeding to various stages to assist California Biological and agricultural approach the quality of care you agriculture to be more efficient, engineering professor David would give a tomato plant when to reduce costs, and to make it a Slaughter is also working on hoeing weeds in your home garden,” better environment for workers,” precision agriculture technologies. Slaughter said. Slaughter says. “But we also want A mechanical weeder he developed In on-campus tests, the weeder to ensure the quality is as high in cooperation with Upadhyaya and cut labor needs by more than half. as possible so California can be a Fadi Fathallah, another department Next year the weeder will be tested supplier of premium quality fruits colleague, uses GPS to safely work in a commercial grower’s field. This and vegetables on the world market around tomato plants. technology will be a boon for organ- and, hopefully, have plenty of food “We make a tomato plant map, ic growers, whose highest cultural to supply.” — JS

8 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 9 Building capacity in the developing world S ean K earne y/UC D av i s Hunger and poverty are a fact of life in many parts of the world. “Nearly one billion people go to bed hungry every night and almost half the world—three billion people—live on less than $2.50 a day,” says Ron Voss, faculty emeritus and extension vegetable specialist. Voss is director of a relatively new program headquartered at UC Davis: the Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Program (Horticulture CRSP). Horticulture, which includes the production of both food and ornamental crops, is essential to meet human health and nutrition needs, and to provide economic opportunity. Ugandan women share a meal during a farmer field school, part of a project run by Funded by the U.S. Agency Professor Kate Scow to increase the ability of smallholder farmers to produce and for International Development, market vegetable crops in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. the Horticulture CRSP is working to improve life for people from countries to undertake research, world earn income through Bangladesh to Zimbabwe through training, curriculum development, agriculture. Yet many of these a competitive grants program and outreach activities. farmers use outdated techniques, that partners with U.S. land-grant The World Bank estimates 2.5 such as plowing their fields with universities and institutions in focus billion people in the developing animal power and controlling weeds

Reducing risk reduces hunger for pastoralists. Index-based insurance protects against risks shared by the entire community. In this An innovative insurance program in northern case, the index is the availability of forage based on Kenya and southern Ethiopia may help prevent rural satellite imagery. When the index predicts livestock herdsmen from falling into indigence in times of mortality in excess of 15 percent, payment is triggered catastrophic drought. to all clients within the defined geographic area. “Uninsured risk creates a poverty trap for villagers To explain how the insurance works to villagers, who depend on animals for income and a stable food Carter and the research team—headed by Andrew supply,” said UC Davis professor Michael Carter, an Mude of the International Livestock Research agricultural and resource economist. “Big droughts Institute in Kenya—devised a game with poker chips in this area wipe out 50 to 60 percent of what people representing livestock. More than 2,000 Kenyan have.” families purchased insurance when it was initially Carter is director of the Assets and Market Access introduced in 2010. The region is now experiencing Collaborative Research Support Program (AMA severe drought, and pastoralists who bought policies CRSP), which is helping fund a novel index-based will receive compensation in October unless forage livestock insurance program to improve food security conditions improve. — RD

10 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 by hand. Additionally, much food is A special focus is on reducing Extension postharvest specialist; wasted because of poor postharvest postharvest losses. Michael Reid, an emeritus professor handling practices. In 2011 the Horticulture CRSP in postharvest physiology; and Mark “Thirty to 40 percent of the fruits awarded $3.1 million to support 15 Bell, who leads the International and vegetables produced in the projects. Since its inception in late Learning Center and specializes in developing world never reach the 2009, the program has funded 30 training and communications. table,” Voss says. “There is a pressing projects in 34 countries, including need to develop and implement sub-Saharan Africa, southern Asia, To learn more about the effective and affordable technologies and Latin America, with 15 U.S. Horticulture CRSP, visit and innovative practices that will universities participating. Fifty- the program’s website at five percent of the 2,293 trainees http://hortcrsp.ucdavis.edu. have been women. More than 240 “Improvements technologies are under study. will translate into “We believe these projects will “Improvements will translate improve food security by improving into better nutrition and human better nutrition and the quality of seed available to health, as well as improved social smallholder farmers, increasing and economic conditions,” Mitcham human health.” productivity, decreasing postharvest says. “By harnessing the research, losses, and increasing access to training, and outreach expertise improve growing, handling, and markets, thus increasing both of the land-grant universities in marketing of horticultural products.” the amount of food and income the U.S. to work with partners Horticulture CRSP projects available,” Voss said. in developing countries, we can focus on improving plant genetic In addition to Voss, other key improve horticultural capabilities in material, local plant varieties, seed Horticulture CRSP team members at much the same way that the land- systems, sustainable crop production UC Davis include associate director grant system helped revolutionize methods, and marketplace access. Beth Mitcham, a Cooperative American agriculture.”— JS sustainability takes root

Just west of Davis a few miles lies J o h n S tumbos /UC D av i s the 300-acre Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility, a testing ground for new farming practices to ensure the long-term viability of the food production system. The facility is part of UC Davis’ Agricultural Sustainability Institute (http://asi.ucdavis.edu). “The primary objective of our projects is to better understand the relationships between inputs like fertilizers or cover crops and various indicators of sustainability—yield, profitability, water and energy use, and leaching of nitrates or pesticides,” says Kate Scow, a soil Neal Williams, a UC Davis pollination ecology professor, has been experimenting with science professor and ASI deputy different wildflower mixes near farm fields to enhance pollination in crops. Williams director. “Over time we’ve expanded and staff researcher Kimiora Ward established three half-acre plots of mixed annuals and perennials adjacent to a watermelon field next to Russell Ranch and elsewhere in our focus to include new areas such Yolo County. “What we’re doing is the science of figuring out what bees do,” Williams as greenhouse gas emissions and said at a recent field day. “We also recognize that if it’s not something easy and that farm edges.” farmers have readily available, it will not be adopted.”

10 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 11 Agricultural economist Karen Klonsky researches the economic feasibility of alternative farming practices, including those under study at the Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility.

Russell Ranch routinely hosts a Cooperative Extension farm advisor. Ranch. An organic tomato-wheat June field day for growers, scientists, “If we can show there is economic rotation with cover crops had and students to learn about the benefit to these hedgerows, then twice the microbial biomass as a latest developments. A theme we’re more likely to get growers to conventionally grown system. Soil running through the 2011 program adopt them and to plant them on communities were more stable in was increasing biodiversity on and farms.” organic than other systems. Future near the farm, a strategy that helps studies will investigate how these support the capacity of the land to differences translate into the ability produce food. “The strategy is to keep of the farming systems to withstand Hedgerows of flowering native and recover from disturbances such shrubs such as California lilac and roots in the soil, to not as drought and heat. toyon are increasingly being used have fallow periods.” “In sustainable systems, it’s going in Yolo County and other areas to to be important for us to steward the restore farm edges that may have soil food web to keep those func- no vegetation. Hedgerows not Soil microbes are important tions active,” said Howard Ferris, only provide habitat for birds and contributors to agricultural a UC Davis nematology professor. wildlife, they’re also proving to be sustainability. They play a critical “The strategy is to keep roots in the a valuable reservoir of beneficial role in nutrient cycling, controlling soil, to not have fallow periods.” insects that can aid in pest control. pests, degrading toxins, and building “There is great potential to “By far, you have much greater soil structure. Priyashiela Singh, increase and utilize biodiversity numbers of beneficial insects than a graduate student working with throughout farmscapes to help pests compared to weedy areas that Scow, examined soil microbial increase food production while have more pests than beneficial abundance and biodiversity in also increasing the sustainability of insects,” said Rachael Long, a UC several cropping systems at Russell farming systems,” Scow says. — JS

12 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Research is the Sure Bet

Research into hybrid corn can be J o h n S tumbos /UC D av i s traced back to the late 1800s, but it was 1933 when the first commercial plantings were established and another 27 years until 95 percent of U.S. corn acreage was planted to the highly productive hybrids. UC Davis agricultural economist Julian Alston uses this example to illustrate the long lag times involved in bringing research advances to development of new agricultural practices and ultimately to industry- wide adoption. While lag times vary for different innovations, the long- term payoff to society in agricultural productivity and low-cost food is worth the wait. Alston and colleagues spent more than 15 years studying research returns in the lower 48 states during the 20th century and Agricultural economist Julian Alston has shown how investments in agricultural found that, on average, every dollar research and development have paid off in the past. He is concerned, however, about invested in agricultural research and a slowdown in the rate of agricultural productivity growth. development has provided a benefit of $21 to that state, with another to something other than increases $11 in spillover benefits to other in conventional inputs, such as Persistence Pays states. fertilizer, pesticides, and farm labor. Learn more about Alston’s It’s ultimately attributable to work work in his book, Persistence done by scientists at the land-grant Pays, honored in 2011 with “The alternatives to universities and other people who contribute to innovations that cause quality of research awards by revitalizing research productivity growth.” the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, the and productivity growth Since 1990, however, a significant, pervasive slowdown Australian Agricultural and are not good ones.” has been taking place in the Resource Economics Society, rate of agricultural productivity and the Western Agricultural growth—from more than 2 percent Economics Association. “That’s like playing roulette, per year in the 1970s and 1980s which pays 35 to one if you bet on to less than 1 percent in the last any specific number, and winning decade. Alston believes a key factor enhance the rates of research and on every spin,” he said. “That’s a at work in this trend is declining investment and restore productivity really good investment.” support for agricultural research and growth,” Alston says. “The One way of measuring this payoff development. For instance, federal alternatives to revitalizing research is by tracking U.S. agricultural funding for farm productivity- and productivity growth are not productivity, which increased enhancing research at agricultural good ones for natural resource 2.5 times between 1949 and universities dropped from a peak of preservation, the world food 2002. “We’re producing more about 70 percent in 1985 to about equation, global security, or the with less,” Alston says. “The 55 percent today. international competitiveness of U.S. increased output is attributable “We should do something to agriculture.” — JS

12 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 13 Students & Studies R ob i n D e Ri eu x/UC av i s

“We learned that Americans are very wasteful with food and consume more calories on average than people in the rest of the world,” says Hung Doan, a June 2011 graduate in biochemistry and molecular biology. “So I’m trying to be less wasteful, more energy conscious—I’m eating more veggies and less meat.”

Food for Thought Courses help students explore connections between science, society

Hungry for knowledge about food teaching the course in 2006. As one of more than systems, undergraduate student Francisco Guzman 20 interdepartmental Science and Society courses enrolled in Science and Society 2 (SAS 002), “Feeding the administered by our college, SAS 2 gives UC Davis Planet: Influences on the Global Food Supply.” Guzman undergraduates an opportunity to is a fourth-year student who follows world news closely earn general education credits while and wanted to learn more about possible solutions to learning about topical issues that the challenges of rising food prices and related unrest in impact society. developing countries. “We wanted this course to be broad “I think one of the problems with our food system in scope and to touch on controver- today is that people just eat food and don’t really ask sial topics in a balanced and objective questions about where it came from, or the process food way,” said Bostock. “We cover organic undergoes before it reaches our plate,” said Guzman, an Richard Bostock farming versus conventional farm- environmental policy analysis and planning major. “Those ing, genetically modified foods, the locavore movement, questions only come up when problems arise.” energy requirements for food production, world popula- SAS 2, offered each winter quarter, has grown to tion projections, increasing demand for meat and animal accommodate 150 students since plant pathology protein in developing countries, and other issues as well.” professors Richard Bostock and Mike Davis began — Robin DeRieux

14 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Chris Kim/UC Davis The right touch Kelly Garbach named first winner of Bradford-Rominger Award

UC Davis graduate student Kelly Garbach received the first Eric Bradford and Charlie Rominger Agricultural Sustainability Leadership Award at a public ceremony in May. Given by the Agricultural Sustainability Institute (ASI) at UC Davis, the award recognizes and honors individuals who exhibit the leadership, work ethic, and integrity epitomized by the late Eric Bradford, a livestock genetics professor at UC Davis for 50 years, and the late Charlie Rominger, a fifth-generation Yolo County farmer and land preservationist. “Both Eric and Charlie were big thinkers and had the ability to realize their aspirations,” said ASI director Tom Graduate student Kelly Garbach was honored for her leadership Tomich. “Kelly possesses the same quiet determination and dedication to sustainable agriculture. and genuine modesty, while leading by example.” Garbach is an ecology doctoral candidate studying California’s Landowner Stewardship Program. agricultural land preservation. In addition to her Garbach has served as a natural resource conservation graduate studies, she leads the laboratory section for consultant for both the Academy for Educational Devel- “Sustainability and Agroecosystem Management,” a opment and the U.S. Agency for International Develop- field-based course, and mentors high school students ment. She has also worked with nonprofit organiza- in farmland restoration as a volunteer for Audubon tions in Chile, Argentina, and San Francisco on natural resource management and environmental justice issues. “I am very grateful that the Bradford and Rominger “(They) were big thinkers and had families and their friends have invited us to come to the ability to realize their aspirations. know Eric and Charlie, and be inspired to continue their legacy,” Garbach said. “At UC Davis, we are surrounded Kelly possesses the same quiet by some of the brightest minds in agricultural research and management, but what makes Davis unique is that determination and genuine modesty, these great minds actively create space for new ideas and encourage emerging leadership.” while leading by example.” — Agricultural Sustainability Institute

New major offered in sustainable agriculture UC Davis undergraduates are being offered a new Agriculture,” “Food Systems, Sustainability, and major: “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems.” Agroecosystem Management,” “Economics of “We’ve created a major that includes lots of Agricultural Sustainability,” and a senior capstone, learning in and out of the classroom,” said Mark Van “Workshop on Food System Sustainability.” All Horn, director of the Student Farm and one of the students will take agricultural science coursework major’s instructors. “This major will provide students but will focus on one of three tracks—agriculture with the knowledge and skills they need to work and ecology, food and society, or economics and effectively in a wide range of positions contributing to policy. Internship possibilities include working with the sustainability of food and farming.” farms, food businesses, government agencies, or Core classes include “Introduction to Sustainable nonprofit organizations.— ASI

14 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 15 Making a difference C ourtes y

a waterfowl win Dennis G. Raveling Professorship receives a big boost

New philanthropic support is giving a big boost to an endowed professorship dedicated to helping California waterfowl. The Dennis G. Raveling Endowed Professorship in Waterfowl Biology, created in 1994, has been held by Professor John Eadie since 1995. Eadie and his students are working to protect and improve wetland and agricultural habitats for waterfowl in California’s Central Valley, which supports 3 million to 4 million migrating waterfowl—the largest single concentration of waterfowl in North America. Eadie says the Raveling professorship helps him pursue basic research and its applications in farming, business, and public policy. “The loss of 90 to 95 percent of our wetlands has made California the emergency room of the biological sciences,” Eadie said. “The Raveling endowment enables me to put graduate students into the Professor John Eadie and his students help California waterfowl field quickly and get vital research done.” populations through research to improve wetlands and Eadie and his students have found that even agricultural habitats. modest changes in agricultural practices and wetlands management can bring enormous benefits for the 20 strengthen the endowment while also encouraging percent of the nation’s geese, swans, and ducks that live additional contributions from others. Paul and Sandi are in, or migrate through, the state’s Central Valley. The parents of a UC Davis alumnus, and Paul serves on the birds repay this kindness by helping farmers control Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Agricultural weeds and mosquitoes. and Environmental Sciences. UC Davis alumnus Peter Stent (’63, range science) and his wife Nora Stent were among the original donors These donors share an interest to the Raveling endowment and quickly responded to the Bonderson challenge with an additional $99,000 gift in promoting management of to the endowment. Peter is a member of the Campaign Cabinet, a group of volunteers that is providing California’s agricultural lands to leadership and expertise to the Campaign for UC Davis, the campus’s first comprehensive campaign. enhance benefits to waterfowl. Others are also joining the Stents in response to the Bonderson challenge, including the Dean Witter The endowment was created to honor internationally Foundation and the Herbst Foundation, both of San recognized waterfowl teacher and researcher Dennis Francisco. All these donors and supporters share a Raveling, who died in 1991. Original donors included mutual interest in promoting management of California’s individuals, foundations, and corporations, with support agricultural lands to enhance benefits to waterfowl and from three key partners—the California Waterfowl other water-dependent wildlife. Their partnership is built Association, the California Department of Fish and on a shared appreciation for the role of scientific research Game, and the UC Davis College of Agricultural and to inform management practices and policies for the Environmental Sciences. betterment of waterfowl populations. Inspired by the successful track record of Eadie and More information about endowed faculty positions is his students, Paul and Sandi Bonderson made a recent available at www.caes.ucdavis.edu/giving/endowed-chairs. challenge to the supporters of the Raveling endowment. With a gift of $500,000, the Bondersons sought to

16 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Devoted to animal science Lee and Mary Ellen Baldwin remembered through gifts for students

Friends and family of the late animal to her passing earlier this year. The first award will be science professor R. Lee Baldwin have established an made this fall. award in his honor to support graduate students in the “Establishing this award was a tremendous honor Department of Animal Science. for our family,” said Lee and Mary Ellen’s son, Randy The Lee Baldwin Family Award Baldwin. “It is something that mom felt strongly about in recognizes students whose research order to leave a lasting legacy for my dad and we are glad applies mathematics to understand- to be able to support UC Davis graduate students in such ing biological systems. Baldwin, a meaningful way.” who joined UC Davis in 1963, was The gift from the Baldwin family was matched by renowned for his knowledge of a $25,000 contribution from the Charlie Soderquist ruminant biology, physiology, and Matching Fund Initiative for Graduate Student Support. nutrition. His dedication and service Gifts from family and friends in memory of Lee and Mary Lee Baldwin to the dairy and livestock industries Ellen also contributed to funding the award. are also among the reasons he was elected to the National “The Department of Animal Science is grateful for Academy of Sciences in 1993 and was honored by the the generosity that established the endowment,” said American Society of Dairy Science. department chair Anita Oberbauer. “It enables future The Baldwin endowment was created through a graduate students supported by the award to carry $25,000 gift from Lee’s wife, Mary Ellen Baldwin, prior forward the science that Lee was so passionate about.”

UC Davis campaign Making progress

the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) is making Purpose remarkable progress in helping The Campaign for 5.1% UC Davis become a success. World-class programs Through fiscal year 2010–11, more than 73.5% 9.6% 10,000 gifts, varying in size from $25 to more Student To benefit students, faculty, staff, and faculty and community than $10 million, have been made to CA&ES scholarship toward the campaign for a total of $154,289,876. 1.5% Emerging opportunities This is 73 percent of our college’s campaign goal. The Campaign for UC Davis is a campuswide 4.3% Endowed chairs and professorships initiative to inspire 100,000 donors to contribute $1 billion in philanthropic support to expand 6% our ability to meet world challenges and educate Student support/”Project You Can” future leaders. These gifts have: • Created research and teaching space • Provided state-of-the-art equipment for faculty 15.9% Source of funds and students Other organizations 2.2% • Financially supported undergraduate and 24.8% Alumni graduate students Foundations • Endowed programs to ensure long-term Definitions of source and purpose based on viability and continued innovation campaign (thematic) reporting convention and may differ from UCOP definitions. With the support of the CA&ES community, 25.1% 32% Campaign dollar totals reflect fully we will continue to excel. Corporations Individuals updated/corrected fgures and include all philanthropic gifts/pledges from July 1, 2006, To learn more about giving to CA&ES, please to the represented date, as well as specific pre-campaign commitments. Consistent visit http://caes.ucdavis.edu/giving. with CASE guidelines for campaign reporting, select conditional pledges and — Christine Schmidt bequest expectancies are also included.

16 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 17 Honor Roll

This list of donors reflects gifts of $1,000 or more that were made to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. Pledge payments to the college and gifts made elsewhere to UC Davis are not included in this list. If your gift is not listed, please call us at (530) 754-8961. * Chancellor’s Laureates: Indviduals and corporations who have cumulatively donated $1 million or more to UC Davis.

$1 million and higher Campbell Soup Company* Gail P. Hollingsworth & Gateway Health Alliances, Inc. American Vineyard Foundation* Canola Council of Canada Thomas P. Hollingsworth General Hydroponics Center for Food Integrity* Eric E. Conn James G. Boswell Foundation* Harborchem Barbara Banke & Jess S. Jackson* Constellation Wines U.S., Inc. KMT Waterjet Systems, Inc. Harris Moran Seed Company W.K. Kellogg Foundation* Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc. Land O’Lakes, Inc. Helena Chemical Company Mars, Incorporated* Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation Mattson and Company Huntsman International, LLC Dean Witter Foundation Mitsubishi Petrochemical Company International Centre for $250,000–999,999 Dow Chemical Company* Kenji Murata Diarrhoeal Disease Research Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company* National Academy of Sciences International Health California Tomato Research E & J Gallo Winery* Natural Resources Defense Council Nutraceuticals Incorporated Institute, Inc. Ellison Medical Foundation* Nature Conservancy Kemin Food Technologies, Inc. CIAT (International Center for Fisher Scientific International, Inc. Ohio State University Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. Tropical Agriculture) Foundation for Agrarian Innovation Linda Pearlstein & Jack Pearlstein Estate of Beatrice O. McKeehan* Cornell University Fred Maytag Family Foundation Pearlstein Family Foundation Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Ford Foundation* Friends of PARC (Partners in Amphibian Platinum Performance, Inc. MillerCoors Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum* and Reptile Conservation) Poet Nutrition, Inc. Min-Ad, Inc. Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation* Gowan Company, LLC POM Wonderful, LLC MPT Mustard Products & International Maize and Wheat Grayson-Jockey Club Research QualiTech, Inc. Technologies, Inc. Improvement Center* Foundation, Inc.* Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation MUSCI Natural Resource Assessment International Water Häagan-Dazs Northern California Mint Management Institute Mr. and Mrs. G. Kirk Swingle International Zinc Association Foundation Growers Association Julianne B. Muhleman & Douglas Nunhems USA, Inc. J. Muhleman, ’77, M.S. ’79 Makhteshim-Agan of North Transagricola, S.A. America, Inc. (MANA) Nutriset Tomato Products Wellness Council TransFresh Corporation Beverly H. Maytag, ’70 & Fritz Maytag United Phosphorus, Inc. Ohio State University Food Wegman Family Charitable Foundation Science and Technology Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation* Valagro William and Flora Hewlett Foundation* Phibro Animal Health, Inc. Organic Farming Research Foundation Washington Hop Commission Paramount Farming Company Produce Marketing Association, Inc. $150,000–$249,999 Water Education Foundation William J. Perry Project Apis m American Institute for Cancer Research Wilbur-Ellis Company Rohm and Haas Company* Rijk Zwaan Breeding BV Anheuser-Busch Foundation* Ronald M. Yoshiyama Richard H. Salz Sacramento Housing Alliance California Crop Improvement Sakata Seed America, Inc. Association* Synthia, LLC $10,000–24,999 Save the Redwoods League Fischer Productions, LLC Nora B. Stent & Peter D. Stent, ’63 Abbott & Cobb, Inc. Moran M. Segoli Institute of Ecosystem Studies University of Saskatchewan Academy for Educational Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Inc. International Crops Research Institute Barbara Winiarski & Warren Winiarski Development, Inc. Sight and Life Mathile Institute for the Advancement Winiarski Family Foundation Adisseo USA, Inc. of Human Nutrition Yara North America, Inc. American Society of Plant Biologists Stanford University RF Tribuno Family Charitable Fund Amplicon Express Stanislaus Food Products Company Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc.* $25,000–49,999 Annie’s, Inc. Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. Bertha Tribuno & Robert L. Tribuno AspenBio Pharma Arizona Plant Breeders, Inc. Understanding & Insight Group, LLC Two Blades Foundation Agilent Technologies* Baker Commodities, Inc. VenEarth Group, LLC University of Maryland American Malting Barley BioStar Systems, LLC Wally’s Association, Inc. Valent* Linda F. Bisson Arysta LifeScience North America Brown-Forman Corporation $5,000–9,999 $100,000–149,999 Mary Ellen Baldwin Cindy P. Burke & Timothy P. Burke, ’77 Absorbent Technologies, Inc. American Petroleum Institute* Charlotte F. Baron & Robert C. Baron California Dairy Research Foundation AgraQuest, Inc. Amino Up Chemical Company, Ltd.* BASF Corporation* California Deer Association Ajinomoto Heartland, LLC Daphne Araujo & Bart Araujo California Fig Institute California League of Food Processors* Baglietto Seeds Dairy Council of California CANERS Foundation California Rice Commission Ball Horticultural Company Ernst & Gertrude Ticho Chemtura Corporation* ceniRED Angela M. Biggar, ’93 & Robert Biggar Charitable Foundation Dairy Institute of California Cheminova, Inc. Bohart Museum Society Juvenile Diabetes Research D. Kaye Delfino & Francis J. Delfino, ’78 Chevaliers du Tastevin Foundation Brewers Supply Group Foundation International* Del Monte Foods Cibus US, LLC Barbara Brown Merle Mullin & Peter Mullin Duarte Nursery, Inc. CoBank California Canning Peach Association Scotts Company, LLC Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation Cramer Fish Sciences California Olive Oil Council Linda Sullivan & William P. Sullivan, ’72 Florida Specialty Crop Foundation CREAGRI, Inc. California Pistachio Research Board Sullivan Family Fund FMC Corporation Agricultural Grace Bedoian & Michael S. Denison Unilever United States, Inc. Products Group Canning Peach Mechanization David E. Gallo Foundation Research Fund Marjorie Solomon Friedman & $50,000–99,999 Mark L. Friedman* EcoFlora Chevron Corporation* Ag Spectrum Company Garden Rose Council, Inc. EnviroLogix, Inc. CleanGrow, Ltd. Bayer Corporation* Global Crop Diversity Trust Evonik Degussa GmbH Clover Stornetta Farms, Inc. Bedoukian Research, Inc. Beverly L. McFarland, Ph.D. ’83 & Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation ConAgra Foods, Inc. Bionovo, Inc Thomas R. Gordon, Ph.D. ’81 Florida Tomato Committee Patricia A. Cook & Theodore M. Cook California Agricultural Haifa North America, Inc. Fluid Fertilizer Foundation Dairyland Seed Company, Inc. Leadership Foundation Helen Keller International Mary C. Gallo Christine Fry, M.S. ’81 & Isao Fujimoto

18 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Genencor International, Inc. James I. Grieshop & Jane A. Bosch, ’77 & Alice Pappagianis & Emily B. Griswold, ’98 & Patricia A. Grieshop, Ed. cred. ’87 Daniel F. Bosch, ’77, M.S. ’79 Demosthenes Pappagianis Nikhil A. Joshi, ’97, M.S. ’02 Groundwater Resources Annette M. Breingan & Robert T. White Carol E. Parker & Gerhard H. Parker Gladys Hoefer & Alan R. Hoefer, ’55 Association of California James P. Brusca, ’98 & Susan D. Parker & Flamingo Holland, Inc. Deborah N. Pinkerton, ’77 & Christina P. Brusca, ’99, M.B.A. ’06 William R. Parker, ’69 Hedgerow Farms Bret T. Hewitt, ’76, M.A. ’83 Mary M. Buckpitt & Alan R. Buckpitt Parker Family Foundation High Ranch Nursery, Inc. ICARDA (International Center Catalytic Generators, Inc. G. Stuart Pettygrove & for Agricultural Research Mary S. Cech & Joseph J. Cech, Jr. Willa B. Pettygrove HMC Marketing in the Dry Areas) James C. Horgan Certis USA, LLC Jerry DeCamp & Integrated Environmental Diane H. Phaff-DeCamp ICL Performance Products LP Restoration Services, Inc. Sharon B. Chang, ’92 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. International Wine & Food Society International Plant Nutrition Institute Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland Placer County Wine and Grape Isagro USA, Inc. ISK Biosciences Corporation Association Mary Lou Cockcroft Jim’s Supply Company, Inc. Yohei Iwasaki Planet Biotechnology, Inc. Colusa Gen Sets, LLC Julia Child Foundation Betsey J. Kauffman & Pontix Consulting, Inc. Richard R. Kauffman, ’70 Jacqueline A. Cotta & Richard L. Cotta Jane K. Keller Pyramid Flowers, Inc. KIM-C1, LLC Mary Lindsay CP Kelco US, Inc. Rabobank N.A. Lehigh Agricultural & Jolene Lohr & Jerome J. Lohr* John H. Crowe & Vinette P. Ramsay & Biological Services, Inc. Lois M. Crowe, Ph.D. ’75 Marin Rod & Gun Club Beatty H. Ramsay, Jr. McCall’s Nurseries, Inc. Gerald L. Dickinson, ’64 Karen J. Medford, ’82 & Carla W. Reiter National Farmers Organization John B. Medford Dale Dominguez & Kathleen Rittmaster Ocean Mist Farms Grace M. Melville & Alan G. Melville Joseph J. Dominguez, ’82, M.D. ’88 Ever-Bloom, Inc. Sacramento Area Beekeepers Pebble Beach Company Mitsubishi Kasei Corporation Association Fadel Educational Foundation, Inc. Prophyta GmbH Money/Arenz Foundation, Inc. Barbara Saigo & Roy H. Saigo, ’62 Farm Credit West Purfresh, Inc. North Dakota State University San Francisco Succulent Lynda R. Resnick & Stewart A. Resnick Irene Ojdana & Edward S. Ojdana Kathleen N. Feicht, ’73 & Jon Feicht and Cactus Society Resnick Family Foundation Darice O’Neill & Jeffrey B. O’Neill Food Industry Environmental Santa Cruz Olive Tree Nursery Network, LLC Rue & Forsman Ranch Partnership ORO AGRI Marilyn Schiffman, ’73 & Fruit Growers Supply Company S&W Seed Company Oxfam America, Inc. Peter Schiffman Sarah V. Schrupp, ’85 & Nancy Shapiro & Howard Y. Shapiro Martha Ozonoff, ’91, M.S. ’98 & Maxine L. Schmalenberger David W. Fujino, M.S. ’81, Ph.D. ’87 Shapiro Family Fund Doug Krause, ’74 Shirley A. Schneckloth & Sandra J. Gardner, ’71 & Park Farming Organics Mark C. Schneckloth Stoller Enterprises, Inc. Tracy B. Gardner Stuart Products, Inc. William L. Phillips, ’96, M.S. ’98 Kathleen C. Schoening, ’67, Ed. cred. Kathryn K. Garvey & James J. Garvey ’90 & Norman L. Schoening, ’67 Sub-Zero Freezer Company, Inc. Plant Impact General Produce Company Laurel L. Schuler, ’61, Ed. cred. ’62 & TIC Gums, Inc. PlantSense Jean D. Gifford Ronald A. Schuler, ’60 Valley Vision Rockpile Vineyard Gino’s Fish Farm Mary P. Seabury, ’75 & Valeta Rodgers & Rufus P. Van Zandt John J. Seabury, ’75, M.S. ’79 Thurman “T.J.” Rodgers Margaret A. Giuliani & Esther Volkan Alan V. Giuliani, ’67 Mark A. Seedall, ’80 Janet F. Roser, M.S. ’78, Ph.D. ’82 Eleanor J. Walker & Patricia L. Goss & Dixie A. Senestraro & Daniel E. Eugenia L. Ruegg & David C. Ruegg Harry O. Walker, ’47, M.S. ’50 John R. Goss, M.S. ’56 Senestraro, ’81, D.V.M. ’86 Rue-Ell Enterprises, Inc. Western Candy Conference Edward E. Grissell, ’67, Christine E. Sherer, ’82, D.V.M. ’86 & World Wide Wheat, LLC Silver Oak Cellars M.S. ’69, Ph.D. ’73 F.A. Sherer, D.V.M. ’86 Claudia A. Smith & Vera M. Harris & Richard W. Harris Sierra Foothills Rose Society $2,500–4,999 Richard R. Smith, ’68 Welles L. Henderson Kathleen M. Socolofsky & Vernon E. Altman Sonata Biosciences, Inc. Hollandia Produce, LLC Robert A. Gregoire American Seed Trade Association SQM North America Corporation Mary Bigelow Horton, ’63, M.S. ’66 Spoto Wines John M. Arenz Marjorie Stone & Iowa Honey Producers Association Claire S. Steigerwald & Robert F. Arenz, Jr. Herbert R. Stone, Ph.D. ’63 Sean A. Johnston, ’80 John Steigerwald Moira Bankier Sunview Vineyards of California, Inc. Jane H. Kamvar, M.S. ’78 Sterling Caviar, LLC Barenbrug USA Sutter Home Winery, Inc. John H. Kautz Farms Timothy G. Stewart, ’06 Bee Happy Apiaries Mary M. Traverso & Sharon R. Kern & Dennis L. Kern Sunkist Growers, Inc. Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine William C. Traverso Helga E. Kliewer & W. Mark Kliewer Sunridge Nurseries Christine M. Bruhn, ’66, M.S. ’70, Vitis Research and Development Corporation Mary Kraemer Elizabeth C. Te Velde, ’89 & Ph.D. ’86 & John C. Bruhn, Ph.D. ’69 George A. Te Velde, ’89 Wells Fargo Foundation Los Angeles County Mary Louise Bucher & Janet Thompson & Beekeepers Association Timothy Bucher, ’86* West Coast Products Corporation the Honorable Mike Thompson Michael P. Mallett, ’74 & California Grain Foundation William C. and Mary Traverso Trust Kathryn L. Tolin, ’78 & Julie H. Mallett, ’74, Ed. cred. ’74 California School Nutrition Association Bruce A. Bailey, ’75 Shirley R. Maus California Seed Association $1,000–2,499 Shirley C. Tucker, Ph.D. ’56 & California State Beekeepers Anonymous Katherine F. Mawdsley Kenneth W. Tucker, Ph.D. ’57 Association, Inc. AC Diagnostics, Inc. Maximum Nursery Ronald H. Tyler, ’55 Clos LaChance Wines, LLC AddisonDogs Ellie Maze & Jack R. Maze, Ph.D. ’65 Laura M. Weubbe & Nancy B. Crosby & Donald G. Crosby Almond Board of California Verne E. Mendel, Ph.D. ’60 John W. Weubbe, ’84 Defenders of Wildlife Allstar Seed Company Craig S. Miller June B. Van Wingerden & EMD Crop BioScience, Inc. Jacqueline L. Ames Kathryn A. Minta & Rene Van Wingerden Kristen A. Finch, ’89 & Annual Reviews Steven C. Minta, ’75, Ph.D. ’90 Vilmorin, Inc. James P. Finch, ’89 Djina Ariel Morning Star Company* Westbridge Agricultural Products Food Industry Foundation Jacque A. Bartholomew, ’64 & NACUFS Pacific Region Western Poultry Scholarship Foodsters Wayne A. Bartholomew, ’64, J.D. ’71* NewStar Fresh Foods, LLC Westland Floral Company, Inc. Anyisha Fritz & Lynn C. Fritz Beatty H. and Vinette P. Ramsay Trust Toki K. Nitta Xerox Corporation GenCorp Foundation, Inc. Beckstoffer Vineyards Ocean Breeze International gayle k. yamada & David H. Hosley Gilchrist & Soames Bearded Collie Club of America Pamela M. Pacelli & J. Michael Harty yamada-Hosley Fund Gills Onions, LLC Robert Blair Pacific Gas and Electric Company Devon Zagory and Associates, LLC

18 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 19 Alumni Spotlight

From farms to families Alumnus Paul Ash takes a fresh approach to fight “food insecurity”

Twenty-two years ago Paul Ash (’79, J o h n S tumbos /UC D av i s development, resource, and consumer economics) found the perfect opportunity to combine his interest in the nonprofit world with his UC Davis bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics. “I learned there was something called a food bank and it was a small organization that was struggling a bit,” he said. Ash was hired to become the executive director of the San Francisco Food Bank and has since overseen its remarkable growth to a model program with a $12 million annual budget, 110 employees, and an army of 20,000 volunteers who annually provide food for 200,000 hungry people. Last year 25 million pounds of fresh produce and 20 million pounds of packaged food made their way through the food bank’s 60,000 square- foot warehouse to more than 200 neighborhood food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, homeless shelters, and youth programs in San Francisco and Marin County. “One in four children and one in five adults in our area live at or near the poverty line,” Ash says. “Even people who are above the poverty line are struggling. We see a fair number of working people, people with part-time jobs, or very low-wage jobs without benefits, at our weekly grocery pantries.”

It’s a growing national problem that the U.S. Alumnus Paul Ash has seen a large increase in demand for services at Department of Agriculture calls “food insecurity.” the San Francisco Food Bank, where he is executive director. According to the most recently available statistics from USDA’s Economic Research Service, more than 50 produce that is either excess or the wrong shape or size million people, including 17 million children, were food for conventional markets at a deeply discounted rate. insecure at some time during 2009. “We also got one of the packers to continue picking after they got what they wanted for market,” Ash said of one recent effort. “Normally, they’d just plow it under, “Even people who are above the but we paid them for the corrugated boxes they packed it in and for the extra labor. It came out to about 11 cents a poverty line are struggling. We see pound for fresh broccoli and cauliflower—a remarkable value and it was so beautiful!” a fair number of working people, The San Francisco Food Bank is supported by a generous community of everyday citizens who contribute people with part-time jobs, or very time and money and by larger donors such as the Bechtel low-wage jobs without benefits, at family, the Koret Foundation, and the Goldman Fund. Ash marvels at the abundance of California agriculture our weekly grocery pantries.” and believes that with the right approach food insecurity in America can be overcome. “We can feed everybody easily,” he said. “All we have to do is have the right Distribution through the San Francisco Food Bank distribution processes in place.” has grown 33 percent in the last two years, and most of — John Stumbos that growth has come by way of a program called “Farm to Family.” The food bank collects perfectly good, fresh

20 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Around the college

Good things on the horizon Partners in “Solutions from the Land” initiative visit UC Davis

A coalition of resource organizations aiming to improve how agricultural, forest, and conservation lands are managed met at UC Davis in June. The Solutions from the Land (SFL) initiative is exploring sustainable solutions to the long-term challenges of food and energy security, economic development, biodiversity conservation, and climate change. Founding sponsors include the United Nations Foundation, Conservation International, the Nature Conservancy, and the Farm Foundation. They are being joined by agriculture and forestry groups, conservation interests, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, universities (including UC Davis), land-user associations, and other organizations.

“The real potential for Solutions from the Land is bringing diverse perspectives together that all have one thing in common—they understand the critical and urgent and Agriculture. “We believe that by 2050, our resources need to feed the hungry population can be managed to simultaneously satisfy domestic and global demand for safe, abundant, and affordable food, of today and to make sure that feed, and fiber, while supporting economic security and sustainable development.” we have the systems in place to Participants in the project are developing a “roadmap” detailing how the agriculture, forestry, and other land- feed ourselves well into the future, use and conservation sectors can achieve the SFL which is truly the definition of vision for satisfying resource needs while ensuring environmental quality. Their goal is to provide a plan to sustainability.” increase production on working lands while offering a broad range of value-added goods and services, including ecosystem services. Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture The initiative will seek to effect change through policy, voluntary initiatives, consumer awareness campaigns, mitigation markets, government payments, and buyer- SFL participants were in Davis for workgroups and to-buyer arrangements. Market-based solutions that to hear from UC Davis researchers, leaders in California reward innovation and incentivize healthy land use will agriculture, and to tour innovative agricultural projects be encouraged. such as the Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture For more information on the Solutions from the Land Facility, Dixon Ridge Farms, and the Center for Land- initiative visit www.SFLdialogue.net. Based Learning. — John Stumbos “We have set ambitious, yet attainable goals,” said one of SFL’s leaders, A.G. Kawamura, a California farmer and former Secretary of the California Department of Food

20 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 21 Support Professor Johan Six samples water to measure carbon levels in the for Wheat Congo River. Located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congo Research River is the second largest river on the planet. Wheat geneticist Jorge Dubcovsky is one of two UC Davis

Pi erre -D en i s P l sn er /M useum of T ervuren , B elg um plant biologists selected to be part of a new philanthropic program that boosts funding for basic plant science research. Dubcovsky, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, and Simon Chan in the Department of Plant Biology (College of Biological Sciences), are among 15 researchers nationwide chosen to be part of the first-ever class of HHMI-GBMF Investigators, funded jointly by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Dubcovsky and the others will share $75 million in flexible support from the two organizations over the next five years. The research funding will cover salary and laboratory equipment and allow Dubcovsky to continue developing new genetic resources to improve wheat, one of the most widely grown cereal crops on the planet. The Dubcovsky lab has identified and cloned genes involved in Chancellor’s Fellow disease resistance, grain protein content, and flowering and frost tolerance, helping breeders develop high-yield varieties Johan Six, a professor in the Department of Plant that are more nutritious and resistant to Sciences, was named a 2010–2011 UC Davis Chancellor’s Fellow, an disease. honor for faculty early in their careers who have already compiled “Twenty percent of what every person outstanding records of achievement. Six and other faculty members around the world eats, every day, is were recognized in the spring by Chancellor Linda Katehi, each wheat,” said Dubcovsky. “Anything you receiving a $25,000 prize and the honor of using the title “Chancellor’s do that would make that crop better has a Fellow” for five years. huge impact.” Six and members of his agroecology lab study the complex S

interactions among plants, soils, sediments, and all of the living teven organisms in a particular area, known as the biota, and the carbon

Jorge Yeater and nitrogen cycles in agricultural, grassland, forest, and aquatic Dubcovsky

ecosystems. “Our general approach is to integrate field sampling, /AP laboratory analyses, and mathematical modeling to investigate whole- system dynamics under a changing global environment,” said Six. UC Davis has recognized 63 faculty since the Chancellor’s Fellow program began in 2000. Fellows from CA&ES include Andrew Waterhouse (viticulture and enology, 2000), Scott Rozelle (agricultural and resource economics, 2000), Mark Schwartz (environmental science and policy, 2003), and Rosie Woodroffe (formerly in wildlife, fish and conservation biology, 2006).

22 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 College Celebration T.J. U s hi ng /UC D av i s

Sharon Lynch, UC Davis Athletics, shares in the good vibes with friends at last year’s College Celebration.

Come celebrate the harvest

You are invited to join us in Freeborn Hall on Friday, The Award of Distinction is the Oct. 14, as we acknowledge the highest recognition presented accomplishments of the College by the college to individuals of Agricultural and Environmental whose contributions and i s R ob i n D e Ri eu x/UC av Sciences and honor the 10 recipients achievements enrich the image of this year’s Award of Distinction. and reputation of the college College Celebration, a major and enhance its ability to annual event, is held each year provide public service. The at harvest time to reflect on the 2011 recipients include: achievements of our college and our impact on California and the world. • Faculty: Larry N. Vanderhoef After a ceremony for the Award of • Friend: A.G. Kawamura Distinction recipients, faculty, staff, • Alumni: Margaret Lawson, students, alumni, and friends of the Barbara Schneeman, Mahmoud El-Solh, William college join in a festive gathering The horse-drawn carriage will be back this for delicious food, California wines, year to ferry guests at College Celebration. Sullivan, Daniel Evans, and beer, and other beverages. Julia Tully At the culmination of the evening, bag full of fresh California produce, • Young Alumnus: Shawn College Celebration guests are nuts, and grains. Harrison invited to dismantle a farmers The cost is $15. Register at • Staff: Dan Flynn market display and take home a collegecelebration.ucdavis.edu.

22 CA&ES outlook Fall/Winter 2011 Fall/Winter 2011 CA&ES outlook 23 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

College of Agricultural and PAID Environmental Sciences #986H UC DAVIS University of California One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616-8571

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES RankedOffice of the Dean U.S. Institutions: Most Plant and Animal Science: Prolific in Agricultural Most-cited Universities, Sciences (2005–2009) 1 International (1997–2007) 2

Agricultural Sciences: Food Science and U.S. Institution Rankings Technology: Most (1998–2008) 2 Prolific U.S. Institutions (2005–2009) 1 U.S. Institutions: Most Prolific in Environment/ Leading Institution for Ecology (2005–2009) 1 Awarding Degrees to Undergraduate Soil Sciences: High- Minority Students in impact U.S. Institutions Agricultural Sciences 3 (2005–2009) 2

All rankings reflect current data. 1 Based on number of academic papers; Thomson Reuters / ScienceWatch; 2 Based on number of citations; Thomson Reuters / ScienceWatch; 3 Diverse Issues in Higher Education, July 2011