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UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program

September 2000

New SAREP Biennial Report Spotlights Long-term Viability of California Ag

The University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP), now in its 14th year, highlights the last two years of program work in UC SAREP Biennial Report 1997-1999: Cultivating Common Ground.  SAREP was created in 1986 through the grass roots efforts of organizations and individuals concerned about the environmental impacts of agriculture, the health of rural communities, and the profitability of family farms in California.  It funds grants, distributes information and supports long-term research in sustainable farming systems.

In the last three years SAREP has awarded more than $1.4 million in sustainable agriculture grants to both university and other applicants.  The report includes summaries of projects funded between 1997 and 1999, including:

  • Broad research and education partnerships within a particular region or commodity, like the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) program awards. These fund farmers, farm advisors, and agricultural professionals to create strategic partnerships for agricultural chemical use reduction in winegrapes, walnuts, prunes, rice, citrus, strawberries, apples, cotton, and dairy.  Examples include: BIFS for winegrapes, and BIFS for row crops in San Joaquin Valley’s West Side.
  • Community Development and Public Policy grants, which provide resources for food systems research and community-based initiatives leading to greater food security for urban residents and stronger connections with local growers.  Examples include: Evaluating farmers’ markets in low-income communities, and the Willard Greening Project’s farm-to-school project.
  • Production research grants, which are aimed at helping California producers modify the way they farm and manage their businesses to stay profitable and environmentally sensitive. Basic and applied research projects, as well as education and demonstration programs of research-based technologies and systems are funded.  Examples include: Use of dairy lagoon water in production of forage crops, and changes in soil organic matter quality during the transition from conventional to low-input organic systems.

“Sustainable agriculture has emerged as a conceptual tool with a clear research and policy agenda for addressing the challenges confronting agriculture and food systems in California,” says Sean L. Swezey, SAREP director.  “We’re proud to share our biennial report, which details the way our program is helping to meet these challenges.”

A limited number of printed copies of the report are available from the SAREP office. Contact SAREP, University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616-8716; Tel: (530) 752-7556; email: sarep@ucdavis.edu. The report is available on the Web at:  /pubs/progress/97-99/    It is presented in PDF format and includes summaries of funded projects.

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