|
[Organic Farming Information Main Page] Survey of Organic Research and Extension Activities at the University of California
Download the full report (PDF 651 K) Executive Summary Organic farming in California has experienced dramatic increases in acres, number of farms, and farm gate value over the past decade. We conducted an email survey on the present status of organic farming research and extension at the University of California to identify organic expertise and organic research and extension activities, to provide a basis for analysis of organic farming research and extension activities at UC, and to assist UC and others to prioritize future research needs, organize education programs, and coordinate fundraising. In March-May 2004, a 3-page email survey was sent to 1,003 academic personnel at the University of California including 363 faculty and 112 Extension Specialists at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the School of Veterinary Medicine in UC Davis, 114 faculty and Extension Specialists in UC Berkeley, 109 faculty and Extension Specialists in UC Riverside, 8 faculty in UC Santa Cruz, 231 UC farm advisors throughout the state of California, 66 UC Organic Farming Research Workgroup academic members including UC and USDA-ARS researchers. Survey recipients were asked to report contact information, years involved in organic farming research and extension, percentage of their work time (Full Time Equivalent, %FTE) dedicated to organic research, location of organic research activities, major crops or livestock, areas of organic research expertise, current and pending organic research and extension grants, and future organic research needs over the next 3 to 5 years. Respondents were asked to define their own research and extension programs as related to organic agriculture. Such work was described in the survey instrument as being conducted in fully compliant organic field and processing systems, or as component research not specifically conducted in compliant production situations, but relevant to aspects of such systems. This definition of organic research and extension is broader than others have used such as researchers with non-profit organizations or other educational institutions and may tend to increase the number of self reported organic researchers and educators. Data were entered into an MS Access database. Ninety-five people responded to the survey out of 1,003 surveys sent out resulting in a 9.5% survey response rate. Just over 90% of UC academic personnel queried did not respond. Of the 95 respondents, 81 respondents (8.1% of the 1,003 surveys distributed) self-reported that they are involved in organic research and extension, and 14 respondents reported that they are not working in organic. Of the 81 respondents working in organic, thirty-seven (45%) were farm advisors, 32 (40%) were campus academics, and 12 (15%) were research/education associates. Farm advisors responded at a higher rate (16%) than campus faculty and specialists (4.5%). Possible reasons for this lower response rate among campus faculty may include lack of organic research emphasis or support and/or reluctance to self report activities characterized as related to organic production. Seventy-seven of the respondents reported they have worked for an average of 12.2 years in organic farming research and extension and characterized this effort, on average, to be approximately 22% of their time. Theoretically, this translates into a total of 17 FTE in support of organic farming research and extension. However it should be noted that currently there are no positions with %FTE reported as entirely dedicated to organic farming research and extension. All the self-reported activity is part of current positions with titles other than organic research and extension. Most respondents are conducting their organic research and extension activities in the Central Valley and on the Central Coast and South regions, and their organic research and extension is principally conducted with fruits, vegetables, and nut crops. Of 74 respondents, the majority reported that they are most engaged in organic pest management research and extension (51), followed by organic soil management research and extension (27), integrated cropping systems (25), and organic economics/marketing (20). Of the 81 respondents conducting organic research and extension, only 36 (44%) reported current funding for organic farming research and extension. These 36 respondents represent 3.6% of all personnel surveyed. They listed 68 current research projects that totaled $5,165,575 and 20 pending grants that totaled $2,379,860. Major funding agencies included USDA and US EPA federal research programs, state agencies such as CDFA and CALFED, and UC programs, such as SAREP, and private philanthropic foundations. Out of the total of 95 respondents, including 14 who reported they are not working in organic research and extension, seventy-two specified 157 major organic research needs for California agriculture as being important to address in the next 3 to 5 years. Organic pest management was mentioned most frequently (56), followed by organic soil management (26), organic economics/marketing (21), integrated organic cropping systems (18), organic animal/livestock production (11), and organic social relations (7). This result probably reflects in general the research emphases of respondents in California, but is also similar to research needs of organic growers in a recent national survey. Our survey results suggest that 17 FTE valued at about $1.6 million are working in organic agriculture. Adding the total amount of current grants funds in organic research and extension from the survey to this figure gives an estimated total investment of $6,742,393. This figure represents approximately 2% of total ANR expenditures for FY 2003/2004 (taking into account federal and state funds including Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension sources, County, and private funds and competitive grants). The declared farm gate value of organic agriculture relative to all of agriculture in California in 2003 was about 1.2% and the percent of cropland in organic production was just under 2%. In these quantitative terms, the current level of self-reported research and extension investment is commensurate with the declared farm gate value in California of organic agriculture. However, in light of the industry’s rapid retail sector growth (20% per year), suspected underreporting of sales, and a total declared value of over $2 billion in organic processing sales in California in 2004) this public sector investment, which constitutes only 1.9% of the overall declared farm gate sales value of Californi a organic agriculture, could be larger, especially from such a key public sector research and development entity. California appears to have fewer personnel engaged in organic research and extension (compared with the value of the industry) than Washington State, according to a similar survey conducted there. However, it has a similar percentage of its personnel engaged in organic agriculture as USDA- ARS researchers nationally. Although this survey provides some insight into the breadth and depth of UC research and extension addressing organic agriculture, there are limitations that need to be observed in interpretation of the data. Since the response rate was under 10%, we cannot assume that survey respondents are representative of the population of UC and USDA researchers who were asked to participate. It is also probable that respondents had varying understandings of the definition of organic agriculture and how their work relates to it. This would affect how they reported the extent of their related research and extension activities, and could lead to over- or under- reporting. The results of this survey can be used as a baseline for further measurement of progress in personnel and funding dedicated to organic farming research and extension at the University of California. |
