April 2007
Soil food web scientist named interim sustainable ag deputy director
Howard Ferris
DAVIS—Howard Ferris, a researcher of the underground world of soil organisms, has been named interim deputy director of a new University of California Agricultural Sustainability Institute (ASI). Ferris will serve with Tom Tomich, director of UC Davis' ASI.
"I am thrilled that Howard has agreed to work with me on our new collaborative efforts in agricultural sustainability," said Tomich, who is also director of the statewide UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP).
"This is an important time for sustainability research and outreach, and Howard is outstanding in both areas," said Tomich. "In addition to working for years on projects aimed at sharing integrated farming systems developments with growers, he was part of the committee that developed the UC system's internationally renowned statewide Integrated Pest Management Project."
Ferris, a nematologist, will work with Tomich and collaborators in several campus and statewide programs to extend the work of the ASI. Collaborating groups include SAREP, the UCD Student Experimental Farm, the UCD Center for Integrated Farming Systems' Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) and Long Term Research on Agricultural Systems (LTRAS) projects, and the UCD College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' California Food and Fiber Futures (CF3) project.
"I look forward to working with Tom and colleagues in many departments to initiate effective programs," said Ferris. "My 18-years of work in the sustainable agriculture farming systems project has focused on achieving a functioning soil community following a history of conventional agricultural practices. We now know how important healthy soil food webs are in alternative farming systems. I look forward to more opportunities to share useful information with the agricultural community."
Media Contacts:
Howard Ferris, UC Davis Department of Nematology, (530) 752-8432,
Tom Tomich, ASI and UC SAREP, (530) 752-2379, (530) 752-8751, ,
Lyra Halprin, (530) 752-8664,
