From the Director
Governor’s “Buy California” campaign recognizes SAREP efforts

On February 12, 2002, Governor Gray Davis announced his unprecedented “Buy California” program, the largest single comprehensive plan to date to distribute $79 million in state and federal grants to boost the state’s agricultural economy. Governor Davis was the first governor to visit the Tulare World Ag Expo in 21 years, where he made clear his commitment to a viable future for California agriculture.

Stating that “…every Californian has a stake in the success of rural California…,” Davis detailed his initiative, which includes:

• $60 million for promotion and development of California agricultural products, including promotion and school nutrition programs,
• $12 million for agricultural research on pest management, environmentally responsible farming, and new crops development and support including $2 million for sustainable agriculture; and
• $7 million for a competitive grants program to promote specialty crop growers.

The Governor’s program was developed following a series of listening sessions throughout the state in October 2001. At these sessions, advice and comments as to the best uses for the funds were received from over 300 growers, industry representatives, state and local officials, educators, researchers and consumers.

In announcing $2 million of funding for sustainable agriculture efforts, Davis said, “The fertility of California’s valleys and the productivity of its growers provide an unsurpassed ‘field laboratory’ for researchers at the University of California’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP). With the support of California’s agricultural community, this program seeks cost-effective ways for farmers to develop new market opportunities by using organic or other reduced input methods. Specialty crop growers reap the benefits of improved environmental stewardship while they identify new niche markets for these crops.”

The Governor and the California Department of Food and Agriculture can be assured that SAREP will pursue all possible ways to continue our support of the development of organic and reduced-input methods and markets for these California products. Clear environmental, economic, and social benefits accrue to rural California and urban consumers in the pursuit of sustainable agriculture goals. However, no new state funds are available to SAREP to support biologically integrated farming systems or organic farming research education grants.

Following a series of discussions between California Secretary for Food and Agriculture Bill Lyons and UC Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources W.R. “Reg” Gomes, UC ANR assumed the responsibility for managing a new competitive grants program through which the $2 million to support research on sustainable practices for specialty crops will be distributed. The competitive grants program will provide funding for projects of up to two years duration in the following areas:

• Management systems for ecologically based agriculture, including organic production;
• Agricultural enhancement of environmental quality;
• Biological control of pests on specialty crops; and
  
• New crops and products.

Investigators in all of California’s public institutions of higher education are eligible to compete for these funds. SAREP will likewise be eligible, and according to Associate Vice-President Henry Vaux this means that there is an opportunity to augment SAREP funding. A preliminary timeline for establishment and implementation of this new program is mid-summer 2002. Stay tuned.—Sean L. Swezey, director, University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.