Initiatives for General Audience Initiative A. Improving water quality, quantity, and security CLEAN WATER We all need clean water to keep ourselves, our families and our world healthy. Impacting our water is a growing population, drought and climate change. UC research improves our water supply by * Protecting water from chemicals, salt and other pollutants * Developing crops and irrigation methods that use less water * Helping develop smart water-use policies Initiative B. Enhancing competitive, sustainable food systems MODERN FARMING The food on your plate may come from the next county or from the other side of the world. UC research helps keep California growers on top with low costs, bigger harvests, and high-quality products, including * New crop, animal and forest varieties that thrive in our growing conditions * Cheaper, more efficient growing methods * New ways to maintain quality on the way to market Initiative C. Increasing science literacy in natural resources, agriculture, and nutrition SCIENCE EDUCATION Science is a part of many important choices that people and businesses make each day. Californians need to know we can rely on UC for good information. Get into the "UC habit" with * 4-H youth programs for kids and adult volunteers * Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver training for adults * Other training for growers and businesses in agriculture and natural resource areas Initiative D. Helping build and maintain sustainable natural ecosystems PROTECTING NATURE As California's population grows, so do the challenges to its natural resources and wildlife. ANR researchers work to protect and sustain the state's natural world by * Ensuring our environment is healthy and productive * Keeping strong and diverse ecosystems * Helping preserve natural and farmland * Developing wildfire education Initiative E. Enhancing the health of Californians and California's agricultural economy HEALTHY CALIFORNIANS Eating a good diet is important to staying healthy. UC helps Californians choose a healthy lifestyle by * Showing Californians how to make healthy meals at low cost * Promoting diet and exercise for better health * Encouraging children to eat fruits and vegetables Initiative F. Helping build and maintain healthy families and communities FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES Conditions are always changing, and the ability to adapt to change is a key to success for people, families, and communities. UC researchers and educators * Promote well-fed, healthy, secure families * Work through schools to teach kids good food habits and decision-making skills * Help train community leaders to make the most of what makes their own community special Initiative G. Ensuring safe and secure food supplies SAFE FOOD Californians expect their food to be safe, yet one in four Americans gets a food-borne illness every year. UC helps protect the food that Californians eat by * Helping farmers grow food using less chemicals * Teaching safe food handling in the kitchen * Giving consumers advice to avoid food poisoning Initiative H. Helping manage endemic and invasive pests and diseases MANAGING PESTS A global market increases the chance of invasive pests and diseases into California. These pests affect the farm economy, public health and natural resources. ANR * Provides information on how to prevent and deal with pests * Designs technology for fast pest identification * Creates ways to lessen the environmental impact of pests * Shows farmers how to stay competitive Initiative I. Improving energy security and green technologies through innovative science linking engineering, agricultural, biological, and environmental sciences ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE Just by changing to a new type of light bulb you can take a huge cut out of your household energy use. UC researchers help find new ways to save energy and develop new and untapped sources of energy: * Inventing new ways to do more work with less energy * Finding new renewable energy sources, including biofuels and biotech solutions * Working with people, businesses, and government to reduce energy use and pollution Initiatives for Stakeholder Audience Initiative A. Improving water quality, quantity, and security CLEAN WATER Water is the lifeblood of California's economy. Increased competition for water and effects of drought and climate change all impact our water supply. ANR research improves water management practices and policies by * Developing crops and irrigation methods that use less water * Establishing practices to protect watersheds from agrichemicals, salinity, animal waste and other pollutants * Establishing methods to use degraded water * Developing efficient water-use policies * Partnering with agricultural, environmental and government groups to address water issues Initiative B. Enhancing competitive, sustainable food systems ABUNDANT FOOD For more than a century, California has been a leader in food production, but the world is changing. As California continues to grow, more food is needed. At the same time, soil is losing its fertility, water is growing scarcer, and insect pests and diseases impact the food supply. ANR helps farmers remain competitive and provide us with safe, reliable food by * Increasing food production through new crop varieties and advanced farming practices * Making farms more efficient and profitable * Helping farmers stop insects and disease from destroying crops * Introducing crops that use less water * Keeping harmful pests out of California * Creating farming systems that benefit wildlife * Finding new uses for plants, such as biofuels Initiative C. Increasing science literacy in natural resources, agriculture, and nutrition SHARING SCIENCE A basic understanding of the value of science-based information is increasingly important to California's population. Science is a part of many important choices that people and businesses make each day. Californians need to know they can rely on UC for good information. ANR help them get into the "UC habit" with * 4-H youth programs for kids and adult volunteers * Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver training for adults * EFNEP and FSNEP-related education efforts * Extension staff or Master Gardener presence at Farmer's Markets, fairs, and other community events * How-to tips and upcoming event listings in print and broadcast media * Good contact with the press, so reporters know that Advisors and Research Specialists are knowledgeable and available for interviews Initiative D. Helping build and maintain sustainable natural ecosystems SUSTAINING ECOSYSTEMS California's growing population greatly impacts its natural resources and its wildlife biodiversity. Ensuring the sustainability of natural resources, ecosystems and biological diversity for future generations is a top priority. ANR researchers * Build, restore, and maintain sustainable natural ecosystems * Guide land-use planning to protect wildlife and plant habitat * Improve water quality, quantity and security * Develop fire-resilient ecosystems * Create technologies and practices that sustain fish, food for grazing animals, and wood products while preserving environmental quality * Determine the impacts of climate change on natural ecosystems Initiative E. Enhancing the health of Californians and California's agricultural economy MAINTAINING HEALTH Improving the health of Californians is important to the future of California. A poor diet can lead to serious health problems, including diabetes and heart disease. Although California grows the freshest fruits, vegetables and nuts in the country, many people don't eat enough of these nutritious foods. ANR * Helps consumers choose nutritious foods for better health * Shows Californians how to prepare nutritious meals on a budget * Encourages children to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and stay physically active * Promotes active lifestyles for better health * Brings fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income neighborhoods Initiative F. Helping build and maintain healthy families and communities BUILDING COMMUNITIES Continuing population and climate changes mean California families and communities have to be resilient and ready to adapt to changing conditions. ANR researchers and educators are helping prepare Californians by * Promoting well-fed, healthy, secure families * Working through schools and other local institutions to teach kids good food habits and decision-making skills * Teaching consumers to make well-founded decisions on nutrition, food safety, agricultural, and environmental issues * Identifying qualities that contribute to resilient communities * Helping train community leaders to recognize what's best in their own community and develop strategies to improve their community's economic conditions Initiative G. Ensuring safe and secure food supplies SAFE FOOD Californians expect their food to be safe, yet one in four Americans gets a food-borne illness every year. Food contamination from E. coli, salmonella and chemicals are major concerns, with better methods needed for detecting contamination and tracing affected food back to its source. ANR research * Helps detect contaminated products * Creates technology to prevent contamination from farm to consumer * Works to prevent livestock and crops from terrorist attack * Improves food quality through postharvest handling techniques * Teaches safe food handling in the kitchen * Provides consumers advice on maximizing their food-purchasing power * Develops marketing options for growers Initiative H. Helping manage endemic and invasive pests and diseases MANAGING PESTS The international marketplace increases the likelihood of invasive pests and diseases into California. Endemic and invasive pests and diseases affect agricultural productivity, public health and natural resource biodiversity. ANR's management includes * Providing science-based information on invasive biology's risk, prevention and intervention * Designing technology for rapid identification of pests * Creating tactics to mitigate or reduce environmental impact of pests * Developing strategies to stay competitive in global economy * Analyzing how environmental change influences pests and diseases * Translating scientific advances into practical applications Initiative I. Improving energy security and green technologies through innovative science linking engineering, agricultural, biological, and environmental sciences ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE Just by changing to a new type of light bulb you can take a huge cut out of your household energy use. ANR researchers help find new ways to save energy and develop new and untapped sources of energy, including * Developing new ways to be more productive with less energy * Finding new renewable energy sources, including biofuels and biotech solutions, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels * Establishing interdisciplinary collaboration between UC and public and private sector researchers, focusing on food and water systems that use less energy * Working with government, business, and members of the general public to reduce energy use and pollution on all levels Strategic Vision 2025 ¥ Initiatives page 7