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AFFILIATED PROGRAMS/ALLIANCES

SAFS

The Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) Project was established in 1988 by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, farmers, and farm advisors to study the transition from conventional to low-input and organic farming practices in California's Sacramento Valley. Current research examines the possibilities for conservation tillage in various cropping systems, with the goal of understanding the biological changes, system-level flows of nutrients and water, and economics that occur when tillage is greatly reduced. This project is currently located at Russell Ranch (http://asi.ucdavis.edu/rr) which is part of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute (http://asi.ucdavis.edu/) at UC Davis

LTRAS

The Long Term Research in Agricultural Systems (LTRAS) site hosts a 100-year main experiment and various shorter-term experiments, all focussed on improving the sustainability and environmental impact of agriculture. The 100-year experiment was inspired by results from other locations showing that short-term trends can be poor predictors of long-term sustainability. This project is also located at Russell Ranch (http://asi.ucdavis.edu/rr) which is part of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute (http://asi.ucdavis.edu/) at UC Davis. A number of SBG graduate students have conducted research projects at this location and many opportunities are available for getting involved in research at Russell Ranch.

SAREP

The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) is a statewide program within UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. It was created through the grass roots efforts of organizations and indivduals concerned about the environmental impacts of agriculture, the health of rural communities, and the profitability of family farming operations in California. At the request of the California legislature, the University of California established SAREP with three mandates: administer competitive grants for research on sustainable agricultural practices and systems, develop and distribute information through publications and on-farm demonstrations, and support long-term research in sustainable farming systems on UC farmlands.

NRS

The UC Natural Reserve System is a network of protected natural areas throughout California. Its 37 sites include more than 135,000 acres, making it the largest university-administered reserve system in the world. Most major state ecosystems are represented, from coastal tidepools to inland deserts, and lush wetlands to Sierra Nevada forests. The reserves also serve as a gateway to more than a million acres of public lands. Founded in 1965 to provide undisturbed environments for research, education, and public service, the Natural Reserve System contributes to the understanding and wise stewardship of the earth (http://nrs.ucop.edu/)

UCCE

University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resource's outreach arm, has farm, 4-H, and nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisors based in more than 50 county offices. In addition, Cooperative Extension specialists are headquartered at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC Riverside, where they conduct research and coordinate advisors' activities. As a land-grant institution, the Cooperative Extension mandate is tied to the welfare, development, and protection of California agriculture, natural resources, and people.