Agriculture and Natural Resources (Audio)

At the UC Davis Student Farm, students bring sustainable food systems to life. In Episode 2 of 'Sustainably UC Davis', we explore student-led efforts in sustainable agriculture. Environmental and social sustainability remain central to the Student Farm’s mission, from organic practices to food justice. Hear about these topics and more from Colin Dixon, Director of the Student Farm, as well as staf...

Explore the evolving identities, histories, and rights of farmworkers across Mexico and the United States. Panelists—including scholars, organizers, and agricultural leaders—discuss cross-border migration, labor conditions, cultural heritage, and the impact of policies on communities. The conversation highlights the role of indigenous and Catholic traditions, the legacy of the Bracero Program, and...

Join us for a dynamic panel discussion where experts explore the contributions of Indigenous practices to modern agriculture. The conversation highlights traditional ecological knowledge, addresses gaps in food access, and proposes strategies to promote food sovereignty. Panelists examine how Indigenous wisdom and contemporary innovation create equitable, sustainable food systems, amplify Indigeno...

Fungi play a crucial role in our natural ecosystem. Environmental scientist Danielle Stevenson discusses the great impact fungi can have on soil quality and a healthier food supply. Series: "Wellbeing " [Health and Medicine] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 40174]

In his compelling talk, Jorge Carrillo takes the audience on a journey through his life, from growing up in California to becoming a prominent figure in the legal field. Carrillo reflects on the challenges he faced, including personal struggles and societal issues, offering insights into his experiences as a farm worker and his pivotal role in the implementation of the Agricultural Labor Relations...

In the coming decades, individuals around the world must adapt to changing environmental conditions, often driven by climate change. Adaptation requires significant resources, prompting the question of whether existing economic and social inequities may be exacerbated when adaptation become accessible to some, but not others. Kyle Meng, associate professor of economics at UC Santa Barbara, explore...

Hear firsthand from the women at the forefront of the regenerative food movement. From farmers to winemakers and scientists to chefs, learn why they are so passionate about feeding the planet without depleting the earth. Join us for this enriching discussion on conservation, biodiversity, soil health, carbon reduction, and more — all which can ultimately lead to a healthier food system, food secur...

Join esteemed experts to delve into solutions for water scarcity, climate challenges, and sustainable resource management. Michelle Ciccarelli Lerach, Berry Good Food Foundation's founder, moderate a discussion with BJ Kjaer, Solar Rain Watery's CEO; Sarah Livia Szekely Brightwood, President of Rancho La Puerta; Dr. Juana Claudia Leyva Aguilera from Universidad Autonoma de Baja CA; Luis Salgado of...

Learn about UC Davis’ innovative approach to growing crops with less groundwater in drought-prone regions like California. The UC Davis Agricultural Water Center is working with farmers in California and the Southwest to find solutions that address groundwater overdraft so they can farm sustainably for a better future. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 39212]

Tilden Park’s Jewel Lake is home to a community of Western pond turtles, a species that is struggling to survive the combined threats of climate change, habitat loss and competition from red-eared slider turtles. Former UC Berkeley postdoctoral scholar Max Lambert is part of a team of wildlife experts who spent much of the pandemic checking in on the health of the Bay Area’s Western pond turtles,...

Farmers in Cambodia have started to grow more vegetables to meet rising consumer demand, supported by innovations from a team led by UC Davis researchers. With help from Cambodia’s Royal University of Agriculture, farmers adopted "nethouses" to protect crops from pests without the use of chemical pesticides and packinghouses to better care for their crops after harvest. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agric...

Responders with the UC Davis Oiled Wildlife Care Network traveled to Southern California to wash and release oiled birds, including federally threatened snowy plovers, after an oil spill near Huntington Beach in 2021. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 37812]

Mushrooms play a crucial role in our natural ecosystem, they have been used medicinally by indigenous cultures for centuries, their nutritional value and hearty fiber make them an excellent meat substitute for chefs, and the mainstream medical community is evaluating psilocybin benefits in combating PTSD, anxiety, addiction, and other conditions. Michelle Ciccarelli Lerach hosts spiritual healer M...

Knights Landing is a small, rural community just north of Davis, CA. With little access to a local grocery store, volunteers from UC Davis helped complete a community garden so they can grow their own fresh produce. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 37405]

UC Santa Cruz researchers have shown that pumas will go to great lengths to avoid humans, and it’s taking a toll on them. They’re concerned about the long-term impacts on the ecosystem. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 37469]

This presentation examines how the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries have created climate emergencies that have threatened global food production, human health, and soil health. Experts explore the ubiquitous presence of chemicals in our food supply and the significant, cumulative impacts of extreme heat, pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs on agricultural communities, as well as the promise o...

Chandra Krintz is a professor of Computer Engineering at UC Santa Barbara. SmartFarm is a research project that investigates the design and implementation of an open source, hybrid cloud approach to agriculture analytics for enabling sustainable farming practices. Series: "Institute for Energy Efficiency" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 36803]

Stuart Woolf is President and CEO of Woolf Farming & Processing, a family owned operation whose primary business is the production and processing of agricultural commodities. Series: "Institute for Energy Efficiency" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 36802]

Scientists at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory are conducting "urchin ranching" trials as a creative solution to purple urchin overpopulation, which has contributed to the crashing of the bull kelp forest in California. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 36769]

California produces 80 percent of the nation’s fresh citrus, but a disease called Huanglongbing or HLB, is threatening Central Valley groves. Citrus Greening disease, transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, has decimated groves in Asia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Florida, and is now spreading in California. UC Davis researchers are working to slow down the disease, as well as searching fo...

Research at Lake Tahoe is finding microplastics in one of world’s clearest lakes. UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center Staff Researcher, Katie Senft, is studying how microplastics are impacting the beaches along the shoreline of Lake Tahoe. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 36768]

As an agricultural crop, hemp is the strongest natural fiber in the world and can produce crucial resources such as food, rope, clothing, paper, and housing material. The U.S. sales value of hemp-based products is more than $600 million annually and growing. A panel of experts discusses the increasing use of hemp and cannabis in their various forms, including potential benefits and drawbacks, as w...

Ticks are vectors for human disease, including Lyme disease. Semay Chou studies the vector–pathogen relationships at UCSF. Here she discusses strategies for blocking tick-borne diseases and what we can learn from ticks. Series: "Osher WISE: Well-being and Integrative Science for Everyone" [Health and Medicine] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 35241]

Transformative field experiences at our 600-acre Fort Ord Natural Reserve are inspiring a new generation of natural scientists. The incredible outdoor classroom offers opportunities for students, scientists, and the community to learn about rare maritime chaparral habitats, threatened endemic species, land management, and conservation biology like never before. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Agri...

The UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserve System supports long-term research and teaching on protected lands on more than 10,000 acres of natural lands at five natural reserves: Año Nuevo, Campus, Fort Ord, Landels-Hill Big Creek, and Younger Lagoon. Together, they function as living laboratories and formative outdoor classrooms for faculty, graduates, and undergraduates. Research at these reserves range...