The Vantage Point

Glenda Humiston 
Vice President
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources 

What a remarkable month this has been, as UC ANR’s programs, progress and impact have been shining in the spotlight on the state, national and international levels. 

UC California Naturalist Conference – On Oct. 7–9, about 250 certified Naturalists, Climate Stewards, program instructors, partners and community members gathered by Lake Tahoe to mark the 10th anniversary of the program. While sharing best practices in biodiversity conservation and climate change education, the conference also represented a significant step in expanding the diversity of voices in our collective movement for a more equitable, resilient and sustainable future. We were especially excited that members of the Washoe Tribe – Rhiana Jones, Herman Fillmore, Mark Lara and others – were on hand to share their invaluable perspectives on stewardship of the land. 

White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health – For the first time since the Nixon administration, the White House convened a conference on these crucial topics, and our Nutrition Policy Institute contributed – and continues to provide – research to develop and improve programs that help nourish millions of people. Christina Hecht, NPI senior policy advisor, was asked by conference organizers to compile and submit recommendations to encourage drinking water over sugary beverages. NPI-affiliated researcher Suzanna Martinez attended the Sept. 28 conference, representing UC’s commitment to halve, by 2030, the number of students systemwide experiencing food insecurity.

California Agricultural Robotics and Technology Forum (FIRA USA) – Gathering 1,000 farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs from 26 countries, this international conference held in Fresno on Oct. 18-20 highlighted the benefits and challenges of using robots and AI. After moderating the opening panel on automation in agriculture and attending several talks, I came away impressed by not only the potential of robotics to provide economic uplift to agricultural communities – but also hope for farmworkers who could gain new skills, better wages and improved working conditions with the shift toward automation. Many thanks to Gabe Youtsey, UC ANR’s chief innovation officer, and The VINE (Verde Innovation Network for Entrepreneurship) team, for leading our partnership and engagement to bring this leading-edge forum to the U.S.

Earlier this month, I also had the good fortune to be a part of a delegation studying climate and agriculture policy in New Zealand. I am grateful to California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross for inviting me to serve on this mission, which looked at innovative policies and practices that address the impacts of climate change.

At the 2035 Agri-Food Tech Oceania Summit in Auckland, I saw New Zealand and California sign an agreement to boost collaborations on a host of “smart agriculture” projects. In our interconnected world, international collaboration is needed more than ever to advance meaningful sustainability and deliver food security and prosperity to all communities, regardless of borders. Despite major challenges facing agriculture across the globe, the ingenuity and spirit of partnership shown by summit attendees instilled in me great hope for the future.

Finally, as you can see, this month has been exceptionally action-packed. I want to give a special shout-out of appreciation to Sherry Cooper and her Program Support Unit team, who provide outstanding event planning and management for large gatherings (such as the California Naturalist Conference and FIRA-related programs), small meetings and everything in between. Without them, we simply would not be able to offer such lively spaces and opportunities to engage with the public, share knowledge and forge productive connections – the activities that are at the heart of Cooperative Extension and UC ANR.