Focus Areas and Activities
Characterizing Transitions
Goal: Assess where, why and how agroecological transitions are taking place and not taking place, to learn what is possible and where more work is needed. Click below for research and extension activities:
- Agroecology Assessment Tool
- Assessment of Agroecology in the University of California
- Bibliometric Analysis
- Central Valley Community Composting
- Cover Cropping Community of Practice - Central Coast
- Mapping California Organic Cropland
- Mapping Diversification Practices on the Landscape
- Participatory Scenario Planning for Landscape Transition
- Regenerative Agriculture Needs Assessment
- Typology of Agroecology
- Webscraping of Agroecology
Policy
Goal: Assess the state’s current policy priorities and directions to provide guidance on how UC work can interface with and support policies that align with equitable ag and food systems transitions
Education (Student + Technical Assistance Providers)
Goals: Develop, adapt, refine assessment tools to equip degree students and extension professionals with tools to understand and more effectively work to create agroecological transitions. Click below for education and curriculum initiatives:
Extension of the Organic Research Education Initiative’s agroecological field quarter:
The Agroecological Field Quarter is a 7-week residential and traveling summer course open to UC students and beyond, designed to immerse students in the dynamic world of organic agriculture and equitable food systems. The goal is to expand the program to connect with Community-Based Organizations and Indigenous stewards, highlighting Native Science and food sovereignty. (Lead: Damian Parr)
Expand undergraduate curricula to include groundwork for transdisciplinary and cross-campus learning and assessment tools:
Expand on existing course for undergraduates - groundwork for transdisciplinary and cross-campus learning, to include Equitable Agroecological Transitions (EATS) and the agroecology assessment tool (TAPE4CA). The syllabi will also be adjusted to include mapping of UC campus foodsheds and assessing mid-large-scale farms with perennial systems for models that could train others. Students may continue to receive education credits for contributing to the beta testing of the TAPE4CA tools. (Leads: Katylin Mann, Amelie Gaudin + Ryan Galt)
Plant, Environment, Agroecology Sciences Fellowship:
The Plant, Environment, Agroecology Sciences (PEAS) Fellowship will provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for students preparing to engage in agroecology and food systems research and careers. This fellowship is committed to accommodating various mentoring styles, recruiting a diverse mentor group, and collaborating with each fellow to identify their individual responsibilities and deliveries. In preparation for the summer program, this Spring will require a 1-unit planning session, a fellowship training, a cultural competency training, and fundraising for undergraduate stipends. (Lead: Amelie Gaudin)
Pilot the Firelighters course:
Create a new upper-division course at UCD that analyzes approaches and paradigms behind beneficial burning and includes perspectives from Tribal peoples, agencies, and academics. It will expand to include more hands-on training with fire practitioners from across the spectrum – from prescribed fire to cultural fire. The 1-2 unit pre-pilot internship this Fall 2025 included 11 undergraduate students who worked towards prescribed fire certifications and are actively conducting burns. (Lead: Emily Schlickman)
Expand on existing programming on cultural and Indigenous burning practices (Keepers of the Flame and Homeland History courses):
Expand the Keepers of the Flame course to include students and practitioners from across UC campuses, UC’s Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), and technical assistance providers. (Leads: Beth Rose Middleton + Kase Wheatley)
Agroecology course for agricultural and food systems extension professionals:
This new UC ANR extension course will provide a shared grounding in foundational principles of agroecology and an overview of assessment tools, such as the Tool for Agroecological Performance Evaluation adapted for California. It will guide participants in group inquiry on how to operationalize agroecological principles within the context of their own research and extension positions, and provide resources for building skills such as multidisciplinary collaboration, participatory extension methods and others. It will include online and field co-learning opportunities and will culminate in the formation of ongoing communities of practice for continued mutual support. (Leads: Sonja Brodt + Vivian Wauters)
Admin + Evaluation