UC ANR: The original incubator

Abstract

Editorial UC ANR: The original incubator T here’s a lot of excitement in California today about how connecting people and businesses with resources, informa- tion and each other can help to generate new ideas and fuel economic growth. Across the state, governments, univer- Glenda Humiston sities, philanthropic organizations and the Vice President private sector are establishing business UC Agriculture and Natural Resources incubators and economic development clusters to capitalize on the power of net- works and partnerships. The Shared Value Initiative (sharedvalue.org), a fast-growing movement in the business world, argues that some of the best opportu- nities for innovation and new markets are to be found in identifying and addressing unmet social needs. As an organization with a traditionally rural focus and roots in the 19th century, UC ANR might appear stuck on the sidelines of these trends. But I’d argue that we have a central role in turning ideas into successful, socially beneficial enterprises — and that we’ve been at it for a long, long time. For a century, farmers, ranchers and natural re- source managers have relied on research and new technologies disseminated through UCCE. With UC ANR’s help, growers have increased yields, improved water-use efficiency, reduced pesticide loads, made food safer, expanded export markets and become more environmentally and economically sustainable. 206 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE • VOLUME 69 , NUMBER 4 California communities and the economy have ben- efited from successful new industries, healthy ecosys- tems and sustainably managed landscapes. If UC ANR isn’t an incubator, I don’t know what is. Furthermore, I would argue that the partnership of our land-grant university system with Cooperative Extension is the original and most productive incuba- tor that the world has ever seen. UC ANR works on the most critical issues of our time: food production, environmental sustainability, health and youth development. Providing leadership and helping to drive progress in these areas requires UC ANR to leverage its assets with a wide array of external partners, projects and resources and increase public awareness of how well-managed agricultural and natural resources contribute to California’s well- being. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; each region or sector needs tools and strategies to meet its particular goals and needs. As California seeks accord among diverse interests and competing goals, UC ANR must provide knowledge to improve the quality of decisions as well as leadership to help communities find consensus on difficult issues. As the new vice president of UC ANR, perhaps my most important responsibility is to build collabora- tions with communities, businesses, organizations and individuals around the state and the nation. This collaborative mission has guided my professional career. UC ANR has many opportunities to enhance how it serves its mission, supports its clientele and expands the reach of its programs. Capitalizing on these op- portunities will require new collaborations — and perhaps unlikely-looking allies. Some partnerships may involve a single UC institution; but I have found that, in most cases, connecting multiple institutions and interdisciplinary resources proves to be much more powerful. Here’s a small taste of the types of partnerships and opportunities I’m talking about: • Building Healthy Communities. Foundations and other philanthropic organizations not only fund but, increasingly, engage directly in community Elena Zhukova I n August, Glenda Humiston started as the new vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). As the head of UC ANR, Humiston oversees UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), the Agricultural Experiment Station and the division’s many statewide programs, from 4-H to UC IPM to the UC Master Gardener Program. Humiston came to UC ANR from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she was California state director for rural development from 2009 to 2015. Previously, she was deputy undersecretary for natural resources and environment at USDA from 1998 to 2001. She holds a doctorate in environmental science, policy and management from UC Berkeley, a master’s degree in international agricultural development from UC Davis and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University.