Agriculture and Environmental Resources:
UC Leadership and Stewardship

The University of California plays a historic and vital role in improving agricultural productivity and protecting the world’s natural resources.

Today, California is the world’s most productive farming region – thanks to UC researchers who discovered how to remove alkali salts from the Central Valley soil. Since the 1940s, UC scientists have continued to develop dozens of varieties of strawberries, tomatoes, asparagus, avocados, citrus and other crops. For much of the past century, UC researchers helped make California wines among the best in the world by pioneering new grape varieties and new winemaking techniques.

UC discoveries in crop management, pest control, and agricultural machinery have helped farmers everywhere to feed the world.

UC’s Cooperative Extension has farm, nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisors based in more than 50 county offices, reaching millions of farmers, businesses and residents every year. And 100,000 young Californians participate in 4-H programs.

Through its Natural Reserve System, UC also manages more than 130,000 acres of protected natural habitat in California for research, teaching and outreach activities.

Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Cooperative Extension
Natural Reserve System (Map of Reserves)
Environmental Research at UC’s National Laboratories
UC's Contributions to California's Agricultural Economy
Ask the Experts about Agriculture, Natural Resources
     and Food Safety Topics