The Department of Plant Sciences has been created by consolidating the four commodity-based departments of Agronomy and Range Science, Pomology, Vegetable Crops and Environmental Horticulture. This pooling of manpower and resources will foster better focus on the teaching, research and outreach missions of one of the leading academic programs in agricultural and environmental sciences in the country.

Under the umbrella of Plant Sciences, over 90 faculty members will now collaborate on education and research in the emerging programmatic areas of plant and environmental sciences. Fundamental advances in genomics, genetics, plant physiology, evolutionary biology and environmental science will be translated into improvements in crop performance and production, postharvest quality, agricultural sustainability and ecosystem management. These research-based advances are necessary to maintain California's agricultural economy at the forefront of the world, to foster agricultural and environmental sustainability and to assure a safe and healthful food supply.