UC Office of the President Global Food Initiative's Multi-campus Testbed

Researchers from UC San Francisco, UC Davis, UC Agricultural and Natural Resources, UC Merced, and UC San Diego are collaborating on a project led by UC San Diego to test, learn from, and improve, asset mapping aimed at strengthening food system research and cross-campus collaboration across the UC system. This testbed is funded by the wider UC Global Food Initiative (UCGFI).

The UCGFI strives to align the University of California’s research, outreach, and operations to develop, demonstrate, and export solutions for local and global food security, health, and sustainability. The initiative seeks to build upon existing collaborations and create new networks amongst the UC’s ten campuses, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and UC’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This is to translate research into policy, helping communities to eat more sustainably in the face of a changing climate, whilst protecting cultural heritage and practices.

The 2024–2026 GFI Project Network

Dr. Laura Schmidt at UC San Francisco

Project Title: Network of User-engaged Researchers building Interdisciplinary Scientific infrastructures for Healthy food (NOURISH) 

Dr. Catherine Brinkley at UC Davis

Project Title: Procuring A Sustainable Foodshed

Dr. Rebecca Ryals at UC Merced

Project Title: Evaluating the role of decentralized composting in regenerative agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley, CA

Dr. Ruth M. Dahlquist-Willard at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Project Title: Engaging Community Perspectives on Mapping of Small-Scale and Diversified Farms in the San Joaquin Valley

Dr. Keith Pezzoli and Dr. Ilya Zaslavsky at UC San Diego 

Project Title: Mapping Site Suitable Land for Agricultural Use in San Diego County