We strive for a stronger and healthier California, country and world – where we all can benefit from a more prosperous, resilient and sustainable future.
Here’s how we do it, in collaboration with you and partners across the state and beyond.
Mission
UC ANR cultivates thriving communities, sustainable agriculture, resilient ecosystems, and economic prosperity in California. We do this by developing and sharing science-based solutions that are collaborative, equitable, and have both national and global impact.
Vision
To be valued in every California community for meaningful engagement and for making a positive impact in people’s lives.
Strategic Priorities
Guided by Strategic Vision 2040, we address seven critical challenges where we can make the greatest difference. These priorities reflect our commitment to building a stronger, more sustainable California.
Agriculture and Food Systems
California’s agriculture and food systems face barriers to productivity, sustainability, profitability and equitable distribution of healthy foods.
Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes
California’s diverse ecosystems are impacted by multiple stressors, threatening ecosystem services, biodiversity and resilience.
Thriving People and Communities
California’s people and communities face barriers to physical, nutritional, social and economic well-being, coupled with inequitable opportunities for development and civic engagement.
Four additional challenges are overarching and impact all areas of UC ANR research and programmatic activity:
Climate Change
Climate change fundamentally threatens California’s communities, ecosystems, agriculture and other working landscapes, creating urgent demand for scalable strategies to mitigate causes and build resilience.
Innovation
Rapidly changing information, technology, materials and public demands necessitate the development, evaluation and adoption of secure, innovative tools and solutions.
Regulations, Policy and Compliance
California faces a complex, ever-changing regulatory environment in which science-based input and community engagement are needed to inform policy decisions and implementation.
Systemic Inequities
Inequitable access to critical resources stresses many segments of California’s population, causing significant disparities in well-being.
Download our Strategic Vision 2040 (PDF, 4.2 MB)
Strategic Plan
UC ANR’s Strategic Plan puts our vision into action. It focuses our energy and prioritizes resources toward goals aligned with UC’s land-grant mission of research, extension and public service. The plan is refreshed every five years, and the next one – covering 2025-2030 – is being finalized.
Download our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan (PDF, 1 MB)
Measuring Impact
Addressing California’s critical challenges requires not only action, but also accountability. UC ANR uses a framework of Condition Changes to evaluate long-term improvements in the communities, ecosystems, and systems we serve. These outcomes help us understand the sustained impact of our work over time.
Program Areas
Meeting California’s complex needs requires focused, collaborative work across disciplines. UC ANR brings together academics and staff through six core program areas that lead research, outreach, and extension efforts aligned with our strategic priorities.
- Agronomy and Horticulture
- Animal Production Systems
- Community and Economic Development
- Integrated Pest Management
- Natural Ecosystems & Working Landscapes
- Youth, Families, & Communities