First-ever UC ANR Newsmakers Seminar at World Ag Expo

Taylor Hillman Industry News Release

world ag expo
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) will hold a seminar for credentialed press on the first day of the World Ag Expo in Tulare. The seminar, featuring key UC ANR academics who serve as expert sources for the news media, will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 9, at the Seminar Center, Trailer 2.

The seminar will be hosted by Glenda Humiston, Ph.D., who was named the vice president of UC ANR in 2015. Humiston will introduce UC ANR specialists who are working on particularly critical research and outreach efforts in California, such as the spread of Asian citrus psyllid, dealing with El Niño and limited water resources, GMOs in the food supply, and more.

Fine wines made from grapes that were grown in research plots at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center will be served, along with light refreshments.

Each of the newsmakers will give a very short “lightning” presentation and take part in a question and answer session. Time will be provided for interviews and networking with the news sources.

The following newsmakers are part of the program:

  • Beth Grafton-Cardwell, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension specialist in citrus entomology and director of the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center
  • Jeff Dahlberg, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension specialist in agronomic crops and director of the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
  • Bob Hutmacher, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension specialist in cotton and director of the UC West Side Research and Extension Center
  • Lindsay Jordan – UC ANR Cooperative Extension viticulture advisor for Merced, Mariposa and Madera counties
  • Rose Hayden-Smith, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension advisor, editor of the UC Food Observer blog, part of UC President Janet Napolitano’s Global Food Initiative
  • Themis Michailides, Ph.D. – UC ANR pathology researcher, based at Kearney
  • Jeff Mitchell, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension specialist in conservation agriculture, based at Kearney
  • Toby O’Geen, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension specialist in soil resources, based at UC Davis
  • Tapan Pathak, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension specialist in climate change adaptation in agriculture, based at UC Merced
  • Maurice Pitesky, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension specialist in poultry food safety, based at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
  • Sam Sandoval Solis, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension specialist in water resources, based at UC Davis
  • Alison Van Eenennaam, Ph.D. – UC ANR Cooperative Extension specialist in animal biotechnology, based at UC Davis

All media with credentials from the World Ag Expo media center are invited to attend. For more information, text or call Jeannette Warnert at (559) 240-9850.