Food Production

A panel of experts discusses climate change and its effects on our agriculture and our health, while also offering insights into how we as individuals can work to limit its negative impacts and create positive change. Series: "Future Thought Leaders" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34568]

Sooner or later, the food requirements of nine billion people with increasing appetites for seafood must be addressed. Although aquaculture may supply the majority of the global ‘seafood’, most aquaculture is fed meal from wild caught fish, such as sardine and anchovy. To estimate the distributions and abundance of these and other small fish off the west coast, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center routinely conducts “acoustic-trawl” surveys. David Demer will briefly describe the vessels, instrumentation and methods that are used to conduct these surveys, and provide a virtual tour of the world-class facilities in La Jolla that are used to develop the next generation of autonomous, ocean-sampling technologies. Join us to learn more about this exciting technology and be part of a discussion about possible ethical challenges. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Humanities] [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34378]

UC Davis has one of the best agriculture schools in the world, helping to feed a growing a population. Take a peek at the SAFS major in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science at UC Davis. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34585]

The DryCard™ is an inexpensive device developed by UC Davis researchers, Michael Reid and Jim Thompson, for determining if dried food is dry enough to prevent mold growth during storage. Moldy food can have a bad taste and may be contaminated with harmful toxins. So far, the Horticulture Innovation Lab has offered samples of the DryCard™ in multiple languages to researchers who can try the tool out in real-world situations. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34107]

Until recently, wastewater from the fish tanks on the Tsar Nicholai farm emptied into a giant man-made pond, but now the caviar farm is using the nutrient stream to grow food in a 24,000 square-foot greenhouse. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34106]

At the Animal Science Swine Center at UC Davis, Kristina Horback studies pig personality. She monitors the behavior of female pig from birth through puberty looking for behavior that would help predict aggression in female sows. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34112]

Researchers from UC Davis, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Mars, Incorporated have made a remarkable discovery: an indigenous variety of Mexican corn that can also fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, instead of requiring synthetic fertilizers. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34104]

Thanks to technology the farm of the future produces more food with less water and less impact on the environment and climate. And it also provides skilled careers for a new generation of farmworkers. Thats the vision behind the Smart Farm Initiative at the University of California, Davis, one of the Big Ideas that the campus hopes will capture the attention of collaborators, donors and supporters. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34102]

Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, discusses the future of food and public policy in California and around the world at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. Secretary Ross covers everything from the challenges of water management in the face of climate change, to reforming United States immigration policy to benefit farmers, farm workers, and the country as a whole. Series: "Immigration" [Public Affairs] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34017]

Agriculture today is extraordinarily productive, although sadly many people are chronically hungry, malnourished or obese. And the way we farm also takes an increasing toll on the environment. Farming emits a third of all greenhouse gases and uses 70 percent of freshwater resources. It is a major contributor to deforestation and biodiversity loss, and has led to the loss of soil fertility in agricultural lands. How can we produce enough food for the future while protecting the planet? Berkeley conservation biologist Claire Kremen suggests practices that can maintain productivity while using less energy, water and pesticides. Series: "Cal Future Forum: Our Changing World" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 33077]