Ermias Kebreab is Associate Dean of Global Engagement (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences), Director of the World Food Center and a professor of Animal Science. He can discuss nutrient requirements of dairy cattle and environmental impact of livestock. In particular, he can discuss strategies to reduce methane emissions from livestock production systems, including research involving feed additives such seaweed’s potential to cut methane emissions in beef and dairy cattle. Contact: 530-752-5907, ekebreab@ucdavis.edu
J. Edward Taylor is Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis. He can discuss the implications of a diminishing farm labor supply and what it means for the future of California and U.S. agriculture. Contact: jetaylor@ucdavis.edu
Michael Carter is professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Director of the Assets and Market Access Innovation Lab. He can speak on constraints to the adoption of improved agricultural technologies by small-scale farmers in Africa, agricultural insurance, and about forces that shape poverty and food insecurity in rural areas of Africa and Latin America. Contact: 530-752-4672, mrcarter@ucdavis.edu
Dr. Alireza Pourreza is an assistant cooperative extension specialist of agricultural mechanization in the department of biological and agricultural engineering at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Pourreza conducts research and extension education in the fields of precision agriculture, mechanization, robotics, and sensing. He also advises students, post-docs, and works with visiting scholars. Contact: 530-752-9290, apourreza@ucdavis.edu
Irwin R. Donis-Gonzalez is a Engineering Specialist in Cooperative Extension at the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and the Latin American Relations faculty member at the UC Davis Coffer Center at UC Davis. His area of expertise includes postharvest engineering, handling (storage, drying, and refrigeration), traceability, and processing of agricultural commodities with a goal of reducing energy consumption while ensuring food quality and safety. These are critical issues for the fresh market fruit and vegetable, dried fruit, tree nut, and rice industries in California and the World. Contact: 530-752-8986, irdonisgon@ucdavis.edu
Daniel A. Sumner is director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center and the Buck
Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. He can discuss economics issues in food and agriculture, include those related to farm costs, policy, food and commodity markets, international trade and sustainability. He works on such California farm products as almonds and other tree nuts, wine grapes, berries and other fruits, alfalfa hay, cotton, cannabis, beef, pork, eggs and milk. Contact: 530-752-1668, dasumner@ucdavis.edu
Travis Lybbert is a Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics and can discuss the economics of food production and food systems in developing countries and the management of disease and other risks in agriculture in both international and domestic settings. Contact: 530-554-1393, tlybbert@ucdavis.edu
Stavros Vougioukas is an Associate Professor in the department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. He is an expert on agricultural robotics. He can discuss automation and mechanization technologies for specialty crops production. Examples include harvest-aid automation, harvesting robots, autonomous guidance, and post-harvest automation. Contact: 530-7521890, svougioukas@ucdavis.edu
Tom Tomich is the founding director of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute and inaugural holder of the WK Kellogg Endowed Chair in Sustainable Food Systems at UC Davis, where he teaches in the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems program. He also directs the UC statewide Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP). His research spans agriculture and farming systems, economic development, food policy, and natural resource management both on a local and global scale. Contact: 530-752-3915, tptomich@ucdavis.edu