Performing Department
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Non Technical Summary
The "Organic Production and Food Safety Workshop Series for Regional Farmers in California's Southwest Desert Area" is a comprehensive initiative designed to address the critical needs of farmers in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys. This project, spearheaded by the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), aims to support the region's agricultural sector, which contributes significantly to the nation's winter vegetable production.The primary objective is to equip farmers with essential knowledge and skills for successful organic production and food safety compliance. This initiative is particularly timely, given the 107% growth in organic produce sales over the past decade and the increasing pressure on conventional farmers to transition to organic practices.Key components of the project include:A series of workshops focusing on organic pest management, soil health, irrigation techniques, and food safety practices.Development and dissemination of bilingual (English and Spanish) educational materials tailored to the linguistic and cultural needs of the region's predominantly Hispanic farming community.Implementation of a peer-to-peer learning model, incorporating on-farm demonstrations and round table discussions.Comprehensive evaluation of the program's impact through pre- and post-workshop surveys and on-site farm visits.The project addresses several challenges faced by regional farmers, including:Limited efficacy and higher costs of organic pest control methodsSoil health management in organic systemsIncreased food safety risks associated with biological soil amendmentsLanguage and cultural barriers in accessing technical informationBy leveraging the expertise of UCCE advisors and specialists, along with partnerships with local farm bureaus, this initiative aims to foster a more robust organic farming community in the region. The project is expected to lead to increased adoption of organic practices, improved food safety compliance, and enhanced economic viability for participating farms.This holistic approach not only targets immediate agricultural needs but also contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the regional food system. Through its focus on historically underserved farmers and emphasis on culturally appropriate education, the project aligns with broader goals of equity and inclusivity in agricultural development.
Animal Health Component
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Research Effort Categories
Basic
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Applied
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Developmental
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Goals / Objectives
This collaborative extension initiative constitutes a proactive response to the mounting challenges faced by organic growers in implementing optimal nutrition management, updated disease prevention protocols, and critically important food safety standards. The project centers on an integrated peer-to-peer learning model, leveraging immersive IPM workshops, conferences, and tailored Spanish-language resources to equip farmers with the latest empirical insights around organic agriculture and evolving food safety governance.The key objectives underlying this cooperative approach are threefold:1. To furnish Southwest desert farmers with cutting-edge, regionally tailored knowledge on organic pesticides, nutritional supplementation, disease prevention, and changing food safety regulations - promoting a culture of continuous improvement anchored in science-based best practices.2. To formulate and disseminate cultural and linguistic educational materials that enhance theadoption of sustainable organic and food safety techniques among Hispanic and other historically underserved growers.3. To evaluate real-world uptake outcomes via on-site surveys and iterate resources in response to user feedback - empowering farmers through responsive, participatory learning.
Project Methods
D. APPROACH/METHOD:Stakeholder Participation in Project Development and Assessment:Throughout the Food Safety and Organic Production Need Assessment survey undertaken within the geographic area, growers were conferred with concerning project design and expressed robust endorsement of the initiative's goals. Guided by recommendations from farmers, in conjunction with various local agriculture and food system partners alongside community-oriented entities, project activities will be customized according to cultural and linguistic attributes to fulfill the organic production and food safety extension needs of growers across the region. These tailored activities encompass:1. Pre-Workshop, Engagement of Organic Farmers:All technical assistance resources and information regarding organic production and food safety-related workshops made available to agricultural producers will be publicized in both English and Spanish through diverse outreach channels. Guided by prior investigative findings within the geographic region, optimal outreach approaches have been identified. Growers barely utilize online resources or digital devices. The vast majority of farmers (~80%) denoted individualized farm visits and on-location demonstrations as ideal contact methods for Extension personnel. Commonly utilized informational channels entail personal networking and communication (75%); one-on-one consultations or training (55%); and print media (35%). Based on these inputs, outreach tactics encompass but are not limited to:Dissemination of informational materials via established growers who are community leaders.Door-to-door canvassing to connect with individual farmers.Round table discussion to gauge the research, education, or extension needs.Additionally, coordination will occur through email announcements, website postings, community partner entities, and brochures distributed at local agricultural supply retail outlets and nonprofit organizations.2. Workshops on Organic Production and Food Safety Rules:Three workshops will be conducted with Spanish interpretation available spanning the 12 months of the project. These will be in-person events hosted at selected community grower's sites, aligning with preferences denoted during the needs assessment. Workshops will examine topics that include optimal nutrition management, irrigation management, disease and integrated pest management methods, decision-making assistant tools, and updated food safety standards. Technical assistance opportunities will be introduced through one-on-one and small-group training. UCCE advisors and specialists from different counties, government officials including the agriculture commissioner, researchers from partnered universities, and organic fertilizer and pesticide industrial representatives will present on organic production and food safety subjects. The content will be the latest updates on research, government regulation including CA-DPR new regulations and new product registration, and industrial organic fertilizers and pesticides and their effectiveness.3. Round table discussion:Round table meetings will be organized, each involving approximately 5-10 farmers and any staffers or family members assisting with farming operations. These localized capacity-building sessions will concentrate on feedback from the workshop and identify immediate research, education, or extension needs. Subject matter will entail updated information; or an advanced understanding of organic issues and problems using a systems-based approach. For every topic, requisite paperwork will be elucidated with farmers receiving templates and informational materials carrying appropriate linguistic translations to coordinate logs.4. Education Materials:Available educational content developed by UCCE, DPR, and other groups will be revised to guarantee up-to-date details and aligned with regional growers' needs. Furthermore, templates supporting agricultural producers in documentation requirements will be created. The entirety of printed materials will be rendered in both English and Spanish.5. Evaluation Plans:Evaluation mechanisms will be employed to gauge the efficacy of workshops, and informal gatherings in aiding farmers' implementation of organic production and food safety practices, with results informing future educational initiatives. Attendance numbers of historically underserved growers at workshops, receipt of one-on-one or on-location technical help, participation in round table meetings, and circulation of informational content will be documented via sign-in forms and logged distribution figures. Subsequent to each event (workshop, individualized assistance, round table meeting), retrospective post-then-pre surveys will be conducted to determine self-reported shifts in knowledge, awareness, capabilities, confidence, perspectives, or behaviors. Feedback on educational resources will also be solicited. Adoption of on-farm organic production and food safety practices will be evaluated through follow-up visits with growers. These farm visits will incorporate practice implementation checklists, informal gap analyses post-instruction, and farmer's insights on the most and least helpful workshop aspects alongside the easiest and most difficult measures to institute.