Sustainability
in the College of Agriculture
Overview
The College
of Agriculture has six strategic vision themes. One of those
themes is "Our College is a Model for Resource Management
and Environmental Stewardship." We take very seriously
our responsibility as the land manager for Cal Poly. We are
expanding the name of the College, effective Fall 2006, to
the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.
A partial list of activities, projects, and curriculum related
to sustainability is listed below:
•
Restoration and stabilization of areas surrounding of Brizzolara
Creek, Cal Poly water quality management plan, dairy wastewater
management, Shepard and Drumm Reservoir drainage and management
plan, wetlands project, and vegetative restoration work with
Cal Trans
•
Developed programs aimed at improved grazing practices to
reduce erosion and improve water quality in Chorro Creek and
Morro Bay watersheds
•
Working with the National Estuary Program to exchange land
that we manage in order to create a riparian filter field
adjacent to Walters Creek
•
Established native vegetation in our own vineyards and new
avocado orchard to reduce erosion
•
The Irrigation Training and Research Center group has worked
throughout the state and internationally to develop more efficient
water management systems
•
We offer organic produce for sale to the community. Our organic
farm is run by students and the produce is sold through a
community-supported agriculture project. We also offer natural,
grass-fed beef products for sale through our meats lab.
•
Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium, a group of faculty
working on sustainability projects and instructional activities,
are also working with industry and the community.
•
College forest at Swanton Pacific Ranch has been designated
as a sustainable forest by the International Forest Stewardship
Council
•
Offer an Environmental Management and Protection major and
an Earth Sciences major
•
Extensive list of classes that educate students about sustainability
in production and processing of food crops, as well as forestry
and environmental management
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