The Vantage Point



Glenda Humiston 

Vice President

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources 

This week the Legislature and Gov. Newsom concluded the 2026 legislative session and reached agreements on multiple pieces of legislation and final compromises for the 2026-27 state budget. I am happy to share that UC ANR is receiving an 8.6% increase in ongoing funding alongside the campuses. The Legislature also approved AB 1486, which would release Prop. 4 funding for Agricultural Experiment Station research.

Additionally, UC ANR joined partners to advocate for autonomous ag equipment reform; while our push did not lead to a legislative and budget agreement, we thank our partners and colleagues for their support and look forward to continuing this work next year. A compromise was reached for SB 895, the CA Science and Research Bond Act, which will now set a $7.5 billion bond for the March 2028 ballot. I would like to thank Gov. Newsom, Budget Chairs John Laird and Jesse Gabriel, Assembly and Senate leadership, and everyone at UC who elevated the importance of investing in research, education and extension.

In other good news, last week we announced that UC ANR, Valley Vision, Sierra College and other partners were collectively awarded $7.3 million through the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative to launch the Capital Biomanufacturing Alliance (CAPBIO), aimed at boosting the biomanufacturing industry in the greater Sacramento area. UC ANR will lead the production infrastructure component of this exciting collaboration.

With $4.2 million of the total award, we will accelerate development of The Plant, a state-of-the-art center that will be the first of its kind in California and, to my knowledge, the U.S. The Plant will integrate cutting-edge agri-food and biomanufacturing facilities and foster partnerships among academia, industry and government to advance and commercialize innovations in agriculture and the bioeconomy.

Earlier this month, Valley Vision CEO Evan Schmidt and I had the pleasure of hosting in Sacramento the latest meetings of the California Stewardship Network (CSN) Exchange. Given CSN’s emphasis on regionally focused solutions for California communities, UC ANR had a lot to share with this gathering of civic leaders about our locally based initiatives.

On Aug. 4, UC ANR Chief Innovation Officer Gabe Youtsey presented on The Plant, and on the following day, I was proud to introduce several outstanding UC ANR leaders who outlined how CSN Exchange attendees can partner with us. Aaron Wilcher, UC Cooperative Extension community and economic development (CED) advisor for the Eastern Sierra, provided an excellent example of how our CED team functions as a vital catalyst throughout the state. After listing the challenges facing his unique and geographically isolated area, Aaron highlighted how UCCE is adding essential capacity as a technical assistance provider and supporting the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments as a key convener.

UC ANR Policy Institute Interim Director Anne Megaro laid out the vision for the new Policy Institute as a conduit between scientists and policymakers, and then Lauren Cartwright, UCCE area director for Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties, outlined the benefits of our “area director” model. Area directors connect community-driven ideas with UC expertise, regional collaborations, and the essential resources and structures that can bring them to fruition. My great thanks to Lauren, Anne, Aaron and Gabe for representing some of the best of what UC ANR has to offer for California’s prosperity and sustainability!

In the crucial quest to apply and extend the latest research for the benefit of our communities, we must seek experts and partners from every corner of the globe. On Aug. 10-11, I was honored to attend joint meetings of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Korean Institute of Science and Technology (a research institute based in Seoul) at the Livermore Valley Open Campus.

It was invigorating and inspiring to hear from scientists – working on both sides of the Pacific – on a wide variety of topics, including advancements in hydrogen power, robotics, AI and climate science. Alongside UC ANR’s Gabe Youtsey and Josh Viers and Erin Hestir of UC Merced, I participated in a breakout session focused on agriculture. I want to thank the moderators, Cody Madsen of Livermore Lab and Nakian Kim of the Korean institute, for leading an excellent discussion on a host of potential ag applications.

Finally, I encourage everyone to attend at least one of the upcoming webinars commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15). Organized by our News and Information Outreach in Spanish team and the Latinx & Friends Affinity Group, the series is themed around the “Three Sisters” – corn, beans and squash – which symbolize collective strength, connection and growth. I hope you’ll take this opportunity to learn more about Latino identity, outreach, resilience and enduring contributions to agriculture and community nutrition. Their efforts – as well as yours – are deeply appreciated by all who strive for a future where everyone thrives!