International Agricultural Programs

University of California, Riverside, is part of the nine-campus University of California System, one of the world's largest and most renowned centers of higher education.

International activities at the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside), have been carried out by the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and University Extension. Historically, the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences has a strong international agricultural research reputation, developed over the last 91 years, in tropical and subtropical agriculture, ornamentals/nursery production, desert agriculture and irrigated agriculture. Within University Extension, the Department of International Education Programs over the past 20 years has become one of the nation's leading providers of programs to international audiences.

Blending the strong international expertise in agricultural research programs with its broad international experience in providing educational programs, UC Riverside is able to be an effective global campus and serve research, education, extension and development needs around the world.

UC Riverside's College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is strengthened by combining the physical, biological, biomedical and agricultural sciences under one umbrella. It is the home of 3,000 undergraduates and 525 graduate students.

The College and its faculty have been active in many international agricultural programs in countries such as Mexico, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, China, India, Pakistan, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Chad, Czechoslovakia, South Africa, Columbia, Ecuador, Israel, Japan, Peru, Chile, Australia and Russia.

Some special features of the College are as follows:

The Citrus Research Center and Agricultural Experiment Station is now a research unit of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Established in 1906, it is well known throughout the world for its research in citrus and avocados. The Agricultural Experiment Station is also affiliated with the agricultural programs of UC Davis and UC Berkeley and the statewide Cooperative Extension Service through the Office of the Vice President of the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Cooperative Extension bridges the gap between basic research conducted in the campus laboratories and the individuals, organizations and communities who are the end users of research.

The Biotechnology Center serves the college faculty in conducting state-of-the-art agricultural, environmental science, biomedical, infomatics and biotechnological research and linking them to private companies.

The Institute of Desert Agriculture supports desert agriculture through the selection and development of alternative crops and varieties, new crops and environmentally and economically sound management strategies related to livestock, pests, soil and water.

The Center for Exotic Pest Research focuses UC Riverside's unmatched resources in entomology, nematology and plant pathology on coping with exotic pests in the major areas of risk assessment, early detection, control and eradication.

The Insectary and Quarantine Facilities serve research efforts related to integrated pest management and biological control of insects and nematodes.

UC Riverside Germplasm Collections form an invaluable reservoir of genetic diversity of agriculturally important crops. The UC Riverside Citrus Research Center and the USDA National Germplasm Repository for Citrus and Dates is the home of one of the world's largest citrus variety and date germplasm collections. Other germplasm collections include wheat, cowpea, jojoba, guayule, turfgrass, avocado and asparagus.

The United States Salinity Laboratory is the only research facility in the U.S. devoted specifically to the study and amelioration of salinity and pesticide-related agricultural and environmental problems.

Agricultural Experiment Station and Agricultural Operations manages three field stations to support field studies of UC scientists. These stations are located adjacent to the campus, in Moreno Valley and in the Coachella Valley.

University Extension is the continuing education branch of UC Riverside. Over the past 20 years, University Extension has provided a strong international professional and student training program, serving more than 35,000 individuals from more than 100 countries. The Intensive English Program, which began in 1975, is the 11th largest English as a Second Language program in the United States and one of the largest in the western half of the U.S. In addition to English language programs are intensive professional programs which provide, in a short period of time, a broad understanding of major concepts and techniques and practical work applications and current developments in specific professions/fields. Programs are offered in a broad range of fields, such as Agriculture, Business Management for International Executives, Environmental Management, Geographic Information Systems, International Banking and Finance, Marketing, and Law.

The campus International Program in Agriculture is a collaborative effort of the Dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and the Dean of University Extension. The primary contact is Dr. Seymour D. Van Gundy, Dean Emeritus of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. The office is housed in the University of California Extension Center.