and the Mediterranean
Programs, Projects and Links
Our Mission
Because of today's more intense competition for resources, continuing
environmental concerns and broader global linkages, public policy decisions
impacting California agriculture are more complex than ever before. The UC
Agricultural Issues Center's mission is to provide broadly-based and
objective information about these issues and their significance for
California's economy and natural resources.
For over 20 years, the Center has served as a forum where important and
often controversial trends and issues involving California
agriculture---ranging from water transfers to international trade---have
been identified, studied and debated. The Center makes its findings
available to policymakers, to government agencies, to interest groups and to
individuals through a continuing series of conferences, workshops, in-depth
and popular publications, videos and its website.
Our priorities
- International trade and globalization of agriculture.
- Advances in productivity and technology in agriculture.
- Linkages between natural resources, the environment and agriculture.
- Rural-urban interactions, particularly land use issues.
- Agricultural personnel and labor issues.
- Commodity market and agribusiness issues.
The California Mediterranean Consortium
The Cal/Med Consortium was established in December of 2005 to initiate, coordinate, and disseminate research on relevant economic issues related to key commodity groups that have traditionally been understudied and yet contribute significantly to the economies of California and the southern EU countries. These commodities include: olives and olive oil; tree nuts; grapes and wine; raisins; vegetables - processed and fresh; citruses - processed and fresh, and stone fruits. The formal name of the project is “Policies and Economics of Mediterranean Agriculture Products in the Global Marketplace” but for ease of communication, it is referred to as the “Cal/Med Consortium.”