HAS Associate Professor Laura Condon Co-Chairs President Robbins' Commission on the Future of Agriculture & Food Production in a Drying Climate

From the UArizona Office of the President 

In December 2022, President Robbins commissioned a report on the future of agriculture and food production in a drying climate to address the threats posed by a drying climate. Yesterday, August 30, the Presidential Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Joaquin Ruiz and Laura Condon, issued the committee's report. The report provides a path forward for the University of Arizona and our state, which the authors have described as a “critical contributor to national food security.”

The report's five recommendations include:

1. Creation of an Institute for Sustainable Food, Water and Agriculture Systems (ISFWAS)
2. Creation of a Center for Soil Health (CSH)
3. Creation of technology and innovation hubs at the Maricopa (MAC), Yuma (YAC) and Campus Agricultural Centers (CAC), and Biosphere 2 (B2) 
4. Expansion of partnerships with Tribal agriculture
5. Establishment of new and strengthening of existing collaborations with institutions in arid regions around the world 

The commission has been charged with exploring "next steps" based on these recommendations with the goal of positioning the University of Arizona to address the critical challenges identified in the report.

Congratulations, Laura, on contributing to this great work!