Section 577 Of Article 9. University Of California Center For Pest Research From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 1. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 9.
577
. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) There is a need to develop and apply ecologically based pest
management alternatives that are environmentally sound to prevent,
control, and eradicate pests.
(b) The continuation of pest control technology in agriculture
which relies primarily on synthetic chemicals may be impractical,
given the dwindling number of newly registered chemicals, increasing
resistance of numerous pests to pesticides, public concern about
pesticide residues, and potential threats posed to environmental
quality and human health.
(c) To be adequately prepared for existing and new infestations of
agricultural pests, California needs to have a means of coordinating
and evaluating long-term basic and applied pest research, including
the impact of prevention, control, and eradication efforts upon
public health and the environment.
(d) The state should facilitate, promote, and support
collaborative pest research programs and projects by its agencies,
public and private universities, the federal government, and the
agricultural industry that work toward developing environmentally
sound, ecologically based pest management techniques.
(e) In order to strengthen pest prevention, control, and
eradication efforts, it is the intent of the Legislature that an
administrative structure be created within the University of
California which, in cooperation with California's public and private
universities, the state, the agricultural industry, and persons
experienced with environmentally sound, ecologically based pest
management alternatives, advances pest research and formulates
innovative solutions that better safeguard the environment and public
health.
Toward these ends, the Legislature requests that the Regents of
the University of California establish a pest research center which
will review and prioritize pest-related research activities conducted
through the university. It is the intent of the Legislature that
University of California programs engaged in pest research shall,
when applicable, follow the research priorities established by the
center. The center is encouraged to develop research priorities in
cooperation with other public and private universities and with
state, federal, and county agencies, including, but not limited to,
the Department of Food and Agriculture, State Department of Health
Services, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, county
agricultural commissioners, United States Department of Agriculture,
National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the
agricultural industry, and with environmental and public and
occupational health groups.