Strawberry growers, shippers, processors, researchers and agricultural stakeholders gathered on Aug. 8 for the 10th Anniversary Cal Poly Strawberry Center Field Day.
The showcase is the largest research and education event for the California strawberry industry, according to a news release. This anniversary event marks a decade of collaboration between the California Strawberry Commission and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, showcasing advancements in sustainable strawberry farming that benefit growers, farmworkers, students, consumers, the environment and local communities in the state.
The center has expanded during the past 10 years, evolving from a focus solely on plant pathology to an organization with 13 staff members and three disciplines including plant pathology, entomology and automation, according to the release. It has evaluated over 1,500 strawberry genotypes for disease resistance, trained 147 students to be future leaders in strawberry production, diagnostics and research, and secured more than $7.7 million in external competitive funding to continue its work to benefit growers.
Additionally, staff and students have won more than 30 awards, including the IPM Achievement Award in 2022, the highest honor given by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
“Seeing the advancements and research presented at field day shows how committed everyone is — from the students working in the fields to the staff managing the projects,” Allen Davis, board chairman for the California Strawberry Commission, said in the release. “It’s a collective effort to address the challenges farmers encounter every day. The collaboration between CSC and the Strawberry Center is crucial for advancing sustainable and efficient farming practices to ensure the strawberry industry continues to thrive.”
New research findings and tools in the areas of automation, pathology and entomology were presented and displayed by students, researchers and California Strawberry Commission staff, including:
- Nonchemical pest management solutions including the use of UV-C light, which has been shown to reduce powdery mildew in strawberries when applied at night.
- Automations to improve workplace efficiency and safety, including the Hoop House Arch Remover, Laser and Mechanical Runner Cutters, Lygus Bug Vacuum and Heated Hole Puncher, now commercially available.
- Solutions for controlling and mitigating soilborne pathogens including salt and moisture control and the development of elite plant breeding lines.
- Investigations into soilborne pathogens and diseases such Fusarium wilt race 2 and Macrophomina on strawberry plants.
“Investing in cutting-edge research and advanced automation solutions is vital for the future of strawberry farming,” California Strawberry Commission President Rick Tomlinson said in the release. “The groundbreaking research being done at the strawberry center over the last 10 years has been instrumental in equipping our growers with the tools needed to succeed in today’s dynamic, agricultural landscape and support a sustainable future not only for the farmers and farmworkers but for their community, the land and the planet.”
California’s strawberry farmers are among the most progressive and environmentally conscious growers, and they continue to lead, evolve and implement sustainable farming practices and ways to grow strawberries, which includes the research and innovations coming from the strawberry center, the release said.
The Cal Poly Strawberry Center was formed in 2014 as a partnership between the California Strawberry Commission and the university aimed at increasing the sustainability of California’s $3.4 billion strawberry industry through research and education.
