SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - Last week on August 8, the California Strawberry Commission (CSC) hosted the 10^th Anniversary Cal Poly Strawberry Center Field Day. This event marked a decade of collaboration between CSC and Cal Poly, showcasing advancements in sustainable strawberry farming that benefit growers, farmworkers, students, consumers, the environment, and local communities in California.

“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. It’s a collective effort to address the challenges farmers encounter every day,” said Allen Davis, Chairman of the board at CSC. “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.”

Over the last 10 years, the Strawberry Center has expanded significantly, 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 a press release, the center 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. Additionally, staff and students have won more than 30 awards.

New research findings and tools were presented and displayed by students, researchers, and CSC staff, including:

• Non-chemical 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,” said Rick Tomlinson, President, CSC. “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.”

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