Activities
To view our upcoming events, please visit the current Monthly Announcements Page
For our most recent happenings, please go to our News Page
Current and Ongoing Programs
Climate Smart Agriculture
Demonstrations and resources for farmers, conservation professionals and the public. As part of our climate smart agriculture activities, we are involved in:
UC Climate Action Initiative through summer 2025
CDFA Healthy Soils Program at J. Lohr and Tablas Creek Vineyards through 2020,
at the Cal Poly Lemon Orchard and BeeSweet Citrus through spring 2023, and
on the rangelands of Swanton Pacific Ranch through spring 2024.
Carbon Farm Planning workshops with Carbon Cycle Institute and the COMET Farm Team.
Sustainable Ag Minor
A minor in Sustainable Agriculture is open to all Cal Poly students. In it, students approach modern agricultural problems from a holistic perspective, emphasizing agricultural planning integrated with ecological principles. Through experience in sustainable agricultural practices, students learn about a farm in the context of an agro-ecosystem: a system whose processes and relationships can be manipulated to allow production with fewer adverse environmental impacts and external inputs. Students develop knowledge and skills involving holistic management, crop production, and adaptive decision-making in a hands-on environment. The minor is currently advised by Dr. Ashraf Tubeileh in the Plant Sciences Department, and co-advised by Dr. Claire Balint at the Center for Sustainability.
To view minor requirements within the Cal Poly 2022-2026 Course Catalog*, please CLICK HERE
* Requirements for the Sustainable Ag Minor are currently being updated for the Quarter-2-Semester conversion in 2026. If you are a Cal Poly student interested in pursuing a minor in sustainable agriculture, please send an email to Dr. Tubeileh or Dr. Balint to schedule an appointment.
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF)
Seed grants and support for student projects with a focus on environmental/ economic/ social sustainability. For more information and application process CLICK HERE.
Sustainable Ag Lecture Series (SALS)
Pre-pandemic, we hosted guest speakers on timely topics once per quarter. This was a great way to learn about new things happening in food and agriculture and to network with others having similar interests. Since 2021, we have hosted speakers both virtually and in person on an ad hoc basis. If you are interested in partnering with CFS to host a guest speaker or event, please email: cfs@calpoly.edu
Announcements
Our monthly ‘updates’, delivered to your inbox, are a great way to keep abreast of activities happening on campus and around the Central Coast in the realm of sustainable food and ag systems. These updated lists of activities also include links to find more information on special events and opportunities around San Luis Obispo County, the state of California, and online.
Subscribe by emailing us at cfs@calpoly.edu
Past Programs
The Center for Sustainability has played an important role in bringing many innovative concepts, models and programs to Cal Poly and the San Luis Obispo region over two decades of service. We are very grateful to all of the many people we have worked with in these collaborations – and who are still working hard to create a more environmentally-friendly and socially responsible food system. We would particularly like to thank the many funders who have helped to support programs such as these:
Cal Poly Compost Project
Cal Poly Land Project
Cal Poly Organic Farm & CSA Program
Cal Poly Permaculture Design Series
Cal Poly Sustainability Learning Objectives (and assessments)
Campus Sustainability Charrettes
Central Coast Foodshed Guide
Central Coast Grown and its regional Buy Fresh Buy Local initiatives
City Farm SLO (formation as project of Central Coast Grown)
EcoFarm Alumni Gatherings
Farmer Experiential Education and Development (FEED) Program
Market Gardening Series
Resilient Food Systems Conference
Soil Health Dimensions educational series
Sustainable Ag Resource Consortium (SARC)
Sustainable Agriculture Pest Management Conference (PMC)
Sustainable Stewards Internship Program
SLOcavore artisan food series
SLO County Farmer’s Guild
SLO Food System Coalition (founding member)
Slow Food SLO and Slow Money SLO collaborations
Urban Farming living wall project
Taste of the Future Dinners
Thank you !
