Cuts in California state funding have led to the closure of the Genetic Resources Conservation Program at UC Davis. This seems terribly short-sighted of Gov. Schwarzenneger, who is being talked about as a possible Secretary of Energy under Pres. Obama.
Terminated by the Gubernator? I am not so sure. Cal Qualset, the founding director of the program, talked about this at the Harlan II conference. I think he suggested that it had more to do with the University administration. I got the impression that they wanted to free up resources for hipper things than old aggieculture. Hey, why would the University of California care about genetic resources? Uhmm, wait a minute….
My apologies to the Gubernator!
This is a continuation of UC policies. Just a few years back, they closed many of the local cooperatives serving urban areas. Eventually, huanglongbing will surface in backyard citrus as a result of unmonitored nursery practices and much hue and cry will be unleashed.
Schwarzenegger as Energy Secretary? Doubtful, highly doubtful.
A case of California scheming?