Strategic Plan 2013

III. Plan Framework

The strategic plan incorporates UC IPM's vision, mission, values, and guiding principles that serve to shape the goals and strategies and direct long-term planning for the organization.

The plan includes six elements:

• Vision: The preferred future for the program.
• Mission: The core focus areas of the program.
• Values: Personal and organizational characteristics the organization is committed to achieving.
• Guiding Principles for UC IPM: Core concepts that serve as a foundation for the efforts of the program.
• Goals: Directions for change.
• Strategies: Specific initiatives that will be used to implement the plan.

Only the goals and strategies are updated in the 2013 plan; the vision, mission, values, and guiding principles remain consistent with those from 2006.

Integrated Pest Management Definition

Integrated pest management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural or maintenance practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and nontarget organisms, and the environment.

Vision Statement

The Steering Committee acknowledged the need for a public vision statement that expresses the program's desired outcome overall: Making ecosystem-based integrated pest management THE way Californians manage pests.

In addition, UC IPM will pursue several specific elements of the desired future state for the organization:

• Increasing support to natural resources integrated pest management while continuing work in urban and agricultural integrated pest management
• Providing statewide, nationwide and worldwide leadership for developing and adopting IPM practices
• Realigning UC IPM to accommodate changing circumstances in pest management

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Mission Statement

UC IPM's mission statement is derived from language in the originating legislation. In 2006 the statement was updated slightly to reflect changing program priorities, and the revised statement stands today.

The mission of UC IPM is to:

• Increase utilization of ecologically based integrated pest management programs
• Provide leadership in IPM including building coalitions and partnerships that link with communities and public agencies
• Increase the predictability and effectiveness of pest management techniques
• Develop science-based pest management programs that are economically and environmentally sustainable and socially appropriate
• Protect human health and the environment by reducing risks caused by pests or pest management practices

Values

The following values are core to the program's success and are embedded in all products and practices:

• Communication
• Trust and mutual support
• Effective problem solving
• Collaboration
• Diversity, appreciation, and respect
• Commitment to quality work
• Objectivity
• Intellectual rigor

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Guiding Principles for UC IPM

The following important principles continue to guide the work of UC IPM:

• Science-based

  The information developed and disseminated through the program is grounded in sound science.

• Ecological

  UC IPM promotes activities that reflect an understanding of the inter-relationships of biological systems and the environment.

• Participatory

  UC IPM relies on the active participation, interaction, and coordination of its staff, advisors, agency partners, and key client groups to ensure that the state's pest management needs are addressed.

• Multi-disciplinary

  UC IPM values and embraces a variety of allied disciplines—including entomology, weed management, vertebrate management, plant pathology, and nematology—to form a holistic approach to managing pests.

• Effective, Practical, and User-friendly

  UC IPM products and services are useful in the end user's daily life.

• Responsive

  UC IPM is flexible and agile in responding to emerging pest problems and developing products and services that take into account clients' needs and preferences.

• High quality

  UC IPM engages university researchers and produces quality research, outreach, and educational materials in a variety of media.

• Innovative and Adaptable

  UC IPM seeks new and creative approaches to make its products and services useful to clients.

• Based Upon a Systems Approach

  UC IPM maintains a broad perspective on issues related to pest management research, pest management practices, social issues, and economic needs.

• Continually Raising Awareness

  UC IPM increases general awareness of the concept, practice, and value of integrated pest management.

• Accountable and Transparent

  UC IPM conducts its work openly and assumes responsibility for providing evidence to stakeholders and funding agencies that its programs are effective and conform to policies and requirements.

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ANR and National Policy Contexts

UC IPM does not operate in a vacuum. Guiding its mission are statewide and national goals and priorities for pest management, respectively defined in ANR's strategic vision [1] and in the National Roadmap for Integrated Pest Management [2].

UC IPM supports ANR academics in meeting statewide pest management objectives. The priority components of pest management that ANR research and extension programs need to address in the near future are described by strategic initiatives in support of the strategic vision:

• Endemic and invasive pests and diseases
• Improved water quality, quantity, and security
• Enhanced competitive, sustainable food systems
• Sustainable natural ecosystems
• Safe and secure food supplies
• Healthy families and communities

While managing endemic and invasive pests is a key initiative UC IPM is addressing, integrated pest management plays important roles in other initiatives as well.

The National Roadmap for Integrated Pest Management is a document designed to provide overarching guidance to pest management issues in production agriculture, natural resources, recreational environmental, and residential and public areas. National IPM program goals include:

• Improving economic benefits related to adopting IPM practices
• Reducing potential health risks from pests and using IPM practices
• Minimizing adverse environmental effects from pests and using IPM practices

UC IPM's strategic plan addresses each of these goals in its mission statement and in its individual goals.

The roadmap stresses reducing risks as opposed to reducing pesticide use. UC IPM's strategic plan supports risk reduction:

• Through improving decision-making and reducing economic risks
• By incorporating reduced risk pesticides into existing IPM programs
• By developing and delivering alternative nonchemical approaches
• By providing multi-media presentations of information and resources

UC IPM's strategic plan is committed to evaluating and improving the adoption of methodologies to reduce risk as defined by the roadmap.

[1] ANR Strategic Vision 2025.

[2] National Roadmap for Integrated Pest Management, May 2004 (PDF).