History

Professor Gliessman conducting research in the greenhouse.

PICA was founded in 2002 by Stephen R. Gliessman, Alfred E. Heller Professor (emeritus) of Agroecology in UC Santa Cruz's Environmental Studies Department. Steve also created a two unit PICA Seminar class that was offered through the Environmental Studies Department (ENVS 91F/191F), where students were introduced to concepts of community and agroecology in the context of sustainability.

PICA has historically been a part of the Sustainable Living Center (SLC) with the Community Agroecology Network, which is the organization that provides fair trade coffee in many of UCSC's dining facilities.