History

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.