Inspection Services Blog

New Technical Advisory Subcommittee Members Appointed

We are pleased to welcome Lisa Hunt and Ben Faber to the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) Technical Advisory Subcommittee (TASC). We are also happy to announce that Steve Petrie has been reappointed to TASC. TASC is a group of scientific and technical experts who review and recommend projects for FREP funding.

Reappointed and new members of the Technical Advisory Subcommittee include (left to right) Steve Petrie, Lisa Hunt and Ben Faber.

Steve Petrie

Dr. Petrie’s professional experience related to fertilizer management includes four years as an Extension Soil Fertility Specialist at the University of Idaho, 13 years as an Agronomist and Supervisor of Agronomic Services at Unocal Agriproducts, two years as a Research Manager for Martin Marietta Technologies, and 13 years as Professor and Director of the Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center for Oregon State University. 

Dr. Petrie is representing Yara North America, where he serves as the Director of Agronomic Services. Dr. Petrie and his team at Yara are strongly committed to minimizing the impact of fertilizer use on the environment.

Lisa Hunt

Dr. Hunt has more than 22 years of experience working on freshwater environmental protection and aquatic ecology in the consulting, academic and nonprofit sectors. Dr. Hunt has led many interdisciplinary projects at the interface of agriculture and water resources and will bring unique expertise to TASC.

Dr. Hunt works for American Rivers, where she provides scientific guidance for protection and conservation of freshwater resources in California, focusing on water quality, agricultural pollution impacts and water resource management.  

Ben Faber

Dr. Faber has more than 30 years of experience working in agricultural research and education. Some of his research expertise includes irrigation, nutrient, pest and disease management in avocado and citrus groves. He also covers other subtropical and deciduous crops including litchi, longan, blueberries, cherimoya and passion fruit. 

Dr. Faber is representing the University of California Cooperative Extension as a Soils, Water and Subtropical Horticulture Advisor in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.


For more information about TASC and its role in the FREP grant process, check out: https://blogs.cdfa.ca.gov/FREP/index.php/the-frep-grant-process/


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