Dr. Lee Altier

Professor 
College of Agriculture, California State University
LAltier@csuchico.edu

Prof. Lee Altier grew up in Seattle and received undergraduate degrees in anthropology and horticulture.  He farmed and did agricultural extension work in Washington State, New Mexico, and Nepal.  He received MS and PhD degrees in horticulture from Cornell University studying the design of ecologically sound cropping systems.  For three and a half years, besides growing collard greens and exploring swamps in south Georgia, he helped coordinate a multidisciplinary team of scientists at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Tifton, Georgia in the development of REMM, a computer model to simulate riparian ecosystem management.  Since 1995, Dr. Altier has been teaching and doing research in vegetable production and agroecology at California State University, Chico.  He instigated and directed the Organic Vegetable Project and Aquaponic Unit at the Chico State University Farm.  His primary areas of interest are sustainable cropping systems and food security.  During summer months, he frequently leads student international programs in Asia.