California Department of Food and Agriculture

The board meeting agenda includes a departmental update and two main presentations. One presentation focuses on the California Water Plan by the Department of Water Resources. The second presentation covers the SB 54 Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, presented by CalRecycle, followed by a panel discussion on SB 54 and its impacts on the agricultural sector. The meeting also features a panel discussion regarding the California agricultural economy with representatives from California State University Bakersfield and the University of California Davis.

This document introduces the California Climate Resilience Strategy for Agriculture, an action-oriented framework designed to address the challenges of climate change. The strategy outlines four main goals: improving farmers' bottom lines, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting economic development, and providing health and environmental benefits. It is organized around three key pillars: supporting a thriving and resilient food sector, protecting natural systems critical to agriculture, and encouraging the adoption of resilient agricultural practices. The plan also incorporates equity principles to ensure inclusive access to resources and support vulnerable communities, aiming for healthy, vital rural communities and a sustainable food chain.

This Climate Resilience Strategy outlines a shared path for California agriculture, aiming to strengthen agricultural communities, safeguard natural systems, and protect the sector's vitality. It is structured around three core pillars: supporting a thriving and resilient food sector, protecting natural systems critical to agriculture, and encouraging resilient agricultural practices. The strategy details ongoing efforts and identifies future needs to enable California agriculture to thrive amidst climate change, serving as a model for innovation and stewardship for future generations.

The meeting includes a departmental update and introductory remarks from UC Merced. Key agenda items feature an overview presentation on AES and F3 Innovate, followed by a panel discussion on experimental smart farm research involving topics such as soil health, aquifer recharge, air quality, and AgTech innovation. A second panel focuses on secure water future research, including reports on drought impacts, agricultural climate trends, and crop transitions. Additionally, the Board will receive a presentation regarding the update of SprayDays from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and participate in a tour of the UC Merced AES Experimental Smart Farm.

The California Climate Resilience Strategy for Agriculture is an action-oriented document focused on integrating climate-smart practices to address the challenges of climate change within the agricultural sector. It aims to make agriculture part of the climate solution, with four main goals: improving farmers' profitability, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fostering economic development, and delivering health and environmental benefits. The strategy is structured around three key pillars: supporting a thriving and resilient food sector (encompassing economy, water, workforce, animal health, and energy), protecting natural systems vital to agriculture (including land use, biodiversity, and pest management), and promoting the adoption of resilient agricultural practices (focusing on air quality, soil health, and sustainable ranching/dairy operations). It also emphasizes equity principles to ensure broad access to resources and protect vulnerable communities, aiming to foster thriving rural communities and a healthy agricultural economy.