State to establish climate change consortium

SACRAMENTO
August 2, 2012 9:01pm

California’s specialty crops – most of which are grown in the Central Valley -- account for more than half of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts as well as nearly $7 billion dollars of exports worldwide.

But California’s production of diverse specialty crops is threatened by potential climate-related phenomena, including reduced water supplies, increased plant heat stress, decreased chill hours, shifts in pollinator lifecycles and increased influx of invasive species, the California Department of Food and Agriculture says.

“Addressing these risks to ensure agricultural adaptation to climate change will require a concerted effort and is an objective of California Agricultural Vision: Strategies for Sustainability,” CDFA says.

Climate change and its impacts are frequently discussed in the agricultural community, but there is a need for a strategic evaluation of these risks as well as a compilation of potential solutions.

To address this need, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross is announcing establishment of a consortium of growers, educators, and technical experts in California to study and make recommendations on strategies for climate change adaptation.

The consortium will consist of:

• Four members from different agricultural associations and commodity groups in California

• One grower of each of the following specialty food crops: grapes, strawberries, almonds, tomatoes, walnuts, lettuce, citrus, pistachios, broccoli, and tree fruits.

• One scientist from the University of California system

• One extension specialist from the University of California Cooperative Agriculture

• One scientist from the California State University system

• One member that is a licensed pest control adviser/crop control adviser

• One member who is an Agricultural Commissioner

• One member from the California Resource Conservation Districts

Four two-day workshops are planned: Modesto (November, 2012), Tulare (January, 2013), Napa (March, 2013), and San Diego (May, 2013).

At each session, the consortium members will hear about recent scientific findings, consider information shared by stakeholders, and compile specific practical solutions for the adaptation of California’s specialty crops to climate change, CDFA says.

Recommendations made by the consortium will be made available to the secretary of CDFA and distributed to stakeholders with the goal of helping growers adapt to climate change impacts.

Attendance at these workshops by consortium members is mandatory. Travel expenses for the consortium members to attend the two-day sessions will be reimbursed.

Individuals interested in being considered for the consortium are encouraged to send a brief resume by Sept. 5, to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street, Room 315, Sacramento, CA 95814, Attn: Carolyn Cook or via email carolyn.cook@cdfa.ca.gov.

The intended outcome of this consortium’s work is to help growers prepare for future impacts from climate change through practical, strategic solutions.