Agriculture is a sector that needs to be transformed. We need to cut emissions, improve soil health, and sequester more carbon, all while feeding more people. This episode focuses on how California’s Department of Food and Agriculture is investing in this change. 

Why California? Well, agriculture in the Golden State is a big deal. It’s a $51 billion-a-year industry, that grows over a third of the vegetables and three-quarters of the fruits and nuts in the United States. California is a recognized leader when it comes to climate action, and there’s much to learn from its agriculture policy and practices. So I was delighted to sit down with California’s Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross. Secretary Ross has decades of experience in agriculture and ag policy and is deeply committed to climate action. We talked about everything from dairy digesters and regenerative ag practices to the role California ag innovation plays nationally and globally, and much more. If you’re interested in how the food system is changing to address climate change, there’s a lot here for you. Here we go. 

In today’s episode, we cover:

• [2:25] Recent weather impacts on California farmers 
• [4:20] Secretary Ross’ background, experience & current role
• [6:34] California’s agricultural agenda & its main priorities
• [8:57] The CA Department of Food & Agriculture’s top programs 
• [11:23] The Dairy Digester R&D Program - goals & how it works
• [13:52] Reducing methane emissions from cow burps
• [15:41] The menu of items to reduce emissions
• [16:51] The Biden Administration’s Methane Emissions Reduction Plan
• [18:23] Other success stories or signs of progress 
• [19:40] The biggest barrier to reaching “every farmer and at least one practice on every acre in California”
• [20:49] What is the state aiming to address through its Healthy Soils Program
• [22:49] The target of farms to be reached with 80,000 acres per year 
• [24:58] Some ways that California & the federal government's climate initiatives influence one another
• [27:35] Other initiatives & states that Sec. Ross admires & is learning from
• [29:11] Opportunities within the ag tech space for innovators & investors to start dialing up their attention
• [32:44] Other highlights from Sec. Ross on global impact, International Womens Day & CA’s accolades
• [34:49] What else needs to happen in US agriculture to meet Paris Accord climate commitments & other climate goals
• [36:26] What can listeners do to address climate change through food & agriculture

Resources Mentioned

• California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA)
• CDFA’s Dairy Digester R&D Program
• The U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Plan
• CDFA’s Healthy Soils Program
• Invested in Climate: Saving the planet with seaweed, Symbrosia & Sway, Ep #25
• Invested in Climate: Regenerative Ag with Biodel’s Ben Cloud and Dr. Paul Zorner, Ep #35

Other Related & Notable Resources

• UC Agriculture & Natural Resources’ Verde Innovation Network for Entrepreneurship (Vine)
• The Almond Board of California
• Invested in Climate: Danone & EDF’s partnership to transform agriculture, Ep #44

Connect with Secretary Karen Ross

• Connect with Secretary Ross via CDFA

Connect with Jason Rissman

• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

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