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Category Archives: Climate Change

Executive Fellow Sarah Ansell Leaves Lasting Impact at CDFA

July 24, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA is proud to recognize Executive Fellow Sarah Ansell as she concludes a year of public service marked by leadership and a commitment to advancing California agriculture. From supporting the department’s climate initiatives and preparing Secretary Karen Ross for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) to helping manage complex legislative issues during a transition and playing a key role …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Environment | Leave a comment

CDFA intern inspired by agriculture’s potential to be part of solution to climate crisis 

July 20, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

By Alanna Laverty, CDFA Intern As I prepare for my final year of undergraduate education, I am spending the summer interning for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). I am a Global Studies major at UC Santa Barbara and I am interested in global climate change, environment, and sustainability. I chose to intern at CDFA because of the …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Conservation, Environment | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Secretary Ross celebrates biological alternatives in agriculture at 2026 Salinas Biological Summit

June 26, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and CDFA staff attended the 2026 Salinas Biological Summit in Salinas June 23-24, joining attendees from around the world to discuss the transition of agriculture from traditional chemicals to biological alternatives, such as for pest management and fertilizing materials. In her opening remarks, Secretary Ross welcomed participants and highlighted the power of partnerships and shared purpose. …

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Posted in CDFA Inspection Services, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Environment, Fertilizer, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), State Board of Food and Agriculture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

From Orchard to Classroom: Clendenen’s Cider Works Cultivates Community Through Local Food

June 19, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

For more than a century, Clendenen’s Cider Works has been rooted in Humboldt County agriculture. Today, Clif Clendenen carries on his family’s legacy by growing fresh apples, producing local cider, and embracing sustainable farming practices on his five-acre orchard. Through a California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Farm to School grant, Clif is also helping bring locally grown, nutritious …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Conservation, Drought, Environment, Farm Labor, Farm to School, Food Access, Growing California, Healthy soils, Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

New Report: “CDFA’s Contributions to California’s Agricultural Excellence”

February 9, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

By Karen Ross, SecretaryCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture We work hard to make California a better place to live because of what we grow and how we grow it. At the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), we work to build and safeguard resilient food systems – including programs that improve nutrition for students and extend additional benefits …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Alternative Fuels, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Food Access, Food Safety, Invasive Species, Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

California Welcomes New Zealand Prime Minister to Highlight Partnerships on Climate and Energy

July 16, 2024   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joins Governor Newsom to highlight partnerships on climate, energy and more CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joined Governor Newsom and Cabinet colleagues last week in welcoming New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in San Francisco. New Zealand and California share strong partnerships around climate action including transportation electrification, emission trading, clean energy, nature-based solutions, climate smart agriculture, …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Trade | Leave a comment

USDA Contributes to the Fifth National Climate Assessment, Highlighting Impacts on Ag, Forests and Rural Communities and Adaptation Needs

November 14, 2023   Office of Public Affairs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced its important contributions to the Fifth U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA5) demonstrating a commitment to understanding and addressing the effects of climate change. “Our farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners are on the front lines of climate change. USDA’s role in the NCA5 exemplifies our commitment to supporting these individuals and communities, especially …

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Posted in Climate Change | Leave a comment

California Announces Funding for Projects to Conserve Agricultural Land and Fight Climate Change

April 28, 2023   Office of Public Affairs

From the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom Program has awarded $373 million to date, conserving more than 194,000 acres of agricultural land across California Grants prioritized for projects that benefit California Native American tribes, beginning farmers and ranchers, U.S. Military Veterans, and farmers and ranchers in low-income communities, among others California has announced funding for the next round of the Sustainable Agricultural …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture | Leave a comment

Climate smart ag collaboration between California and the Netherlands

November 30, 2022   Office of Public Affairs

California and the Netherlands continue their longstanding partnership on Climate Smart Agriculture, first established in 2015 with a visit by CDFA Secretary Karen Ross to the Netherlands. The two governments share opportunities for innovation within the food sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance a circular agricultural economy, and further on-farm practices for sustainability. The Netherlands-California Sustainable Dairy Summit this …

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Posted in Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Dairy, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Report: Climate extremes compound the severity of California’s continuing drought

November 22, 2022   Office of Public Affairs

Estimated $2 billion in GDP and 19,414 jobs lost to drought in 2022 Any way you look at it – precipitation, temperature, the amount of stored water available – the past three years have been the driest period on record, and one of the hottest, with roughly 68% of the 20th century average precipitation. Researchers estimate that in 2022 alone, …

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Posted in Climate Change, Drought | 1 Comment