California 100 Releases Future of Agriculture and Food Systems Policy and Future Scenarios Report

The Future of Agriculture and Food Systems

California occupies a unique and significant role in international and national food production and distribution. In 2020, the United States was the largest exporter of food with $124 billion in exports—10 percent of total global exports. In fact, the U.S. is the largest global producer of almonds, pistachios, milk, and poultry, with much of this production coming from California. Since its formation as a state nearly 175 years ago, California has extended its sphere of influence in agricultural production through large-scale irrigation projects and easily available cheap labor. In addition to producing food for its own residents—who comprise 12 percent of the total U.S. population—California produces and distributes the highest volume of fruits, tree nuts, berries, melons, vegetables, and milk for distribution in other statesof all U.S. states. Furthermore, California has been on the cutting edge of adopting new technologies and implementing early innovations ranging from the development of new crops to the mechanization of harvests by innovative tractor designs. 

However, the climate and labor conditions that enabled California to become a national food leader are rapidly changing. Running a commercial farm has become an increasingly marginal business for many farming families, as climate challenges across the state include multi-year droughts, intense wildfires, dwindling water supplies, and potential future “megafloods.” This report examines various opportunities to expand agriculture and the many challenges confronting the industry in the short term and long term. 

“For decades, California has been a cornucopia of food production feeding Californians, Americans, and many others around the world. We are now facing a novel future of system-wide water shortages, warmer year-round temperatures, and other food production stressors including wildfire and megaflood disasters,” said  Anastasia Telesetsky, author of the Future of California’s Agriculture Food Systems report and Professor at California State Polytechnic San Luis Obispo’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. “California’s food producers will need to adapt to these system-wide changes. With this challenge will come new innovative ways of feeding ourselves including indoor farming and alternative protein production that will hopefully offer new opportunities to build a more equitable and sustainable food system.”  

From Research to Action: The California 100 Roadmap

These California 100 reports on policies and future scenarios are the first step in a multi-stage process that is designed to inspire and engage Californians—from a variety of sectors and all walks of life—to build a stronger future. In the summer of 2022, California 100 expert and intergenerational Commission will conduct a series of listening sessions throughout the state, to solicit feedback on the ideas generated by our research and to generate additional big and bold ideas for consideration by public and private agencies, as well as by everyday Californians. Insights will also be generated from the policy innovation projects throughout the state that cover a variety of topics, and our deep engagement on questions of science and technology as they relate to a variety of issues, including transportation and urban planning.

In early 2023, the initiative will take these various policy ideas and scenarios, and engage in a process of deliberative democracy featuring a representative cross-section of California residents. The goal of this deliberative exercise is to understand the conditions under which Californians from all backgrounds can come to agreement on the long-term challenges facing the state and, importantly, the kind of bold and visionary solutions we need to put the state on a stronger trajectory for the next century.

California 100 will also be engaging intentionally with young Californians, who have the most to gain or lose in the coming century. The team members will engage young people throughout the state, including in high school and college settings, and will organize a statewide youth summit that will produce a manifesto for the future of California.

Finally, in Winter and Spring 2023, the commission will draft a vision and strategy document for the future of California, based on briefing materials that build on insights from the various streams of work. California 100 will then launch a culminating event in early summer 2023 that serves as the formal launch of the vision and strategy document and, importantly, also brings together leaders and partners from our various streams of work and prior engagement. This event will: 1) showcase the pressing need for California to prioritize long-term futures, 2) build an ambitious yet achievable vision and strategy that are grounded in rigorous research and community engagement, and 3) inspire others to do the same, providing tools that a variety of partners (including policymakers, government agency officials, business leaders, activists, researchers, and next-gen leaders from various sectors) can use to build their own aspirational visions and strategies for California’s long-term success.