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Agriculture Summit Addresses Climate Change
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Scheduled for Thursday, March 30, the “Future of Agriculture in California” event will highlight practical and economical solutions at the intersection of climate and agriculture.

What’s the climate reality for the greater San Joaquin Valley? What are the opportunities and challenges ahead for agriculture stakeholders? The Maddy Institute, in partnership with the Livermore Lab Foundation, Fresno State, CSU Bakersfield, Stanislaus State, UC Merced and Climate Now, will address those questions and more as part of a free, one-day summit on March 30, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public with both in-person and virtual opportunities.

To register and learn more, visit https://www.fresno.climatenowevents.com

The summit will also serve as a forum for key industry stakeholders to discuss and plan for what California agriculture might look like in 2045, the year when the State of California has committed to reaching net-neutral greenhouse gas emissions.

California’s Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross will provide the keynote address.

An industry-focused panel, with representatives from several major and mid-size producers will address specific challenges and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory soil scientist Dr. Jennifer Pett-Ridge, will provide an overview of the natural land solutions as well as emerging carbon friendly technologies designed to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.

Throughout the day, specific panel discussions will be led by each of the four universities including:

Stanislaus State faculty member Chantelise Pells will moderate a panel presentation on the “Profitable Repurposing of Agricultural Lands.” Revenue growth opportunities for landowners facing fallowing land, including what land repurposing looks like in the Central Valley and how it can be done equitably. The presentation is sponsored by Stanislaus State.

The California Water Institute and a discussion of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and how a water trading market might be developed in California; sponsored by Fresno State.

The new UC Merced experimental ‘Smart Farm’ featuring data-collection technologies, renewable energy microgrids and sustainability options; sponsored by UC Merced.

The business and economics of agriculture, and how climate is impacting agriculture supply chains and business strategies; sponsored by CSU Bakersfield.

In addition, Fresno State President Saul Jimenez-Sandoval will host a conversation with state and federal elected officials.

The Maddy Institute is a collaboration between the four public universities in California’s San Joaquin Valley (California State University, Fresno, California State University, Bakersfield, California State University, Stanislaus, and University of California Merced) designed to advance public understanding of public policy issues impacting the Valley and support student development in government and public policy careers. For more information, visit www.maddyinstitute.org.

Founded in 2016, the Livermore Lab Foundation is a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing fundamental science and research initiatives, STEM programs and fellowships at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The Lab provides solutions to the nation’s most important national security challenges through innovative science, engineering, and technology, and is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

Founded in 2021, Climate Now creates high-quality, expert-led video and audio content on the science of climate change and the energy transition. Its goal is to root the conversation about climate change in hard science, while making it accessible to a broader global audience.