On Earth Day 2024, California released a set of climate change–related targets for the natural and working lands sector, including croplands, grasslands, forests, wetlands, and deserts. For the first time, the state set a goal to bring 10 percent of California’s annual and perennial croplands under organic management by 2030! This important target sets California on the path to meet its ultimate goal of transitioning 20 percent of cropland by 2045.
By setting ambitious targets for scaling up organic agriculture, California recognizes organic farming as a leading strategy for fighting climate change and building resilient farms. Not only does this send a clear message that organic farming is an effective climate solution, but it will also drive public investment in organic transition toward achieving this goal.
CCOF looks forward to collaborating with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and California Department of Natural Resources (CNRA) to implement effective strategies to achieve this target. Over the last decade, CCOF has supported producers transitioning to organic production on over 100,000 acres of land, and we have learned that ambitious goals must be matched with ambitious resources to make organic transition successful.
In light of a state budget deficit, CCOF urges the legislature and Governor Newsom to pass a climate bond measure with at least $1 billion for food and farm resilience investments, as called for by CCOF and 130-plus supporting organizations in the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition. We are pushing for the measure to include $30 million for organic transition and other investments that are directly related to achieving the state’s climate targets.
The targets were developed through an extensive process based on the best available data and science, modeling scenarios, recommendations from an expert science advisory committee, and input from stakeholders, including CCOF and our partner, the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN).
By integrating organic agriculture into climate action plans and allocating sufficient public resources, the state can leverage its agricultural landscapes to sequester carbon, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and foster a more sustainable future for all Californians.
It’s time to cultivate change, one organic acre at a time!