CalCAN Stewardship Council Profile: Arohi Sharma

This profile is part of an ongoing series that introduces members of CalCAN’s newly formed Stewardship Council. The Stewardship Council serves as advisors on our long-term goals, ensuring that our work remains aligned with our vision and mission. 

CC: Could you start off by telling us a little bit about yourself and how you came to this work?
AS: My name is Arohi, and I’ve spent over 10 years working in food and agriculture policy. Growing up, my family took regular trips to India, where my dad made sure I visited our family’s farm and connected with the land that nurtured him. I skipped through fields of bright yellow mustard crops, shred stalks to feed the buffalo, and learned how to suck sugarcane juice out of fresh sugarcane— I loved every bit of it. Agriculture was something I loved deeply and personally. Then, during my sophomore year of college, my dad and I watched Food Inc. The contrast between what I’d experienced and what I saw on screen was jarring, and it launched my career. I want to fight climate change and protect people and ecosystems from pollution by making sustainable agriculture the norm.

CC: Where did that journey in agriculture policy take you after college?
AS: After college, I was studying for the LSATs, but my heart wasn’t in it. I simultaneously applied for internships in D.C., and ended up moving across the country to work as an unpaid intern in Senator Barbara Boxer’s office. Her agriculture staffer brought me into meetings and let me write policy memos. I was hooked. I loved understanding how laws impact people and how they should change. That led to a role in Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office and eventually a position on the Senate Agriculture Committee during the 2013 Farm Bill markup. It was eye-opening: agricultural politics are driven more by regional interests than party lines, and I saw firsthand how money and power shape who gets access to lawmakers. My last Senate role was with Senator Cory Booker, and I learned a lot about how to approach my food and agriculture policy work with love, care, and equity.

CC: What does “care and love” for policy mean?
AS: Fundamentally, policy is meant to serve people. The law is supposed to ensure fairness and protect people and communities from pollution, inhumane working conditions, and corporate greed. We’re so far from that ideal these days. As one of my favorite podcasters says, “Poor people are bound to the law and not protected by it. Rich people are protected by the law and not bound to it.” Loving and caring policy centers people—ensuring their needs, rights, and livelihoods are protected.

CC: What motivates you to keep doing this work, especially when it’s challenging?
AS: From the incredibly talented and compassionate colleagues I work with to the people and families who deserve better, people motivate me. People-power fuels me. There’s also an element of hope and concern for the future—like, if I’m not part of this fight, who will be? I want to be fighting for a better future. That’s also a motivating factor.

CC: What gives you hope about climate-smart agriculture in California?
AS: “Soil health” was not a mainstream phrase when I started working on food and agriculture policy more than 10 years ago. Now, from state departments of agriculture to the halls of Congress, people know what “soil health” means. That’s massive, and we have California’s Healthy Soils Program to thank for making soil sexy nationwide. California’s known for leading on climate resilience. I’m hopeful that my home state will continue leading the fight to reduce agricultural pollution and supporting farmers’ transition to healthier more climate resilient production systems.

CC: Is there an example from your work that you’re particularly proud of? t
AS: When Prop 4 passed in 2024, it was the first time California’s climate agenda finally included sustainable agriculture. NRDC and CalCAN made that happen.

California has a long history of passing landmark climate and natural resource bonds. Agriculture was always left out, despite its enormous potential to fight climate change. We changed that. A coalition of 17 organizations successfully fought for an entire chapter in [Prop 4] to be dedicated to sustainable agriculture. This is precedential. 

Prop 4 wasn’t just a policy win. It was four years of relentless work–negotiations, storytelling, field days, lobby days, and bringing farmers and community members face-to-face with legislators. It showed me the real power of coalition-led advocacy: that you go further when you lean on each other’s expertise, trust each other’s knowledge, and fight as one.

CalCAN can reshape how legislators, regulators, and communities think about the future of food and farming in California. While so much political space is dominated by groups representing a single, narrow slice of agriculture, CalCAN represents something different, a climate-resilient vision for what agriculture could be.

CC: What drew you to serve on the Stewardship Council?
AS: The people at CalCAN are who drew me to the Stewardship Council, advocates who lead with integrity and heart. When I was offered the opportunity to work alongside them, it was so easy to say yes. I’m looking forward to helping guide CalCAN toward advocacy that confronts the status quo and transforms industrial agriculture towards healthier alternatives that fight climate change, protect natural resources, and safeguard people. I’m excited to help CalCAN grow into its full potential.

CC: What advice would you give to the next generation in this space?
AS: I have two pieces of advice. One, decisions are made by people who show up persistently—so if you care about something, if you want to change something, use your voice to fight for that change. But it can’t just be a one-time thing. Be persistent and keep showing up. Two, don’t forget who you’re fighting for. Your community can fuel you in unbelievable ways. Listen to them because their stories sustain and power you when the going gets tough.

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