Solving climate change requires mitigating agriculture’s emissions and helping our food and farm system adapt to new climate realities, from catastrophic wildfires and flood events to ongoing supply chain disruptions and rising food prices. This is why the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition (FFRC), of which CalCAN is a member, is actively advocating for investments to support a more climate resilient, healthy, and equitable food and farming system.

On March 13th, the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition held a Lobby Day in Sacramento to advocate for food and farming investments to be part of any bond measures the legislature passes this year. The day brought together a diverse group of over 30 advocates representing different parts of our food system to meet with 23 legislative offices, including the Assembly Speaker, Senate Pro Tem, and authors of multiple bond proposals in the legislature.

Assemblymember Lori Wilson, the author of the Food and Farm Resilience Bond (AB 408), kicked off the lobby day with an empowering speech and some advice about how to use passion and pressure to influence upcoming bond negotiations. 

“California’s food and farming system is on the front lines of the climate crisis and if the state wants to create a more climate resilient agricultural sector then it must act now to scale up investments. With this proposed climate bond the state has an opportunity to scale this work up across the state and ensure California’s food and farming system is ready, resilient, and helping our state fight climate change while continuing to feed our communities.” – Assemblymember Lori Wilson

We then broke into smaller groups to meet with legislators and their staff to advocate for specific priorities in each of the bond proposals (education, climate, and housing) the legislature is considering. Throughout the day we spoke of the challenges facing farmers, farmworkers, and communities in the face of changing climate conditions, supply chain disruptions, and higher costs to produce and purchase food. 

“By painting a vivid picture of the challenges faced by our farmers, farmworkers, and communities, we can underscore the transformative impact that strategic investments in our food and farming system can have, not just within agriculture but for the entire state,” said  Lesley Kroupa, policy specialist at Roots of Change, one of the 17 organizations in the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition.

Key Programs Championed 

During Lobby Day, the coalition’s advocacy efforts covered a range of programs and investment needs, including:

• Healthy Soils Program (CDFA)
• Organic Transition Program (CDFA)
• Land Access and Tenure for Beginning & Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (DOC)
• Joe Serna Farmworker Housing Grant Program (HCD)
• Low-Income Weatherization Program for Farmworker Housing (CSD)
• School Food Kitchen Infrastructure (DGS)
• Local and Regional Food and Farming Infrastructure (CDFA)

For the entire list of the priorities included in the FFRC’s efforts, visit ResilientFoodSystem.org.

About FFRC and AB 408

Over the last three years the Food and Farm Resilience Coalition, which is comprised of 17 organizations championing agricultural, environmental, farmworker, public health, and food security causes has worked to ensure continued investments for our state’s food system. 

The Coalition first sponsored AB 125, which was authored by then Assemblymember and now Speaker Rivas. AB 125 proposed placing a food and farm resilience bond on the 2022 ballot. However, in response to the state’s significant budget surplus in 2021 and 2022, the Coalition pivoted its strategy and successfully advocated for over $2 billion in food and farm budget investments.

Last year, the Coalition sponsored AB 408 (Wilson), a climate bond measure proposing a $3.6 billion investment in building a more equitable and resilient food and farming system. Notably, 50% of the bond’s funding is earmarked for historically underserved communities. Of the multiple bond proposals being considered in the legislature, AB 408 was the only one to receive bipartisan support. 

 

Next Steps

As negotiations begin in the legislature to determine which bonds are placed on the 2024 general election ballot, the FFRC is actively working to ensure any bond on the ballot includes funding for an equitable, healthy climate-resilient food and farm system.

You can help us continue to advocate for these program investments and our efforts by joining our support letter along with over 130 supporters at ResilientFoodSystem.org.