The Family Farm Alliance board of directors at its 2022 annual meeting supported its long-time policy of using climatic extremes and findings from its 2007 climate change report to advocate for “climate-smart” agriculture and needed changes in Western water policy. Through involvement with organizations like Solutions from the Land (SfL), the Alliance has been monitoring United Nations (U.N.) global climate talks over the past several years and bringing the voice of North American producers and land managers to the discussion table.

Alliance President Patrick O’Toole serves on the board of directors for SfL, along with A.G. Kawamura, who recently spoke to a gathering of global food leaders about the “agricultural renaissance” now underway in the 21^st Century. Excerpts from the April 20 SfL blog are summarized below.

Another California water leader, Jim Lauria – vice president of sales and marketing for Mazzei Injector Company – recently reviewed a 178-page report from Lawrence Livermore Labs that proposed a number of solutions to get California to carbon neutral by 2045. Upon thorough review, he was shocked to learn that none of the solutions included the farming community in its plans.

So he crafted a rebuttal as an opinion piece that was published on April 20 in the Bakersfield Californian…California Farmers Are Key to Carbon Capture.

Jim serves on the board of directors of the California Agricultural Irrigation Association. He and CAIA are great allies and friends of the Family Farm Alliance.

Excerpts of Jim’s fine essay are also included in the last section, below.

SfL Co-Chair A.G. Kawamura, a California produce grower and shipper, told a gathering of global agriculture and food system leaders on April 20 that an “agricultural renaissance” is now underway in the 21^st Century.

“In an Agricultural Renaissance, humanity shifts towards a new framework of whatever is possible is feasible and whatever is feasible is now achievable in record time,” Mr. Kawamura told the international gathering.

In an information gathering session called by UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and staged by the International Agri-Food Network, Mr. Kawamura joined dozens of agricultural leaders from around the world called to share private sector ideas to better meet the FAO ideal of “Four Betters” in global agriculture: Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life.

Citing new systems and practices put in place on his California operation leading into this new century – precision drip irrigation and fertigation; Integrated Pest Management to bio-control with predators and microbial antagonists; among many other advances – Mr. Kawamura said he has learned to partner with farmers in other countries and find out that they have learned to grow crops better than we do and together we learn how to be better, safer and more efficient.

He concluded by warning that given the challenges now facing the global food system, “we must recognize that we do not have the luxury to continue to depend on a ‘think-tank’ mentality. We must embrace a ‘do-tank’ philosophy and get to work creating and building the solutions from the land that lead to abundance and resilience.

“An Agricultural Renaissance strategically aligned to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals will deliver the abundance and multiple benefits to society, the environment and the economies of the world,” said Mr. Kawamura. “Agriculture in all its different forms and sizes must be successful in order for the world to thrive.”

CLICK HERE for the complete April 20 blog posted by SfL.

Jim Lauria is vice president of sales and marketing for Mazzei Injector Company, a Bakersfield (CALIFORNIA) company. A few weeks ago, he reviewed a 178-page report from Lawrence Livermore Labs that proposed a number of solutions to get California to carbon neutral by 2045. Upon thorough review, he was shocked to learn that none of the solutions included the farming community in its plans.

So he crafted this opinion piece that was published on April 20 in the Bakersfield Californian: California Farmers Are Key to Carbon Capture.

“Today’s high-tech irrigation systems could even capture the hearts of engineers over at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory,” writes Mr. Lauria. “Coupled with SCADA systems, they’re the paragon of responsiveness and efficiency. And teamed with the know-how of California farmers and the enviable land they farm, they could put the state’s campaign toward carbon neutrality on the map.”