Ag Innovations

AG INNOVATIONS CULTIVATES THE IDEAS AND ACTIONS NEEDED FOR HEALTHY FARMS, COMMUNITIES, AND ECOSYSTEMS.

ROUNDTABLES, COLLABORATIVES, AND MULTI-STAKEHOLDER CONVENINGSCRAE: AG INNOVATIONS FACILITATED A SERIES OF ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS IN THE CA ROUNDTABLE ON AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT (CRAE) TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE STEWARDSHIP OF WORKING LANDS AND A SYSTEMS-EXPLORATION OF THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL VIABILITY GIVEN NEW GROUNDWATER REGULATIONS, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND MARKET FORCES.GROUNDWATER LEADERSHIP FORUM: AG INNOVATIONS FACILITATES THE GROUNDWATER LEADERSHIP FORUM, A GROUP WORKING TO MAKE COLLECTIVE IMPACT AROUND THE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT (SGMA). THIS EFFORT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE WATER FOUNDATION. THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN A SYSTEMS LEVEL EVALUATION PROCESS OF SGMA, AND ARE PLANNING FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION THAT WILL HELP SGMA MORE EFFECTIVELY ACHIEVE ITS GOALS. THIS INCLUDES INCREASING ALIGNMENT, COLLABORATION, AND COHESION BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS AND CONSERVATION GROUPS WORKING ON WATER ISSUES IN CALIFORNIA. BECAUSE OF THIS COLLABORATION, THE GLF WAS AWARDED A GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES (DWR) OF $2 MILLION TO SUPPORT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF DRINKING WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACTIONS; THE EXECUTION OF THIS GRANT CONTINUES INTO 2022. IN ADDITION TO THIS, IN 2021 THE GLF SUBMITTED COMMENT LETTERS ON 64 FINAL GSPS IN HIGH AND MEDIUM PRIORITY BASINS. IN SUMMARY, THE GLF HAS CONDUCTED THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF SGMA TO DATE, AND IN THIS PROCESS HAS BECOME A TRUSTED AND KNOWN RESOURCE FOR AGENCIES. CALIFORNIA WATER ACTION COLLABORATIVE: AG INNOVATIONS FACILITATED THE CA WATER ACTION COLLABORATIVE, USING SYSTEMS THINKING TO SUPPORT WATER STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION IN CA BETWEEN CORPORATIONS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. IT ALSO LEARNED FROM EXPERTS ABOUT POLICY AND ISSUES FACING WATER SUPPLY AND STEWARDSHIP IN CA, AND WORKED ON ISSUES RELATED TO SGMA, MEASURING COLLECTIVE IMPACT ON WATER STEWARDSHIP. IT FACILITATES WORKING GROUPS IN THREE REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING THE BAY AREA, THE SOUTH COAST, AND THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY REGION, IN ORDER TO FOSTER COLLABORATIVE PROJECT INVESTMENTS. IT ALSO CONTINUED AN EXPLORATION OF SOCIAL EQUITY APPLIED TO WATER STEWARDSHIP IN CALIFORNIA.TULARE BASIN WATERSHED NETWORK: AG INNOVATIONS CONTINUED TO FACILITATE A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK IN THE TULARE BASIN FOCUSED ON CONNECTING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, LAND MANAGERS, TRIBAL ENTITIES, AND OTHERS ON INNOVATIVE, COLLABORATIVE ACTION AROUND WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP.SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP: AG INNOVATIONS BEGAN TO FACILITATE THE CA DEPARTMENT OF REGULATIONS SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP, WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 2022. USING A SYSTEMS APPROACH, THE WORK GROUP AND URBAN SUBGROUP IDENTIFIED STRATEGIC POINTS AND PRIORITIES FOR ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT.PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT:SOLANO SGMA: AG INNOVATIONS FACILITATED COLLABORATION BETWEEN FIVE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES IN THE SOLANO SUBBASIN, AND LED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TO UNDERSTAND THE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF BENEFICIAL USERS OF GROUNDWATER IN DEVELOPING A GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.AG INNOVATIONS FACILITATED THE FARM TO SCHOOL VISION PROCESS, LED BY THE FARM TO FORK PROGRAM AT CDFA AND FIRST PARTNER JENNIFER NEWSOMS WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CDFAS FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM. THIS LED TO THE ENGAGEMENT WITH OVER 200 COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND LEADERS; THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN THAT WAS USED TO BRING IN FUNDS FOR FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAMMING IN CA; AND LED TO SOLUTIONS THAT SPANNED NUTRITION, FARMING, SCHOOL SITE SERVICES, RACIAL EQUITY, AND MORE.AG INNOVATIONS FACILITATED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE OUTREACH AND A COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM FOR THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT (DCP). THROUGH GRASSROOTS EFFORTS AG INNOVATIONS HAS OUTREACHED TO 1735 DELTA RESIDENTS, ATTENDING 17 COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND GIVEN PRESENTATIONS TO 9 COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO INFORM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DCP AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PUBLIC REVIEW PROCESS OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT. AG INNOVATIONS HAS ALSO FACILITATED COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM MEETINGS WITH THE CITY OF COURTLAND, CA, IN ORDER TO HELP DEVELOP BENEFICIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE COURTLAND COMMUNITY AS A MEANS TO DEMONSTRATE GOODWILL AND A CONCERN REGARDING ADVERSE EFFECTS THE DELTA COMMUNITIES WOULD ENDURE THROUGH CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT. THESE EFFORTS CONTINUE THROUGH 2022.FIRESMARTS NAPA: AG INNOVATIONS FURTHERED WORK ON A FIRESMARTS PLAYBOOK, INTENDED TO IDENTIFY LEARNINGS FROM THE FIRESMART WORK IN NAPA AND BEYOND. THIS PLAYBOOK OUTLINES THE RATIONALE FOR A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO WILDFIRE RESILIENCE, AND INTRODUCES SOME WAYS TO THINK ABOUT, ORGANIZE, AND FACILITATE THAT WORK ACROSS SILOS. THIS EFFORT CONTINUES THROUGH 2022. SUSTAINABLE AG LANDS CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: AG INNOVATIONS WAS PART OF A SUSTAINABLE AG LANDS CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT, INTENDED TO SUPPORT THREE DIFFERENT REGIONS IN DEVELOPING MOMENTUM AND APPLYING FOR THE STRATEGIC GROWTH COUNCILS FUNDS TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. THIS EFFORT WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2021.