While many agricultural sectors have successful sustainability programs in place, the meeting represented the first time these groups have come together to discuss cross-sector sustainability-related challenges. A diverse array of California's top agricultural products were represented including almonds, grapes, tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables.
"If we are going to continue to successfully grow healthy and nutritious food in California, we need to extend our sustainable growing practices," said Dr. Gabriele Ludwig, Director of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs at the Almond Board of California. "We've all made great strides in our individual sectors but, by sharing information about how our programs work, we can uncover new opportunities and areas to explore."
As California suffers through a fourth year of drought, many questions have arisen about the sustainability of agriculture in the state. However, this concept is nothing new to the groups involved in this meeting. "The groups gathered here today have been working to increase the sustainability of their crops and California agriculture far prior to the current drought," said Dr. Ludwig. "While the drought is a poignant reminder of our natural resource limitations, sustainability encompasses much more than just water. We are all working toward an environmentally sound, economically viable and socially responsible future for California agriculture, and today we're more united than ever."
