Leadership Insights is a monthly column from the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation in partnership with Morning Ag Clips. The series delves into the crucial facets of leadership within the agricultural sector, with academic and agricultural leaders offering valuable perspectives and strategies.
Opinion piece by CDFA secretary Karen Ross
Food production in a hotter, drier climate is essential for the health of people and our planet. It is complex and the challenge of our lifetime for businesses, communities, institutions and governments. It requires science, technology and nature-based solutions. It demands critical systems thinking throughout the economy, academia, nonprofits and governments.
A recent ag summit at Fresno State – with a focus on Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) implementation and collaboration – underscored all the above. A farmer and California Ag Leadership Program alum said, “For the first five years of SGMA, we were focused on the science. Now we have the science, but we won’t be successful without collaboration.” It generated follow-up conversations regarding who is missing in the discussions and how do we engage them to ensure durable solutions that include all stakeholders?
The list of skills required for good leaders is long, but one is of increasing importance: the ability to harness the power of collaboration. I believe collaboration is the superpower that will allow us to tackle the tough challenges faced by agriculture today. From climate pressures to increasing public scrutiny, collaboration can be our ticket for solution-building, shared understanding and a better future for all. The process of engaging diverse perspectives depends on active listening and a willingness to focus on commonalities rather than differences to build trust.
My “why” for serving in this leadership role is my deep gratitude for all the opportunities I’ve had, the people around me and the work we do together in California agriculture. Even in these challenging times in agriculture, my gratitude and faith in people instills my sense of optimism that working together we can continue building agriculture and rural communities that are vibrant, resilient and capable of meeting future challenges.
In 2023, the State Board of Food and Agriculture released Ag Vision for the Next Decade. Originally created in 2009, Ag Vision seeks to unite leaders with our common purpose: “To make California a better place to live because of what we grow and how we grow it.” The plan is focused on five priority areas with an aim on creating opportunity – something we heard loud and clear from stakeholders who wanted to change the narrative that paints agriculture as a legacy industry to one that excites people about opportunities and one that is valued by all Californians for its contributions to daily life.
I am proud of the progress made on several areas like fostering climate-smart resilient food systems, with over $800 million in grants to farmers and technical assistance providers for climate smart practices. We have invested $86 million in farm-to-school programs reaching 49% of schoolchildren as part of building healthy, local communities. Utilizing institutional procurement, we can support local farmers and ranchers and improve nutrition and health outcomes of youth to avoid diet-related chronic diseases. I am excited about our collaboration with ag organizations and academic partners on next generation talent and tools around ag technology and automation, biological solutions, workforce development and upskilling farmworkers for jobs of the future. I am inspired by the exciting regional collaborations on economic development like F3 Innovate and BEAM Circular that brought diverse stakeholders together to share a common vision for people and place-centered economies based on agriculture and innovation.
The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation and its alumni will continue to be a part of building a thriving California agriculture for years to come. As secretary, I seek out Ag Leadership alumni and 4-H and FFA members who can bring new voices and perspectives to our work. I am especially proud that CDFA Deputy Secretary Arima Kozina (Class 52), CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry Branch Chief Dr. Barzin Moradi (Class 48) and USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (and former CDFA undersecretary) Jenny Lester Moffitt (Class 47) participated in Ag Leadership during my tenure! It is always my pleasure to introduce my cabinet colleagues to the class members and alumni who are leaders making a difference.
My purpose and passion in life has always been to bring people together around food – for the purpose of growing it, preparing it or ensuring all Californians have access to the nutritious bounty that California agriculture provides – and to foster the reconnection of consumers to the land and people who produce it. A shared meal can help break down barriers, showcase different cultures and launch great conversations. For me it is often the first step in building relationships, shared leadership and collaboration. It’s about people coming together in all our differences who care about the common good. Thank you, Ag Leadership, for empowering collaborative leaders!
About the Author
Karen Ross has been the secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture since 2011. She is a graduate of the Nebraska Ag Leadership Program and recipient of the 2012 California Agricultural Leadership Foundation Honorary Fellow Award. Read full bio.