State Board and CDFA host Forum on Extreme Climate Risks to California Agriculture on November 16 in Sacramento

A Complementary Event of “The Governor’s Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California’s Future”

Over the last couple of years extreme weather events have impacted global food supplies – from droughts in Australia and Russia, floods along the Mississippi River, and the current dry conditions in Texas. How can California agriculture be prepared for extreme events and the gradual effects of climate change? The California State Board of Food and Agriculture, along with CDFA, is hosting a forum on Extreme Climate Risks and California’s Future –  Agriculture and the Food System on November 16, 2011 to discuss the issue.

The forum brings together state officials, university researchers and agricultural representatives to discuss a wide array of issues, including: food safety, agricultural adaptation to climate change, and local/state extreme event planning. A list of scheduled speakers and agenda can be found here.

The Climate Change and Extreme Events Forum is the first in a series of events focusing on climate change that the State of California will be undertaking over the next several months.  Governor Brown is dedicated to ensuring that California is prepared for the impacts of climate change and that the state continues to lead the nation with its innovation, policy initiatives and commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Governor’s main conference, scheduled for December 15, will bring statewide leaders together to focus on the risks of unpredictable and extreme weather events caused by climate change. The conference will assess these risks and explore how our communities can prepare and adapt in response.

This complementary event will be held in conjunction with the California State Board of Food and Agriculture’s regularly scheduled meeting on November 16, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street – Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814.