Executive Summary: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of
severe weather events such as drought. This extreme weather will affect crops and all animals
and humans that depend on them. Plants under drought conditions become stressed, which
leads to increased susceptibility to pathogens and pests, as well as decreases in overall yield
and productivity. As the world’s population continues to grow, there will be increased
dependency on states like California to produce the necessary quantity and quality of food.
However, as a leader in crop production and a recent victim of severe drought, California is
particularly threatened by the changing climate. With a decline in crop production, water
availability, and job opportunities, the recent drought has affected California agriculture in
more ways than one. We invite the California State Legislature committees on Natural
Resources and Water, in partnership with the committees on Agriculture, to examine crop
management in the context of climate change. Additionally, we task these committees with
recognizing the need for novel methods, technologies, and products and taking action on
supporting the research and development of these ideas that will help alleviate major crop
production issues. Collectively, these efforts will lead the agricultural industry one step closer
to meeting the needs of consumers, in light of changing climates, especially during drought.
