CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE TO LEAD SUSTAINABLE FOOD DISCUSSION WITH WORLD, U.S. EXPERTS

SACRAMENTO, August 17, 2010 — The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will lead a discussion on feeding a growing world population — merging increased agricultural productivity with poverty reduction, health and wellness, and sustainability at its Wednesday, August 25, 2010 meeting in Sacramento. The meeting will be held 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.

 “California agriculture has never been about the status quo,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “A sustainable domestic and international food system, with all kinds of food production and all sizes of farms utilizing increased applications of science and technology is where we have an advantage.”

The state board will hear from a variety of key speakers from across the nation, including: Jason Clay, World Wildlife Fund; Neilson C. Conklin, President of the Farm Foundation; Jeff Dlott, SureHarvest; Michael Scuse, USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Howard-Yana Shapiro, MARS, Inc., and Pamela Ronald, University of California, Davis.

“This discussion will challenge public perceptions and educate all of us on the future of agriculture within this state and across the nation,” said President Al Montna, California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “We need an all-inclusive production system with local producers on one end and intensive agriculture on the other. Feeding our state, our country and the world will require both large and small operations operating efficiently, sustainably and concurrently.”

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and secretary of food and agriculture of findings as they impact agriculture and consumer needs.  The board conducts forums that bring together local, state, and federal government officials, agricultural representatives, and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.

All California State Board of Food and Agriculture meetings are open to the media and general public.

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