Opportunities and barriers to adopting soil health practices as natural climate strategies in California

Authors: JOHNSON, DEVON - University Of California, Davis; PARKER, LAUREN - University Of California, Davis; SMITH, JENNIFER - University Of California, Davis; Ostoja, Steven

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society International Annual Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: California plays a critical role in food security for the nation and the world, yet climate change threatens agricultural productivity in the state. Improving soil health can be an important strategy in improving the resilience of California's agricultural sector to climate change, and can play a role in mitigating climate change through soil carbon sequestration. However, there are barriers -- faced by both technical service providers and agricultural producers -- in expanding the adoption of soil health practices. In this lightning presentation, the opportunities for using climate-smart soil health practices as a nature-based climate solution on California working lands is explored, and the efforts the California Climate Hub and its partners are undertaking to address the challenges in expanding those practices are highlighted.

Technical Abstract: Session abstract: The USDA Climate Hub network strives to develop and deliver science-based, region-specific information and technologies so that agricultural and natural resource land managers are empowered to make climate-informed decisions. The program does this by connecting USDA Research Agencies to Program agencies to build resilience to a changing climate. The Climate Hubs Program, established in 2014, is addressing the impacts of climate change on working lands via science synthesis, stakeholder engagement and technology transfer at 10 Hubs across the nation. In this symposium, we highlight novel regional solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation. Our short presentations highlight responses to climate impacts and extremes in critical topics such as water resources in the Southeast, soil health in the Southern Plains, climate-informed county planning in the Northeast, preparing for wildfire in the West, managing forests for multiple benefits in Puerto Rico and more. A short topical discussion session will follow each regional lightening presentation.