California Governor Newsom Announces $81 Million for Climate-Smart Agriculture Projects Across 55 Counties
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced an allocation of $81 million to fund climate-smart agriculture projects across 55 counties in California. This funding is derived from Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate bond that California voters approved in 2024. The climate bond specifically earmarks $300 million for climate-smart agriculture initiatives, with $65 million designated for improving soil health and carbon sequestration, and $40 million for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP), which assists farmers in conserving water and energy. These projects aim to bolster the state's agricultural resilience against climate pressures such as drought, flooding, rising temperatures, and new pest challenges. Since 2014, SWEEP has supported over 1,300 on-farm projects, leading to a reduction of 1 million metric tons of CO2e and conserving 1.5 million acre-feet of water. The Healthy Soils Program (HSP), since 2017, has funded over 2,300 projects, reducing 1.6 million metric tons of CO2e....