A free virtual and in-person summit on March 30 will explore how California’s ambitious climate goals will impact the future of agriculture.

The summit — co-presented by California State University, Bakersfield — runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fresno State. Registration is required for in-person or virtual attendance.

As the top crop producer in the world, the San Joaquin Valley feeds millions of people every day, and thousands of local jobs depend on this vital economic sector that has shaped our cultural identity for generations. The summit will explore the opportunities and challenges for valley growers and producers as the state moves toward reaching net-neutral greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross will provide the keynote address.

Dr. Aaron Hegde, CSUB professor and chair of the Department of Economics, will lead a panel discussion on the business and economics of agriculture and how climate is impacting agriculture supply chains and business strategies.

An industry-focused panel with representatives from several major and mid-size producers will address specific challenges. Dr. Jennifer Pett-Ridge — a soil scientist with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory — will provide an overview of the natural land solutions and emerging technologies designed to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Also leading panels are faculty members from Fresno State, CSU Stanislaus and UC Merced. Fresno State President Dr. Saul Jimenez-Sandoval will host a conversation with state and federal elected officials. The full agenda can be viewed here.

The summit is hosted by The Maddy Institute, the Livermore Lab Foundation and Climate Now, in association with the region’s four public universities, including CSUB.

More information about the summit can be found here.