The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is partnering with the Invasive Species Council of California to host a public webinar on April 29 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 to give stakeholders and the public an opportunity to review and comment on the Proposition 4 grant draft guidelines, application requirements and evaluation criteria for the invasive species grants.
When California voters approved Proposition 4 in 2024, it included $20 million for activities and projects targeting invasive species, in addition to funding for a variety of other projects supporting the state’s food systems, biodiversity, climate-smart agriculture and other nature-based climate activities. The invasive species funding will be invested in the form of grants that support work on minimizing the economic, ecological and human health impacts caused by invasive species that have been or are likely to be detected in California.
“Invasive pests and diseases are a constant concern for farmers and ranchers,” said Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary and co-chair of the Invasive Species Council of California. “These grants are an investment in protecting the security of our food systems that rely on the health and resilience of the natural and working lands of California.”
“Invasive plants and animals are a growing challenge in a changing climate,” said Wade Crowfoot, California Secretary for Natural Resources and co-chair of the Invasive Species Council of California. “They destroy infrastructure, eat crops, and spread disease. These grants will help our partners on the ground prevent and respond to these challenges earlier, protecting our farms and ecosystems, and all of us who depend on them.”
CDFA will also accept public comments on the draft guidelines between April 29 and May 29. Comments can be submitted at cisac@iscc.ca.gov or in writing to:
Victoria Hornbaker
Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services
California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N Street Sacramento, CA 95814
Proposition 4 includes a total of $300 million for a variety of activities related to supporting climate smart agriculture. This funding for invasive species work is in addition to funding for several other categories of work at CDFA: $74 million to improve the climate resilience of agricultural lands through two existing programs administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)—the Healthy Soils Program ($36 million) and the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program ($38 million); $20 million to support farmers’ markets; and $19 million to fund urban agricultural projects.
Those interested can register for the webinar here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8596881761300013914
— Story Contributed by the California Department of of Food and Ag