Low-income, rural communities in California’s Central Valley face the impacts caused by decades of intensive agriculture such as depleted groundwater, drinking water insecurity, poor air quality, and a lack of fundamental infrastructure that leaves our communities particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Cropland retirement will further hinder socioeconomic opportunities for these community members as their livelihoods are often tied to agriculture.
While challenges faced by California's rural frontline communities are numerous and daunting, the state's proposed investments in groundwater sustainability, climate change resilience, and in multibenefit land repurposing present an opportunity to address these challenges while also improving the environment and the economy.
The resources on this page analyze the current challenges and present key solutions to ensure that the cropland transition already underway advances socioeconomic and environmental equity, climate resilience, and stronger local economies.
Agrivoltaics and Ecovoltaics
Road Map Toward Just Land Transition California
Water, environment, and socioeconomic justice in California: A multi-benefit cropland repurposing framework
Climate Change in California’s Central Valley
Cropland Repurposing in California
Related resources
Understanding California’s Transmission Development Delays and Paths to Reform
Benefits of Renewable Energy Use
Keeping Everyone's Lights On
