California's Central Coast is a farming powerhouse, and the fruits and vegetables grown there sustain many U.S. households throughout the year. It is also one of the most biologically diverse regions in the state, and the marine ecosystems off the coast are some of the most diverse in the world. Unfortunately, the Central Coast is facing interrelated water quality and supply issues: groundwater overdraft, saltwater intrusion, and nutrient-laden runoff that impairs waterways and groundwater. This vibrant farming region is at risk, but farmers are part of the solution.

Sustainable Conservation is working with industry and others to scale adoption of context-based performance metrics in this region. The metrics calculate growers’ water and fertilizer use efficiency by comparing their use relative to crop needs and local conditions. As a result, farmers can enhance environmental conditions while reducing water, fertilizer, and regulatory compliance costs.

In collaboration with CWAC members and other partners, Sustainable Conservation is now working to scale regional adoption of the context-based metrics via three incentives: engage with the supply chain to enable the metrics to meet sustainability reporting requirements; create a rebate on farm loan interest for farmers that achieve metrics improvements; and propose a compliance approach for water quality regulation that accepts the metrics information as an alternative. Greater adoption will improve regional water supply reliability and water quality, increase crop production, and save farmer time and resource expenses.

Project lead: Sustainable Conservation

Participating CWAC members: Bonneville Environmental Foundation | Campbells Soup Company | Driscoll's

To learn more: Visit suscon.org or contact Kelli McCune - kmccune@suscon.org.