Overview
California’s ag sector is simultaneously the state’s biggest water user (up to 75% of all managed water) and a significant food provider and economic driver in the state and nation. To remain viable, the sector needs systemic change toward regenerative and sustainable practices that protect our collective food and water security, take pressure off ecosystems, and build watershed health and resilience.
Core Team
The Regenerative Ag and Water Lab (aka, ‘The RAW Lab’) is an initiative of CWAC and led by General Mills, American Farmland Trust, Sustainable Conservation, Campbell's, and Ag Innovations with a commitment to accelerate and grow the transition for large-scale ag in CA to regenerative approaches.
Project Partners
Partners include Blue Diamond Growers, Google, Bowles Farming, and other growers.
The Challenge
Current agriculture at scale provides substantial yields and economic benefits, yet also generates significant unintended ecological, water, and social impacts, and is not solving or resilient enough to climate change.
A new, regenerative approach for ag and the supply chain/marketplace is needed to address these challenges, yet Consumer Packaged Goods company (CPG) goals have yet to be backed by significant action. The marketplace and limited State and Federal resources make it difficult for agricultural producers to remain viable and cultivate the needed shifts to more regenerative approaches. Individual growers need technical assistance, funding, and ongoing support - from peers to the supply chain itself - to test and implement regenerative practices on their farms, and the industry needs more collaboration, concrete trials, and success stories to inspire and incentivize other growers and actors in the supply chain.
Furthermore, in California, grower demand for funding and technical assistance outstrips State & Federal resources by 2-3 times. Anecdotal evidence from AFT suggests the demand is much higher and largely underreported, since most growers don’t even try to apply for grants, given the competitive nature of grant funding
What Is the RAW Lab?
To increase the capacity of growers, CPG’s, and the supply chain generally to accelerate regenerative ag and water practices effective in the San Joaquin Valley, while removing barriers that help the food and ag industry generate healthier outcomes & products.
The initiative seeks to build momentum through a network of organizations that learn, take collective action and shared leadership, and tell the story to support and catalyze the ag/food industry.
The Regenerative Ag & Water Lab (RAW Lab) is a collective action initiative designed to accelerate integrated regenerative agriculture and water practices in the Central Valley. California’s Mediterranean climate presents significant water challenges, and climate change is increasing droughts, heat, and aridity, decreasing snowpack, and occasionally causing severe flooding. Testing and scaling regionally effective regen practices with known water benefits can build long-term sector sustainability, enhance natural resource stewardship, and help food and beverage companies invest in more resilient agriculture with positive outcomes for communities and ecosystems.
The RAW Lab is focusing on understanding from a broad supply chain perspective:
What really works and is economically viable,
The challenges and barriers to transition, and
The best ways to support accelerating transitions in specific contexts.
By convening partners across sectors, the RAW Lab builds momentum through shared learning, collaborative problem-solving, and coordinated action to support and catalyze change in California's food and agriculture system and beyond.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact Nicolia Mehrling at nicolia@aginnovations.org or Robert Gould at robert@aginnovations.org