Agriculture

The California Department of Conservation’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program supports regional efforts to strategically repurpose agricultural land to reduce reliance on groundwater while providing community health, economic wellbeing, water supply, habitat, and climate benefits. Up to $200 million is appropriated for the next round. The previous round had $2.44 million in Tribal funding for projects including land acquisitions. The initial application window is expected to open in Winter 2026 to 2027.

The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 was approved by California voters as Proposition 4 in the November 2024 general election. Through the bill, $20 million dollars is now available to develop year-round infrastructure for certified farmers’ markets, fishermen’s markets, or Tribe-operated or Native-serving farmers’ markets:

• All-weather infrastructure such as canopies and shade structures, tables and seating, market stalls, restrooms and hand wash stations, tent weights and tie-downs, produce washing stations, barricades and bollards for traffic management and pedestrian safety, bicycle parking racks, and other equipment.
• Facilities for food preparation, cooking demonstrations, and other nutrition education. Wireless electronic benefits transfer point-of-sale terminals for market managers and producers to process CalFresh transactions.
• Wireless electronic benefits transfer point-of-sale terminals for producers to accept the electronic cash value benefit through the program designed to implement the federal WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Act of 1992 or equivalent tribal programs.
• Other equipment to support the seniors farmers’ market nutrition program, as described in Section 3007 of Title 7 of the United States Code, or equivalent Tribal programs.

The Year-Round Market Infrastructure Grant Program is currently in development.

To promote safer, more sustainable pest management practices in California, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) annually funds projects that advance sustainable pest management (SPM) practices through integrated pest management (IPM) research, knowledge, tools, outreach, and implementation in agricultural, urban, and/or wildland settings.

In response to a call for improved practices in philanthropy, The Campbell Foundation offers a broad range of grants, including unsolicited, multi-year, general support, and capacity building grants for community-based work.

Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, founder and co-creators of Clif Bar & Company, started the foundation in 2006 to support nonprofits that are working tirelessly to transform our food system, revitalize the environment, and enhance community health.

The Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program was created by AB109, which amended the Budget Act of 2017 to provide local assistance through the Wildlife Conservation Board for conservation projects focusing on resilience to projected climate impacts. This program funds projects that provide climate adaptation and resilience on California’s natural and working lands. These projects must be consistent with the State’s climate adaptation strategy (Safeguarding California Plan), contribute to the carbon sequestration goals of AB 32, and support WCB’s Strategic Plan. In addition, projects will be consistent with other statewide plans and priorities, including the California Water Action Plan and California State Wildlife Action Plan 2015 Update.

The Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Rescue Program was created by Assembly Bill 2421 and signed into law in 2018. The program created for the purpose of recovering and sustaining populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators. The bill requires WCB to develop and adopt project selection and evaluation guidelines, in coordination with the Department of Food and Agriculture, before disbursing these grants.

The Oak Woodlands Conservation Program offers landowners, conservation organizations, cities and counties, an opportunity to obtain funding for projects designed to conserve and restore California's oak woodlands. While the Program is statewide in nature, it provides opportunities to address oak woodland issues on a regional priority basis.