Carbon Farming Network

Scaling climate-beneficial agriculture requires investing in local and regional agricultural conservation partnerships.

A growing network of farmers and ranchers, technical assistance providers, researchers and educators across California, dedicated to advancing climate-beneficial agriculture, coordinated through our local Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs). Regional Hubs leverage and expand agricultural conservation partnerships and programs to:

Expand technical and financial assistance programs and services to support agricultural conservation

Foster innovation and development of regionally appropriate agricultural climate solutions

Strengthen collaboration among producers, agencies, organizations, researchers, and policymakers

Assess regional needs and opportunities through understanding our diverse agricultural, ecological, and social landscapes

RCD Regional Ag & Climate Hubs

The Regional Ag & Climate Hubs were established through a partnership between Resource Conservation Districts, California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, and the Carbon Cycle Institute. The Hubs support healthy, resilient agricultural landscapes through inclusive partnership engagement and network development.

For more information, see the RCD Regional Carbon Farming Hubs Prospectus.

At a Glance

  • 45 RCDs and growing
  • 12.5 million acres of agricultural land
  • 7 Hubs:
      • Central Sierra
      • Greater Bay Area
      • North Coast
      • Sacramento Valley
      • San Joaquin Valley
      • South Central Coast
      • Southern California

Statewide Regional Hub Network Coordinator

Elena Bischak, PhD
CARCD
elena-bischak@carcd.org
571-274-9634

Impacts of the Hubs

1. Build a workforce of trained and experienced agricultural conservation professionals

Trained conservation professionals ensure all California farmers and ranchers—regardless of race, income, or farm size—have support in transitioning to resilient, climate-beneficial production systems through equitable access to technical and financial assistance programs and services.

2. Invest in climate mitigation and adaptation planning in rural communities

Local and regional climate action and resilience planning efforts fully engage our agricultural communities and integrate agricultural climate solutions.

3. Access to emerging climate-beneficial ag markets

Support agricultural producers in developing and accessing markets for climate-beneficial products through tool development, farm planning, implementation dollars, and monitoring, reporting and verification services.

4. Strengthen state policies and programs to enable scaling of climate-beneficial agriculture

Provide agricultural producers and conservation partners a central role and collective voice in shaping local, state, and federal agricultural conservation programs and policies.