Breaking down silos across government programs is not a new concept but one that will be critical to achieving improved climate resilience.

In the early years of California’s Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) programs the focus was exclusively on climate change mitigation—how to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration.

Now there is greater understanding among experts in the field that to remain viable farmers and ranchers will have to adapt to significant and recurring extreme weather events at the same time as they reduce emissions.

To achieve this, the state needs to support improved climate resilience in holistic ways and often across program areas.