#15 Beyond Monoculture: how agroforestry can redefine California almonds
From the outside in, most folks might expect the impact of the almond industry to start and end with food distribution and the agro-industrial labor economy — if they ever thought about it at all. Stopping analysis there, the almond industry's impact on our lives is still impressive! I, myself, was surprised at the intimidating immensity I encountered at my first attendance of the California Almond Conference. While the poster section for academic research was tucked away in the back of the convention center, the rest of the venue was packed with booths and demonstrations showcasing various technologies and organizations aimed at improving almond pollination, nutrition, yield, and processing. When you consider that California’s orchards produce about 80% of the world’s almonds and occupy roughly 17% of the state’s irrigated cropland, the complexity of this industry seems, perhaps, inevitable (CDFA).
One increasingly important, underlooked impact of the almond industry is environmental: reliance on fertilizers, pesticides, and excessive water use places strain on both the environment and local communities. Transitioning to more sustainable land management would reduce avoidable environmental damage while improving our landscapes' diversity and health. Prioritizing the health of our food systems is more important than ever as most people completely rely on industrialized farming systems that are becoming threatened by climate change.
Through my position as a researcher on commercial almond farms across the Central Valley, I have learned a lot. The goal of our almond project is to quantify the effects of adopting diversified farming practices on ecosystem health. One of my major responsibilities is conducting field work on orchards, some of which are managed more like agroforestry systems (internally to the project, we call these “regenerative-systems”), and less like monoculture. In my fieldwork, I collected samples from a spectrum of farmland management frameworks — conventional to agroforest-like — in order to measure and assess the impact of practice implementation on these systems.Those who farm agroforest-like orchards have a close relationship with the land, cultivating biodiversity and supporting ecological networks. When visiting these sites, I found they have a harmonious atmosphere and the growers who manage them are passionate about farming for people and the environment (Figure 1). This sentiment is summed up in one of my favorite quotes from a conversation with a Capay Valley farmer, “My trees drink the same water my family does. Just makes sense”. I believe that a transition into more agroforestry-like systems is possible for California, but there are barriers that hinder this process.
Agroforestry is a form of sustainable agriculture that combines perennial and annual crops with livestock, bringing in diversity which mimics natural ecosystems. Industrialized systems that are most common in modern agriculture are monocultures which lack diversity and, when improperly managed, douse orchards in pesticides, leading to toxic drift, runoff, and breeding pesticide resistance. This has cascading effects to the detriment of surrounding communities and wildlife. Agroforestry has arisen as a science, movement, and practice which echoes the food systems that precede industrialization, empowering farming communities and prioritizing the health of the planet. In my studies I have learned that implementing agroforestry farming practices improves pollination, soil quality, air quality, pest control, and the overall system is more resilient when faced with extreme weather events like droughts we are all too familiar with in the western United States. California agribusiness’s heavy reliance on external inputs, not only harms the environment but also exposes growers to the vulnerability of shifting economic and geopolitical dynamics. By harnessing natural cycles in agroforest crop production, farmers are able to lessen their reliance on external inputs and connect with the land they farm, making the farmer and land more adaptable to shifting ecological and political climates.
Figure 1. Agroforest-like orchard
Mass Organics Glenn, CA
A common concern that I hear from growers is the disconnect of policy and the reality of California agriculture. Policies enacted by the government often force the hand of farmers without providing enough support or resources. One example of this is the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). This policy is being implemented with the intention of addressing our water crisis, which is already forcing farmers to fallow fields and cut back on irrigation. This has been met with controversy in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV), home to the majority of California’s almond orchards, and has faced some of the harshest restrictions on water use in the state.
Regulating water use is essential to preserving our communities, but the actions of Groundwater Safety Agencies (GSA) have unintended consequences for sustainable orchard management. This is especially relevant for integration of understory vegetation. At the CSU Chico Soil Health Field Day, one of the farmers we are collaborating with expressed concern that drone imaging, used to measure the water consumption of vegetative cover, might not accurately reflect the farm’s ecosystem and contribute to inflated water bills. Groundcover is one of the key ways almond farmers are transitioning to agroforestry-like systems, yet some regulations in the SJV don’t align with current science or farmer testimony on the benefits of cover cropping. As a result, growers are indirectly disincentivized to implement cover crops. The Sustainable Conservation Report details the nuanced controversies of implementing cover crop with SGMA here (SusCon report). This is just one example of policy that impedes sustainable transitions in agriculture. Additionally, food safety regulations often pose challenges in animal integration and other diversified farming practices.
Figure 2. Comparison of almond orchard with cover crop before and after mowing
AFRI Cover Crop Trial UCDavis
Through conversations with growers, I have learned that many want to adopt more sustainable management tools but struggle to overcome the constraints. One example of this is off-ground harvesting. Typically, growers mow and spray the alleys before shaking almonds off and sweeping them into the alley for drying (Figure 2). By “cleaning” the alley floor, farmers protect the machinery used in harvesting and avoid debris contamination in almonds. Off-ground harvesting allows the growers to maintain much of the groundcover of the orchard floor which can have multifunctional benefits to ecosystem health. Although off-ground harvesters offer a promising technical alternative, they present structural challenges. Not only are these harvesters expensive, they are large, meaning the growers need additional space for storage. Also, managing the orchard floor to be mostly covered means there needs to be additional area for almond drying. This is not a problem for farmers with a lot of land, but the combination of these barriers is a big issue for small-holder farms.
There are some organizations, such as the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), working towards policy that supports sustainable transformation in California agriculture. CAFF’s Strategic Plan 2023-2028 aims to raise funds and implement policy that supports BIPOC and family farms in order to cultivate healthy ecosystems and feed local communities. As part of this initiative, CAFF has partnered with local Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) to write a bill for tool sharing libraries. Building cooperatives across California will increase access to tools such as the off-ground harvester within a shared space, creating the opportunity for exchange amongst farmers and workers. In this way the library provides technical, social, and educational resources to farmers and farm workers within local food systems. It is organizations like CAFF that are bridging that gap between farmers and policy, building the infrastructure for equitable transitions.
Although these growers and organizations are doing important work, there are still limits to what we can do within our current system. The primary challenge that arose when discussing agroforestry adoption with growers, is the prevailing business model of agriculture where yield and profitability are prioritized above all else. Management that focuses on short-term gains decouples farming from natural cycles, resulting in a system that produces pollution and does not address food waste. A few farms have etched a small network into the current market, but placing a premium on sustainably farmed almonds should not be the only viable path for these farming systems.
There are well-supported ideas on how a transition away from the prevailing economic model can be achieved. In Doughnut Economics, Dr. Kate Raworth advocates for a new form of economic thinking that centers the thriving of humans rather than endless GDP growth, shifting away from outdated frameworks of economy and resource use (Figure 3). Her doughnut design grounds economics in the needs of people and the limits of planetary resources. Raworth’s solution proposes regenerative and distributive design which focuses on equity of power and resources. To overcome agri-food systemic barriers, we need multi-stakeholder collaborations, including farmers, policymakers, and researchers that integrate economics, agriculture, ecology, and social sciences.
Figure 3. Diagram showcasing Dr. Raworth’s economic framework within the current system (Doughnut Economics)
This December, I will return to the Almond Conference, presenting this year’s data with a deeper understanding of the industry. I look forward to reconnecting with the growers I have met, reflecting on our year of collaboration and next steps we will take in this project. Agroforestry systems have the potential to centralize the wellbeing of people and the land within our food systems. Since almonds are a perennial crop, the principles of agroforestry fit easily within orchard management. Universal sustainable land management will enhance natural resources, foster ecological knowledge, and ensure the longevity of California agriculture. Further advocacy in research, outreach to farmers, schools, and communities, and bold policy changes are essential parts of this grassroots movement. I encourage you to support organizations that are at the forefront of this movement. Coalitions like the California Climate & Agriculture Network (CalCAN) and Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) are actively working to advocate for sustainable agricultural policies and practices. Shifting our perspective and policies to successfully transition requires substantial changes and effort, but I believe it is possible. I’m grateful to be learning with and from farmers that are making these changes.
Figure 4. Almonds in bloom
Burroughs Field Day 2024,
Burroughs Family Farm Denair, CA