Environmental Stewardship Program

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Environmental Stewardship Program
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Objectives

• Keep growers informed
• Promote the industrys environmental stewardship
  efforts
• Advance efforts in sustainability

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Accomplishments Crop Year 05-06

• Established web page
• Held four focus groups led by a professional
  moderator on the meaning of sustainability for
  almond growers
• Organized a successful regulatory tour at Hunter
  Farms, attended by approximately 20
  representatives from California Department of
  Pesticide Regulation, Central Valley Regional
  Water Quality Control Board, California Air
  Resources Board, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution
  Control District, USDA Natural Resources
  Conservation Service, and State Water Resources
  Control Board

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Accomplishments Crop Year 05-06 Published
four grower newsletters

• July 2006 - - Volatile Organic Compounds in
  almond pesticides and impact on air quality
  Phase-out of Guthion
• April 2006 - - Regulator tour, methyl bromide
  update, ag water waiver program
• Jan. 2006 - - Wrap-up on environmental projects
  at conference Watershed coalition update.
• Oct. 2005 - - Test device measures dust from
  almond harvesting Almond growers find incentive
  to replaced polluting diesel pumps.

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Accomplishments Crop Year 05-06 Produced four
press releases

• July 2006 - - Conditional Ag Waivers for
  Irrigated Lands programs implications for almond
  growers.
• March 3, 2006 - -Almond Environmental Stewardship
  Tour showcases industrys commitment to
  environmentally responsible production practices.
  
• Dec. 21, 2005 - - Environmental Stewardship,
  Maximizing Production Can Go Hand-In-Hand, Says
  IPM Award Winning Almond Grower.
• Nov. 8, 2005 - - Almond Dust Busters Challenges
  of harvest dust met on several fronts

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Accomplishments to Date Published
Newsletter Oct. 2006

• Almond Grower Looks Long-Term with His Orchard
  Growing Practices
• Almond Industry Explores the Definition of
  Sustainable Agriculture
• Regulators Show Interest in Sustainability at
  International Conference
• When is it Conservation and when is it
  Sustainable
• ABC Funds Environmental Research
• Water Board Sets Deadline for Joining Watershed
  Coalitions

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Next Steps for Environmental Stewardship Program

• Three Newsletters
• Feb. 2007 April 2007, July 2007
• Four Press Releases
• February Sustainability/Stewardship Tour

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Advancing Efforts in Sustainability

• Developed definition of sustainability for the
  almond industry
• Articulated five different levels of sustainable
  efforts that could be attained
• Incorporating other Almond Board Committees in
  wider view of sustainability to encompass
  Production Research, Food Quality Safety
• Participating in allied efforts in
  sustainability among agricultural entities

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Definition of Sustainability for the Almond
Industry

• Sustainable almond farming utilizes production
  practices that are economically viable and are
  based upon both scientific research and common
  sense. It is motivated by a respect for the
  environment, neighbors and employers. The result
  is a plentiful, healthy and safe food product.

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Who is talking about Sustainability?
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Who is talking about Sustainability? - USDA
Environment
Economics
Quality of Life
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Who is talking about sustainability?
Who is talking about Sustainability?
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Who is talking about sustainability?
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Who is talking about sustainability?
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Conference on the Future of Agriculture
Science, Stewardship and Sustainability

• Regulatory representatives have a high degree of
  interest in sustainability
• The Gov. wants environmental improvement, with
  economic growth, within the concept of
  sustainability
• Regulators want to regulate on a whole systems
  approach
• Regulators want conservations checklists rather
  than regulatory hammers

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5 Levels of Sustainable Efforts

• A Mission Statement
• Internal guidance using mission as anchor
• A Vision
• Known internally and promoted externally
• Farm-to-Fork BMPs
• Pulls together all BMPs and GAPs under one
• whole systems approach
• Voluntary Self Evaluation
• Documentation of self-assessment of BMPs/GAPs
• Value-Added Marketing Tool
• Third party certification and marketing
  advantage

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Next Steps Environmental Stewardship Project

• Continue grower, regulator and public education
  efforts with the newsletters and press releases
  about stewardship efforts
• Collaboration among three ABC Committees
• February Sustainability/Stewardship Tour
• Continue pursuit of partnerships and
  collaborative efforts

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