California Food and Agriculture Department Seeks Public Comment on Draft Biodiversity Guiding Principles Through Nov. 26
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced in Sacramento on October 26 that it is accepting public comments on its draft Biodiversity Guiding Principles, a department-wide framework designed to guide future efforts to support, enhance, and protect biodiversity across California's agricultural landscapes. Written comments are due by 5 p.m. on November 26, 2026.
The draft, which stems from an action item in CDFA's Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture, outlines the department's long-term aspirations to advance biodiversity in working lands and will guide program development, work-group participation, and other biodiversity-related actions. Farmers, ranchers, technical assistance providers, agricultural organizations, and the general public are encouraged to submit feedback; oral comments will also be accepted at the Science Advisory Panel on Resilient and Sustainable Farming meeting on November 12, 2026. CDFA will review and publish all written comments received and release a final Biodiversity Vision Statement later this year. Because this is not a regulatory action, the department will not formally respond to comments.
"The climate crisis and biodiversity decline are deeply intertwined," said Virginia Jameson, CDFA's Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands. "Modern research tells us that enhancing on-farm biodiversity has positive benefits for resilience both on and off-farm," she said, calling it key to ecosystem health and long-term food security.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：加州的野花草原（资料图）。Kevin Roland摄，美国土地管理局加州办公室，公共领域，来源：Wikimedia Commons / Photo: A wildflower field in California (file photo). Photo by Kevin Roland, Bureau of Land Management California, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
