May 6, 2025
UC Davis research project to map California’s transition to organic farming
A new research project led by the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is studying how and why California’s transition to organic farming is advancing in some regions while stalling in others.
The California Organic, Agroecological and Regenerative (COAR) Transitions project brings together researchers from six University of California campuses to examine the challenges and opportunities in shifting to organic and agroecological farming. The effort supports state goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote climate resilience through sustainable agriculture.
The California Air Resources Board has set a target for 20% of the state’s cropland to transition to organic production by 2045 as part of its broader climate strategy. Organic farming improves soil health, water retention and carbon sequestration, all of which help farms withstand extreme weather.
Led by Ryan Galt, professor and director of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute at UC Davis, the project seeks to understand why some regions have successfully adopted organic practices while others lag behind.
“A lot of this project is about when we think about transitions, who’s included in that, what are the different barriers that growers of different ethnicities, growers of different sizes are facing,” said Galt in a news release. “They’re going to be quite different in some ways, but they also might be quite similar.”
The team is also focused on making the transition inclusive of small-scale and historically underserved farmers. Researchers will analyze farming regions statewide to identify the structural, economic and cultural factors that influence adoption of organic practices. Their findings will help inform policy recommendations.
Another key focus is how organic transitions intersect with Indigenous land stewardship. Kase Wheatley, a Ph.D. candidate in geography, is examining practices like salmon revitalization, cultural burns and agroforestry that can support both climate adaptation and traditional ecological knowledge.
“We see part of this project as trying to reflect on roles and responsibilities of the university and also how can we promote repair?” said Wheatley. “It’s larger than just thinking about how we change cropping systems, but also how do we think about regional food systems and finding synergies between human well-being and ecological accountability.”
The project is supported in part by a 2025 Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives grant from the UC Office of the President. Findings from the study are expected to shape future state and university agricultural policies.
