Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1084285
8 This remarkable advance in producing more "crop per drop" resulted from improvements in production practices and water-saving technologies, backed by decades of research by the Almond Board of California (ABC). Through ABC, growers funded more than 200 water research projects with an investment of $6.7 million since 1982. To ensure almond growers are well-positioned to navigate a future where water is increasingly scarce, ABC's Board of Directors adopted industrywide goals — the Almond Orchard 2025 Goals. These goals focus on production practices, including reducing the amount of water needed to grow a pound of almonds by an additional 20% by 2025. To support the industry in achieving this goal, the Almond Board launched new events and intuitive tools for growers and allied industry as the almond community works toward reduced water use. Top minds convene at Navigating the Waters More than 200 growers and industry members attended ABC's inaugural "Navigating the Waters" event in Modesto this past May. The Almond Board assembled 13 top policy experts to share the latest in news, forecasts and analysis related to key water issues, such as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, proposed funding for water storage projects and regional efforts to improve water conveyance and management through emerging techniques such as aquifer recharge. Key themes of the event included understanding the major forces leading to a future where water will generally be scarcer, while identifying specific actions growers can take to position themselves for success in local decision-making processes and in managing their orchards. "Water is the lifeblood of almonds and agriculture," said Richard Waycott, president and CEO of ABC. "Water use efficiency and getting the most crop per drop is the heart and soul of all of us here. We want to do everything we can, with the resources and talent we have, for almonds. And as one of the state's leading crops, we have a responsibility to lead." A L M O N D O R C H A R D 2 0 2 5 G O A L S WATER USE New Tools, Events Support Growers The California almond community's unique, impressive success story of "how we grow" responsibly begins with the fact that we're using 33% less water to grow a pound of almonds than 20 years ago. 1 "Water is the lifeblood of almonds and agriculture. Water use efficiency and getting the most crop per drop is the heart and soul of all of us here." – Richard Waycott More than 200 almond industry members gathered May 8, 2018, in Modesto to discuss the key topic of water at Navigating the Waters.