Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1218525
1 FROM LEADERSHIP Unlike many past authors of this column, I was not born into, nor did I grow up in, the field of agriculture. At a young age, I was not instilled with the value of taking pride in, or striving to be the best steward of, land that may someday be my own. However, though my toolbox and tasks were different growing up, I am proud to now serve the California almond industry, both as chair of the Strategic Ag Innovation Committee and as a new mentor for the Almond Leadership Program. It is apparent from working with various industry members that our continued success is a sum of all our parts. I was reflecting on several of Mike Rowe's "Rules of Success" in preparation for this column and, among other rules, the following stuck with me: Have a mission, follow opportunities, and focus on work ethic. These rules or principles, which, to note, were stressed upon me at an early age, are clearly embodied by members throughout the almond community. The industry has a clear mission with a moving target that keeps us hungrily pursuing innovation and leadership. The most recent, industry-wide example of this was in 2018, when the California almond industry created the Almond Orchard 2025 Goals. With these goals we aim to achieve zero waste in our orchards by putting everything grown to optimal use, reduce the amount of water used to grow a pound of almonds by an additional 20%, reduce dust at harvest by 50%, and increase adoption of environmentally friendly pest management practices by 25%, all by the year 2025. These goals are ambitious, though support from growers, manufacturers, researchers and other industry professionals will contribute to and ensure our joint success. The 2025 Goals also present us with big opportunities to advance and explore creative alternatives to current production practices. The goal on dust reduction offers the prospect of potentially eliminating concerns over pests like hull rot and Navel Orangeworm through advancements in the harvesting process. The water goal pushes us to develop new irrigation tools and infrastructure that can deliver more precise water and nutrients to the crop while minimizing losses, losses that not only have an environmental impact but also a direct impact on growers' profitability. Increased environmentally friendly pest management practices can support and encourage sales into more tightly regulated markets. And the zero waste goal can aid in the promotion of soil health that will in turn support more efficient and economic uses of water and fertility inputs. The challenges we face today bring opportunities for tomorrow. Work ethic is at the core of our ability to reach these goals. As a participant of the 2017 Almond Leadership Program, my classmates and I had the opportunity to visit the USDA Agricultural Research Service Western Regional Research Center in Albany. During our visit, we learned about the correlation between national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and agricultural production per acre — as production per acre increased, the national GDP increased almost exponentially. This was because increased productivity per acre allowed new and existing industries to thrive based on the work of the agricultural community to provide more food in a more efficient manner. The California almond industry is a strong contributor to this trend of increased productivity among our nation's agriculture, and it's that same hardy work ethic maintained by the industry leaders who went before us that must push us to think beyond 2025. We must work tirelessly to do better and develop new goals to meet new challenges. And we must do it together. Our industry is analogous to the global populations we feed: Both groups are filled with individuals of endlessly varying backgrounds, religions, skill sets, and ambitions. Yet it is the sum of all our parts that is essential to ensuring continued success and prosperity well into the future. By pursuing our mission, following new opportunities and focusing on work ethic, the California almond industry will continue to set the global benchmark for safe and efficient food production. Devin Clarke Chair, Strategic Ag Innovation Committee Almond Board of California