Giving a voice to
Farmers and Ranchers

by fostering technical and scientific engagement
with the California academic institutions.

2600 River Plaza Drive, Sacramento, CA 95833

Learn More About California Bountiful Foundation

To learn more about California Bountiful Foundation and our work, please use the form below to send a message to Dr. Amrith Gunasekara.

Leading Science and Research

“Our goal is to create a program that provides the farmers and ranchers of California with the most recent science and research while influencing policy to benefit the state’s agriculture. We aim to be a one-stop shop for the agricultural community as a place to get science and research done.”

—Dr. Amrith Gunasekara

Adapting to climate change and other environmental challenges.

Sustaining California’s agricultural heritage and resources.

Innovating solutions to pressing issues.

Our Focus

Guiding the future of California agriculture

With a growing population, a changing climate, and increased resource constraints, there has never been a greater need to produce more with less.

The California Bountiful Foundation presents a unique opportunity to address those challenges head-on by supporting studies on climate-smart agriculture, farming technology, forest management, and water and economic security.

Dr. Amrith Gunasekara recently joined the California Bountiful Foundation as its new Director of Science and Research. He will conduct and support scientific studies on critical matters affecting California agricultural communities.

Gunasekara previously served as the Science Advisor to California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, and as Environmental Program Manager for the Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation at CDFA, which specialized in environmental incentive programs and climate change issues.

At 16-years-old, Gunasekara came to the United States from Sri Lanka where food security was an issue. He says that gives him an appreciation for what California's farmers and ranchers do for their communities on a daily basis that we often take for granted.

Also supporting the Foundation is Tad Bell, Senior Research Advisor, to help guide the foundation's ongoing development of best available data and research results for use in the public policy arena on behalf of California's farmers and ranchers. Bell, a former undersecretary at CDFA, brings 36 years of leadership experience in problem solving and crisis management skills in public and private sectors. He's widely respected among diverse agricultural and local, state and federal government constituencies.

Under the auspices of the California Farm Bureau, the California Bountiful Foundation will support the science to help create tools for farmers and ranchers to deal with these challenges.

The foundation has already supported a research study showing that it is not just nitrates (from inorganic fertilizers and animal waste) that have impacted groundwater quality in the southern Central Valley, but also septic systems.

We will provide a place to engage on new research topics such as climate smart agriculture, agricultural technologies and forest management to ensure water and economic security.

With a focus on climate-smart agricultural programs, the Bountiful Foundation will ensure the sustainability of the state's agricultural heritage, as well as its land and resources.

Addressing Key Issues

California has long been a land of plenty, but farmers and ranchers are faced with increasing challenges to their livelihood. Water continues to be scarce, wildfires more prevalent, and there is constant pressure to produce more with less. To continue providing for the families of California and beyond, the California Bountiful Foundation is committed to addressing the following key issues:

CLIMATE CHANGE

AIR
QUALITY

SOIL HEALTH

WATER QUALITY

AGRONOMIC IMPROVEMENT

Creating a Bountiful Future

Rooted in California
In 1919, the California Farm Bureau was formed primarily as a partnership between farmers, ranchers and academia to enhance ag land productivity and provide greater access to nutritious food for all.

More than a century later, we are still pursuing that mission by investing in and reinvigorating the California Bountiful Foundation—the research arm of the Farm Bureau.

Dedicated to Our Future
With your help, the California Bountiful Foundation will collaborate, lead and fund research to benefit all Californians involved in agriculture. This research is crucial to impacting policy and legislation to advocate for agricultural sustainability and food security for generations to come.

Together, we will sustain the rich tradition of agriculture in this state—and a way of life for farmers, ranchers and foresters who call it home.

Partner with us in creating a bountiful future for all Californians with your support of the California Bountiful Foundation.

— Joe Fischer, Placer County Farm Bureau

“I joined the California Farm Bureau because I was raised in small-town rural America. My advocacy time is limited and the political influence that I can have is minimal as an individual. By supporting Farm Bureau, I have entered a network of like-minded folks who are concerned about our families, our lifestyle, our community and our industry. Collectively, our voices are united to carry the message of preserving California’s strong agricultural heritage. This passion for agriculture is the thread that unites us and California Farm Bureau is the house in which we are all welcome.”