That Bag of California Almonds? It Probably Came From an Underwater Farm.
A radical water-banking experiment is transforming California’s billion-dollar almond industry, but challenges could leave the future of this crop uncertain.
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Agriculture Supply
Key points
- California almond growers are flooding their orchards in winter to "bank" water in underground aquifers, a practice known as Ag-MAR.
- The practice is a response to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which aims to halt the overdraft of California's aquifers.
- While promising, challenges include potential groundwater contamination, the need for massive infrastructure upgrades, and complex water rights issues.
- The success of this water banking strategy could become a global model for other water-scarce agricultural regions.
- Consumers can expect continued price volatility for California-grown produce as farmers navigate this transition to sustainable water management.
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Sources and methodology
Reported from the public datasets below.
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