How will climate change impact California's billion-dollar strawberry, grape, and citrus industries? A research project out of Cal Poly Pomona aims to find out.
"Given that climate change is happening so fast, climate conditions ask, 'How can farmers plan for it?'" Gabriel Granco, lead investigator and a geography professor, said in a statement."Are we using areas that we will maintain or remain suitable? Are we developing new areas in locations that would not be suitable in the future? One point for us is to define suitability — to have the appropriate or good climate, soil and good terrain for the crops to grow.
The project will send students out into the fields to collect data. The project will also bring in USDA national and state satellite data along with information gleaned from other local agricultural sites, including Cal Poly Pomona's Spadra Farm and the nearby Huntley Vineyard.