The Next California Phase III: Action and Implementation

The Next California project, now operating through the Delta Ag Alliance, seeks to increase specialty crop acreage in the Mid-Mississippi Delta from 0.19% to 3% by 2034. This transition is designed to unlock $3.2 billion in annual farmgate revenue and protect US food security as climate change forces production shifts away from California. The project employs a four-pillar strategy: farmer-led discovery, innovative funding structures (including operating loans and infrastructure funds), support for farmer-entrepreneurs, and public sector research alignment. Early pilots like Delta Harvest have demonstrated the economic viability of specialty rice, while other ventures like Peebles Organics and Delta Dirt Distillery showcase the potential for organic produce and value-added processing. To scale these efforts, the alliance is focusing on bridging the 'chasm' between early innovators and the early majority through targeted capital and the development of regional processing infrastructure.

• The project aims to increase the proportion of agricultural land in the Mid-Mississippi Delta producing specialty crops from 0.19% to 3% by 2034, which would add 461,347 acres and represent 3.41% of total US specialty crop acreage.
• The Delta Harvest pilot demonstrated that specialty rice can be more profitable than generic medium-grain white rice; in 2024, three farmers delivered 3.56 million pounds to Mars, earning an average profit of $100 per acre.
• A 'four-pillar approach' is required to scale the transition: (1) farmer-led discovery and due diligence, (2) innovative funding to de-risk investment, (3) support for farmer-entrepreneur initiatives, and (4) public sector support for universities and genetic research.
• Significant financial gaps exist for scaling specialty crops in the Mid-Delta, including an estimated need for $26.7 million in annual operating loans, $2.6 billion for on-farm equipment, and $227 million for infrastructure and processing.
• Local banks in the Mid-Delta often lack the expertise to underwrite specialty crop loans, leading to farmers being turned down despite having secured commercial contracts.
• The project proposes three specific funding mechanisms: an operating partnership between a local CDFI and AgLaunch, a Regulation A fund for infrastructure and processing to allow community investment, and the AgLaunch Farmer Innovation Fund for agtech.
• Buyer feedback from a September 2024 tour indicated that while there is interest in diversifying supply chains for security, buyers require the ability to 'fill a truck' to make sourcing from the Mid-Delta cost-effective.
• The project identifies 'shoulder seasons' (the gaps between summer and winter production in California and Arizona) as a strategic market entry point for Mid-Delta farmers to establish supply channels.
• To reduce food loss and increase farmer income, the project envisions a multi-faceted processing plant capable of handling different grades of produce in one facility, ensuring farmers are paid for all edible produce.

APA

WWF International (2025). The Next California Phase III: Action and Implementation. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1581/new_458_KURNIK_The_Next_California__Phase_III_REPORT_08_25_v04_Optimized.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. The Next California Phase III: Action and Implementation. 2025. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1581/new_458_KURNIK_The_Next_California__Phase_III_REPORT_08_25_v04_Optimized.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=The Next California Phase III: Action and Implementation |date=October 2025 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1581/new_458_KURNIK_The_Next_California__Phase_III_REPORT_08_25_v04_Optimized.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2025next, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{The Next California Phase III: Action and Implementation}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2025}, month = oct, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1581/new_458_KURNIK_The_Next_California__Phase_III_REPORT_08_25_v04_Optimized.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }