SECRETARY KAWAMURA AND STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE TO HOST NATIONAL ENERGY COALITION

Special session of the State Board scheduled for January 16, 2007

SACRAMENTO, January 10, 2007 – California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura and the California State Board of Food and Agriculture will host the 25x’25 Steering Committee, a national energy coalition dedicated to having 25 percent of total energy consumed in the United States provided by renewable resources by 2025. A special session of the State Board will be held January 16, 2007 at 2:00 pm, at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA.

“Following Governor Schwarzenegger’s vision to diversify California’s energy supply,” said Secretary Kawamura, “we are pleased to host this national energy coalition and explore viable options for California agriculture to meet future energy needs.”  Secretary Kawamura, representing the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), is a member of the 25x’25 Steering Committee.

The vision of the 25x’25 initiative is to have America’s farms, forests and ranches provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States, while continuing to produce a safe, abundant and affordable supply of food, feed and fiber. More than 330 national and regional agricultural, forestry, conservation, business, labor and religious groups, 22 governors and four state legislatures endorse the initiative. Another function of the forum will be to lay the groundwork for possible creation of a state 25x’25 alliance of leaders from the agricultural, business and environmental communities to explore how the 25x’25 vision can help accomplish state energy, environmental and rural development goals. Detailed information on the 25x’25 initiative can be found at www.25x25.org.

This special session of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture will feature a presentation by Dr. Steven Chu, Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on the Helios Project – a new research facility to process transportation fuels from biomass and solar energy.  “Innovation is California agriculture,” said Al Montna, president of the State Board of Food and Agriculture, “The science behind renewable energy technology can create new opportunities and prospects for California agriculture.”

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and secretary of food and agriculture of findings as they impact agriculture and consumer needs.  The board conducts forums that bring together local, state, and federal government officials, agricultural representatives, and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.

All California State Board of Food and Agriculture meetings are open to the media and general public.

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