In this issue:
CalCAN Summit Recap
Welcome Kristine!
NHSPN Convening
Merrill Appointed to EPA
Take Action!
Jobs
Funding
Events

Support CalCAN's 2023 Vision

2022 CalCAN Summit Recap

In November, we hosted our two-day CalCAN Summit at University of California, Davis and at farms in the surrounding Yolo county area. With nearly 400 attendees and 50 speakers, we enjoyed the opportunity to connect and strengthen relationships in-person. If you missed the Summit or would like to learn more about the two-day event, visit our blog or access the series below. 

• Reflections on CalCAN’s Summit 2022 by Executive Director, Renata Brillinger
• Insights from the Healthy Soils Science Workshop by Policy Associate, Anna Larson
• Reflections on the Movement by Advocacy & Organizing Manager, Tessa Salzman
• Recap of Farm Tours by Policy Director, Sandra Nakagawa

return to top

Welcome Kristine!

I am thrilled to introduce you to Kristine Rebiero, CalCAN’s new Development & Communications Director. She brings two important qualities to the role: a strong background in communications, and both a personal and professional connection to agriculture. 

She has over 12 years of experience in agriculture communications and marketing and most recently served as the Sustainable Agriculture Communications Lead at Sustainable Environmental Consultants, serving a number of food and farming clients on their public relations communication strategy. Earlier in her career, she worked as marketing coordinator for Yosemite Farm Credit, giving her familiarity with the practical realities of keeping farm businesses viable.

Kristine is a third-generation California native and lives in Modesto where her grandparents arrived from the Azores and where most of her family has remained. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business with a minor in mass communication and journalism from CSU Fresno and then a Master of Science in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University. 

As we were getting to know each other, Kristine told me that she sees herself as a bridge between the environment and agriculture, a role that resonates with us at CalCAN. On behalf of the CalCAN team, I’m excited to welcome Kristine, and I encourage you to reach out to her at kristine@calclimateag.org. 

— Renata Brillinger, CalCAN Executive Director

return to top

NHSPN In-Person Convening Summary

Directly following November’s CalCAN Summit, the National Healthy Soils Policy Network (NHSPN) met in Davis, CA for our In-Person Convening. NHSPN is a national group of farmer-centered non-profits, that serves as a clearinghouse and resource-sharing platform for advancing state healthy soils and climate smart agriculture policies.

This convening was the 2^nd ever in-person gathering since the group’s inception in 2018. To learn more about NHSPN and to read the summary of the discussion, visit our blog.

return to top

CalCAN's Former Policy Director
Appointed to EPA Advisory Committee

Jeanne Merrill, CalCAN’s Policy Director from 2009 - 2022, was recently appointed to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC) of the US Environmental Protection Agency. The FRRCC provides policy advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator Mike Regan on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities. 

There are a total of 37 members on the committee from across the country, and Jeanne will be one of three Californians. She brings 25 years of experience in agricultural, environmental and rural issues to the role, more than half of this time spent at the helm of CalCAN’s policy work influencing and advancing California’s trailblazing climate smart agriculture programs and climate plans and goals. Jeanne joins the FRRCC at a time when Administrator Regan has announced a new role for the FRRCC: to evaluate the agency’s policies and programs at the intersection of agriculture and climate change, looking at how EPA’s tools and programs can best support farmers and ranchers in their efforts to reduce emissions and accelerate a more resilient food and agriculture system. Jeanne’s familiarity with California climate and agriculture policy and programs give her the tools and knowledge to inform this important federal conversation.

return to top