By 2040, the Central Valley will become home to nearly 12 million people – double the 2005 population, which was already greater than the populations of 38 states.
Urbanization in the Central Valley increased by 23 percent from 1990 to 2002.
Nearly 100,000 acres of California farmland are permanently committed to non-farming uses every year.
With California's population soon to exceed 40 million, Farm Bureau believes the state must have a strategic approach to growth in order to reduce urban sprawl. As people look for places to call home or shop, our most productive agricultural resources could be lost forever.
We recommend more efficient use of existing developed land to accommodate the growing population while continuing to supply that population with safe, affordable and reliable food.