Explore my projects and resources related to California's working landscapes and the bioeconomy.

California's Working Landscapes

California’s vast and diverse working landscapes are key contributors to regional, statewide, and national economies. In November 2025, a University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources team comprised of myself, Aaron Wilcher, and Alec Dompka finalized a report quantifying these contributions in 2024.

The report identifies nine segments of the working landscapes: agricultural distribution, agricultural processing, agricultural production, agricultural support, fishing, forestry, mining, outdoor recreation, and renewable energy. Collectively, these segments contribute significantly to the state’s economic vitality and account for many jobs in the labor market. In 2024, California’s working landscapes accounted for nearly 6% of total industry sales in the state, placing as seventh most important among all California sectors in terms of sales. The working landscapes sector supported nearly 1.5 million jobs and 75,500 businesses while generating $404 billion in sales and providing $103 billion in worker earnings.