UA Commission Urges Actions on Drying-Climate Food Production
A 42-page University of Arizona report recommends five actions to protect the state's food production as the climate dries.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Agriculture
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The University of Arizona released a 42-page commission report recommending five actions on food production in a drying climate. An implementation team will be appointed to begin transforming the recommendations into action over the next six months.
Why it matters
Arizona's food production systems are increasingly threatened by a drying climate, making coordinated planning a priority for the state. The report also recommends collaboration with other arid regions, reflecting that drylands cover 40% of the world's surface and produce 60% of its food.
The USDA provided a three-year, $4.7 million grant for climate-smart food production research tied to the commission's work. Drylands make up 40% of the world's surface yet produce 60% of its food, a comparison the report uses to frame the stakes.
The players
University of Arizona
A public research university in Tucson, Arizona, whose agricultural research includes desert and dryland farming programs.
Bobby Robbins
President of the University of Arizona, who convened the commission and has observed climate change in the Northern Sonora Desert.
Paul Brierley
Acting Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture, who chaired the commission that produced the report.
USDA
The United States Department of Agriculture, which provided the three-year, $4.7 million climate-smart food production research grant.
The details
University of Arizona President Bobby Robbins gathered a commission of experts in December 2022, chaired by Paul Brierley, acting Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture. The commission took nine months to prepare its 42-page report, which recommends five actions and establishes a path for collaboration with other arid regions.
Timeline
December 2022: Robbins gathers the commission of experts.
Nine months later: The commission report is prepared and released.
Over the next six months: An implementation team begins transforming the recommendations into action.
Industry Landscape
The commission's focus on dryland food production builds on USDA climate-smart agriculture research funding, which targets farming systems under climate stress. Arizona's effort positions the state's arid-region expertise alongside other drylands worldwide, given that these regions supply 60% of global food.
Arizona farmers and food producers could see new state-level planning and research collaborations aimed at sustaining production as conditions dry. The report's recommendations are not yet detailed, so practical effects on growers remain to be determined.
The takeaway
Drying conditions are reshaping how Arizona grows food, and the commission's plan points toward cooperation with other arid regions. Readers following agriculture policy should watch for the implementation team's first steps in the coming months.
What happens next
An implementation team will be appointed to begin transforming the commission's five recommendations into action over the next six months.
Further reading
For broader context on farming under climate pressure, explore Agriculture coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Farm Progress.
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