Reservoir Farms Hired Christine Birdsong

The former California Department of Food and Agriculture leader will oversee government relations.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Agriculture

Reservoir Farms Hired Christine Birdsong

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Reservoir Farms has appointed Christine Birdsong as its head of external affairs. She will manage policy work in Sacramento and oversee partnerships with academic and research institutions.

Why it matters

The company aims to address agricultural labor shortages and rising input costs through new on-farm technology. This leadership shift supports their planned expansion into new U.S. and international markets.

Reservoir Farms operates a 40-acre testing hub in the Salinas Valley. The firm recently secured a $10 million research partnership with John Deere and is raising a $50 million venture fund.

The players

Christine Birdsong

She is the newly appointed head of external affairs for Reservoir Farms who previously served as an undersecretary for the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Danny Bernstein

He is the founder and CEO of Reservoir Farms.

John Deere

This is a global corporation that manufactures agricultural machinery and has entered a research partnership with Reservoir Farms.

The details

Christine Birdsong joins the company after leaving the California Department of Food and Agriculture in August 2026. She will focus on managing relationships with land grant universities and community colleges to drive operational growth.

2024: Reservoir Farms launched conceptually.
March 2026: The firm held its grand opening.
August 2026: Christine Birdsong left the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Monday, September 21, 2026: Reservoir Farms announced the hiring of Birdsong.

Market Landscape

This move follows the industry trend of hiring veteran regulators to navigate policy hurdles as companies scale labor-saving automation technologies. It positions Reservoir Farms to compete more aggressively in the broader agricultural technology market.

As the firm expands, local growers may see new technology deployments designed to mitigate rising labor costs. These shifts could lead to more efficient on-farm processes for regional agricultural businesses.

The takeaway

Companies in the agricultural sector are increasingly turning to former government officials to bridge the gap between policy and technology implementation. This trend highlights the growing importance of regulatory alignment in scaling modern farm equipment.