Technical assistance for regenerative agriculture and farm operations for disadvantaged latine farmers on the central california coast

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Advocacy and Outreach awarded $741,752 on September 30, 2025, to the Sustainable Systems Research Foundation under the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (CFDA 10.443). This three-year project, with completion scheduled for September 29, 2028, will deliver comprehensive technical assistance and support services to Latiné farmers on the central California coast. The deliverables include farm business management training, financial literacy education, climate-smart agriculture guidance, market access development, and conservation planning assistance designed to enhance their participation in USDA programs and sustainable farming operations.

This award reflects the program's broader mission to equitably support socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers through capacity-building services. The Sustainable Systems Research Foundation, a tax-exempt nonprofit based in Scotts Valley, California, brings established expertise in delivering culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach to underserved agricultural communities. The project builds on the foundation's prior work in regenerative agriculture across Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties and represents a continued commitment to advancing agricultural sustainability and farmer equity in California.