This Chapter of the California Food and Agricultural Code contains extensive list of duties and powers of the Department of Food and Agriculture of California. Namely, the department is tasked to promote and protect the agricultural industry of the state; seek to enhance, protect, and perpetuate the ability of the private sector to produce food and fiber in a way that benefits the general welfare and economy of the state; seek to maintain the economic well-being of agriculturally dependent rural communities in this state; prevent fraud and deception in packing or labeling, or in any phase of the marketing; prevent the introduction and spread of injurious insect or animal pests, plant diseases, and noxious weeds; issue regulations; undertake inspections; issue licenses, certificates or any other indicia of authority; provide a forecast that estimates the amount of production and growing need of food, fiber, livestock, and other farm products as well as other agricultural data, including irrigation technology and other on-farm water conservation measures, advances in crop yields and production techniques, alternate uses of crops, and the agricultural water needs based upon food security considerations. The department may also conduct surveys or investigations for pest control including any on infectious, transmissible, and contagious diseases of livestock and poultry; enter into an agreement with producer or other association to help them enter foreign markets; and engage in intergovernmental cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture or other agencies. Further, the Chapter creates the Food Biotechnology Task Force which shall evaluate factors including definition and categorization of food biotechnology and production processes; issues related to domestic and international marketing of biotechnology foods; potential benefits; and impacts to human health, the state’s economy, and the environment accruing from food biotechnology. Moreover, the Chapter also intends to support research on sustainable agricultural practices; ensure the inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of food and agriculture laws, regulations, and policies and programs; support operation of poultry and livestock disease laboratories; promote more research and education on sustainable agricultural practices, such as organic methods, biological control, and integrated pest managements, including the analysis of economic factors influencing the long-term sustainability of California agriculture; provide incentives to farmers whose practices promote the well-being of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their habitat; support and develop pest research; and when conflicts arise between sectors of agriculture, designate agricultural coexistence working groups to work towards conflict resolution.
美国 · 1967-01-01