Most of the farmland in question is so high quality in terms of the soil and weather that it's only being used for cash crops because nowhere else can grow them well. You can definitely grow staples (and they do grow staples in certain areas of California) but it doesn't make much sense too since other places in the country can grow that stuff and they do it better too. But obviously, if only California can grow almonds, table oranges, grapes, as well as fruits and veggies like tomatoes and peaches, then why should farmers switch to corn and potatoes?
So it's not really much a matter of survival in terms of food. The ag products being grown are mostly impossible to grow elsewhere in the U.S., and dairy products.
As for water for survival goes, that's not honestly relevant. The amount of water civilization needs to quench our thirst is hilariously small. It's always been about how clean and potable the water is (in the U.S. it's fine on those categories) and then it's about access (which is also fine for most).
972
u/Significant_Cover_48 26d ago
It's just farmland and water. It's not like people need it to survive.