News

Sep 3, 2026

California and the Australian state of Queensland ink new partnership to accelerate climate resilience, agricultural technology, and innovation

What you need to know: California and Queensland are developing a new partnership to advance agricultural innovation and climate resilience

SACRAMENTO – California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and representatives from Governor Newsom's administration recently welcomed Premier and Minister for Veterans David Crisafulli, Member of Parliament for the Government of Queensland, Australia, to ink a new memorandum of cooperation focused on agricultural innovation, biotechnology, and productivity.

As world leaders in agricultural production, Queensland and California are deepening opportunities to advance climate action on working lands and further innovation in agricultural technology and farm productivity.

Australia and Queensland are not only important partners for California, but share similar ambitions on climate, agriculture, and trade. This partnership provides the foundation for California and Queensland to leverage opportunities for our respective economies and further resilience on our working lands.

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis

The historic visit marks a new chapter in the partnership between California and Queensland. The partnership will collaborate on agricultural innovation, biotechnology and productivity through cooperation on:

• Research and innovation
• Commercialization and industry engagement
• Trade, investment and market development
• Skills and capability development
• Government collaboration

Under this partnership, the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries will create an action plan to implement the objectives of the memorandum of cooperation.

In California, this memorandum of cooperation aligns with the state's investment in the Jobs First California AgTech Alliance and the Farms, Food, Future (F3) initiative. The state's AgTech Alliance brings together founders, growers, and industry leaders to scale proven technologies, create career pathways for agricultural workers, and strengthen regional partnerships. F3 is supporting agriculture in California's Central Valley by developing new ag technology, enhancing sustainable farming practices, and supporting workforce development. Together, these complementary initiatives enhance innovation, ag tech, and workforce development across the state.

In Queensland, the government has launched the Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund, a $AU30 million investment fund to advance long-term agricultural production by supporting commercially focused innovation.

The visit also marked California and Queensland's shared commitment to supporting the success of the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As hosts to back-to-back Games, California and Queensland have a unique opportunity to deepen our partnership, share best practices, and build a lasting legacy that extends well beyond 2032.

How we got here

California has long been a key player on the international stage — from taking joint action on climate change to identifying new pathways and partnerships for sustained economic growth. During the Newsom Administration alone, California has formed over 70 international partnerships that lay critical groundwork for our continued economic success, while prioritizing workers and businesses that benefit from these new opportunities.

Golden State and global partnerships

• United Kingdom (2026): California and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding to tackle climate change and promote sustainable development together. The memorandum of understanding builds on an already strong history of cooperation, and focuses on areas for collaboration including clean energy technologies, climate resilience, decarbonizing transportation, and protecting the natural environment.
• Chile (2025): California and Chile signed a memorandum of understanding  regarding exchanging information, developing best practices, and cooperating on methane emissions reduction. Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, and the partnership between California and Chile opens up new opportunities for both partners to cooperate on methane reduction in waste, agriculture, and energy sectors.
• Colombia (2025): California and Colombia signed a partnership to advance joint efforts on forest conservation, methane reduction, climate resilience, and clean energy development. The memorandum of understanding deepens coordination on protecting the Amazon, strengthening biodiversity, and expanding nature-based climate solutions that support sustainable and equitable economic growth.
• Nigeria (2025): California signed a memorandum of understanding with Nigeria on sustainable urban transportation, green ports, low-carbon transportation fuels, climate adaptation, methane detection and abatement policies, greenhouse gas emissions and air quality, and academic exchange and university partnerships. The partnership will build upon our shared commitment to sustainable growth, accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation, and expand opportunities for the next generation.
• Brazil (2025): California signed a memorandum of understanding with the Brazilian federal government to scale up cooperation on climate, clean energy, cutting pollution, and job-creating climate opportunities. This new partnership, announced in September 2025, will advance market-based carbon pricing programs, expand clean transportation, including zero-emission vehicles and low-carbon fuels, and strengthen air quality management through enhanced monitoring and regulatory controls. The partnership also focuses on conserving 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030, including nature-based solutions and biodiversity protection. In 2025, California also advanced a partnership with the State of Pará to strengthen cooperation on wildfire prevention and response — enhancing forest monitoring, identifying areas most at risk, and sharing research and expertise to improve firefighting and emergency management.
• Kenya (2025): California signed a partnership focused on cutting pollution and supporting trade. The partnership advances medium- and long-term low-carbon development, policy research, development, and innovation in sustainable land use and urban planning that reduces long commutes and urban sprawl, while promoting integrated land use and transport systems.
• Noord-Holland (2024): California and Noord-Holland signed a Letter of Intent advancing next-generation air mobility — from drones to zero-emission aircraft. Joint innovation missions are producing pilot projects that inform California's Advanced Air Mobility Implementation Plan and readiness for major global events.
• Australia (2023): California signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Australia that helped inform the country's first-ever vehicle emissions standards through input from the California Air Resources Board. The California Public Utilities Commission and California ISO have also advised Australia on electricity market reform to better align incentives for renewable energy.
• British Columbia (2023): California and British Columbia signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual wildfire assistance that is delivering results. British Columbia sent incident management experts to support California's Palisades Fire in 2025, while CAL FIRE deployed personnel during British Columbia's 2025 fire season. These exchanges established a lasting framework for cross-border wildfire support.
• China (2023): California signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with China's National Development and Reform Commission, the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu, and the municipalities of Beijing and Shanghai to advance cooperation in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and developing clean energy.
• Denmark (2021): California and Denmark signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on groundwater mapping, leak detection, and water efficiency, which has modernized California's data systems and informed key state programs, like the Airborne Electromagnetic Survey. Danish technologies and expertise have helped strengthen drought and water-supply resilience statewide.
• Mexico (Baja California & Sonora): California signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora to advance zero-emission freight corridors, clean ports, and battery manufacturing — strengthening North American supply chains and workforce readiness. Joint forums have already produced new research collaborations and training programs advancing clean-tech.

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