Bridging the Knowledge Gap: CIPA’s Capitol Education Efforts Highlight Oil’s Role in Food Security

For decades, CIPA has been a consistent, steady voice in the State Capitol, educating lawmakers and staff on the indispensable role that oil and natural gas play in California’s economy, energy reliability, and national security. But as political rhetoric increasingly isolates the oil industry as a problem to be solved, CIPA’s mission to share facts and foster understanding has never been more critical.

A recent piece in The Crude Life titled “From Seed to Shelf: Energy and Ag’s Forgotten Partnership” offers a timely and insightful reminder: petroleum and agriculture are not adversaries; they are co-dependent pillars of modern life. From the fuel that powers farm equipment to the petrochemical-derived fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation materials, packaging, and cold storage, petroleum makes the global food supply chain possible.

Petroleum’s contributions don’t stop at the farm gate. Every refrigerated truck, grocery distribution center, and retail shelf relies on fossil fuels to ensure perishable food reaches consumers safely and affordably. Even the plastic wrapping that preserves freshness and prevents waste is a petroleum product.

Despite these realities, most policymakers are unaware of the depth of this partnership. That’s why CIPA’s legislative education program remains essential. For years, CIPA has hosted capitol briefings, arranged educational site visits, and provided direct engagement to lawmakers and their staff, focusing not only on upstream production issues, but also on the thousands of downstream applications of petroleum and its byproducts in everyday life.

CIPA’s message is simple and factual: California’s energy policy doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Restricting domestic production without realistic alternatives endangers food affordability, energy security, and economic stability.

As the 2025 legislative session unfolds, CIPA will continue to build bridges of understanding. With agriculture, trucking, construction, and countless other sectors depending on oil and gas, CIPA’s role in the capitol is more important than ever.