Reservoir Farms Hired Former CDFA Official Birdsong
The ag-tech firm added Christine Birdsong to manage government relations and institutional research partnerships.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Agriculture
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Reservoir Farms has appointed former California Department of Food and Agriculture Undersecretary Christine Birdsong as its head of external affairs. The company is currently scaling its operations to address farm labor shortages and rising input costs.
Why it matters
The hire signals a shift toward formalized government and academic integration as the firm scales its research efforts to address pressing labor and cost challenges in agriculture. This move follows a strategic push to bridge the gap between high-tech agricultural innovation and policy.
Reservoir Farms currently operates a 40-acre hub in the Salinas Valley and is managing a $10 million research partnership with John Deere. The company is simultaneously raising a $50 million venture fund to support its growth initiatives.
The players
Christine Birdsong
The new head of external affairs for Reservoir Farms who previously served as Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Reservoir Farms
An agricultural technology company that operates a testing hub in the Salinas Valley and maintains a research partnership with John Deere.
Danny Bernstein
The founder and CEO of Reservoir Farms.
John Deere
A global manufacturer of agricultural machinery that entered into a multi-year research and development partnership with Reservoir Farms.
California Department of Food and Agriculture
The state agency responsible for overseeing agricultural policy and food safety standards.
The details
Birdsong will focus on managing policy work in Sacramento and fostering partnerships with land grant universities and research institutions. These collaborations are designed to accelerate the deployment of agricultural technology on farms facing labor shortages. This institutional strategy complements the company's 40-acre test site and its active research and development efforts with John Deere.
Timeline
The Reservoir Farms site launched conceptually in 2024.
The firm held its grand opening in March 2026.
Christine Birdsong left her role at the California Department of Food and Agriculture in August 2026.
The company announced Birdsong's appointment on Monday, September 21, 2026.
Market Landscape
The firm's move reflects a broader trend of agricultural startups professionalizing their government and institutional relations to navigate complex regulatory environments. This strategy follows industry discussions regarding automation and policy support seen at the 2026 Ruggedize conference.
Operators should monitor how the company's new policy and university partnerships influence the availability and cost of new agricultural technologies. Watch for shifts in institutional research output as the firm leverages its $50 million fund to expand into new markets.
The takeaway
The hiring of a former state undersecretary highlights the critical role of government relations for ag-tech firms scaling research partnerships. Operators should track these high-level institutional alliances as indicators for upcoming shifts in technology accessibility and regulatory support.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts and developments in the state, visit our Agriculture section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Agri-Pulse Communications.
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