Dear Colleagues:
I am thrilled to share the news that Gov. Newsom announced today an award from the California Jobs First Council of $28.6 million to a coalition of partners supporting the state’s agricultural sector, ag tech and food systems innovation. That partnership was organized by UC ANR Innovate, with strong support from the amazing staff within our UC ANR Office of Contracts and Grants.
Within that $28.6 million for ag tech and farm equipment, UC ANR Innovate will receive $15.1 million – the largest single award to date from the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative – to launch the state’s first coordinated agricultural innovation network.
This single, statewide ag tech network will connect and coordinate California’s nine food-producing regions to accelerate technology, support entrepreneurs, prepare the workforce of the future, and ensure the latest breakthroughs are shared quickly and equitably across the state.
Moving ideas from the lab into the hands of growers and producers – of all sizes – is more crucial than ever, as California’s agriculture sector faces drought, extreme heat, wildfire smoke, pests, diseases and labor issues. Through California’s first statewide ag innovation infrastructure, we hope to bring new technologies and skills to producers and farmworkers in a more streamlined, accessible and equitable way.
The statewide network and investment hub will align priorities, deploy $2 million in innovation grants, connect startups with investors, and provide tools to navigate regulatory and market barriers. Entrepreneur support programs will accelerate commercialization of new technologies. And investments in the workforce will build the talent pipeline needed for adoption of emerging tools.
These efforts will be supported by UC ANR academics and staff, alongside a host of tremendous partners, including California Department of Food and Agriculture, Western Growers Association, California Farmworker Foundation, Agricultural Council of California, UC Santa Cruz, Center for Land-Based Learning, and regional partners across the state.
To learn how you can further engage and participate, contact Gabe Youtsey, UC ANR chief innovation officer, at gdyoutsey@ucanr.edu.
My thanks to Gabe and his team for all their work in making this possible. I look forward to sharing more developments on this exciting new initiative soon.
Glenda Humiston