The Smart Farm Big Idea seeks to develop smarter farming and food system solutions to meet the pressing challenges facing agriculture to ensure that people in California and throughout the world have access to safe, healthy and nutritious food.
Amid the grand challenges facing society today, food ranks high—specifically, how to ensure the sustainable, efficient and equitable production, processing, storage and distribution of food. This year demonstrated what can happen when events such as pandemics and wildfires cause massive impacts to agricultural food systems and ultimately to the communities that rely on access to safe, healthy and nutritious food.
The College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences is committed to supporting California to ensure that our agricultural industries and food systems are resilient and competitive for generations to come. The Smart Farm Big Idea will produce cutting-edge research and develop high-tech solutions to meet the needs of California agriculture and the people who rely on its products.
In collaboration with industry, community and philanthropic partners, Smart Farm seeks to capitalize on UC Davis strengths starting from soil health and seeds, through plant and animal sciences, to food processing and human health with the goal of advancing solutions that will have an immediate impact on people’s lives.
How you can get involved
UC Davis is looking to partner with donors, corporations and foundations to accomplish the following:
- Attract the best and brightest researchers and scientists by endowing faculty positions and cooperative extension specialists to conduct solution-driven research.
- Support the development of a new major in Agricultural and Environmental Technology for undergraduate students to combine traditional agricultural and environmental studies within a technology focused curriculum to prepare them for careers of tomorrow.
- Enhance and build state-of-the art facilities to advance critical research in key priority areas to ensure the future of sustainable agricultural and food systems.
- Provide seed funding for high-risk, high-reward research to support faculty in the development of new tools, technologies and solutions to meet pressing challenges.
Smart Farm programmatic themes
The College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences encompasses 14 departments across three divisions including agricultural, environmental and human sciences. The following interrelated themes draw upon the interdisciplinary excellence the college is known for and comprise our approach to developing smarter farming and food system solutions.
Resilience
As a changing climate drives up temperatures and alters seasonable cycles, we need interventions that ensure reliable crop growth, pollination and harvest. Learn more >>
Innovation
Advancing the capacity of sensors and robotics—along with data analysis—is key to sustainably producing food. Learn more >>
Equity
An equitable food system is one that creates a new paradigm in which all people—including those most vulnerable and those living in low-income neighborhoods—can fully participate, prosper and benefit. Learn more >>
UC Davis is committed to supporting a sustainable, innovative and equitable food system that supports a healthy California. We invite the philanthropic partnership of our alumni and friends in achieving this vision.