Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation

Mock up of the a building in UC Davis.
$50 Million Gift Funds

New Center for Agricultural Innovation

The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is dedicated to transforming agricultural science through innovation and technology and its commitment to serving the public through research, academics and public service.

The Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation is a testament to the advancement of agricultural practices and a commitment to environmental sustainability.

The space will serve as a hub where educators, students and industry leaders come together and foster a shared commitment for impactful research, spark new ideas and usher in a new generation of agriculture—a generation that can leverage technology and innovation across a host of disciplines, including genetics, phenotyping, bioinformatics, AI and robotics.

This building was designed to give us the flexibility to try new ideas and scale up research quickly so that we may better understand which concepts have the potential for commercial success.

It will house areas dedicated to our core belief in experiential learning and student participation in research including a digital, AI and big data lab, student design and collaboration hub, robotics testing lab and fabrication shop.

We recognize that we have exciting and vital work to do and our relationships and partnerships help us advance our best ideas in ways that serve a variety of people and communities. 

It is because of our collaboration with industry and the public that we can develop solutions for agricultural sustainability that align with our commitment to address major topics such as climate change, agricultural, environmental and social sustainability.

The Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation serves as a model for future philanthropic gifts and partnerships, and as a template for combining the expertise of academia with the support of private industry to actualize real-world solutions.

“Protecting and preserving our planet for the future means we must take bold steps and push the boundaries of what’s possible. This gift aims to help our greatest scientific minds rise to the great challenge of our time — the sustainability of our planet for future generations. Lynda, I, and The Wonderful Company are proud to partner with UC Davis to support this all-important work.”

—Stewart Resnick, philanthropist and co-owner of The Wonderful Company 

Lynda and Stewart Resnick stand beside two students in Wonderful scholars shirts.

 

Related Links

Celebrating the announcement, from left: Shaun Keister, vice chancellor of Development and Alumni Relations; Chancellor Gary S. May; Stewart Resnick; Lynda Resnick; Deysi Alvaro Ceja, a third-year plant sciences major; Christopher Simmons, professor and chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology; Helene Dillard, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and Jim Carroll, university architect and associate vice chancellor of Design and Construction Management. (Stefanie Keena
Celebrating the announcement, from left: Shaun Keister, vice chancellor of Development and Alumni Relations; Chancellor Gary S. May; Stewart Resnick; Lynda Resnick; Deysi Alvaro Ceja, a third-year plant sciences major; Christopher Simmons, professor and chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology; Helene Dillard, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and Jim Carroll, university architect and associate vice chancellor of Design and Construction Management. (Stefanie Keenan)
CA&ES Dean Helene Dillard, Chancellor Gary S. May, Wonderful Company’s Chief Operating Officer of Corporate Social Responsibility Andy Anzaldo and Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations Shaun Keister at the groundbreaking of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation. (José Luis Villegas/ UC Davis)
CA&ES Dean Helene Dillard, Chancellor Gary S. May, Wonderful Company’s Chief Operating Officer of Corporate Social Responsibility Andy Anzaldo and Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations Shaun Keister at the groundbreaking of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation. (José Luis Villegas/ UC Davis)
Renderings of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation. (José Luis Villegas/ UC Davis)
Renderings of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation. (José Luis Villegas/ UC Davis)

FORWARD-LOOKING DESIGN

  • Two-story, 32,000 square foot multidisciplinary research facility
  • LEED-certified center with classrooms, research labs and maker spaces
  • Dedicated career and advising space for students interested in agriculture
  • Campus hub for agricultural and environmental resilience that celebrates interdisciplinary experimentation

FINDING TOMORROW’S SOLUTIONS

  • Maximizing sustainability by finding new ways to use agricultural byproducts, waste and other bioresources
  • Developing next generation technologies by devising tools that guide precision in water management, data gathering, robotics and more
  • Strengthening crop resilience for a changing climate
  • Preparing tomorrow’s leaders to be future innovators