In 2022, philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick, co-owners of The Wonderful Company, pledged the largest gift ever to the university by individual donors. The $50 million pledge supports the school’s longstanding commitment to address today’s most pressing challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability.

The $50 million gift has established the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation, with $10 million of the Resnicks’ gift directed toward annual competitive research grants through the Resnick Agricultural Innovation Research Fund. This donation also supports UC Davis’ $2 billion fundraising campaign, “Expect Greater: From UC Davis, for the World,” the university’s largest philanthropic endeavor to date.

Design on the Resnick Center has begun with construction slated for completion by 2026. Once built, the new 40,000-square-foot, LEED-certified, state-of-the-art hub will house classrooms, research and lab spaces, and student advising support near the current plant sciences building off Hutchison Drive in Davis.

This initiative will unite experts from across UC Davis focused on five thematic research areas including identifying innovative solutions for agricultural byproducts, maximizing water and energy efficiencies, developing next-generation technologies, making crops more resilient and sustainable in the face of a rapidly changing climate, and expanding access to nutritious food. Ultimately, the center will explore new ways of balancing food production with leading sustainability practices while advancing the global agricultural industry with scalable solutions.