Construction officially began on the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation Wednesday with an event celebrating the succeeding $ 64.4 million facility at the University of California , Davis .

The 32,000 straight - base edifice will house classrooms , research space , testing ground and an agricultural engineering robotics and sensing element fabrication shop . In gain to existential scholarship and collaborationism space , the readiness will domiciliate a student success hub , include pedantic and vocation advise for the Wonderful Scholars Program , a eruditeness program established by the Resnicks to support student from the Central Valley .

The new facility was made potential by the Resnicks ' $ 50 million gift to UC Davis in 2022 , which directed $ 40 million to the center while setting by $ 10 million for annual competitive research Grant to look into new function for agricultural spin-off from California ’s speciality craw .

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CA&ES Dean Helene Dillard , Chancellor Gary S. May , Wonderful party ’s Chief Operating Officer of Corporate Social Responsibility Andy Anzaldo and Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations Shaun Keister at the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation . ( José Luis Villegas/ UC Davis )

" The Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation foster our commitment to excellency in inquiry , learning and public table service , " Chancellor Gary S. May said during the ceremony . " It pave the way for progress that gain us all – from the fields of California to the far reach of the world . "

The inwardness will be home to expert from across UC Davis focalize on make crops more sustainable and springy , developing next - multiplication technology , expanding access to alimental food , maximize water and vigour efficiencies and identifying beneficial consumption for agrarian waste .

A hub for enquiry , learning and innovationHelene Dillard , James Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis , said the building represents a commitment to advancing agricultural practice and environmental sustainability travail through research , innovation and public armed service .

" The infinite will suffice as a hub where educators , students and industry leaders can come together and further a shared commitment for impactful research , spark new estimation and usher in a newfangled generation of agriculture – a generation that can leverage applied science and innovation across a host of discipline and inquiry topics , include genetics , phenotyping , bioinformatics , AI and robotics , " Dillard aver .

The building , which will be located between Hutchinson Drive and Extension Center Drive , was designed with flexibleness in judgment so that research can be ramped up quickly to understand which conception may have commercial viability .

" We are laying the introduction for a bright , more sustainable future for all , " Dillard say .

The Resnicks are altruist and possessor of The Wonderful Company , which produces a fruit , nut , flower , water and juice products . Andy Anzaldo , The Wonderful Company ’s chief operating officeholder of collective societal obligation , called the groundbreaking ceremony a pivotal here and now in the hereafter of sustainability and agriculture .

" Protecting the future tense of our major planet is one of the Resnicks ' highest priorities , " Anzaldo said . " It ’s why they ’ve committed to equipping next scientist and leaders with the prick they want to fight the growing clime crisis . "

He added that The Wonderful party ’s connexion with campus date back four decades .

" It ’s because of that recollective history that there is no good partner than UC Davis and we trust no one more to drive long - full term transformational innovation in factory farm , " he said .

Completion of the building is expect in 2026 .

" Today ’s ceremonial is about planting the seeds of innovation and collaboration that will grow along the direction , " say Shaun B. Keister , vice prime minister for Development and Alumni Relations . " And when the doors finally open , we will have a new nursing home for scientific find that will appropriate us to continue making positive changes in the world and inspire generations to come . "

Source : ucdavis.edu