Cal Poly Pomona will receive $18.5 million from the 2022-23 California budget as part of a $75 million investment in the four California State University campuses with university farms to support programs combatting the effects of climate change on the agriculture and food industries.
California is the nation’s leader in food production with a nearly $50 billion agriculture industry. Cal Poly Pomona is the only university in Southern California that offers four-year and graduate agriculture degree programs preparing graduates to be changemakers and leaders in the industry.
The $75 million investment from the state will be equally split among Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU Chico and CSU Fresno to support state-of-the-art facilities and equipment that give students and faculty new opportunities for research in climate-smart agriculture. With this investment, campuses can accelerate their contributions to the livelihood of the State of California as learning laboratories for agricultural innovation, sustainability and cutting-edge practices.
During the budget process, Cal Poly Pomona proposed three climate-smart agriculture projects — an apiary lab, an investment in leading-edge agricultural equipment, and a plant processing lab to help meet the increasing demand for plant-based protein alternatives products, which can decrease greenhouse gas emissions by contributing to decreases in meat production. These projects are currently under review for cost and feasibility based on the state’s funding commitment.
A Cal Poly Pomona apiary lab would expand hands-on research opportunities in finding solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change on declining bee populations, which have a major impact on food production. Bee pollination accounts for about $15 billion in added crop value annually.
The investment in upgraded agriculture equipment would provide students with access to additional state-of-the art tools and equipment, which combined with recent investments in drones and sensors, will allow students to develop improvements in sustainable agricultural practices, increasing productivity and protecting our environment by reducing water, pesticide and fertilizer use.
The university also proposed a plant processing lab to meet the growing demand for tasty plant-based protein alternatives. Los Angeles is the largest food processing center in the state. A local plant-based food processing center at the only Southern California university with food and agricultural programs would provide unique opportunities for innovation in ethnic food products as well as sensory testing of products with targeted customers. Additional funding is needed to move this project forward.
“Our talented students and faculty are already leading innovation in the agriculture and food science industries,” said Martin Sancho-Madriz, interim dean of the Huntley College of Agriculture. “And with this commitment of state funds, they will have access to additional state-of-the-art technology to increase their ability to contribute to climate-forward research and drive change in agriculture.”
The Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture is the university’s founding college and trains future leaders in the farming, food, animal science and fashion industries. Students engage in hands-on learning at the college’s facilities, ranging from the campus farm and citrus groves to vineyards and livestock units, including the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center.
The funding for university farms included in the budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom highlights the critical role of education and workforce development in transformative change in the agriculture industry and in helping California meet its ambitious climate goals. The funding was supported by State Senators Connie Leyva (D-20) and Josh Newman (D-29) and State Assemblymembers Phillip Chen (R-55), Blanca Rubio (D-48), and Freddie Rodriguez (D-52).