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    Industries

    Agri-food tech

    Nestled at the epicenter of California’s agricultural heartland, Greater Sacramento is innovating across the supply chain, from farming to food processing to food and plant science. The region’s industry is fueled by an ever-growing pipeline of plant and food scientists from UC Davis—the #1 agricultural sciences university in the U.S. 

    #1

    ag science university in the U.S.

    2x

    U.S. average concentration of biological scientists

    1.8x

    U.S. average concentration of life scientists

    Sources: World University Rankings 2025, JobsEQ

    Global leaders in the region

    Bayer logo
    Blue Diamond Logo
    hm clause logo
    Sakata Seed Logo
    syngenta logo

    Agri-food tech specialties

    • Plant and seed research 
    • Microbiome and enzyme research 
    • Alternative and cultivated proteins 
    • Farm robotics 

    Expertise across the supply chain

    From discovery to distribution, foodtech and agtech solutions are built in Greater Sacramento for use worldwide. Experts across the industry have clustered in the region, facilitating connections and catalyzing innovation. 

    Agricultural inputs 

    International leaders like Bayer Crop Science, BASF, Novenesis and Syngenta host plant science and biotech research and development operations in Greater Sacramento. 

    Food production 

    Greater Sacramento is home to renowned producers like FRC, Muller Ranch and Morning Star. The region’s millions of acres of farmland produce billions in agricultural value. Top crops include wine grapes, processed tomatoes, walnuts, almonds and rice. 

    Food processing 

    The region is home to 200+ food processing businesses including industry leaders like Pacific Coast Producers, Nippon Shokken, Blue Diamond Almonds and Sunsweet. 

    Retail 

    Two grocery retail leaders, Raley’s and Nugget Markets, have their headquarters in Greater Sacramento, offering companies a direct line to bring their products to market. 

    Home of UC Davis, the country’s top ag science university 

    UC Davis is among the most published and cited U.S. research universities in agricultural, environmental, food and soil sciences. UC Davis has more than 2,300 acres devoted to agricultural research and teaching. The university is also home to the world’s largest and most productive academic research program in the study of grapes and wine. 

    #2

    for plant and animal sciences in the world

    $1 billion

    in research funding

    Sources: U.S. News & World Report 2025, QS World University Rankings 2025, UC Davis 

    UC Davis food and ag competencies and partnership opportunities: 

    • Technology transfer and economic development through patents, licensing and entrepreneurship 
    • Research on and production of clean plant materials for agricultural production 
    • Development of insect-resistant grape varieties for the wine industry 
    • Establishment of air quality standards with California’s Central Valley dairy industry 
    • Development of food safety partnerships with leafy-green growers 
    • Facilitation of growth in California’s seed industry 

    Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science 

    UC Davis’ Robert Mondavi Institute hosts world-class research and teaching facilities, including the world’s first winery, brewery and food and dairy processing facility certified as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum. The institute is home to three centers facilitating industry, research and educational efforts related to olives, honey and pollination and wine economics. 

    Foodtech and agtech incubators and research park

    BioSpace

    BioSpace at The Bridge District is a 1.4 million square-foot Class A life science campus situated in West Sacramento’s waterfront mixed-use development near downtown Sacramento. Phase I includes a purpose-built lab of approximately 430,000 square feet.

    Capitol Innovation District

    Capitol Innovation District is a 60-acre advanced biomanufacturing (including GMP/cGMP) development, allowing life science users to have dedicated biomanufacturing space only 2.5 miles away from BioSpace at The Bridge District at the Port of West Sacramento.

    Lab@AgStart

    The Lab@AgStart is the only integrated wet lab and food lab in Northern California. It features 13,000 square feet of shared wet lab, food lab and coworking space, including 52 lab benches, a fermentation and tissue culture lab and a commercial kitchen for food product development and prototyping.

    Bayer AG LifeHub California

    Bayer AG LifeHub California focuses on agriculture and food sustainability and features 6,000 square feet of office and wet lab space on Bayer’s vegetable research and development site in Woodland.

    HM.CLAUSE Innovation Center

    HM.CLAUSE Innovation Center is a public-private partnership between UC Davis and HM.CLAUSE with 3,100 square feet of wet lab space with 13 lab benches equipped for chemistry and molecular and cell biology research. It also features a greenhouse and open field space with trial capabilities.

    ThermoGenesis

    ThermoGenesis’ ReadyStart CleanRooms and IncuStart Wet Labs feature 35,000 square feet of shared office and lab space, cGMP ISO 7 clean rooms and 26 wet lab benches with shared equipment.

    Woodland Research and Technology Park

    Woodland Research and Technology Park is a 350-acre project planned just seven miles from UC Davis. The research park will house 2 million square feet of office and lab space focused on agtech, biotech, energy efficiency technology, manufacturing and environmental technology. The park will be a live/work community, including multi-family homes and 23 acres of parks and open space.

    Additional foodtech and agtech asssets

    The March Fund is an early-late stage foodtech venture capital fund headquartered in Greater Sacramento that focuses on transformative biotechnologies, machine intelligence and nutrition product businesses. 

    GSEC’s Food & Ag Council is comprised of esteemed industry professionals focused on aligning industry assets and resources, providing leadership on policy and initiatives and identifying new sources of capital for the industry. 

    Learn more

    Seed Central is a public-private partnership that facilitates communication and research between UC Davis and the seed and ag-biotech industry (including some 100 seed-related companies surrounding the university) to bring science to market faster. 

    UC Davis’ iCAMP (Integrative Center for Alternative Meat & Protein) is the first center of excellence dedicated to accelerating the commercialization of plant, fungal, fermentation and cell-based alternative meat and proteins to address global food security. 

    Business services

    Looking to relocate, expand or retain your business in the region? We’re here to help.

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