UC Merced’s smart farm is getting a smart barn.
The university will receive $3 million from the state of California, part of $80 million in funding to support 11 projects across California announced Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Jobs First Council.
The money will go to construct an agricultural technology barn at the site of UC Merced’s Agriculture Experimentation Station, known as the Smart Farm. The barn facility will be used for research and development, according to the governor’s office.
“This investment positions UC Merced as a driver of research and real-world solutions for California agriculture," Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said. "We’re excited to work alongside our partners to bring advanced research, collaborative innovation and workforce development to the heart of the Central Valley. Together, we’re building a resilient, technology-driven agricultural economy that will benefit communities, growers and the state for generations to come.”
Merced College was also allocated money for its own agricultural technology center. All told, the Community Foundation of Merced received $9.2 million of the funding announced Friday.
The $80 million includes nearly $29 million awarded to four projects intended to strengthen the ag tech and farm equipment sector, targeting workforce development, ecosystem support, and infrastructure for the for several California regions, including the Central Valley.
The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources received $15 million to develop the California AgTech Alliance to serve as a statewide network to convene regional actors, promote workforce development, launch an accelerator fund and support business attraction.
“We’re not just talking about creating jobs and growing our economy – we’re putting real dollars to work right now in communities across California,” Newsom said. “These investments will build momentum and deliver measurable progress in the months and years ahead, providing regions in every corner of the state with new tools to create good-paying jobs and strengthen local industries from the ground up.”
