Transformative Gift Propels UC Davis’ Leadership in Ag Tech

The University of California, Davis, has received a bequest of more than $25 million from the late philanthropist Dan G. Best II to advance agricultural technology and innovation. This significant investment will fund endowed chairs, student scholarships, and facility improvements within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. By strengthening the university's research capabilities in robotics, AI, and sustainability, the gift ensures UC Davis remains at the forefront of solving global food security and climate resilience challenges.

The $25 million gift honors the legacy of C.L. Best, a founding leader of Caterpillar Tractor Co. whose 1912 track-type tractor design remains the standard for modern machinery. The funding is split into two primary components: $12 million to establish three endowed chairs in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and $12.5 million for the C.L. Best Innovation in Agriculture Fund. This fund is designated to support faculty and staff research, student scholarships, and critical facility upgrades, providing foundational support for the university’s top-ranked agricultural programs.

A central piece of this expansion is the upcoming Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation, scheduled to open in fall 2026. The facility will house the C.L. Best Agricultural Innovation Robotics and Sensing Suite, a state-of-the-art space dedicated to robotics, sensing, AI, and big data applications in farming. According to Fadi Fathallah, chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, the three new endowed chairs will play a crucial role in translating academic research into deployable products, directly supporting AgTech startups and established companies in bringing new technologies to the field.

This investment comes at a time when UC Davis is ranked first in the nation for both agriculture and forestry and biological and agricultural engineering. The gift is expected to act as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration, addressing symbiotic challenges such as energy efficiency, workforce issues, and climate-resilient crop production. By bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical farming practices, the university aims to accelerate its impact on global food systems and maintain its leadership in the rapidly evolving AgTech sector.