Applications are now open for the University of California’s Agricultural Natural Resources Connect program, a grower-informed commercialization initiative operated by UC ANR Innovate. The program is designed to help agricultural technology companies connect directly with California growers and industry professionals while demonstrating commercially available solutions in real-world production settings.
Applications will be accepted through September 18, with selected companies receiving commercialization support, direct feedback from growers and agricultural professionals, industry connections and an opportunity to demonstrate their technology at a live field day.
Program Focuses on Permanent Crop Technologies
The current application cycle is targeting commercially available technologies for permanent crops and other specialty crop production systems. Areas of focus include fresh fruit, pistachios, desert vegetables, table grapes, avocados, citrus and berries.
Rather than starting with technology companies and asking growers to identify potential uses, the program begins with challenges identified by California producers and agricultural professionals. That approach is intended to ensure participating technologies address real needs in the field.
According to the program, an advisory board and agricultural partners help define priority needs and evaluate whether applicants have commercially available solutions that are relevant to those challenges.
Connecting Technology With California Growers
The program provides participating companies with an opportunity to receive feedback from the people directly involved in agricultural production. That grower input can help companies better understand how their technology performs in commercial production environments and where additional improvements may be needed.
The live field day component also gives selected companies an opportunity to demonstrate their technology directly to growers and other agricultural professionals.
By bringing technology developers and agricultural stakeholders together, UC ANR Connect is looking to help move practical solutions from the commercial marketplace into California fields.
Companies with commercially available technologies that could address challenges in permanent crop production are encouraged to apply before the September 18 deadline.
Listen to the accompanying podcast for more details on the UC ANR Connect program, its current areas of focus and the opportunity for agricultural technology companies to participate.