The Seed Biotechnology Center at the University of California,Davis,recently called on members of the agriculture, biotechnology and seed industries to help meet a $2.5 million, fundraising goal set to establish an endowed chair position at the center.
The position is being created in honor of Dr. Kent Bradford, the center’s founder and director, and a plant sciences professor.“Reaching this goal will allow for the ongoing management and operation o f the center and help to preserve its leading position in research and education,” said Helene Dillard, Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Limagrain, the world’s fourth largest seed company, responded to the call by announcing that it will make a gift of US $500,000 to help establish the endowed chair position. The announcement was made on March 12, at the Seed Central eventat UC Davis, a monthly gathering of industry professionals, students and professors organized through the SBC. “At Limagrain,we recognize the value of long-term relationships and investments in the future. This gift is aligned with our strategic goal of supporting the future of the seed industry, not justin France,but around the world,” said Daniel Chéron, CEO of Limagrain. ‘‘At Limagrain, we recognize the value of long-term relationships and investments in the future. This gift is aligned with our strategic goal of supporting the future of the seed industry, not just in France, but around the world.”
The company’s partnership with UC Davis originated through its relationship with HM.CLAUSE, a Business Unit of Limagrain with headquarters in Davis,California as well as in Portes-lès-Valence, France.“For over 100 years, UC Davis been a world leader in plant breeding and agricultural science. The university has paved the way for research breakthroughs in genomics, plant breeding and seed science that have benefited not only the ag industry but consumers at large,” said André Cariou, Vice President of Global Sales for HM.CLAUSE.
While the gift from Limagrain is the first contribution in support of this initiative,it is expected that other organizations from the seed industry and the wider agricultural community will soon follow suit.
For more information on this initiative, please visit:
http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/About_US/An_Endowment_for_the_Future/