Beverly Hills billionaires give UC Davis $50 million to build agricultural research hub
Beverly Hills billionaires David Zaslav and Jeffrey Katzenberg are funding a $50-million agricultural research hub for California University of Davis, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
California Agriculture Commissioner Steve Poizner also announced the project Friday.
The project will be “a major breakthrough for California agriculture” and will serve as a “model for other states to follow,” he said in a statement.
“This initiative demonstrates the commitment of our farmers, ranchers, and agriculture business leaders to grow California’s economy while strengthening our nation’s security and strengthening our defense,” Poizner said. “This project can truly be the economic engine that fuels California’s future.”
The project will be called the California Agricultural Research Center at Davis, which will receive about $10 million more than the amount pledged by Zaslav and Katzenberg, according to the Times. The remainder of the funding is to be allocated to other research projects that will strengthen California’s agriculture industry.
The two billionaires donated $12.5 million to UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi, the Times reported.
The project, set to begin construction next year, is an expansion to the agricultural research center that Poizner said is needed to help the university grow to serve as “a world leader in research and teaching.”
“This is exactly what we need for a world-class research university,” Poizner said, “one that can be known as the premier university in agriculture.”
California Department of Food & Agriculture officials estimate the center will create over 3,000 jobs and bring in $150 million annually in economic activity.
The news was first reported by The Sacramento Bee.
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