FARMS. FOOD. FUTURE.

The Farms. Food, Future. (F3) Initiative is supporting agriculture in California’s Central Valley by developing new agriculture technology, growing food sustainably using regenerative farming practices, and offering cutting-edge training for quality jobs in the world’s food production capital.

 

The F3 Initiative was awarded $65 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge in September 2022 - the largest federal grant ever awarded to California’s Central Valley. Despite being the unrivaled food production region in the United States, the Central Valley struggles to spur, adopt, and commercialize innovation. To address these challenges, the F3 Initiative is positioning the Central Valley’s ag-based industry and farmers to be competitive, resilient, and sustainable.

 

The F3 Initiative is a system of three robust programs, called gears: F3 Innovate, F3 Local, and AgTEC Workforce. F3 Innovate is the nation’s hub for climate-smart agrifood technology and engineering, and is developing university-industry research for the growers and communities who need it most. The F3 Innovate gear includes a dedicated non-profit organization to support entrepreneurs, advance commercialization, build up the innovation ecosystem, and catalyze research collaborations. F3 Local connects small-scale farmers, food entrepreneurs, and communities with the tools, knowledge, and partnerships they need to grow. The F3 Local gear provides access to appropriate technology, business support, and local market connections—building a more inclusive and resilient food economy. AgTEC Workforce is developing a skilled workforce pipeline for sustainable food production and manufacturing. The AgTEC gear bridges the skills gap and prepares individuals for the future of agriculture technology, with an opportunity to obtain an AgSystems Certificate through local community colleges.

Together with its broad network of partners, F3 is supporting efforts to increase regional GDP from 2.1% to 3.0% annually, attract $250M in private investment, and create and/or fill more than 10,000 quality jobs.