A center that’s geared toward preparing Valley students for the agricultural technology jobs of tomorrow is now within sight of becoming a reality.

Victor A. Patton

The Merced FOCUS

Merced College officials and local leaders broke ground April 17 on the AgTEC Innovation Center, a $21 million state-of-the-art facility focused on agricultural techology, automation tech, and robotics.

The 22,000 square-foot AgTEC (Agrifood Technology and Engineering Collaborative) center is expected to be completed by late 2026/early 2027.

Center Features and Student Skills

It will include facilities and labs for processing nuts, vegetables, fruits and meat, in order to give students high-demand skills in agriculture, according to Cody Jacobsen, Merced College’s director of ag innovation.

Other highlights include a nutrition and food product development kitchen where students and industry partners can collaborate to test recipes and innovate new food products.

There will also be an on-site farm market that will allow students to experience direct to consumer sales while practicing food safety, customer service and small business operations.

Economic Impact and Industry Relevance

The value the building will bring to Valley students is immense, as California remains the nation’s largest producer and exporter of agricultural products, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture estimates that’s a $49 billion industry that generates at least $100 billion in related economic activity. Merced County’s agricultural commodities grossed an estimated $4.2 billion in 2023, according to the Merced County Department of Agriculture.

Merced College President Chris Vitelli said the AgTEC Innovation Center will serve as a hub for industry partnerships and economic development, in addition to giving students the skills they need to thrive in the ever-changing multi-billion dollar industry.

“We’re going to make sure that everyone that wants a career in ag within the Merced region and the Valley know that agriculture is in our DNA and it’s a pillar of our community and our educational program,” Vitelli said.

Vitelli said the center will provide a space that’s flexible for learning key job skills that are driven by industry needs.

Funding and Community Collaboration

Funding for the new center was made possible with help from the Fresno-Merced Future of Food (F3) initiative. In addition, Sen. Anna Caballero was able to obtain $15 million in state funding for the project.

Ashley Swearengin, president and CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation and former Fresno mayor, said she felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude Thursday, when considering the numerous individuals who played a role in making the AgTEC Innovation Center possible.

“I’ve seen over the last few years that people have come together to do the impossible and to truly lead the state in competency-based education and to break out of the mold and say ‘we are ready for the future, we’re showing up to support a new and different place for our community and our region,’” Swearengin told the audience gathered for the groundbreaking.

Rep. Adam Gray, an alum of Merced College, was among those on hand for Thursday’s groundbreaking. “We have venture capitalists from Silicon Valley relocating to the Central Valley. Why? because the future of agriculture is great,” Gray said. “The opportunities in ag tech, in the bio-circular economy are immense and incredible.”

The new AgTEC Innovation Center will be built on the north side of the main Merced campus, where the old Plant Science/Horticulture Facility is currently located. Jacobsen said that building will be torn down in the coming days to make way for the Innovation Center.

A new Plant Science/Horticulture Facility is currently being built, and is expected to open within a few months.

About the Author
Victor Patton is editor-in-chief of The Merced FOCUS.