Resnicks pledge $50M for sustainability research

The University of California, Davis, recently announced that philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick, co-owners of The Wonderful Company, have pledged the largest gift ever to the university by individual donors. The $50 million pledge will support the school’s longstanding commitment to address today’s most pressing challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability.

The $50-million gift, announced at a news conference at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, will establish the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation, with $10 million of the Resnicks’ gift to be directed toward annual competitive research grants through the Resnick Agricultural Innovation Research Fund. Their donation also supports UC Davis’ $2-billion fundraising campaign, “Expect Greater: From UC Davis, for the World,” the university’s largest philanthropic endeavor to date.

“Protecting and preserving our planet for the future means we must take bold steps and push the boundaries of what’s possible,” said Stewart Resnick, who is also a member of the UC Davis Chancellor’s Board of Advisors. “UC Davis is at the forefront of tackling climate change, developing groundbreaking technologies and solutions to reduce our collective carbon footprint, and creating a more sustainable agriculture system. This gift aims to help our greatest scientific minds rise to the great challenge of our time — the sustainability of our planet for future generations. Lynda, I, and The Wonderful Company are proud to partner with UC Davis to support this all-important work.”

Classrooms, research and lab space

Design on the Resnick Center is expected to begin this year, with construction slated for completion by 2026. Once built, the new 40,000-square-foot, LEED-certified, state-of-the-art hub will house classrooms, research, lab spaces and student career and advising support near the current plant sciences buildings off Hutchison Drive in Davis.

This initiative will unite experts from across UC Davis focused on five thematic research areas including identifying innovative solutions for agricultural by-products, maximizing water and energy efficiencies, developing next-generation technologies, making crops more resilient and sustainable in the face of a rapidly changing climate, and expanding access to nutritious food. Ultimately, the center will explore new ways of balancing food production with leading sustainability practices while advancing the global agricultural industry with scalable solutions. 

“Thanks to this historic gift from Lynda and Stewart Resnick, UC Davis will further expand its global reach, helping to shape the future of sustainable food production,” said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. “This gift demonstrates a continued commitment to innovative environmental stewardship and allows us to create science-based solutions that can be rapidly deployed while mitigating the impacts of climate change.”  

The Resnick Agricultural Innovation Research Fund will provide grants to promote cross-collaboration and strengthen the network among research faculty, agricultural producers, food companies, pharmaceutical companies, commodity boards and other key stakeholders. Beginning this year, competitive research grants will be awarded annually to UC Davis faculty and Cooperative Extension specialists focused on identifying value-added properties in pistachio, almond and pomegranate by-products. 

“Many specialty crop by-products are treasure troves of compounds that can promote health, improve soil quality, influence microbial ecology or be converted into valuable products,” said Helene Dillard, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “This transformative gift will help increase the potential of these byproducts, enhance sustainability and create new markets.”

Support for scholarship recipients

The center will provide student advising and career support including for more than 60 Wonderful Scholars enrolled at UC Davis. The Resnick-created Wonderful Scholarship program was initially established to provide college scholarships to the children of Wonderful employees from the Central Valley. It has expanded over the last 28 years to also award college scholarships to Wonderful Education Career Pathways Program students, as well as graduates of the Wonderful College Prep Academy and neighboring schools. Many of these recipients are first-generation college students.

Deysi Alvaro Ceja, a Wonderful scholar who shared her story at the announcement, takes a selfie with Chancellor Gary S. May. (Photo by Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Deysi Alvaro Ceja, one of about 40 Wonderful Scholars in attendance at today’s announcement and a third-year plant sciences major, spoke at the event and expressed gratitude to the Resnicks. She said her parents, farmworkers in the Central Valley, stressed the importance of education to her and her four siblings early in their lives. Their family moved from Mexico to a small town near Fresno when Alvaro Ceja was 6 years old.

“The Resnicks’ scholarship has enabled me to stay focused on my education without worrying about not having enough money to pay for tuition,” she said. “The coaches and tutors have supported me every step of the way, and I have made amazing friendships.”

A history of philanthropy

The Wonderful Company, co-run by the Resnicks, is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, whose iconic brands include FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, Teleflora, JUSTIN, JNSQ, and Landmark wines. Every year, the Resnicks invest in education, community development, and health and wellness initiatives across the Central Valley and beyond, a place-based giving approach centered on investing in, listening to, and collaborating with the communities where their employees live and work. To date, the Resnicks have invested more than $2.3 billion in philanthropy, with more than $1.3 billion invested in environmental sustainability, to help combat climate change and preserve the planet for future generations.

“The Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation will be a game-changer for research and teaching,” said Shaun B. Keister, vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations. “Now, experts from diverse fields will have the critical resources and tools needed to train the leaders of tomorrow. The Resnicks’ vision is a testament to what philanthropic partnerships with UC Davis can achieve.”

Together, donors and UC Davis continually strive to advance and accelerate sustainability and social responsibility initiatives to create positive outcomes for the planet and people.