About Us

Who does VISTA serve? 

In 1988, the University of California Board of Regents decided to build a new university to serve the San Joaquin Valley. As the first American research university of the 21st Century and a member of one of the best university systems in the world, University of California, Merced was born in 2005 with a mission to address the world’s greatest challenges. 

The Valley Institute for Sustainability, Technology & Agriculture connects community, educational, and industry partners with the problem-solving power of UC Merced to build pathways to inclusive and climate smart innovation in the Central Valley.  

 

On campus, VISTA creates opportunities for:  

  • Students: Novel learning experiences and professional pathways for students 
  • Graduate students and post-doctoral scholars: funding to conduct specialized research and unique training on the river, in the field and across the food system 
  • Faculty: granting support, facilities, events—please contact us for support.  
  • Innovators: as part of the Office of Research and Economic Development we coordinate and support the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
     

We aim to solve food systems, agricultural and natural resources challenges through an inclusive innovation lens, VISTA supports high-impact, complex, interdisciplinary grants:  

  • F3 Innovate (US EDA, $65M): Climate-smart agrifood research and commercialization to serve everyone in the food and agricultural system, from students to farmworkers to entrepreneurs to growers.  
  • AgAID (USDA and NSF, $20M). “The AgAID Institute’s mission is to build and foster this partnership and create a transdisciplinary ecosystem for technology innovation and knowledge transfer.” 
  • Secure Water Future (USDA NIFA $10M).  “Data-driven solutions for sustainable agriculture and water conservation” 

VISTA supports the long-standing CITRIS or Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute—an Institute of Science and Innovation funded largely by the State of California. CITRIS UC Merced leads innovation in aviation, health, and equity and diversity in the STEM workforce.