California agriculture and the state's colleges and universities have been partners in education since the 1870s. However, during the past 25 years the California State University's agricultural colleges' role has changed dramatically from that of primarily a teaching function to one of both teaching and providing applied research, outreach, and technology transfer to the state's farmers, ranchers, and consumers through university-industry partnerships. Basic and applied research conducted by the California State University and University of California systems have played an essential role in developing California agriculture's nearly $28 billion economy.
The ARI is a California State University (CSU) multi-campus applied agricultural and environmental sciences research consortium comprising the CSU's four university campus colleges of agriculture: California State University, Fresno; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; and California State University, Chico.
In addition to member campus collaboration, the ARI also encourages and facilitates research partnerships with other university and professional scientists such as those from the University of California (UC), the UC Cooperative Extension, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Significant achievements have been realized through these partnerships.
ARI projects and programs are designed to pursue research activities that have a high probability of improving the economic efficiency, productivity, profitability, and sustainability of California agriculture and its allied industries. ARI programs lead to consumer sensitive and environmentally sound food and agriculture systems and foster public confidence in food safety and agricultural research and production systems. ARI faculty and research scientists explore promising concepts in the agricultural and environmental sciences and technology that:
