About the Agricultural Research Institute

Building Partnerships

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.

Strengthening Research

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.

Collaborating in Education

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.

Improving California Agriculture

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:

  • Result in immediate and practical solutions for high-priority challenges confronting California's agricultural industries
  • Foster public confidence in food safety and agricultural research and production systems
  • Lead to consumer sensitive and environmentally sound food and agricultural systems
  • Extend higher education's benefits to California's fields, factories and homes
  • Produce regional and statewide economic development
  • Engender state-wide agricultural, environmental, and consumer benefits
  • Enhance CSU and UC faculty and student "real-life" learning opportunities
  • Produce results and models that are easily replicated and transferable

Cal Poly Pomona ARI Statistics

From the development of the ARI program in 1999 until current, the Cal Poly Pomona ARI has awarded 128 campus projects totalling nearly $9 million in ARI funding. These projects were submitted by over 50 faculty members. The table below demonstrates the amount of ARI Funding Awarded versus the external match received by fiscal year.

Fiscal Year
ARI Funding Awarded
Cash Match Received
In-Kind Match Received
Total ARI Funding & Match
1999-2000 $785,707 $651,303 $25,086 $1,462,096
2000-2001 $754,078 $550,813 $87,053 $1,391,944
2001-2002 $807,533 $855,258 $145,700 $1,808,491
2002-2003 $860,638 $891,370 $119,829 $1,871,837
2003-2004 $777,435 $617,945 $45,138 $1,440,518
2004-2005 $778,802 $620,064 $40,889 $1,439,755
2005-2006 $658,000 $862,690 $53,546 $1,574,236
2006-2007 $658,000 $890,025 $15,150 $1,563,175
2007-2008 $658,000 $955,704 $10,000 $1,623,704
2008-2009 $658,000 $492,007 $188,520 $1,338,527
2009-2010 $658,000 $188,927 $685,215 $1,532,142
2010-2011 $658,000 $433,639 $278,123 $1,369,762
Grand Total $8,712,193 $8,009,745 $1,694,249 $18,416,187

To date the ARI program has also funded five system-wide projects at Cal Poly Pomona which together were awarded nearly $830,000 of ARI funding.

Fiscal Year
ARI Funding Awarded
Cash Match Received
In-Kind Match Received
Total ARI Funding & Match
2002-2003 $75,920 $161,187 $32,448 $269,555
2003-2004 $80,009 $54,375 $0 $134,384
2004-2005 $84,220 $60,278 $110,514 $255,012
2005-2006 $80,070 $100,000 $0 $180,070
2006-2007 $79,151 $100,000 $0 $179,151
2007-2008 $97,181 $125,000 $0 $222,181
2008-2009 $101,920 $101,920 $0 $203,840
2009-2010 $103,716 $51,858 $51,858 $207,432
2010-2011 $125,499 $72,500 $72,500 $270,499
Grand Total $827,686 $827,118 $267,320 $1,922,124

Our student participation in ARI-sponsored projects continue to grow each year. Over a twelve year period over 200 graduate students and over 360 undergraduate students have participated in ARI projects. The table below represents the number of students who have participated in research projects each year.

Fiscal Year
Graduate
Undergraduate
1999-2000
18
73
2000-2001
12
29
2001-2002
21
52
2002-2003
46
77
2003-2004
31
44
2004-2005
51
53
2005-2006
20
25
2006-2007
12
14
2007-2008
9
19
2008-2009
10
20
2009-2010
17
10
2010-2011
Total
211
367
click here to see more ari projects Other ARI Campuses California State University, Chico California State University, Fresno Cal Poly SLO Students doing ARI projects