Who We Are

CIFAR (“see-far”), founded in 1991, serves as a portal and catalyst for collaborative discussion, research and technology exchange between UC Davis and the agricultural, food/beverage, health, and integrated bio-refining industries. The primary vision and guiding principal for CIFAR is to help create a clean, sustainable, recycling economy based on agriculture for the generation of food, fiber, chemicals and materials. With its focus on value-added processing and new product development, CIFAR is unique in its ability to integrate the diverse needs and interests of the business, academic and legislative communities to create value across the entire agri-food chain.

CIFAR’s global network of affiliates, advisors and academicians are skilled at identifying new and synergistic opportunities and they have the experience to translate opportunity into tangible success. CIFAR is a transformative partner to those engaged in its global network and assists them in brokering relevant connections and identifying funding sources that match their specific needs and interests. Strong win-win relationships have already been established with several entities in China, Thailand, UK and Canada. CIFAR is the point-of-contact for the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology, and for UC and Canadian universities in biofuels and bioproducts space. These international ties, especially between China, California and Canada, are valued to all involved in the network.

CIFAR has a track record that speaks for itself. It has been a pioneer in biomass conversion, has developed roadmaps for the food industry, has administered 10+-year efforts in research, development and deployment of membrane technology for water management and of advanced processing and packaging (CAPPS) for the food industry. CIFAR’s partnership with Food Foresight since 1994 is internationally recognized as providing clear identification of current and future trends related to food and agriculture.

Faculty and student participation are at the core of CIFAR’s model of engagement, and have led to new opportunities for the campus, including Food and Health pioneering directories, the Olive Center, Phaff Yeast Collection, and CAPPS. CIFAR is an active partner with many UC Davis programs, including UC Davis’ Robert Mondavi Institute, Energy Institute, Foods for Health Institute and Global Healthshare®.

Active Areas of Focus:

1. Globally recognized Food ForesightTM trends and intelligence think-tank. CIFAR is the founding partner with Nuffer, Smith, Tucker, Inc. since 1994.

2. Energy/water Management in California’s food and beverage operations. CIFAR is funded by and partners with the California Energy Commission to bring best practices training and certification to ensure industrial competitiveness.  (September 2011 – October 2012)

3. Biorefinery Conversion Network covers ALL approaches to making agricultural crops and other underutilized residues and process effluent streams feedstocks for production of homegrown fuel, feed, fiber and numerous other bioproducts.
CREATE 

4. Convergence of Food, Nutrition, and Medicine. CIFAR is partnering and leveraging with other programs:

• Foods for Health Institute
• Global HealthShareTM
  
• Foods+Health Entrepreneurship Academy 
  

5. Food Production, Processing and Packaging Systems, that considers ALL technology, such as organic, conventional, and biotechnology with Information technology at its core.

Seed Central

Biotechnology Program  

6.  CIFAR Partner Relationships (funding beyond membership)  

• Consulate General of Canada’s “Food for Health Initiative”.
• Research Triangle Institute’s Center for Agricultural and Environmental Biotechnology.
• Sacramento Asian Chamber of Commerce and its first ever China Import Expo,
• CP Groups agricultural eco-park in Cixi. China.
• CHIC’s Group Global training programs in Jaiding, China.
• Co-organizing International conference with Jiangnan University State Key Laboratory in Food Science and Technology.

		Mission To create opportunities for collaboration, multidisciplinary research and technology exchange between UC Davis and the food and agriculture industries.
		Vision In collaboration with a breadth of strategic partners in the agri-food industry and academia, CIFAR facilitates research in agri-food technologies and energy resource management that can be effectively transferred and applied to the US food industry for achievement of sustained, global competitiveness.