3 Davis Organizations Named "Agricultural Game Changers"

Three Davis-based organizations have been deemed “game changers” in the agricultural industry this year.  

Grow-California announced that 14 California agricultural businesses have been chosen as the 2011 "Game Changers of the Year" in the Agriculture Innovation category. They include the , Marrone Bio Innovations and AgraQuest, all of which are based in Davis.

The award winners -- a combination of agribusinesses, agricultural technology companies, university initiatives and innovative nonprofit programs -- will be recognized by California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross at a luncheon during the inaugural California Agriculture Innovation Conference scheduled for July 20-21 at UC Davis's .

Conference organizers believe this is an opportunity to turn the Central Valley into an agribusiness technology hub, similar to what the Silicon Valley has become for high tech. 

Grow California says the conference is an important step in maintaining California's leading role as the world's premier provider of food and fiber.

"The 14 California 'Game Changers' in Agriculture Innovation were chosen from 300 original nominees and 100 finalists," a release said. "The final choices were made by a selection committee comprised of representatives from investment banks, venture capital funds, academia and the California agriculture industry."

No other city had three organizations represented. Modesto and Fresno both had two.

The 2011 Game Changers are:

• SureHarvest, Soquel - Sustainable Agriculture Innovation
• Robert Mondavi Institute Teaching & Research Winery, Davis - Innovations in Science & Education Initiatives
• National Ag Science Center, Modesto - Innovative Community Initiative
• Musco Family Olive Company, Tracy - Energy & Agriculture Innovation
• Western Growers, Irvine - Food Safety Innovation
• Agrian, Fresno - Ag Tech Innovation
• Marrone Bio Innovations, Davis - Raising Capital
• Paramount Farms, Lost Hills - Innovative Marketing & Sales Campaign
• E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto - Innovation in Distribution & Logistics
• Blue Diamond Growers, Sacramento - Global Market Leadership
• PureSense, Fresno - Water/Irrigation Innovation
• Creative Research Management, Stockton - Manufacturing & Processing Innovation
• Lundberg Family Farms, Richvale - Innovation in Organics
• AgraQuest, Davis - Sustainable Ag Technology Innovation