California Agricultural Technology Institute

In the early 1980s, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (CAST) established the California Agricultural Technology Institute (CATI). CATI was established to serve as an umbrella organization for research centers within CAST; these presently being the Center for Agricultural Business (CAB), the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT), the Center for Food Science and Nutrition Research (CFSNR), the Viticulture and Enology Center (VERC), and the Advanced Technology Information Network (ATI-Net). In addition, CATI was also established to serve as an advocate for the College in establishing and maintaining relationships with agencies associated with the agricultural industry and those serving in the interests of local, state, and national governments. From its inception, the stated purpose of CATI was to “improve the economic efficiency, productivity, profitability, and survivability of California agriculture.” And so it has been. Indeed, as grant and contract activity grew, so did the reputation of CATI. Eventually, a mandate by the state legislature led to the establishment of a line-item allocation within the CSU budget that now supports the activities of CATI.

Most recently, the passage of the California State University Agricultural Research Initiative (CSU/ARI) by the California state legislature has provided another avenue of opportunity for CATI (http://ari.calstate.edu). The CSU/ARI is a multiple campus collaborative partnership between four CSU colleges of agriculture, those at California State University, Fresno, California State Polytechnic University, California State University, Chico, and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and the state’s agriculture and natural resources industries and allied business communities. In this initiative, CATI serves as the central administrating body. Funding from the CSU budget is allocated to CATI for distribution to the respective CSU colleges of agriculture.

Since its inception, CATI and its research centers have focused on identifying and addressing those issues of highest priority in agriculture; building partnerships between academia, government, and the agricultural industry; developing programs for the training of individuals in academia, government, and the agricultural industry; and disseminating the latest information through publications, conferences, seminars, and the internet. As it developed, CATI has also supported the development of graduate and undergraduate academic programs through faculty and student participation in applied agricultural and natural resource research projects. As academic programs within CAST have developed, the need to address complex scientific, technological, and business issues has also engendered cross-disciplinary projects, thus fostering an environment of collaboration with other colleges and schools.

Top

Viticulture and Enology Research Center

The Viticulture and Enology Research Center (VERC), one of the research and development centers under the auspices CATI, is an internationally recognized applied research, development and education facility. VERC’s mission is to “develop and apply new and emerging technologies related to viticulture, enology, and food processing in cooperation with the appropriate industries, governmental agencies, academic departments of CAST and other universities.” VERC also provides technical support for client industries. The research objectives of the center are to develop and improve existing materials, methods, processes, practices, systems and products used in the wine industry. It is intended that these objectives will promote the creation of new jobs, enhance the environment, and improve the quality of life within the State of California.

With the support of the university and the viticulture and enology industries, VERC has developed state-of-the art research and processing facilities. In addition to many acres of on-campus vineyards, the center also has research, pilot and production-scale wineries. These wineries are the first commercial wineries on a college campus in the U.S. VERC works with the Department of Viticulture and Enology and other departments to offer an assortment of study, research, internship and employment opportunities to both graduate and undergraduate students. Students are offered the opportunity to enhance their academic training through participation in research projects. Industry funded scholarships and research assistantships help fund the college educations of students pursuing careers in viticulture and enology.

Top

Department of Viticulture and Enology

After the creation of CATI and VERC, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (CAST) formally established the Department of Viticulture and Enology during the 2000-01 academic year. This department combined and integrated existing academic programs within CAST with the research programs of VERC, thus formulating new undergraduate and graduate degrees. The new curriculum emphasizes the development of a broad-based in-depth knowledge of fundamentals relevant to viticulture and enology and provides sufficient additional courses to obtain emphasis in areas of interest within these fields. This rigorous academic program is accompanied by the opportunity for practical, hands-on training through participation in one of the many research projects and outreach programs provided by VERC or any of the other CATI centers and initiatives, including the CSU/ARI. Undergraduate and graduate students who have participated in these projects and programs have planned and conducted research, prepared reports, presented their results at professional meetings. Students studying the application of innovative technology have contributed to the development of new and more advanced research techniques, thus increasing the efficiencies in both the growing of grapes and in wine making. Many of the students who have conducted research have become employed within the grape and wine industry in the state, nation, and around the globe.

Top

Close Window