Key Takeaways:
- Hestia Venture Partners acquires Davis Research Station, a 40-acre ag-tech research facility in Davis, CA.
- The facility is adjacent to UC Davis, a leading agriculture and food science university.
- The new tenant, backed by Bayer AG, focuses on ultra-high protein, climate-resilient chickpea varieties.
Hestia Venture Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in prop tech, climate tech, and targeted real estate assets, has announced the acquisition of Davis Research Station, a 40-acre agricultural technology research facility in Davis, California. The facility includes an office, lab, greenhouse spaces, and extensive acreage for row crops. It is strategically located next to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), a globally recognized agriculture and food science institution.
Strategic Location and Partnership
Rebecca Stafford, Founding Partner of Hestia, expressed her enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “We are thrilled to be the new stewards of this unique research facility and to provide a home for companies innovating and commercializing more resilient crops and foods.” The facility’s proximity to UC Davis is particularly noteworthy, as the university is a hub for innovation and start-ups in agriculture and food science.
New Tenant Focused on Sustainable Agriculture
In a move that validates Hestia’s investment thesis, the firm has welcomed a new tenant to the Davis Research Station. The tenant is an agri-food technology company that originated from research conducted by a UC Davis professor and is financially backed by global life sciences firm Bayer AG. The company is at the forefront of developing ultra-high protein, climate-resilient chickpea varieties. These chickpeas can be used in various products, from whole beans to gluten-free flour and protein isolates, offering scalable and sustainable ingredients.
A Boost for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture
The acquisition of Davis Research Station by Hestia Venture Partners marks a significant step in fostering innovation in sustainable and resilient agriculture. By providing a dedicated space for research and commercialization, Hestia aims to accelerate the development of technologies that can address the challenges posed by climate change and food security.
The partnership with the new tenant, backed by Bayer AG, further underscores the facility’s role as an incubator for cutting-edge agricultural technologies. It also highlights the growing interest and investment in sustainable agriculture solutions that can meet the demands of a changing climate and a growing global population.
Photo by Beth Macdonald on Unsplash
