Key Takeaways
- UC Davis has been granted a $25 million gift from the estate of late philanthropist Dan G. Best II to advance agricultural technology.
- The funding establishes three new endowed chairs in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
- A $12.5 million innovation fund will support student scholarships, faculty research, and facility upgrades.
- The gift honors C.L. Best, a founding leader of Caterpillar Tractor Co. and a pioneer in track-type tractor design.
Transformative Investment at UC Davis
The University of California, Davis, has received a bequest exceeding $25 million from local businessman Dan G. Best II. This gift is intended to provide foundational support for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, strengthening the university’s capacity for research in food, water, and sustainability. As a leading institution in agricultural sciences, UC Davis will utilize these funds to address evolving industry needs through engineering and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Endowed Chairs and Academic Growth at UC Davis
A $12 million portion of the gift has created the first three endowed chairs for the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. These positions are designed to support faculty members specializing in high-growth technical fields:
- Agricultural Big Data Analytics
- Robotics and Cyberphysical Farming Systems
- Controlled Environmental Engineering
These roles are structured to be symbiotic, allowing UC Davis researchers to translate theoretical innovation into deployable products for ag-tech startups and established industrial companies.
Infrastructure and the Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation
The gift arrives as UC Davis prepares to open the Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation in fall 2026. A specific suite within this facility will be named the C.L. Best Agricultural Innovation Robotics and Sensing Suite. This state-of-the-art space will focus on AI, big data, and plant breeding. According to Fadi Fathallah, chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, these resources act as a catalyst for the university’s top-tier programs.
Leadership Reflections on the Best Legacy
University leadership emphasized the historical and future significance of the donation. Chancellor Gary S. May noted that the investment secures the university's role in educating future leaders.
“We are deeply grateful to Dan Best for this extraordinary gift, which allows UC Davis to carry forward the legacy of C.L. Best by continuing to invent and respond to the evolving needs of the agriculture industry,” said Chancellor May.
Ashley M. Stokes, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, highlighted the global reach of the funding:
“Thanks to the tremendous generosity of Dan Best, our college will build on our first-rate programming and support for students, accelerate the interdisciplinary research of our faculty and staff, and continue advancing agricultural technology on a global level.”
Honoring a Century of Innovation
The gift commemorates C.L. Best, whose 1912 track-type tractor design remains the standard for modern machinery. Best was instrumental in the formation of the Caterpillar Tractor Co. in 1925. By anchoring this legacy at UC Davis, the donor ensured that the pioneering spirit of early 20th-century agricultural mechanization continues to inform 21st-century digital and robotic farming solutions.
