Connect with top executives and drive innovation.
By combining our business expertise and corporate partner network with UC Davis’ global leadership in food, nutrition and agriculture, you'll be prepared to drive innovation in the industry.
Take a Deep Dive into Food & Ag
Our Food & Ag Industry Immersion is a transformational experience.
As a student, opportunities include learning from industry leaders through fireside executive chats, conducting market research and collaborating on consulting projects. You'll meet with CEOs and senior executives at top agribusinesses and farming operations, from strawberry growers in California's rich Central Valley to wineries in Napa Valley. The program also offers first-hand experience with industry challenges and the chance to contribute to developing solutions for agribusinesses.
Build Your Network, Grow Your Knowledge
Discover the latest advancements in the industry, including new seed research, cutting-edge innovations to feed the world, pioneering agtech, and the power of data analytics—all areas where UC Davis researchers are leading the way. Explore the impact of organics and the development of new brands to meet shifting consumer demands, as well as innovative solutions for food waste, preservation, and recycling.
"UC Davis is well-known as the global epicenter of the food and agriculture technology startup ecosystem. There are world-renowned researchers, academic institutes, entrepreneurs, business experts and venture capitalists all networking daily. When it came to deciding where I should go for my MBA, the UC Davis Graduate School of Management was my number one choice."
— Lucas Haskins MBA 24, Poets&Quants Top 100 Best & Brightest MBAs, Venture Consultant
Intersection of Industry and Research
You will team up with graduate student food and nutrition researchers to tackle real business issues presented by industry leaders. Your contributions will help develop integrated solutions to challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and sustainability in providing food for all. Additionally, you will benefit from UC Davis' global leadership and extensive network in food, agriculture, and nutrition, preparing you for a rewarding career as a changemaker in the field.
“Because UC Davis is a pioneer in food and agriculture research located in the global innovation cluster in Northern California, the Graduate School of Management’s Industry Immersion program distinctively positions MBA candidates to become better leaders in shaping the future of food and agriculture companies.”
— Harold Schmitz, Partner and Co-founder, The March Group; Senior Scholar, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Recent Executive Speakers
- Justin Siegal, UC Davis Associate Professor and Entrepreneur
- Harold Schmitz, March Fund, Former Chief Scientific Officer, Mars, Inc.
- David Warter, Chief Beverage Officer, E. & J. Gallo Winery
- Matthew Weeks, Senior Manager, Co-manufacturing and Sourcing, E. & J. Gallo Winery
- Brant Scott, Vice President and Controller, E. & J. Gallo Winery
- Edward (Ned) Spang, UC Davis Associate Professor, Food Science & Technology & Director, Robert Mondavi Institute
- Dan Kurzrock, Co-Founder and Chief Grain Officer, UpCycled Foods Inc.
- Justin Shimek, Chief Executive Officer, Mattson
- Sandor Nagy, Chief Operating Officer, Driscoll’s of the Americas (DOTA)
- Ali Wing, Chief Executive Officer, Oobli
- Abby Wonnacott, People Partner, Oobli
- Suzanne Sengelmann, Chief Growth Officer, Lundberg Family Farms
- Vincent Asiago, Director R&D Portfolio and Innovation, HM.CLAUSE
- Melissa Massotti, HR Director, HM.CLAUSE
- Yu Shi, Vice President Technical, Innovation & Supply Chain, Coca Cola
- Larry Liu, CEO, Weee!
- Ying Chen, Founding Member and Head of Data, Weee!
Advisory Board
| Member | Affiliation | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vincent Asiago | HM.CLAUSE | Global Head of Quality, Health, Safety, Environment & CSR | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Ali Bolourchi MBA 12 | Tsar Nicoulai Caviar | Chief Executive Officer | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Damien Caton | Valley Milk | Chief Executive Officer | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Jack Clare MBA 04 | Mezzetta | Head of Information Technology | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Ejnar Knudsen | AGR Partners | Managing Partner | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Brijesh Krishnaswamy | ofi (Olam Food Ingredients) | Chief Commercial Officer (North America, ofi) | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Michelle Morales | Taylor Farms | Vice President, Operations, Deli Fresh Foods | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Sandor Nagy | Driscoll’s | Chief Operating Officer | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Erica Pattni | Rivalz | Chief Marketing Officer | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Nancy Quan | Coca-Cola | EVP and Global Chief Technical & Innovation Officer | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Harold Schmitz | The March Group | Partner | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Jon Sebastiani | Sonoma Brands Capital | Founder & Managing Partner | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Suzanne Sengelmann | Lundberg Family Farms | Chief Growth Officer | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Justin Shimek | Mattson | Chief Executive Officer | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Justin Siegel BS 05 | UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health and UC Davis Department of Chemistry | Professor & Faculty Director of the Innovation Institute for Food and Health at UC Davis | Connect on LinkedIn |
| Abigail Stevenson | Mars, Inc | Chief Scientific Officer | Connect on LinkedIn |
Scenes from Corporate Connections
(click on the photos for more details)
Top executives from HM.CLAUSE, one of the world's largest seed manufacturers, present live case studies for MBA students to team up to develop and present solutions.
Nancy Quan, executive vice president and global chief technical & innovation officer for The Coca-Cola Company is a regular guest speaker in the Food & Ag Industry Immersion.
Vincent Asiago, director of R&D Portfolio and Innovation at HM.CLAUSE, a global seed company, gives a presentation to MBA students.
The Food & Ag Career Fair is a great way to explore careers, learn about internships, project and employment opportunities, and network with future employers in the food and agriculture industry.
Dan Kurzrock, chief executive officer and co-founder of Upcycled Foods, delivers a guest lecture to MBA students.
Dean H. Rao Unnava and Julie Morris, academic director for the Food & Ag Industry Immersion, connect students with top executives.
Turkovich Family Wines in Wilton opened their doors to UC Davis MBA students to discussing the wine industry
