DAVIS, CA — Monday, May 11, 2026 — In a move designed to fundamentally accelerate how food innovation reaches the market, the University of California, Davis Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH) and Food Frontier™ today announced a strategic collaboration that connects one of the world’s leading food research institutions with one of the most productive agricultural regions on the planet, and a global network capable of scaling what emerges.
At a time when food companies face mounting pressure to deliver healthier, more sustainable products—while navigating complex supply chains and shifting consumer expectations—this collaboration establishes a new model for commercialization: one that integrates scientific discovery, agricultural production, culinary influence, and market execution from the outset.
Anchored in the Sacramento Valley, a $30 billion food and agriculture economy with 1.5 million acres of farmland, more than 7,200 farms, and a dense network of innovators. The collaboration creates a living, end-to-end innovation platform where ideas can be developed, validated, and scaled in real-world conditions.
“This is about collapsing the distance between breakthrough science and market impact,” said Justin Siegel, Faculty Director of the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health and Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis. “Too often, innovation stalls between discovery and adoption. By fostering engagement between academia and industry, from farm to kitchen to consumer, we are making the foods we love healthier for all people and the planet.”
The collaboration combines IIFH’s world-class capabilities in nutrition science, food technology, metabolic health, and biotechnology with Food Frontier’s strength as a strategic connector and operator across culinary, institutional, and commercial networks. Together, they will activate pathways that bring innovation into restaurants, supply chains, and consumer markets, where adoption is ultimately determined.
“This collaboration is exactly what Food Frontier was built to do,” said Meghan Phillips, co-founder of Food Frontier. “Our mission is to advance the Sacramento Valley as the world’s preeminent region for food innovation—and that means connecting global leaders in food systems research, like UC Davis, with the people, markets, and narratives that drive adoption.”
Michelin-star Chef Brad Cecchi, co-founder adds, “What makes this partnership so powerful is the ability to bring world-class science into a region uniquely equipped to translate it and to actually test and taste it, and position it for impact at a global scale.”
Through network activation, strategic advisory, and innovation storytelling, the collaboration will support commercialization pathways for emerging technologies, ingredients, and products, while also pursuing joint funding opportunities and initiatives that advance early-stage ventures and translational research.
This effort creates direct access to a fully integrated innovation ecosystem, linking world-class research, real-world testing environments, and global market connectivity. It also positions the Sacramento Valley not just as a center of agricultural production, but as a defining hub for the future of food innovation.
Together, IIFH and Food Frontier are building a model that creates infrastructure for innovation to accelerate timelines, reduce risk, and unlock new growth opportunities across the food system.
About the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food & Health
The UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH) works to make the food we love healthier for all people and the planet. By leveraging strategic partnerships with leading food companies, investors, foundations, entrepreneurs, and academics, IIFH drives interdisciplinary research and accelerates the commercialization of groundbreaking technologies. The Institute creates impact across four core areas: breakthrough research that advances healthier foods and ingredients; talent development that cultivates the next generation of innovators; uncommon connections that unite diverse partners across the ecosystem; and market impact that enables new products and companies to improve health while preserving the joy of eating.
About Food Frontier™
Food Frontier™ works to advance the Sacramento Valley as the world’s preeminent region for food innovation. Founded by industry leaders, Food Frontier leverages strategic partnerships with companies, institutions, chefs, investors, and global networks to strengthen and amplify the region’s $30 billion food and agriculture economy. The organization creates impact across three core areas: network building and activation that connects stakeholders through convenings, international study missions, and partnerships; innovation championing that elevates breakthrough ideas through storytelling, media, and strategic positioning; and advisory services that support commercialization, market entry, and growth.
Media Contacts
Antoine Abrieux, Innovation Institute for Food & Health
+33 6 17 39 61 90 | [email protected]
Marissa Pickard, Innovation Institute for Food & Health
916-599-5551 | [email protected]
