California’s vast Central Valley is a food-producing powerhouse with over 13,500 farming enterprises producing 350 commodities annually, including 60% of the nation’s fruits and nuts and 30% of its vegetables. Despite this agricultural bounty, 45% of the region’s workers struggle to put food on their own tables, unemployment is twice the national average, residents are exposed to the worst air quality in the nation, and communities live with contaminated water from the legacy of traditional farming practices.
Yet, these challenges are an opportunity. An adjacent, higher-value “engineering for agriculture” innovation cluster is emerging from the region’s unique industry concentration of supply chain, research expertise and specialized infrastructure. The region is ideally positioned to develop and commercialize solutions for climate-adaptive food production needed locally and around the world, creating high-quality jobs across skill levels for Central Valley residents.
The F3 Initiative drives both economic growth and equity — spurring inclusive innovation and commercialization with supports that proactively engage small farmers and entrepreneurs alongside multinational companies; building a seamless talent development pipeline; and catalyzing local market growth of the small-scale farm and food industry. As a result, over four years, F3 will increase regional GDP from 2.1% to 3.0% annually; attract $250M in private investment; and create/fill more than 10,000 quality jobs that pay 60% more than current, low-paying jobs.
In addressing economic, agricultural, and climate challenges, F3 is transformational for resiliency and competitiveness of the region and nation.
F3 Innovate Welcomes New CEO
The F3 Innovate Board is pleased to welcome Priscilla Koepke as Chief Executive Officer for F3 Innovate. With an impressive background in climate-smart tech innovation, security, and global policy, she is an ideal fit for F3 Innovate’s ambitious vision and goals. Her previous role as Head of Global Mission Solutions at Hayden AI saw her leading AI-powered climate resilience projects. At Conduent, she served as Head of Strategy & Product and Chief of Staff, where she advanced sustainable transportation solutions and cultivated key government partnerships.
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