UCR Seed to Scale Program Uses Hands-On Learning to Prepare Future Agricultural Innovators
Students in UC Riverside Innovation & Entrepreneurship's Seed to Scale Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) program stepped beyond the classroom on July 8 for a full-day entrepreneurial field experience, visiting two organizations that showcase different pathways for innovation in modern agriculture.
Led by instructor Dan Ovadya, the field experience connected classroom instruction with real-world examples of agricultural entrepreneurship, commercialization, and research. As part of UCR Innovation & Entrepreneurship's Seed to Scale program, the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) course introduces participants to the technical, business, and entrepreneurial foundations of controlled environment agriculture, equipping aspiring founders, researchers, growers, and industry professionals with the knowledge needed to bring innovative agricultural solutions to market.
The day began with a visit to From the Land LLC, a venture founded by Dr. Gina Oliver and Richard Hutchison, who first participated in UCR's agricultural entrepreneurship ecosystem as students. After completing UCR's 2023 community agriculture program, the team continued developing their business through the INNOVAR entrepreneurial course, where they refined their business model, validated customer demand, and strengthened their commercialization strategy through mentorship and customer discovery.
Their venture went on to win the 2023 SoCal OASIS® Pitch Challenge before securing a $250,000 Catalyst Fund award to launch their first community-based indoor micro-farm.
During the tour of From the Land's new four-acre agtech facility, students explored how sustainable agriculture principles are being applied in a commercial setting. The founders shared their entrepreneurial journey while showcasing innovative growing systems, energy-efficient infrastructure, and creative approaches to producing food in controlled environments. Students learned how entrepreneurship and innovation can address real-world agricultural challenges while building scalable businesses with community impact.
For students, seeing a venture launched by former participants in UCR’s agricultural entrepreneurship programs offered a tangible example of where their own ideas could lead.
"Touring From the Land's farm demystified what local agricultural businesses/entrepreneurial work can look like, especially from former students of this class," said Crystal Brachetti, Manager of the R’Garden/UCR Community Garden at UC Riverside. "'I'm inspired by Daniel’s way of instructing the course because he mixes his field/industry experiences with academic sources and showcases what it takes to be a modern-day professional in agricultural spaces."
In the afternoon, the cohort visited UC Riverside's Plant Research Facility (PR1), where students received a behind-the-scenes look at one of the university's premier controlled environment agriculture research facilities. The tour introduced participants to industry-scale greenhouse operations, advanced environmental control systems, and research technologies that support agricultural innovation. Students gained firsthand insight into how researchers leverage controlled environments to study plant growth, optimize production methods, and develop solutions that advance sustainable food production.
By experiencing both an emerging agricultural startup and a university research facility in the same day, students gained a broader understanding of the diverse career and commercialization pathways within the controlled environment agriculture industry. The field experience demonstrated how entrepreneurship, scientific research, and technology development work together to bring innovative agricultural solutions from concept to real-world application.
Experiential learning opportunities like this field experience are a cornerstone of UCR Innovation & Entrepreneurship's Seed to Scale program. Through technical education, customer discovery, mentorship, and direct engagement with entrepreneurs and industry leaders, the program equips participants with the knowledge and commercialization skills needed to transform innovative agricultural ideas into successful ventures.
"The Controlled Environment Agriculture course within UCR’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program has been an exceptional experience," said 2026 student Daisy Valdovinos. "The accessible content, user-friendly format, and the dedication of the instructor, Dan Ovayda, particularly regarding the community-building field trips, have inspired me to explore business opportunities in the agricultural industry."
The 2026 Seed to Scale Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) cohort is now closed. Those interested in participating in the 2027 program are encouraged to subscribe to the UCR Innovation & Entrepreneurship newsletter to receive updates when applications open by clicking here.
Applications are currently open for the Fall 2026 INNOVAR entrepreneurial customer discovery course, another program offered through Seed to Scale. Designed for innovators, researchers, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs, INNOVAR provides participants with mentorship, customer discovery, and commercialization training to validate ideas and build market-ready ventures. Applications close on October 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply by clicking here for the official INNOVAR program page.