A New Hub for Plant and Food Innovation
The Plant Sciences Complex is a new facility that supports hands-on teaching, research and industry collaboration in plant production, food systems and environmental stewardship. Anchored by the George Wurzel Plant Sciences Building, the complex brings together cutting-edge labs, research greenhouses, a farm store and produce facilities to prepare students for real-world careers in agriculture and food science.
Phase one includes the George Wurzel Plant Sciences Building, made possible by seed funding from the JG Boswell Company in honor of Cal Poly alumnus George Wurzel. Serving as the teaching and research hub, the building brings together interdisciplinary programs in flexible lab spaces designed for collaboration among students, faculty and industry partners.
The complex will also include a 60,000-square-foot high-tech greenhouse facility that provides hands-on experience in controlled environments and climate-resilient agriculture. Multiple production spaces and research labs support a wide range of crops and applied research activities.
The farm store, supported by a $5 million investment from Driscoll’s, will centralize Cal Poly–grown food for campus and community while giving students hands-on experience in retail operations, merchandising and marketing. A new produce packing and cooling facility will support fresh food access for campus, local schools and food banks.
Together, the complex unites multiple disciplines to address key challenges in food production, sustainability and agricultural innovation.