Specialized
Teaching and Research Facilities
As a student you have access to a number of specialized facilities that serve as living teaching and research labs. These facilities support Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing approach, giving students hands-on experience across real-world agricultural systems.
Animal Health Center
The Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center supports the next generation of leaders in veterinary medicine, animal ag and healthcare, with multi-use spaces for teaching, research and clinical training.
Experience Innovation Lab
Taking advantage of cutting edge technology the lab empowers students, professionals and organizations to study, research, innovate and move the experience industry forward with data-driven design.
Agricultural Technology Center
The Boswell Agricultural Technology Center houses multiple labs focused on: culinary, sensory analysis, food safety, teaching and research instrumentation and nutrition and food studies.
Farm-to-Fork Curriculum
Students follow the journey of food from production to consumption through hands-on learning. You’ll gain real-world experience in growing, processing and understanding food systems, while exploring the impact on communities and the environment.
Cal Poly Dairy
This student-supported dairy is where students learn all aspects of daily operation from production, processing and products technology.
Cal Poly Creamery
Part of the largest dairy science program in the country and where students craft award-winning cheeses and ice cream.
Food Pilot Plant
At this on campus facility students work with industry professionals to make, market and sell chocolates, jams, sauces and condiments.
Meat Processing Center
Offering students experience in all stages of meat processing from harvesting to packaging at the J and G Lau Family Meat Processing Center.
Swanton Pacific Ranch
Located in Santa Cruz County, the 3,200-acre Swanton Pacific Ranch is a working ranch comprised of redwood forests, riparian ecosystems and coastal grasslands overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Faculty and students actively pursue research opportunities, utilizing the forest, rangeland and watershed resources within the ranch.
From Seed to Stock
From farmland to ranches and seeding to foaling, our students have access to every aspect of the process.
Equine Center
Comprised of a 60,000-square-foot covered riding area, as well as multiple barns, the Oppenheimer Family Equine Center houses numerous enterprises and teams.
Animal Nutrition Center
This state-of-the-art teaching and research facility is designed to give students first-hand experience in all aspects of feed production with up-to-date industry technology.
Living Laboratories
Adjacent to Cal Poly’s campus is nearly 6,000 acres of research facilities including 70 acres of citrus, avocados, grapes, deciduous orchard, berries and a certified organic production field.
Vertical Farm
This vertical indoor farm — where crops are cultivated vertically through use of towers — includes six independent hydroponic systems for research and production instruction.
Land Management and Cultivation
Whether it's managing and conserving or growing, packaging, marketing and selling, you have the chance to learn it all.
Ranch and Conservatory
The 450-acre Bartleson Ranch and Conservatory offers research opportunities for fruit and soil science, and horticulture students.
Leaning Pine Arboretum
Nestled on five acres, this living classroom featuring a stunning landscape representing the world’s five Mediterranean climate regions.
Horticultural Unit
Consisting of 35,000 square feet of greenhouses, a 5,000 square-foot retractable roof greenhouse and the Poly Plant and Floral Shop.
Plant Sciences Complex
This six-acre complex will feature new teaching and laboratory spaces, greenhouses, a packing and cooling facility and a farm store.
Center for Wine and Viticulture
Home to a state-of-the-art, 5,000-case bonded 15,600-square-foot winery, the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture provides students with a learning environment that prepares them for the wine industry. The facility also includes viticulture and enology labs, lecture/reception areas and shared offices for faculty and students in the 2,000-square-foot E. & J. Gallo Winery & Family Building.
