--- title: "High-Yield Innovation: Western Growers Association’s Incubator" id: "35190" type: "post" slug: "high-yield-innovation-western-growers-associations-incubator" published_at: "2016-09-30T22:03:41+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:48:08+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/09/30/high-yield-innovation-western-growers-associations-incubator/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/09/30/high-yield-innovation-western-growers-associations-incubator.md" excerpt: "The agricultural trade group, which launched its incubator last year, hopes to not only drive innovation within its industry but also give the incubator’s home base of Salinas, California, a major boost." taxonomy_category: - "Business Development" taxonomy_post_tag: - "agtech" - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Cuba" - "industry partners" - "Innovation" - "Sponsor" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" - "For-Profit CEO / President / Owner / Partner" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » High-Yield Innovation: Western Growers Association’s Incubator The Western Growers Association knows a thing or two about cultivation, but the trade group’s recent crop has been technological in nature. Last December, the trade group opened [its Center for Innovation and Technology (opens in a new tab)](http://www.wginnovation.com/) in Salinas, California, with the goal of turning it into a major hub for solving some of the industry’s toughest problems and providing [a way for entrepreneurs to work with local growers (opens in a new tab)](http://www.wginnovation.com/innovators) . It’s an area where the association anticipates significant growth. “We have diminishing natural resources,” said Western Growers CEO Tom Nassif [in comments to the Monterey Herald (opens in a new tab)](http://www.montereyherald.com/article/NF/20151211/NEWS/151219935) . “The future of ag depends on technology, new technology.” [A CBC News report from earlier this week (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/salinas-computer-science-program-1.3779690) framed the initiative as one of a few innovative strategies that could help bridge the gap between the poverty-stricken Salinas region, which grows four-fifths of the lettuce produced in the United States, and nearby Silicon Valley. The center, which offers workspaces for ag-tech entrepreneurs for $500 per month, complements efforts by the city, local universities, and nearby entrepreneurs to equip local residents with new state-of-the-art skill sets. Nearby Hartnell College, for example, has launched a program that allows students to earn a computer science degree in just three years—many under scholarships offered by the foundation of prominent flower-grower Andrew Matsui. Western Growers’ technology center may have a place for some of those graduates, according to Lisa Dobbins, the center’s consulting manager. “We have three companies that are currently hiring, and their priority is to find local talent,” [Dobbins noted to the CBC (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/salinas-computer-science-program-1.3779690) . “The City of Salinas has really opened up and wanted to bridge Silicon Valley in terms of bringing ag and tech together.” The center, which works closely with [the startup incubator Thrive (opens in a new tab)](http://thriveagtech.com/) , has the backing of a swath of the agricultural and business world, with firms such as Bayer, Monsanto, Toro, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Coastline Family Farms [providing sponsorships (opens in a new tab)](http://www.wginnovation.com/#Sponsors) . (via the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology Facebook Page) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#agtech](https://associationsnow.com/tag/agtech/) [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Cuba](https://associationsnow.com/tag/cuba/) [#industry partners](https://associationsnow.com/tag/industry-partners/) [#Innovation](https://associationsnow.com/tag/innovation/) [#Sponsor](https://associationsnow.com/tag/sponsor/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoPartnerships that Drive Success: ASAE Strategic Partnership AllianceAugust 26, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/26/partnerships-that-drive-success-asae-strategic-partnership-alliance/) - [VideoGenerate Leads and Brand Awareness: Master the ASAE MarketplaceJune 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/18/generate-leads-and-brand-awareness-master-the-asae-marketplace/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Industry Partner Edition-Sponsorships That Deliver Real ValueJuly 9, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/09/associations-now-presents-industry-partner-edition-sponsorships-that-deliver-real-value/) - [Video2025 Sponsorship Recap VideoJune 17, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/17/2025-sponsorship-recap-video/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F09%2F30%2Fhigh-yield-innovation-western-growers-associations-incubator%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !