Announcing a New Program in Sustainable Agriculture
FoundationCCC announces the new SHIFT Aviation Project, which advances the widespread adoption of zero-emission autonomous aircraft throughout the agricultural industry by demonstrating its viability, benefits, and opportunities in California and beyond. Funded by a $9 million grant through the California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission, this investment represents a critical pathway toward sustainable food production by reducing the industry’s carbon footprint while simultaneously improving operational efficiency.
The SHIFT Aviation Project aligns with the California Community Colleges’ climate goals, which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 and creating new educational and career opportunities in emerging green technology sectors.
The economic and practical benefits of zero-emission autonomous aircraft will create new opportunities for agricultural service providers and position early adopters as leaders in the transition toward more sustainable farming practices. This project is designed to help meet growing food demands while protecting our natural resources.
FoundationCCC serves as the technical grantee and fiscal agent for this grant with partner Pyka, Inc., a cutting-edge technology innovator bringing zero-emission, autonomous aviation to the agricultural sector. FoundationCCC leads a workforce development component of the project, facilitating conversations between relevant aviation and agricultural employers and California community colleges providing programming in zero-emission vehicles, avionics, aviation, drone operations, and agricultural sciences. By demonstrating the viability of these technologies through pilot programs, we can showcase how electric and hydrogen-powered drones can perform essential tasks like crop monitoring, precision spraying, and livestock management with minimal environmental impact. Planned stakeholder engagement and listening sessions will inform a workforce development report to showcase the potential of the project and accelerate future investment in this technology.
By supporting innovations like zero-emission autonomous aircraft, we continue to advance our mission to drive sustainable, equitable solutions that prepare California for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Latest News
Three Years of Statewide Investment in LGBTQ+ Student Success
Over the last three years, the California Community Colleges have grown a robust infrastructure to support LGBTQ+ students statewide. Learn about how expanded resources are strengthening a sense of belonging and creating lasting positive change across California’s community colleges.
Announcing the 2026 Real Estate Education Grant Program Awardee
The South Orange County Community College District / Saddleback College was recently selected as the recipient of the 2026 Real Estate Education Grant, awarded $105,000 to continue serving as the home of the California Community Colleges Real Estate Education Center. For the past decade, Saddleback College has hosted the Center, which serves as a statewide…
Expanding Opportunities for Students in the Field of Law
This year, the California LAW Pathways (Cal LAW) program graduated more than 400 students as Cal LAW Scholars, marking an extraordinary milestone for the program and statewide partners. These graduates are transferring this fall to top universities including UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley, Georgetown University, and others. Several students are also pursuing direct pathways into law…
