The City of Riverside hosted community members at the Northside Agriculture Innovation Center (NAIC) groundbreaking ceremony. This pioneering project combines solar technology with farming to create climate-resilient agricultural systems.
The ceremony took place Tuesday, March 4, at 900 Clark St., marking the start of construction on the 8.8-acre site that will transform vacant land into a hub for sustainable agriculture.
"Riverside has a deep agricultural history as the birthplace of the citrus industry," Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson says. "The NAIC is an opportunity to show the same level of leadership on ag issues into the coming century."
The project embraces agrivoltaics—using solar panels above farming fields—and solar PV greenhouses that generate renewable energy while supporting food production.
Phase 1 of the multi-phase project includes approximately 50,000 square feet of solar PV greenhouses, 14,000 square feet of agrivoltaics, and a 14,000-square-foot solar PV pole barn. The initial phase also features a 30-plot community garden, outdoor farmer training facilities, trails, 450 trees, and basic utility and water infrastructure.
When additional funding becomes available, Phase 2 will enclose the solar PV pole barn to create a co-work learning center with classrooms, offices, a demonstration kitchen, and a farm stand. This phase will also include street improvements, restroom facilities, and completion of the project's offsite trail system.
The NAIC represents a significant development for the Northside neighborhood, which has historically faced environmental challenges and blight.
"Northside residents have played a key role in developing the NAIC from concept into reality," says City Councilmember Philip Falcone, who represents the area. "We are grateful for their input as we take an important step forward with this project."
The center addresses challenges affecting food systems, including extreme weather, heat, and water availability resulting from climate change. By demonstrating a controlled environment and high-tech agriculture practices, the NAIC aims to secure food production systems for the future.
The project emerged from an extensive community-driven effort. Residents and community partners determined that the vacant land would best serve as a space to improve health and wellness, develop the workforce, foster innovation, and create businesses in sustainable agriculture and food production.
Beyond its environmental benefits, the NAIC will serve as an educational resource, training the next generation of farmers to be better prepared for climate challenges. The facility will offer climate-smart Ag Tech workforce development programs and new farmer incubation opportunities.
The center's design includes multiple specialized areas: demonstration greenhouses, beginning farmer incubation spaces, community gardens, fruit orchards, and native habitat areas with interpretive nature trails. A community learning center will host training programs and workshops, while a teaching kitchen and farm stand will connect production to consumption.
When completed, the NAIC will function as a comprehensive agricultural innovation hub that honors Riverside's agricultural heritage while pioneering sustainable farming practices for the future.
The City of Riverside takes pride in the project's dual focus on celebrating the region's citrus industry history while looking forward to nurturing sustainable and more resilient agricultural practices through ag-tech, agrivoltaics, controlled environment agriculture, and farmer development programs.
"Riverside has a deep agricultural history as the birthplace of the citrus industry," Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said. "The NAIC is an opportunity to show the same level of leadership on ag issues into the coming century."
Like many trade-based professions, there has been an effort to destigmatize farming. Being a farmer no longer means working vast plots of land in a rural area or working for a big agricultural corporation. As farming techniques, technologies, and philosophies evolve, the types of jobs become more attractive to a broader group of people.
The Northside Agriculture Innovation Center represents Riverside's commitment to agricultural innovation, sustainability, and community development. By combining renewable energy with farming techniques, the project aims to create a model for climate-resilient food production that can inspire similar initiatives throughout the region and beyond.
When fully operational, the center will offer multiple benefits: educational opportunities for aspiring farmers, demonstration spaces for agricultural innovation, community gathering areas, and increased food security through sustainable growing practices—all powered by renewable energy.
The groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of this transformative project that connects Riverside's agricultural past with a sustainable future. More information about the project can be found on the City’s NAIC webpage.
