AG1 and UC Davis partner to advance nutrition and health research

In a recent press release, AG1 unveiled a new partnership with University of California, Davis (UC Davis) located in Davis, California.¹ The university is best known as being one of the leading research universities around the globe in regard to nutrition, health, innovation, as well as pushing the “food as medicine” initiative forward. Additionally, AG1 has partnered with Innovation Institute for Food and Health (IIFH) and will explore new innovations in Precision Health and Nutrition.¹ This incentive will help bring life sciences and data science to meet the nutrition needs for specific populations that are interested in supporting performance and health.

“UC Davis is world-renowned for its highly collaborative approach to driving breakthroughs in nutrition science,” said Kat Cole, CEO at AG1.¹ “They are an important and valued strategic innovation partner for AG1 as we develop new products to help more people optimize their metabolic health and achieve their physical and mental performance potential.”

With the partnerships and AG1’s knowledge on nutrition research, which also consists of the organization’s recently concluded AG1 Next Gen clinical trials, they will help continue AG1’s work regarding discovery research and though leadership. AG1 will be able to collaborate with several top institutions and accredited universities, such as Hofstra University, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Texas Tech University, and Kent State University.¹

“AG1 is a pioneer in the category of nutrition as they embrace complexities in 21st century nutrition innovation through a science-led approach,” said Dr. Justin Siegel, Faculty Director of the IIFH and Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis.¹ “AG1 is an outstanding partner as we pursue breakthroughs at the intersection of nutrition and metabolic health that leverage world-class capabilities, such as the Periodic Table of Food Initiative we developed with the Rockefeller Foundation and the American Heart Association.”

In UC Davis’s press release, the university mentioned that tools will be utilized “tools such as the Periodic Table of Food Initiative, for which IIFH is the North American Center of Excellence, will inform discovery, the collaboration is focused on responsible, science-based innovation that put precision nutrition into practice, address diet-related diseases at scale, and make the foods we love better for all people and the planet.”²

Unlocking Breakthroughs Through a Sustained Partnership

Previously, UC Davis partnered with Mars in May 2025.³ Through this partnership, the company and university are working together to bring academic research and practical industry applications together to create options that will help pets, humans, and the planet.

“A decade ago, we co-founded the IIFH with a shared vision rooted in Uncommon Collaboration — a principle that continues to guide the Institute today. Over the past ten years, IIFH has helped to catalyze a strategic shift in food systems, evident in its many achievements,” said Dr. Abigail Stevenson (Abi), Chief Science Officer at Mars.³ “We collaborate closely with the IIFH to bring together divergent mindsets that can collectively form impactful paths forward through innovations in food and ingredient technologies, nutrition, enzyme discoveries, sustainability, and more.”

“Our partnership with UC Davis IIFH exemplifies how science, innovation and an aligned purpose can unlock breakthrough solutions for a more sustainable and resilient food system. When Mars combines its deep scientific expertise and consumer insights with the bold thinking of academic partners, we accelerate progress that benefits both people and the planet,” Joel Harris, senior director of science commercialization at Mars Corporate Science & Technology, expressed.³

References

1. AG1 announces partnership with UC Davis to Advance Precision Health and Nutrition https://drinkag1.com/blog/post/ag1-partnership-with-uc-davis (accessed Sep 16, 2025).
2. Pickard, M. Advancing Precision Nutrition through strategic industry-academic collaborations https://foodandhealth.ucdavis.edu/advancing-precision-nutrition-through-strategic-industry-academic-collaborations/ (accessed Sep 16, 2025).
3. Pickard, M. Partnership highlight: IIFH and Mars - a collaboration driving science-based Food Innovations https://foodandhealth.ucdavis.edu/partnership-highlight-iifh-and-mars-a-collaboration-driving-science-based-food-innovations/ (accessed Sep 16, 2025).