California viticulture pioneer earns inaugural Triple Helix agtech prize
The inaugural Triple Helix AgTech Leadership Prize — which recognizes individuals who have worked across disciplinary and sectoral silos to develop and deploy high-impact agricultural technologies — is being given to California viticulture pioneer Nick Dokoozlian.
The award is being announced today by Triple Helix Institute for Agriculture, Climate, and Society, a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to building cross-sector engagement and public understanding around agriculture technology. Dokoozlian spent 15 years as a researcher in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis, before joining Gallo Winery in Modesto, California, in 2004. Throughout his career, Dokoozlian’s work has centered on improving the productivity, resilience, and quality of viticulture.
“Dr. Dokoozlian’s accomplishments reflect dedication to long-term collaboration among researchers, growers, industry leaders, and public institutions. By honoring trailblazers like Dr. Dokoozlian, the Triple Helix AgTech Leadership Prize celebrates individuals who build partnerships and infrastructure that drive agricultural innovation from scientific discovery to transformative impact,” said Dr. Sarah Garland, Founder and Executive Director of Triple Helix.
Dokoozlian’s career highlights include:
Playing an instrumental role in the formation of the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) in 2003 and serving as the organization’s Research Chair since 2008. NGRA connects industry, scientists, and federal and state agencies to initiate research platforms focused on key viticulture issues.
Championing permanent federal funding for the USDA-ARS Grape Genetics Research Unit in Geneva, NY, and Sustainable Agricultural Water Systems Research Unit in Davis, CA. These centers conduct foundational science to address critical agricultural challenges like disease and drought.
Establishing the landmark GRAPEX project (Grape Remote Sensing Atmospheric Profile and Evapotranspiration eXperiment), a decade-long collaboration involving Gallo, USDA-ARS, Utah State University, NASA and others. This initiative resulted in substantial water use reductions in vineyards and has since expanded to almond, olive, and other crops.
“I am humbled by this recognition from Triple Helix. The AgTech Leadership Prize is especially meaningful because it recognizes the importance of cross-sector engagement and stakeholder alignment for ensuring agricultural resilience,” Dokoozlian said in a prepared statement. “Triple Helix provides an innovative platform and vision for connecting stakeholders to advance solutions for agriculture’s most pressing challenges, a role critical for the future of food production.”