In 1997, the Bay Area Coalition for Urban Agriculture (“BAQUA”) submitted a proposal to the University of California: “that the University of California enter into a university/community partnership in order to create the world’s first university center on sustainable urban agriculture and food systems. The purposes of the Center would be to promote research, education, extension and outreach on the various social, environmental, economic and ecological dimensions of urban farming and sustainable food systems…” on the Gill Tract.
The proposal was endorsed by the Ecology Center, Alameda County Food Bank, Contra Costa County Food Bank, and Alice Waters, among others. The proposal was rejected. You may review and download the proposal here.