Position Title
In Memoriam
Professor Emeritus of Agronomy
1936-2023
RAYMOND C. VALENTINE
Birth: September 20, 1936, Monticello, Illinois
Death: March 9, 2023, Davis, California
Education:
- B.S., Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign
- M.S., Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign
- Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, 1962
- Postdoctoral Research, Rockefeller Institute, 1962–1964
Employment:
- 1964–1972: Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley
- 1972–1975: Department of Chemistry, University of California, San Diego
- 1975–1992: Department of Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, Davis
- 1980: Co-founder and Scientific Advisor, Calgene, Inc. (Davis, California)
- 1992–2023: Professor Emeritus, UC Davis; Visiting Scholar, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara
Honors, Awards, and Professional Societies:
- Invited participant, Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA (1975)
- U.S. Public Health Service Postdoctoral Fellowship, Senior Fellowship, and Career Development Award (1962–1977)
- Member: American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Biological Chemistry, American Society of Plant Physiologists
Research Contributions and Impact
Ray Valentine was a pioneering scientist whose work bridged microbiology, genetics, and agriculture. As a doctoral student, he discovered ferredoxin, a protein crucial to electron transfer in photosynthesis and metabolism. At UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, he advanced the genetic mapping of nitrogen fixation (nif) genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae, demonstrating that one of the world’s most essential biological processes could be genetically characterized.
At UC Davis, Valentine applied molecular biology to crop science, focusing on nitrogen fixation, plant stress tolerance, and the potential of genetic engineering to transform agriculture. He was the first agricultural scientist to propose moving nitrogen-fixing genes into plants, introducing the concept of “molecular farming.” His vision anticipated modern biotechnology’s impact on crop productivity and sustainability.
Valentine was also the scientific founder of Calgene, Inc., one of the world’s first agricultural biotechnology companies. Under his leadership, Calgene pioneered herbicide-resistant crops and developed the FLAVR SAVR tomato (1994), the first genetically engineered food to reach the market. His work reshaped global agriculture and set the stage for biotech applications that continue today.
Publications and Scholarly Leadership
Valentine published widely on electron transport, nitrogen fixation, and molecular biology of crops. His later work included co-authoring books such as Neurons and the DHA Principle (with his son, David L. Valentine). His scholarship combined reductionist science with applied vision, influencing both academic and industrial directions in plant biotechnology.
Teaching and Mentorship
As a faculty member, Valentine trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom went on to lead in academia, biotechnology, and industry. Known for his generosity and approachable style, he welcomed students into his home and cultivated a culture of lively discussion and intellectual curiosity.
Collaboration and Community
Valentine actively promoted collaboration across disciplines, linking plant breeding, microbiology, and engineering. He helped establish the UC Davis Plant Growth Laboratory to advance molecular biology in agriculture. He frequently presented his work to international audiences and was recognized as an ambassador for agricultural biotechnology, even hosting visiting dignitaries, including Prince Charles in 1977.
Legacy
Raymond Valentine’s scientific vision and entrepreneurial leadership made him a foundational figure in agricultural biotechnology. His discovery of ferredoxin, genetic mapping of nitrogen fixation, and role in developing herbicide-tolerant crops and the FLAVR SAVR tomato transformed how science interacts with global food production. His legacy lives on in both the technologies he helped launch and the generations of scientists he mentored.
References
For additional tributes, interviews, and biographies, see the following resources: