An almond orchard in Parlier is serving as a testing ground for new farming technology developed by researchers at UC Merced and the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. The team has installed an artificial intelligence-powered irrigation system designed to deliver precise amounts of water to crops and monitor the outcomes.
The project, led by Professor Wan Du from UC Merced’s computer science and engineering department, was funded through the Fall 2023 Climate Action Seed Funds. One of its objectives is not only technological advancement but also raising awareness about the potential benefits of such systems.
Two separate test beds are being used: one with traditional irrigation methods and another using the AI-driven system. Professor Du is collaborating with civil and environmental engineering Professor Safeeq Khan, who created the soil model, and computer science and engineering Professor Stefano Carpin, who developed the AI component.
“We will compare how much water each test bed will use,” Du said, “and then compare the production and result of these two fields.”
The system collects data on soil moisture levels and tracks how water moves through trees before it evaporates from leaves. This information is uploaded online for analysis.
“We have sprinklers under almost every tree so we can control them,” Du said. An algorithm evaluates this data to decide when to activate each sprinkler and for how long.
“We want to save as much water as we can,” Du said. “Saving water will reduce the cost to growers, and we can save the natural resource for the next generation.”
The new irrigation setup is expected to be operational in spring when almond trees begin flowering.
In addition to research, outreach efforts are underway. Students working with From Farms to Incubators, a nonprofit organization led by Amy Wu, are documenting the project. Wu developed a program teaching students digital storytelling skills related to agricultural technology.
Starting last September, students learned techniques in science communication while documenting AI’s role in agriculture.
“We also have a guest speaker series where they have been able to connect with rock stars in ag tech,” Wu said.
Wu visited UC Merced professors before touring the Kearney Ag Research and Extension Center in Parlier where she observed the system firsthand.
“We created a menteeship program where students are learning about journalism and communications and also ag tech,” Wu said. “We trained them on interviewing and writing, to document the journey of the AI-generated crop irrigation system.”
The students produced stories, photos, and videos aimed at audiences ranging from consumers interested in innovation to farmers looking for climate change solutions.
Participants included two UC Merced undergraduates and one recent graduate from California State University, Monterey Bay. They contributed their backgrounds in technical fields while developing communication skills.
Anvi Kudaraya, a UC Merced undergraduate studying computer science and engineering from Pleasanton, worked on understanding sensor architecture, processing real sensor data with Python scripts for machine learning models, and creating data visualizations. She noted that handling complex datasets gave her practical experience relevant for future work.
Beyond technical skills, Kudaraya emphasized teamwork: “I learned how important it is to connect technology to a broader purpose, especially when the work can impact something as essential as water use in agriculture.” She also described stepping outside her comfort zone by writing articles for publication and documenting fieldwork through photography.
“I came away with a stronger appreciation for how AI in agriculture is not only a technical challenge but also a human one, requiring communication, community engagement and clear storytelling to make the technology meaningful and scalable.”
Wu called this pilot program successful: “I thought it went very, very well. We went into this not knowing what to expect, but we wanted to expose young people to the possibilities of communicating food and farming.”
Savio Jabbo, another computer science student from San Diego involved in the project, appreciated seeing research applied directly: “Usually the work that goes into these projects goes unnoticed,” Jabbo said. “But when you see the impact that it has even on such a small scale, it feels like the whole world should know about it.”
