An almond orchard in Parlier is serving as a testing ground for an artificial intelligence-powered irrigation system developed by researchers at UC Merced and the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. The project aims to deliver precise amounts of water to crops while also measuring the outcomes.
The initiative, led by Professor Wan Du from UC Merced’s computer science and engineering department, received funding from the Fall 2023 Climate Action Seed Funds. Alongside its technical goals, the project also focuses on communicating its potential impact.
Two test beds have been set up: one using traditional irrigation methods and another utilizing the AI-driven system. Professor Du explained, “We will compare how much water each test bed will use, and then compare the production and result of these two fields.” The research team includes civil and environmental engineering Professor Safeeq Khan, who developed the soil model, and computer science and engineering Professor Stefano Carpin, who created the AI model.
The system collects data on soil moisture levels as well as water movement through trees. This information is uploaded online. “We have sprinklers under almost every tree so we can control them,” Du said. An algorithm analyzes this data to decide when to activate sprinklers and for how long.
Du emphasized resource conservation: “We want to save as much water as we can. Saving water will reduce the cost to growers, and we can save the natural resource for the next generation.” The new system is expected to be operational next spring when almond trees begin flowering.
A group of students associated with From Farms to Incubators has been documenting and sharing information about this technology. Amy Wu, founder of From Farms to Incubators, designed a program that teaches students digital storytelling skills focused on agricultural technology.
“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 faculty members before traveling to Kearney Ag Research and Extension Center in Parlier for firsthand observation of the project. She described their approach: “We created a menteeship program where students are learning about journalism and communications and also ag tech. We trained them on interviewing and writing, to document the journey of the AI-generated crop irrigation system.”
The student team produced stories, photos, and videos aimed at audiences ranging from consumers interested in innovation to farmers addressing climate change challenges.
Among those involved were two undergraduate students from UC Merced along with a recent graduate from California State University, Monterey Bay. They gained experience in writing, editing, technical communication, and networking within agricultural technology circles.
Anvi Kudaraya, an undergraduate studying computer science at UC Merced from Pleasanton, worked on understanding sensor architecture in the field as well as processing real sensor data with Python scripts for machine learning applications. She noted that she learned “how to handle messy, real-world datasets and prepare them for machine learning models.”
Kudaraya highlighted broader lessons: “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 added that her involvement extended beyond technical tasks into communication efforts such as article writing and photo documentation at the farm site.
“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,” she said.
Amy Wu assessed their pilot effort positively: “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 participant majoring in computer science at UC Merced from San Diego remarked on seeing practical research applications: “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.”
