On September 4, we hosted our first Ag Bag gathering of the fall 2025 semester, featuring three speakers who highlighted innovative approaches to nutrition, soil health, and water sustainability.

Karina Diaz Rios, Associate Professor of Cooperative Extension in Public Health, shared her research on culturally responsive nutrition education and strategies to create healthier food environments.

Josh Garcia, Assistant Professor in Life and Environmental Sciences and AES Faculty, introduced himself to the campus community. His work focuses on plant-microbe interactions and regenerative practices like composting and crop diversity to strengthen soil health and sustainable farming. He gave an example of how “large herbivore” compost, sourced from zoo animal waste, boosted crop production in Oakland.

In the industry spotlight, Tomo Kumahira, CEO of Mizu – WaterOne.ai, showcased tools designed to help growers track and manage water resources. He also demonstrated how his team is using AI to transform Groundwater Sustainability Agency meetings into actionable items like saving hours of time while helping stakeholders adapt more effectively to new water regulations.

Please note, we will not have an October Ag Bag but mark your calendars! Our next gathering on November 9 will feature Professor Erin Hestir and Professor Yemi Adebiyi.