We host monthly Ag Bag meetings to connect staff, faculty, postdocs, and grad students, sharing diverse research on agriculture. We have covered topics such as natural rubber production, effects of pesticides, robotics in ag, autonomy, and more.

Our team had a fantastic time at the World Ag Expo in February 2025, connecting with industry professionals, showcasing our work, and exploring ag innovations with 100,000 attendees and 1,200 exhibitors from 70+ countries.

Some of our VISTA F3 team attended World FIRA in Toulouse, France exploring ag robotics innovations, in-field demos, startup pitches, expert panels, and networking with industry leaders and researchers worldwide.

In October, F3 sponsored the FIRA International Forum on Agricultural Robotics in Woodland, CA, gathering over 75 representatives from our network and presenting 10 research posters. The F3 Pavilion, featuring partners like UCANR, Fresno State, and UC Merced, highlighted our commitment to partnerships, advancing R&D, and collaboration pathways. The event grew our international connections, strengthened industry ties, and expanded our talent pipeline for agricultural innovation.

At the “AI*AG Revolution” event, Dr. Elliott Grant and Seana Day discussed AI’s transformative potential in agriculture. Grant emphasized AI as a catalyst for innovation in food systems, while Day explored aligning emerging technologies with grower needs. With over 100 attendees, the event showcased UC Merced’s leadership in advancing agricultural technology, sparking conversations on addressing global food challenges through collaboration and cutting-edge solutions.

Kang Yang, an F3 Innovate fellow, defended his PhD on optimizing water resource management through smart irrigation and groundwater recharge. Advised by Professor Wan Du, his work developed algorithms for energy-efficient data transmission and sensor node optimization, paving the way for climate-smart agriculture and resource-efficient irrigation systems in orchards.

In Fall 2024, we hosted Justin Tooley, Director of the American Rescue Act, at UC Merced. His visit included a tour of the Experimental Smart Farm and meetings with our researchers, Kimberly Gibson, Postdoctoral Scholar for Inclusive Innovation, and Adrian Buitron Boada, Junior Specialist for Inclusive Innovation, as well as F3 Innovate PhD candidates Jennifer Alvarez and Adam Weingram. The visit showcased the progress we have made in the two years since receiving the Build Back Better Region Challenge Grant, highlighting our collaboration with Agtech to address key challenges in agriculture. This opportunity also allowed us to show the significant impact of support from the US Economic Development Agency and the ongoing drive of our work.

Graduate student highlight – Mohsen Farajijalal. This project focuses on developing a sensor system to measure the force distribution in the canopy during tree shaking. The goal of this project is to maximize fruit removal while minimizing the damage done to the trees. Professor Reza Ehsani is the faculty advisor on this project.

We teamed up with The VINE and Farmhand Ventures to host a hands-on commercialization workshop right here on campus! Over 20 faculty, staff, undergrads, grad students, and postdocs came together to explore how to bring their research and inventions to market. It was a fantastic event filled with energy, ideas, and real-world insights—and we’re excited to see where our campus inventors go from here!