By Alli Sweigard, VISTA F3 Research Communications Coordinator
AI is everywhere, writing our emails, analyzing medical records, building computers—and growing our food. At the “AI*AG Revolution” event, keynote speaker Dr. Elliott Grant emphasized that agriculture is at the forefront of the AI revolution. While AI currently enhances existing methods, its future lies in transforming how we grow food.
“AI is the first time in 60,000 years of human history that we have an entity that creates new knowledge,” said Dr. Grant.
A serial entrepreneur with a career spanning Google X, Mineral.ai, and other agtech ventures, Dr. Grant highlighted AI’s potential to tackle challenges like sustainable farming for a growing global population. He cited breakthroughs in crop breeding, reducing chemical usage, and autonomous machinery as examples of AI’s transformative power.
“I genuinely believe that agriculture is the most important industry on Earth, because unless we can feed ourselves productively, efficiently, sustainably, nothing else matters,” said Dr. Grant. “I can’t emphasize how important I think it is that the best brains in the world and the best brains here in Central Valley devote themselves to a problem of this magnitude.”
The event’s fireside chat featured Seana Day, an agtech strategist, who discussed aligning emerging technologies with grower needs. Together, Grant and Day explored topics like generative AI, data acquisition, and investment trends, underscoring the need for AI-driven solutions to global food challenges.
“A lot of the ways that we think about AI and agriculture are in field,” said Day. “And, you know, I think it’s also important to think about the business aspects of it.”
“Technology’s evolving so quickly, and in part because all of you are bringing your creative ideas to the fore,” said Dr. Josh Viers, Assocaite Vice Chancellor for Interdisciplinary Research and Strategic Initiatives at UC Merced and F3 Innovate Faculty Director. “Bringing those creative ideas and your excellence in research to bear on solving the biggest problem that we face on this planet that’s really trying to feed a future of 9 billion people.”
“This is a time of inspiration for the innovators in the room, creators of the better world that we’re all striving for,” said Dr. Erin Hestir, Director of The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) at UC Merced. “Ethical applications of artificial intelligence are a crucial part of solutions for cleaner greater and more efficient system.”
Events like this one aim to connect students, faculty, and industry leaders with agtech opportunities, provide information about agricultural challenges, and encourage participants to pursue research or solutions that address these issues, with the hope that even one attendee will be inspired to contribute to advancing agriculture.
Organized by F3 Innovate, CITRIS, and UC Merced’s EECS Graduate Group, the event drew over 100 attendees, affirming UC Merced’s role as a hub for advancing agricultural technology.