An almond orchard in Parlier is serving as a testing ground for new irrigation technology developed by researchers at UC Merced and the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. The project uses artificial intelligence to control water delivery, aiming to provide only the amount needed for optimal crop growth.
The research team is led by Professor Wan Du from computer science and engineering, with support from civil and environmental engineering Professor Safeeq Khan, who built the soil model, and computer science and engineering Professor Stefano Carpin, who developed the AI component. Funding was provided through the Fall 2023 Climate Action Seed Funds.
Two test beds have been set up: one using traditional irrigation methods and another managed by the AI-powered system. According to Du, “We will compare how much water each test bed will use, and then compare the production and result of these two fields.”
The system gathers data on soil moisture levels as well as water movement through trees. This information is uploaded online where an algorithm determines when sprinklers should operate under each tree. “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 operational phase is scheduled for next spring when almond trees begin flowering.
In addition to its technical aims, the project has a communications component led by Amy Wu of From Farms to Incubators. Wu designed a program teaching students digital storytelling skills related to 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 involved in the project before documenting activities at Kearney Ag Research and Extension Center in Parlier. She described her initiative: “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.”
Students participating in this program produced stories, photos, and videos aimed at both consumers interested in innovation and farmers addressing climate change challenges.
Participants included two undergraduates from UC Merced—one being Anvi Kudaraya—and a recent graduate from California State University, Monterey Bay. Kudaraya noted she gained practical experience processing real sensor data with Python scripts: this helped her learn about preparing datasets for machine learning models. She commented on broader lessons learned: “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 highlighted that communicating about such projects requires engagement beyond technical skills: “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.”
Amy Wu reflected positively on student involvement: “For a pilot program…we wanted to expose young people to the possibilities of communicating food and farming.”
Another participant, Savio Jabbo from San Diego studying computer science and engineering at UC Merced, remarked on seeing research applied outside academia: “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.”
