An almond orchard in Parlier, California, is the site of a new research project that uses artificial intelligence to optimize irrigation. The initiative, led by Professor Wan Du from UC Merced’s computer science and engineering department, aims to deliver precise amounts of water to crops while measuring the impact on both water usage and crop production.
The system, funded by the Fall 2023 Climate Action Seed Funds, features two test beds: one using traditional irrigation methods and another using AI-driven technology. 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.”
Working with Du are Professors Safeeq Khan, who developed the soil model for the project, and Stefano Carpin, who created the AI model. The system monitors soil moisture levels as well as water movement through trees. This data is uploaded online for analysis.
“We have sprinklers under almost every tree so we can control them,” Du said. An algorithm determines when and how long each sprinkler should operate based on real-time data.
Du emphasized the importance of conserving resources: “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 system is scheduled to be operational next spring during the flowering season.
A group of students from UC Merced participated in documenting this project through a partnership with From Farms to Incubators, a nonprofit focused on agricultural technology communication. Amy Wu, founder and chief content director at From Farms to Incubators, led a program teaching students digital storytelling skills related to agriculture technology.
Wu described their approach: “We also have a guest speaker series where they have been able to connect with rock stars in ag tech.” She added that students learned about journalism and communications while documenting advances in AI-powered crop irrigation.
Participants included two undergraduates from UC Merced and a recent graduate from California State University, Monterey Bay. They produced stories, photos, and videos intended for audiences ranging from consumers interested in innovation to farmers addressing climate change challenges.
Anvi Kudaraya, an undergraduate at UC Merced studying computer science and engineering, said she gained hands-on experience with sensor data processing: She wrote Python scripts for real-world datasets used in machine learning models. Kudaraya also 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 noted that participating required her to step beyond technical tasks into writing articles and documenting fieldwork visually. “I came away with a stronger appreciation for how AI in agriculture is not only a technical challenge but also a human one,” she said.
Amy Wu called the pilot program successful: “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 UC Merced student majoring in computer science and engineering from San Diego remarked on witnessing applied research firsthand: “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.”
