Advancing the capacity of sensors and robotics along with interpreting the data produced by these devices is a key element to sustainably producing, processing and storing food. These technologies allow for precision in applying nutrients and water and hold great potential for more reliable crop monitoring. There is an opportunity to refine these technologies to be smarter, better linked to actionable information and more effective in monitoring environmental impacts at all scales of agriculture. Our work in this area focuses on the following fields and research areas:
- Development of next generation technologies focused on agricultural robotics, mechanization and automation for specialty crops.
- Understanding plant systems through the lens of remote sensing and environmental informatics.
- Maximizing water efficiency through precision irrigation systems and other technologies to improve crop management.
- Development of low-cost AI systems that generate novel insight into plant biology.
- Optimizing controlled environment agriculture such as vertical indoor farming.
- Cultivated meat production in large-scale fermentors to produce a protein-rich meat product.
Story Highlights
Transforming the food system using artificial intelligence
The University of California, Davis, has been awarded $20 million as part of a multi-institutional collaboration to establish an institute focused on enabling the next-generation food system through the integration of artificial intelligence, or AI, technologies. Learn more >>
Solving agricultural challenges with engineering and robotics
From creating fragile crop harvest-aiding mobile robots for strawberry harvesting to developing an automated robotic orchard platform designed to optimize performance, Stavros Vougioukas is making an impact on California agriculture. Learn more >>
New technology speeds up crop improvement
Plant geneticist Jorge Dubcovksy, a distinguished professor of plant sciences at the University of California, Davis, has helped create a new tool to improve the gene editing process. Learn more >>
Bringing big data to the vineyard
Mason Earles, assistant professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology and the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, is applying big data by merging agricultural and machine learning to glean information that improves vineyards’ health and yields. Learn more >>
UC Davis establishes research, training in cultivated meat
A consortium of researchers at the University of California, Davis, aims to explore the long-term sustainability of cultivated meat. Learn more >>