Farms Food Future (F3) at UC Merced

We're excited to be partnering with The VINE at UCANR and Farmhand Ventures to host another commercialization workshop at University of California, Merced! This workshop is for innovators, entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and anyone curious about tech commercialization and innovation. Date: Thursday, April 17th, 2025 Location: COB2 Room 290, UC Merced Time: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM Register here: bit.ly/4hs6SRj Farms Food Future (F3) at UC Merced

Last week, I had the privilege of moderating the "Innovation and Sustainability in Our Food System" panel at the 11th Annual Eccles Family Rural West Conference at California State University, Fresno. It was a great opportunity to join experts in discussing how ag innovation and ag tech adoption are helping shape California’s Central Valley. ? I was honored to share the stage with Dr. M. Anne Visser (UC Davis), Dr. Joshua McEnaney (climate-tech innovator Nitricity), and Dr. Reza Ehsani (UC Merced). Each brought their expertise on how we can build up the workforce for agtech adoption, approach a moonshot for the diversity of California Agriculture, and support more innovators. ? Thank you to Stanford University's Lane Center for the American West, California Water Institute, and The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute for hosting this timely conversation. The Central Valley is leading the way for a more sustainable, innovative future! ? Farms Food Future (F3) at UC Merced, F3 Initiative, University of California, Merced

Over the last few weeks, we have hosted two Motor Driver Workshops on campus in collaboration with Milano Technical Group. Students gained experience directly from engineers and got to apply the information on energy savings, optimal motor management, and innovation to their own projects. The workshop covered key topics such as motor fundamentals in robotics, feedback systems, closed-loop control, and advanced motor control techniques. The highlight was working with Stele Tech's A.C.R.E. motor driver, giving students practical experience with cutting-edge technology. Thanks Milano Technical Group for advancing student innovation. Farms Food Future (F3) at UC Merced

What an incredible time at the?World Ag Expo? in Tulare!?Our F3 partners from all three gears (F3 Innovate, F3 Local, AgTEC Workforce) were in action, connecting with farmers, researchers, students, and ag innovators from around the world.?Thank you to our interviewees (in order of appearance): - Leigh Bernacchi (Executive Director, Vista Farms Food Future (F3) at UC Merced) - Rolston St. Hilaire (Dean, Fresno State Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology) - Helle Petersen (Regional?Director, F3Local) - Cesar Lucio, MBM (Chief Operating Officer, F3 Innovate) - Fernando Garcia, M.S. (AgTEC Pathway Navigator, Lemoore College) From cutting-edge technology to workforce development and local food systems,?F3 is shaping the future of ag right here in the Central Valley.?#F3Initiative #FarmsFoodFuture #WorldAgExpo #AgInnovation #AgTECH?

We're thrilled to be continuing our VISTA F3 Ag Bag Meetings this spring at UC Merced! These monthly meetings are fostering collaboration between faculty, grad students, postdocs, staff and industry professionals, sparking important conversations about an array of agriculture topics. This semester, we’ve explored topics such as, entrepreneurship in agriculture, autonomous tractors, growing natural rubber from guayule, the effects of pesticide exposure on children and we’re not stopping there. Our next sessions are coming up in March and April, and we look forward to continuing this growth—bringing together our ag community to learn and discuss important topics in agriculture. Valley Institute for Sustainability, Technology & Agriculture University of California, Merced

Last week, some of our F3 team traveled to France for World FIRA, where we explored the latest ag technology innovations and connected with companies from around the world! F3 Initiative

We’re at the World Ag Expo in Tulare this week! ?? Stop by our booth to say hi, connect with our team, take our innovation survey, and explore how we can collaborate to bring your agtech research and ideas to life. Let’s grow the future of agriculture together! F3 Initiative

The F3 Innovate team is heading to World FIRA in Toulouse, France next week!?If you're attending, stop by our booth to say hi—we’d love to connect, collaborate, and explore the latest in global ag tech! Hope to see you there!?#F3Innovate #WorldFIRA #AgTech #Innovation Learn more about the event at world-fira.com F3 Initiative

The VINE Connect program is accepting applications! Startups accepted into the cohort will gain access to: ?? Workshops on Field Trial Readiness ?? A Field Demo Day ?? Networking opportunities Don’t wait – applications close Wednesday, January 8, 11:59 PM PT.

We are hiring an Industry Partnerships Coordinator! The Valley Institute for Sustainability, Technology & Agriculture and F3 Innovate at UC Merced is seeking an Industry Partnerships Coordinator to connect research with the agriculture and tech industries. In this role, you will: - Build relationships with industry partners, farmers, and researchers. - Facilitate collaborations like field trials, hackathons, and projects. - Support cross-disciplinary work in agtech, data science, and climate-smart innovations. -Help advance sustainable food systems in California’s Central Valley and beyond. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact by connecting UC Merced’s researchers with industry leaders tackling the future of food, farming, and technology. If you're a strong communicator with a passion for innovation, we want to hear from you! Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gE8_Rv_d Join us in driving the future of sustainable innovation in agriculture! Leigh Bernacchi Joshua Viers