About
UC Santa Cruz is making meaningful contributions to research and development in this growing field, drawing on our long history in agroecology and sustainable food systems, and pioneering developments in a range of new technologies. We are developing a strong inter-disciplinary collaborative of engineers, scientists, social scientists and humanities scholars to expand and strengthen our work at UC Santa Cruz.
From internet-of-things (IOT)-linked soil and water sensors to drone and satellite imaging systems, artificial intelligence, automatic production and harvesting systems, block-chain technologies in supply chains, and breakthrough sustainable farming techniques, AgTech innovations could fundamentally change the way we produce, process, distribute, and consume agricultural products.
These developments hold tremendous potential benefits, in everything from improved crop yields to climate resiliency to healthier food and more energy-efficient systems. Yet the nature of any new technologies will be fundamentally shaped by who is involved in the early stages of development and problem identification. Anticipating the impacts on producers, workers, and consumers is an essential step in developing new agricultural technology.
Maximizing societal benefits and minimizing harm from new agri-food technologies will require thoughtful interdisciplinary expertise, and UCSC is well-positioned to contribute. Some of our campus strengths include the experience and reputation of our Center for Agroecology, a strong campus-wide commitment to social justice, partnerships with local farmers and community organizations, strengths in critical social sciences of food and agriculture, and cutting-edge expertise in sensors, robotics, drones, biomolecular engineering, and power systems.
The AgTech initiative at UC Santa Cruz was launched with help from the Institute for Social Transformation and CITRIS, as part of our campus’s participation in the Public Interest Technology University Network. Our efforts in the AgTech space are growing rapidly.
