Federal Funding Powers Water-Efficient Farming, Protects California’s Future
The University of California, Davis, has long stood in the top tier of U.S. research universities, driving forward innovation that transforms lives. However, the university’s ability to continue this groundbreaking work is now in jeopardy, as the federal government — the single largest funder of UC Davis research — has terminated and threatened grants.
Areas such as climate change, health equity and gender-affirming care may see sharp declines in support.
In this shifting environment, UC Davis and the UC Office of the President are engaging with lawmakers across party lines to protect research funding and explain the real-world benefits of academic science.
One such example is the research of Isaya Kisekka, a professor of hydrology and agricultural water management in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources. Kisekka leads research on sustaining groundwater use in irrigated agriculture.
Agriculture research strengthens water and food systems
California’s fields and orchards feed the nation, but they also sit at the epicenter of one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: sustainable water use in agriculture. While researchers across the state are racing to solve problems that determine the long-term resilience of California’s food system, their ability to deliver hinges on strong, consistent funding.
The state’s water system is under stress. Communities are facing depleted aquifers and shrinking snowpacks. In response, laws like the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, require groundwater basins to reach long-term sustainability, a shift that affects nearly every grower in the state.
“Agriculture is the largest consumptive user of water in California and in the world, for that matter,” Kisekka said. “We want to use water in a way that meets today’s needs without jeopardizing those of future generations.”
Now, researchers are developing tools that help farmers navigate new regulations and protect water supplies while maintaining productive, profitable operations and co-benefits for the environment in areas like enhanced soil health.
“We had this $10 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the work we have done under that project wouldn't have been possible without it,” Kisekka said. “The work was focused on how we develop technologies to help agriculture survive under SGMA.”
One collaboration with Karen Merino of Cederquist Farms in Madera County illustrates the impact of well-supported research. Merino grows pistachios with reduced water supplies, and she partnered with UC Davis researchers to adopt advanced irrigation strategies informed by real-time data. The result? The farm maintained economically viable yields while staying within its constrained groundwater allocation.
“We learned and shared data with Karen, and they adopted some of our strategies,” Kisekka said. “Before, they were doing infrequent irrigations, and now they are doing data-driven high-frequency low-volume irrigations, which means they are applying small amounts every day, which helps the trees to avoid yield-reducing water stress.”
Despite the promise of these innovations, researchers and farmers face steep challenges. Farmers face economic realities that can limit their ability to invest in new technologies. Low commodity prices, particularly in crops like almonds, have squeezed growers’ budgets, making adopting sustainability tools more difficult, even when they want to.
Building trust is another challenge. Many emerging tools rely on AI-driven algorithms, which require users to understand, trust and adapt to new digital workflows. This learning curve means outreach and education are just as important as the innovation itself, Kisekka said.
Unexpected obstacles emerge as well, such as vandalism and theft of monitoring equipment from fields, which creates costly setbacks and undermines research momentum.
These realities highlight a fundamental truth: Without stable funding, research slows, adoption stalls, and California moves further from a sustainable water future.
