A team of biological and agricultural engineering students from the University of California, Davis, won the Western Growers Award for Excellence in Specialty Crops during the 2026 Farm Robotics Challenge.
Between her biological systems engineering research and her job as assistant grower at Gotham Greens, aka her “living lab,” master's student Grace Algeo is focused on developing practical tools that support growers, strengthen sustainability efforts and point toward a more resilient future for agriculture.
UC Davis will soon open the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation, where Fadi Fathallah, professor and chair of biological and agricultural engineering, is leading robotics research to develop practical, field-ready technologies that improve efficiency, sustainability and resilience in modern agriculture.
Research led by UC Davis Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Isaya Kisekka is using real-time data and smarter irrigation strategies to keep farms productive while safeguarding California’s long-term agricultural resilience.
As California's agricultural sector adopts automation to manage costs, labor shortages and production risks, researchers at UC Davis are partnering with them to develop solutions that can make a real difference in the field.
With a quick leaf scan, the AI-powered Leaf Monitor delivers real-time nutrient insights for crops. By replacing weeks-long lab tests, the new tool, developed by UC Davis engineers, can help farmers boost yields, cut fertilizer waste and manage fields with precision and sustainability.
