The Small Farm Tech Expo, held at UC Merced and sponsored by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore the role of technology in supporting small-scale farmers. Researchers, farmers, university students, and even a group from a Modesto elementary school gathered to discuss and demonstrate the latest advancements in agricultural technology tailored for smaller operations.
The expo featured a range of activities, including equipment demonstrations, educational sessions on both hardware and software, panel discussions, and presentations from support organizations. Leigh Bernacchi, executive director of the Valley Institute for Sustainability, Technology and Agriculture at UC Merced, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “We all eat in the San Joaquin Valley. Today we are also learners.”
One of the key challenges highlighted at the expo was the accessibility of advanced agricultural technology for small farmers. Bernacchi noted that small farmers handle every aspect of production, from planting and harvesting to selling and pricing. “They need help, and we need to all contribute to support small farmers,” she said.
To address this, CAFF launched its Small Farms Innovation Challenge, aimed at compensating innovators for their agtech solutions. Additionally, CAFF released a report on small farm technology needs to guide future innovations.
The event also showcased various presentations and workshops. One session focused on agrivoltaics, a technology that combines agriculture and solar energy. Another workshop invited farmers to share their operational challenges, such as laying down plastic for strawberry plants, picking citrus from hillside orchards, and harvesting lavender. These insights will inform the next meeting of SF-ADAPT, a program that connects small-scale farmers with researchers, nonprofits, and technologists to develop practical tools.
UC Merced’s lending library, available to farmers with under 50 acres in specific counties, offers equipment like compost spreaders, tractors, seeders, and weeders. The library even includes a Gather robot designed to transport crops. Amber Butland, the lending library coordinator, described the program as an experiment to determine what works best for small farmers.
The expo underscored the critical role of technology in supporting small-scale farmers and highlighted the ongoing efforts to make these advancements accessible. As Bernacchi envisioned, the future of agriculture involves sustainable practices, cost-effective carbon sequestration, and a supportive career path for workers. UC Merced, with its strategic location in the Central Valley, is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping this future. The event served as a call to action for continued collaboration and innovation in agriculture technology.