University of California Merced Experimental Smart Farm
The Center for Food Resiliency through Equity, Sustainability, and Health (FRESH)
The UC Merced Experimental Smart Farm (ESF) initiative was launched in Fall 2021 through a special allocation of $5M by the State of California. The ESF will be known as Center for Food Resilience through Equity, Sustainability, and Health (FRESH ESF or FRESH Farm). The Farm will occupy approximately 45 acres near the southern boundary of campus land, and will be designed to support agricultural research focused on sustainable practices, technology and automation, and the future of farm work. The vision for the ESF is that of a functional campus showpiece, the farm of the future. The farm will provide world class facilities and infrastructure to support research on sustainable land management, regenerative agriculture, precision agriculture, automation/robotics, machine learning/AI, and the exploration of the future of farm work. In addition, the farm will serve as a source of inspiration for the creative arts, community hub, hosting a farmer’s market and café, educational outreach events, performances, and providing a rich array of learning opportunities for all ages.
