F3 Innovate

NEWS & UPDATES

Welcome to the F3 Initiative News page, your source for the latest updates and stories about our work transforming agriculture in California's Central Valley. Explore articles across our three gears—F3 Innovate, F3 Local, and AgTEC Workforce—to learn how we’re driving innovation, empowering local farmers, and upskilling workers for a sustainable future. Whether you’re interested in groundbreaking ag-tech research, community-based food systems, or workforce development, there’s something here for everyone.

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VINE Connect Field Day at UC Merced (September 17)

On September 17, VINE Connect Field Day will take place at the UC Merced Experimental Smart Farm. This farmer-focused event offers a hands-on opportunity to see cutting-edge agricultural technologies in action, live and in the field.

Aug 14

F3 Initiative - Quarter 1 2025 Summary

The 2025 Q1 Summary includes a snapshot of recent impact and activities across the F3 Initiative and its partners, including jobs, investments, accomplishments, and success stories from three gears: F3 Local, AgTEC Workforce, and F3 Innovate.

Jul 28

F3 R&D Spotlight Video: Citrus Harvester at Fresno State

At Fresno State, mechanical engineering students are developing a high-efficiency citrus fruit harvester that’s breaking new ground in agtech. Watch and learn more about this F3-funded innovation happening right here in our own backyard!

Jul 25

F3i.org Publishes New Website

F3 Innovate (F3i), a 501(c)(3) organization serving as the nation's hub for agriculture technology and engineering, launched its new website at: f3i.org.

Jul 16

F3 Innovate Launches Innovation Grant Program

F3 Innovate (F3i) announced the opening of applications for its inaugural Innovation Grant program. The initiative will award up to $200,000 across 4-12 projects this Fall, to accelerate transformative agriculture and food technologies toward commercial adoption.

Jul 15

F3 R&D Spotlight Video: Jujube and the Pits

Meet Jujube and the Pits, a team of mechanical engineering students from UC Merced who teamed up with UCANR to take on a unique challenge...designing a machine to efficiently pit a lesser-known fruit grown here in the Valley: jujubes!

Jul 8

VINE Connect Field Day Showcases Real-World Agtech Solutions

Nearly 100 growers, researchers, and ag professionals gathered at the UC ANR West Side Research & Extension Center in Fresno County for the latest VINE Connect Field Day—an immersive, hands-on agtech showcase.

Jul 2

From Strawberries to Smart Farm: Adamaris Alvarez Grows Passion into a Career Path

Adamaris Alvarez grew up farming berries on her family’s farm in Watsonville — now she’s helping cultivate the future of agriculture. She’s the first in her family to graduate college and the first person to complete Merced College’s F3 AgTEC certificate program.

Jun 20

F3 Innovate Signs MOU with Queensland Horticulture

F3 Innovate signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration between Queensland's horticulture sector. The partnership is an exciting opportunity to share grower expertise, pressure-test new technologies, stand up joint field trials and open new pathways.

Jun 9

F3 Featured on Marketplace - National Radio Show

The F3 Initiative is proud to be featured in a four-part series on Marketplace & Marketplace Tech - national radio shows/podcasts that feature daily business news and economic stories. The series, which aired May 20–22 and June 6, shines a spotlight on the collaborative work happening across California’s Central Valley to transform the future of food and agriculture.

Jun 6

Apply for the VINE Connect Field Program

Applications are open for VINE Connect’s next cohort, focused on soil health in California row crops. This three-month program is built for agtech startups with market ready solutions that are looking for real world validation, deeper grower engagement, and a path to scaling in California.

May 29

F3 Spotlight: Luis Elizondo of Madera's Queen Honey

Watch our spotlight video on Luis Elizondo, owner of Madera’s Queen Honey and board member of F3 Innovate. Luis is a business owner, family man, and an advocate for small farmers and sustainable agriculture in California’s Central Valley.

May 23

Brookings Publishes an In-Depth Case Study on the F3 Initiative

The Brookings Institution published a new in-depth case study spotlighting the F3 Initiative as a national example of how federal investment can drive inclusive, tech-forward regional economic transformation.

May 23

April 24: Ag Bag Meeting at UC Merced

Join faculty, staff, researchers, grad students, and post-docs at the next Ag Bag meeting at UC Merced and help strengthen the ag community.

Apr 22

AgTEC Innovation Center Breaks Ground

Merced College celebrated a major milestone with the groundbreaking of its highly anticipated AgTEC Innovation Center—a transformative facility that will play a critical role in preparing the Central Valley’s agricultural workforce for the future. The event drew students, local officials, and industry leaders eager to witness the next chapter in Merced College’s commitment to agricultural innovation.

Apr 21

F3 Innovate Welcomes Mandy Breuer

F3 Innovate (F3i) is thrilled to welcome Mandy Breuer to our growing team as the new Director of Talent Programs. In her role, she will spearhead the design and launch of talent development programs—including fellowships, internships, and youth engagement opportunities—that will empower the next generation of ag-tech leaders in the Central Valley and beyond.

Apr 19

Fresno State F3 Spring Symposium

On Friday, April 4, Fresno State hosted a Spring R&D Symposium, spotlighting student researchers and their innovative projects funded through the F3 Initiative. Held at the Jordan Agricultural Research Center, the event brought together faculty, students, and F3 partners to showcase how Fresno State’s next generation of ag leaders are advancing climate-smart technologies and applied research in agriculture.

Apr 8