Credit: Fresno State
Regional partnership establishes innovation platform to strengthen agriculture security and rural reinvestment
July 7, 2026 - By BoNhia Lee - F3 Innovate (F3i), Fresno State and the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego today announced the launch of the F3i Supercomputing Center, a regional innovation platform providing the computing power, technical support and talent pipeline needed to accelerate innovation across California’s food and agriculture supply chain. The center represents a first-of-its-kind partnership between industry and higher education to expand access to the advanced computing infrastructure needed to compete in an AI-driven economy.
The universities, F3i and local leaders will celebrate the launch of the Supercomputer Center from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 9, in the Fresno State Library.
The event will include AI model demonstrations, case studies and discussion about the center’s role in advancing the future of agriculture and food security, workforce development, K-16 pathways and more.
The Central Valley produces a significant share of the nation’s food, supports more than 14,000 farming and food-processing operations, serves as a critical logistics hub and is home to a growing network of manufacturers, researchers, entrepreneurs and educational institutions. While these industries generate significant economic value, most of the investment supporting AI development and other advanced technologies has historically been located elsewhere.
The center brings advanced computing resources directly to the Central Valley. Instead of requiring businesses, researchers and educators to build their own computing systems, the F3i Supercomputing Center provides shared access to powerful computing resources and technical support allowing growers, food processors, manufacturers, logistics companies, startups and researchers to test and apply AI to real-world challenges across the food and agriculture supply chain.
“Data and computing power are becoming foundational infrastructure for the global economy,” said Priscilla Koepke, F3i chief executive officer. “The technologies shaping agriculture’s future, from artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to robotics and biotechnology, all depend on the ability to process and apply massive amounts of information. This partnership creates the infrastructure, expertise and talent pipeline needed to ensure Central Valley agriculture remains globally competitive while accelerating innovation across the entire food and agriculture supply chain.”
Fresno State will serve as the home of the center, expanding opportunities for applied research, workforce development and industry collaboration while reinforcing the university’s role as California’s leading agricultural university.
“Fresno State is excited to give our students, faculty and industry partners access to technologies that are reshaping agriculture and the broader food system. By hosting this center, Fresno State will help prepare the next generation of engineers, researchers, agricultural professionals and entrepreneurs while strengthening the innovation ecosystem that supports the Central Valley’s economy.”
Dr. Bao Johri, vice president of information technology and chief information officer
The partnership also leverages the nationally recognized expertise of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, which has spent decades advancing cyberinfrastructure for scientific research, including the development of the National Research Platform and National Data Platform with support from the National Science Foundation.
“High-performance computing has become essential infrastructure for research, innovation and economic competitiveness,” said Frank Wuerthwein, director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center. “Through this partnership, we are extending advanced computing capabilities beyond traditional research environments and into one of the nation’s most important production economies. By combining our technical expertise with Fresno State’s leadership in agriculture and workforce development and F3i’s deep connections to industry, we are creating a model for accelerating innovation across the food and agriculture supply chain.”
The center will provide three integrated services:
Affordable High-Performance Computing
The center offers shared access to advanced computing resources that enable growers, startups and researchers to train AI models, process large datasets and test emerging technologies without making significant infrastructure investments.
Applied AI Services
The center provides technical expertise to help organizations identify opportunities, develop AI-enabled solutions and deploy advanced technologies that improve productivity, sustainability, efficiency across agriculture and related industries.
Workforce and Talent Development
Through F3i’s Data Challenges and AI Launchpad program with Microsoft, the center prepares students, educators, researchers and working professionals to use advanced computing and artificial intelligence in careers advancing agriculture’s next era.
The center is one part of F3 Innovate’s broader strategy to strengthen the Central Valley’s innovation ecosystem. By bringing together growers, universities, startups, investors, public partners and workforce programs, F3i helps move promising ideas from research into real-world use, creating new businesses, preparing workers for emerging careers and accelerating the adoption of technologies that improve the competitiveness of California agriculture.
Source: Fresno State