You’re invited

2026 California AgTech Alliance Annual Convening

Join Alliance members and partners for a day of farmer perspectives, project showcases, and working conversations about the future of agricultural technology in California.

Home·2026 Annual Convening

When

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Pacific

Where

UCSC Silicon Valley Campus

3175 Bowers Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95054

Registration

Free to attend

About

California’s AgTech ecosystem, in one room

The Alliance unites hundreds of innovators, and thousands of workers across the state behind one goal: making California the most inclusive and climate-smart agricultural innovation ecosystem in the world.

The annual convening brings members, regional leaders, innovators, and partners together for a single day to compare what they’re learning, build relationships, and help set the direction for the Alliance’s next phase.

See what the Alliance is building.

Explore partner projects and innovations in practice, and see how the work connects across California.

Shape the roadmap.

Contribute to facilitated working groups on the research and innovation priorities that will guide the Alliance’s work.

Understand what adoption requires.

Hear farmer and industry perspectives on the state of California agtech and the practical needs shaping technology adoption.

Explore investment and market access.

Hear perspectives on regional investment, routes to market, and opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Speakers and facilitators

Who you’ll hear from

Martha Montoya

Founder and CEO, Agtools

Jean-Christophe Ruel

Founder and CEO, Innoptech

Gabriel Youtsey

Chief Innovation Officer, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sarah Masterson

Director, California AgTech Alliance

Becca Fenwick, Ph.D.

Director, Drones Uplifting California Communities (DUCC)

Eric Hadden

Executive Director, Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center, Fresno State

Hannah Johnson

Industry Lead, UC ANR Innovate

Jennifer K. Sedell, Ph.D.

Program Policy Analyst, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Michael Hang

Education Coordinator, CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER)

Additional participants and session details will be announced as they are confirmed.

Agenda

The day, start to finish

8:30 to 9:15 a.m.

Registration and welcome

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.

IAB fireside chat: state of California agtech

10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

Alliance project showcase

10:45 to 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Performance measurement and impact

11:30 a.m. to noon

Workforce needs and gaps

Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Catered lunch

1:00 to 1:50 p.m.

Showcase: innovation in practice

1:50 to 2:35 p.m.

Regional investment landscape

2:35 to 3:05 p.m.

Small farms insights

3:05 to 3:15 p.m.

Break

3:15 to 4:00 p.m.

Research and innovation roadmap: facilitated working groups

4:00 to 4:50 p.m.

Investment panel: capital, market access, and global opportunity

4:50 to 5:00 p.m.

Closing, raffle, and a snapshot of results

Optional activities

Before and after the convening

Social dinner, Monday, October 12, 5:30 p.m.

Valley Goat, 1100 N. Mathilda Ave., Sunnyvale

An informal chance to connect with fellow attendees the evening before.

Morning tour, Wednesday, October 14 (tentative)

An optional morning tour in the Santa Clara area is under consideration. Time and location to be confirmed.

Also happening

THRIVE Global Impact Summit

This year’s convening is held in conjunction with the THRIVE Global Impact Summit, October 14 to 15 in Santa Clara. Convening attendees get 25 percent off with code CATA.

Join us in Santa Clara

Registration closes Friday, September 25. Bring your questions, share your work, and meet the people advancing agricultural technology across California.

Questions: Maya Maniar, mkmaniar@ucanr.edu