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A speaker addresses the audience at the official launch of the F3i Supercomputing Center at Fresno State. Credit: F3 Innovate

F3 Innovate (F3i), Fresno State and the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at the University of California San Diego have launched the F3i Supercomputing Center, a regional innovation platform providing the computing power, technical support and talent pathways 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.

A launch event held July 9 included 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, startups, students and researchers to develop agriculture technologies and AI models that address real-world challenges across food and agriculture.

"Artificial intelligence is becoming foundational infrastructure for the global economy," said Priscilla Koepke, F3i chief executive officer. "The question is whether regions like the Central Valley will simply adopt technologies developed elsewhere, or whether they will help shape and benefit from the next generation of innovation. This partnership creates the infrastructure, expertise and talent pipeline needed to ensure the Central Valley agriculture remains globally competitive while accelerating innovation across the entire food and agriculture supply chain."

The partnership also leverages the nationally recognized expertise of SDSC, 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 SDSC Director Frank Wuerthwein. "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."

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," said Dr. Bao Johri, vice president of information technology and chief information officer at Fresno State. "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."

The center will provide three integrated services:

• Affordable High-Performance Computing
  The center offers shared access to advanced computing resources that enable growers, startups, students 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 and efficiency across food and agriculture.
  
  
• Workforce and Talent Development
  Through F3i’s Data Challenges, AI Launchpad program with Microsoft, and other talent development programs, 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.