· Research · 2 min read
National Research Platform and CENIC: At the Heart of Precision Agriculture
NRP team members contribute to innovative data-driven agriculture project at Iron Horse Vineyards
The National Research Platform (NRP) team is playing a key role in an innovative precision agriculture project that’s transforming how we understand and optimize farming in a changing climate. The project, led by CENIC, is creating a living agricultural laboratory at Iron Horse Vineyards in Sebastopol, California.
NRP Team Contributors: Tom DeFanti and John Graham from the National Research Platform
Precision Agriculture Revolution
This groundbreaking project uses advanced sensor technology connected to CENIC AIR to collect real-time data from vineyards, including soil moisture, temperature, CO2 levels, and weather conditions. The data is transmitted via low-power, wide-area network (LoRaWAN) technology, enabling continuous monitoring of agricultural conditions.
Tom DeFanti has been instrumental in connecting several California State Universities and California Community Colleges with viticulture and agriculture programs to the project, many of which have their own vines and farms for collaborative research.
John Graham, senior research scientist with UCSD/SDSC, is working on creating a “digital twin” of the vineyards—a virtual replica built through real-time data that enables vintners to optimize yield and quality through AI-driven analysis.
NRP’s Role in Agricultural Innovation
The project demonstrates how NRP’s expertise in data science and high-performance computing can be applied to solve real-world agricultural challenges. The team is developing AI-driven optimization of vine placement and irrigation strategies, enabling climate adaptation through comparative data analysis across years. The project has already shown potential for 10% reduction in water use through water conservation techniques, while implementing digital twin technology for predictive farming practices.
🔗 Read the full story: CENIC Members Enable Data-Driven Agriculture
This project showcases how NRP’s research capabilities extend beyond traditional computing to address critical challenges in agriculture and sustainability.
