Small Changes Can Yield Big Savings In Agricultural Water Use

A study out of UC Santa Barbara suggests that using remote sensing, big data, and machine learning can help address California’s water issues in the Central Valley. This could potentially save as much water as switching crops or fallowing fields. California’s fertile soils and Mediterranean climate allow for high-value crops, but many are quite thirsty. Agriculture accounts for 80% of water usage in the state, and declining groundwater levels and climate change are putting pressure on the industry.