AI AgTech Challenges & Hackathons

Applications are open for graduate and undergraduate students to be part of the AIFS x Meta Wearables AI AgTech Challenge. Teams will work with Meta AI Glasses to solve a real-world food system challenge.

Event Details

• Dates: May 15–17
• Location: UC Davis (in person)
• Format: Team-based hackathon (apply individually; teams formed at kickoff)
• Includes: Mentorship, workspace, meals, and prizes

The challenge is led by Ilias Tagkopoulos, Steve Brown, and Samir Townsley with support from the Meta Wearables team.

Interested? We'll form the teams — sign up today!

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What could you build if AI moved with you?

Step into the next wave of applied AI with the AIFS x Meta Wearables AI AgTech Hackathon — where ideas don’t stay on a screen. They move into the field.

Over one fast-paced weekend, undergraduate and graduate students will design, build, and pitch original solutions using Meta AI glasses. From real-time insights to hands-free tools, teams will explore how wearable AI can unlock new ways to solve challenges across food and agriculture.

We provide the technology. You bring the ingenuity.

What to Expect

The weekend begins with a kickoff event featuring a panel of growers, industry leaders, startup founders, and the Meta team. This session sets the stage for the challenge — offering real-world perspectives on how wearable AI could be used in the field, along with the opportunities and limitations teams should consider as they build.

Following the kickoff, participants form interdisciplinary teams, intentionally balanced to bring together a mix of technical and domain expertise.

From there, it’s a focused build sprint:

• Prototype your idea using Meta AI glasses
• Work alongside mentors from academia, industry, and Meta
• Test and refine your solution in real time
• Pitch your project to a panel of judges on Sunday

In just 48 hours, you’ll take an idea from concept to working demo and demonstrate its potential in the field.

The Challenge

Teams will tackle real-world problems across food and agriculture. Each project can take a different direction, but all share a common goal:

Build something practical, creative, and meaningful using wearable AI.

Whether your team focuses on on-farm applications or broader food system challenges, the opportunity is the same — turn emerging technology into something that delivers real impact.

Prizes

• 1st Place: $500 + invitation to the California Tech Caucus in Menlo Park
• 2nd Place: $300
• 3rd Place: $200
• 4th & 5th Place: $100

Every team walks away with experience and a cash prize. The top team enjoys recognition and a chance to take their work beyond campus.

Who Should Apply

Open to undergraduate and graduate students from any major who can participate in person at UC Davis.

You don’t need to be an expert in wearable tech but you should be ready to build, collaborate, and learn quickly. Each team will include strong technical support, and all backgrounds are welcome.

Why Join

AIFS hackathons are designed to be hands-on and outcome-driven. In a single weekend, participants gain experience with emerging tools, connect with mentors, and see what it takes to bring an idea to life.

Past teams have built working prototypes that tackle real agricultural challenges from AI-powered crop monitoring to decision support tools for growers.

This year, the focus shifts to wearable AI — and what happens when technology becomes part of how you move, see, and work.

Ready to Build?

Spots are limited. Apply now to secure your place and start building something that matters.

Food and work space will be provided throughout the weekend.