The Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture and Pitzer College's Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability are testing whether agrivoltaics — growing crops beneath solar panels — could help California farmers cope with extreme heat and rising water and energy costs while maintaining crop yields. Preliminary observations at Spadra Farm suggest the shade may help soil retain moisture and protect both crops and farmworkers from heat, but Pitzer College researcher Rose Olivas (‘22, master's in agriculture, plant science option) says more evidence is needed: “There is no proof of concept, and that's what we're trying to get off the ground.”

This story was originally broadcast by KCRW on August 8, 2026.