UTRGV is the lead institution of a new project funded under the second funding pool of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. This initiative will work directly with farmers to pilot agrivoltaics in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. Agrivoltaic systems integrate solar energy production with agriculture, allowing livestock grazing or crop cultivation beneath solar panels. The partial shade from the panels offers several benefits, including improved water efficiency due to increased soil moisture retention and potential enhancements in crop yield. Additionally, the dual use of land through agrivoltaics provides an opportunity to improve farm profitability by creating multiple revenue streams.

This project aims to support farmers in adopting agrivoltaic systems while creating climate-smart market opportunities and generating critical data on the environmental benefits of this approach. A team of specialists will offer financial and technical assistance to participating producers, while faculty and staff will conduct in-depth evaluations of the economic and environmental impacts of agrivoltaics in the Rio Grande Valley.