Upterra appoints Shiv Tiwari as Chief Science Officer to drive agri-water innovation

UpTerra, a California-based agricultural technology company focused on improving irrigation efficiency, has appointed Shiv Tiwari, Ph.D., as its Chief Science Officer.

Tiwari, an experienced leader in plant biotechnology and agricultural innovation, will oversee the scientific development of TerraFlow, UpTerra’s flagship system that uses vortexing and frequency imprinting to enhance how water interacts with soil and crops. The company says the technology helps growers increase water uptake and nutrient absorption while reducing losses from runoff and evaporation.

“UpTerra turns water into a force for global food productivity, soil renewal, and healthier animals—and planet,” Tiwari said in a statement.

Tiwari brings more than two decades of research and executive experience, including leadership roles at GreenVenus, Corteva (formerly DuPont Pioneer), and synthetic biology firm Intrexon. His research has been cited over 6,000 times across 25 scientific publications, and he holds multiple patents, including one that improved maize transformation techniques widely used in seed development.

UpTerra’s technology is currently installed on more than 40,000 acres across 300 farms in the United States, covering row crops, orchards, and specialty crops. The company describes its approach as “redefining how water performs in agriculture” by applying physics-based treatments directly within existing irrigation systems.

Tiwari will report to Chief Executive Steve Birch.

UpTerra’s technology enters a growing market for water-efficiency solutions as producers worldwide face tighter resource constraints and increased pressure to optimize irrigation practices.