Federal Grant Launches AI Program For Better Agricultural Production

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture has partnered with the National Science Foundation to award a $20 million grant to Iowa State University. This federal grant establishes the AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture at Iowa State.

Funds will support the development of technology aimed at improving agricultural production. One of the goals of this project is to use artificial intelligence to spur the productivity and sustainability of agriculture. This is critical as our population is increasing, and arable land is decreasing. And with the ever-present changing climate, solutions are key. This is why the NSF is helping to launch these institutes all over the country.

“I am delighted to announce the establishment of new NSF National AI Research Institutes as we look to expand into all 50 states,” said National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “These institutes are hubs for academia, industry, and government to accelerate discovery and innovation in AI. Inspiring talent and ideas everywhere in this important area will lead to new capabilities that improve our lives from medicine to entertainment to transportation and cybersecurity and position us in the vanguard of competitiveness and prosperity.”

Author’s note: We have a grant for USA individuals at IHEs, nonprofits, or agencies in eligible states for research on sustainable agriculture. Check it out.

Can The Development Of This AI Institute Help The Planet?

While announcing this Artificial Intelligence Unit at Iowa State, Panchanathan also announced 11 others. This is in addition to the seven similar institutions announced last August by the NSF. The establishment of these centers is part of a $360 million effort by the federal government to leverage AI to solve national issues.

“AIIRA is bringing together scientists and farmers, industry and government to adapt these technologies and encourage their adoption to more transform agriculture to meet the needs of our growing and increasingly climate-challenged planet,” the project leaders wrote in a summary.

Baskar Ganapathysubramanian, the Joseph C. and Elizabeth A. Anderlik Professor for Engineering at Iowa State, will be leading the research team. Several other institutions will be collaborating on this initiative including:

• Iowa State University

• Carnegie Mellon University

• the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

• The University of Arizona

• The University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• George Mason University

• The University of Missouri

• Iowa Soybean Association

GrantNews Notes

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