Southern land-grant universities create AI centers to encourage faster, accurate solutions to practical problems

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help feed the world and preserve our natural resources. To maximize the bandwidth of AI, scientists are working together to develop robotics and precision agriculture, use drones effectively and more. Recognizing the strength of collaboration, universities across the South are launching centers where researchers combine brain power and data to help agricultural producers.

Developing technology faster

To expedite the ability of AI technology to solve agricultural and environmental problems, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plans to build a 19,000-square-foot AI hub at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm, about 25 miles southeast of Tampa.

The Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture will serve as a world-class research, Extension and development facility, led by GCREC Director Jack Rechcigl and Associate Director, Nathan Boyd.