Funding opportunities, folks!
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Areas that NIFA currently funds AI research, education, and extension activities
Agricultural systems and engineering
- Systems for crop and soil monitoring are leveraging machine learning, remote sensing, satellite imagery, drones, and precision technologies for informed production and management. Autonomous robots are being developed to perform previously laborintensive tasks like harvesting crops in greater volumes and faster than traditional human laborers. Nano-based sensing mechanisms and smart sensors are being developed and evaluated for accurate, reliable and cost-effective early and rapid detection of pathogens, allergens, chemicals and contaminants in foods, plant and animal production systems, water and soil.
Natural resources and environment
- Decision support tools and models are increasingly used in the assessment and development of new management practices and processes leading to substantial improvements in soil health (e.g., microbiome, water, nutrients, carbon, chemicals of environmental concern) and improved ecosystem services from agricultural production.
Economics and rural communities
- Applications of AI are expanding in development of new models to assist farm, forest, and ranch managers in decision-making with appropriate scale management strategies and technologies to enhance economic efficiency and sustainability. The contributions and impact of AI are being examined to understand agricultural market structure and performance; international trade; agricultural production and resource use; consumer behavior; food safety; food waste and loss; and farm labor and immigration and policy; agricultural policy design and impacts; technology development and adoption; and science and innovation policy. Efforts are supported by AI to create and examine innovative approaches for advancing economic opportunities for rural entrepreneurs and communities.
The subsections of the AFRI Foundational and Applied Science program that provide funding in AI are Agriculture Systems and Technology; Bioenergy, Natural Resources and Environment; Agricultural Economics and Rural Community program areas.
The WinSolutions growth ecosystem supports innovators, entrepreneurs and investors in spaces where AI, agriculture and food production converge.
