USDA invests US$20 million to build AI centers to boost agri-food

01 Sep 2020 --- Seven new “artificial intelligence institutes” are under development across the US, led by the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Advancements in AI research have broad applications in the F&B sector with potential to boost sustainable and humane food systems. The US$20 million initiative represents the nation’s most significant federal investment in AI research and workforce development to date.

“These future-focused centers of innovation will use the latest techniques from all corners of science including molecular science, engineering and robotics to seek solutions for myriad challenges facing agriculture, from crop improvement and animal welfare to labor shortages and farm safety,” says USDA-NIFA Acting Director Parag Chitnis. 

The AI institutes comprise large, multi-disciplinary and multi-sector collaborations. “They bring together a consortium of dozens of universities and other organizations, ultimately spanning academia, government and industry,” says Michael Kratsios, US Chief Technology Officer.

“In effect, over the next five years, some of the best minds in the country will be tackling some of the grandest challenges that we face, both in terms of new AI techniques as well as breakthroughs in fields of science and engineering and sectors of our economy. Along the way, they will nurture the future US workforce in AI research and practice.”

Some of the key focus areas of the project are:

USDA-NIFA AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems, led by a team at the University of California, Davis, integrates a holistic view of the food system with AI and bioinformatics to understand biological data and processes, addressing issues of molecular breeding to optimize traits for yield, crop quality and pest or disease resistance, agricultural production, food processing, and distribution and nutrition. Major emphasis is on inclusive education and outreach approaches to build a diverse, next-generation workforce. 

Key research areas include crop improvement, animal welfare, solving labor shortages and improving farm safety.USDA-NIFA AI Institute for Future Agricultural Resilience, Management and Sustainability, led by a team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will advance AI research in computer vision, machine learning, soft object manipulation and intuitive human-robot interaction to solve major agricultural challenges including labor shortages, efficiency and welfare in animal agriculture, environmental resilience of crops and the need to safeguard soil health. The institute features a new joint Computer Science+Agriculture degree and global clearinghouse to foster collaboration in AI-driven agriculture research.

NSF AI Institute for Research on Trustworthy AI in Weather, Climate, and Coastal Oceanography, led by a team at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, assembles researchers in AI, atmospheric and ocean science, and risk communication to develop user-driven trustworthy AI that addresses pressing environmental concerns. With AI certificate programs aimed at workforce skills, the institute is providing the research and training necessary for the future workforce to deliver the advances needed to deal with environmental hazard challenges.

NSF AI Institute for Molecular Discovery, Synthetic Strategy and Manufacturing (or the NSF Molecular Maker Lab Institute), led by a team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, focuses on development of new AI-enabled tools and serves as a training ground for the next generation of scientists with combined expertise in chemical synthesis and bioengineering.

“The centers’ research will improve our national capacity in critical areas such as extreme weather preparedness, K-12 education advancement, next-generation workforce development and agricultural resilience and sustainability,” USDA-NIFA envisions.

“The US$20 million investment in each of five NSF AI institutes and two USDA-NIFA AI Institutes is just the beginning, with more institute announcements anticipated in the coming years.”

Edited by Benjamin Ferrer