The National Science Foundation (NSF) said it is making $2.4 million of funding awards to several U.S.-based universities that are doing work on six international research projects aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tech for agricultural applications.
NSF explained in a Feb. 12 announcement that the awards are being made under the Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen AGriculturE (AI-ENGAGE) initiative that also counts Australia, India, and Japan as partners.
The university research projects being funded will “harness artificial intelligence and critical emerging technologies to empower farmers and strengthen agricultural resilience across the United States and Indo-Pacific region,” the agency said.
While NSF is contributing $2.4 million directly to the U.S.-based university project leads, AI-ENGAGE’s overseas partners are putting up $4 million to support researchers in their countries.
Altogether, the new fundings represent a “combined investment of over $6 million,” NSF said.
Each of the participating countries is set to benefit from each other’s work on the projects, the agency explained.
“The AI-ENGAGE initiative is unique in its requirement that every project involves researchers from at least three of the four Quad nations,” NSF said.
“This structure ensures an exchange of expertise and data, while simultaneously maintaining that each partner agency provides funding for its respective national researchers,” the agency said.
U.S.-based universities on the receiving end of the new funding include Purdue University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, University of Tennessee, Washington State University, and Cornell University.
“By integrating current and emerging technologies, like AI, into agriculture, we are advancing scientific frontiers to provide U.S. farmers and their international counterparts with tools they need to increase crop yields, more effectively manage pests, strengthen agricultural resilience and ensure a more secure food supply,” stated Brian Stone, who is performing the duties of NSF director.
