The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has unveiled the first awards for a Quad-backed project, AI-ENGAGE, aimed at revolutionizing agriculture in the US and the Indo-Pacific region. This initiative, with an investment of $2.4 million from NSF, will support six global research endeavors. Partnering with agencies in Australia, India, and Japan, the program integrates artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies into farming practices to enhance crop yields, pest management, and agricultural resilience.
The projects, spanning various US universities, involve researchers from at least three Quad nations. Purdue University plans to develop autonomous robots for disease detection in apple orchards, while Iowa State University will create an AI-based app for real-time crop pest management. Additionally, Kansas State University will introduce a computer vision system for soybean yield estimation, and Missouri University of Science and Technology will focus on pest and nutrient management in corn and rice.
Washington State University aims to enhance wheat varieties using AI-driven genomic models, and Cornell University will expedite breeding of quality tomatoes, onions, and strawberries through image-based tools. Each project is mandated to include researchers from at least three Quad nations, with each partner agency funding its own researchers. NSF’s contribution to US leads amounts to $2.4 million, leveraging a total investment exceeding $6 million with contributions from other Quad partners.
The Quad, comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia, has broadened its collaboration to encompass critical technologies, supply chains, and climate resilience, emphasizing food security and agricultural innovation as shared priorities amidst escalating climate risks and supply chain disruptions in the Indo-Pacific region.
