Recipient Organization
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY
1200 NORTH DUPONT HIGHWAY
DOVER,DE 19901
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The agricultural sector has been undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven by the powerful and interconnected impacts of climate change, demographic transitions and uneven economic growth. Advances in irrigation, fertilization, mechanization, and breeding have helped agriculture keep pace with the explosive growth of the world's population, but at enormous costs to the environment and human health. Conventional technologies will not solve these ubiquitous challenges. Emerging technologies (ET) employing data science (DS), machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) has provided the impetus to transform the overall agricultural system and landscape at multi-scale levels. Emerging technologies (e.g. robotics, drones, sensors) surrounding the Internet of Things (IoT) has propelled agriculture even further through information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the cyber-physical cycle of farm management This work seeks to strengthen capacity amongst the 1890 institutions, catalyzing our participation of how ET shapes our future. The Center of Excellence in Emerging Internet of Things (E-IoT) Technologies brings together scientists from (9) 1890 institutions -DSU, UMES, SU, TU, AAMU, SCSU, UAPB, NCA&T, and FAMU with collaborative support from UC Davis Artificial Intelligence for Next- Generation Food Systems and The University of Delaware (UD) Data Science Institute (DSI), all with a proven record of excellence in AI and data science, agriculture, outreach, and education. The broad goals of this project are to achieve foundational advances in emerging technologies to address pressing challenges in agriculture. The project will tackle four (4) key agricultural challenges: (1) the development of multidisciplinary educational programs with increased AI, DS, ML content to produce our next generation workforce; (2) research and workforce development training to increase participation of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups; and (3) extension to small and minority farmers in the demonstration of emerging technology solutions and providing feedback on the incentives and barriers to their adoption. This work will promote a next generation workforce and enable small and minority farmers with the knowledge to increase food production and profitability in the long term as well as improve resiliency to climate change.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
30%
Developmental
30%
Goals / Objectives
The broad goals of this project are to achieve foundational advances in emerging technologies to address pressing challenges in agriculture. The project will tackle four (4) key agricultural challenges: (1) the development of multidisciplinary educational programs with increased AI, DS, ML content to produce our next generation workforce; (2) research and workforce development training to increase participation of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups; and (3) extension to small and minority farmers in the demonstration of emerging technology solutions and providing feedback on the incentives and barriers to their adoption. This work will promote a next generation workforce and enable small and minority farmers with the knowledge to increase food production and profitability in the long term as well as improve resiliency to climate change.
Project Methods
Goal 1: Advance knowledge and research in Emerging Technologies in Agriculture.Methods: Collaborative research, student research opportunities, publication andconferences/meetings presentations, research seminars, subaward competition. MeasurableOutcomes: # of research collaborations, # of undergraduate/graduate participants in research, # of 4subawards, impact on the graduation rate at the institutional level, presentations atconferences/meetings, attendance at research seminars, research satisfaction, # number ofundergraduate/graduate/postdoc participants in research, #of publications and presentations atconferences/meetings, awards.Methods: Joint research projects, training at various research-driven institutions. MeasurableOutcomes: # of joint projects, # of training opportunities to students and researchers, # ofcollaborative research proposals submitted to funding agencies.Goal 2: Establish emerging technologies infrastructure to expand opportunities for studentlearning and research and solve complex interdisciplinary challenges.Method: Invitation of experts, research hubs,faculty/student training, FOAs at NIFA, NSF, NOAA etc., website. Measurable Outcomes: # ofseminars, # of training opportunities to researchers, # of collaborative research proposals submittedto funding agencies.Method: DS, ML, AI introductory courses, certification, research seminars/guest lecturers, capstones. Measurable Outcomes:distance education course enrollment, attendance at guest lectures/seminars, # of capstoneexperiences, # of certifications.Method: DS, ML, AI workshops, short courses, research seminars/guest lecturers, capstones.Measurable Outcomes: team-taught course evaluations, workshop/short-course surveys (pre-postassessment), capstone performance, attendance at seminars.Goal 3. Implement high-impact practices that build a sustained pathway of scholars withworkforce development skills deployable in emerging technologies and related disciplines.Method: Tri-level partnerships, outreach, recruitment activities, regular meetings with the students and mentors, surveys. Measurable Outcomes: # ofpartnerships with local school districts, # of summer internships, # of URM students associatedwith the Center, # of students recruited into data-science and agriculture-related sciences, # ofstudents (enrolled and graduated), post-graduation activities, # of presentations and publications,data from surveys.Method: mobile learning (m-learning) and electronic learning (e-learning), innovative mobile agricultural extension services.Measurable Outcomes: # of innovative mobile agricultural extension services provided, # ofsmall/underserved farmers via web- and mobile-phone-based emerging technology systems.Method: mentorship programs, establish best practices, 7 training, workshops, symposia, research experiences. Measurable Outcomes: # of collaborations with national labs/R1s, # of industry partnerships, mentorship programs, dissemination of findings.Method: summer innovation workshops, master skill thesis competitions, hackathons. Measurable Outcomes: patents, licenses, competitions awards/recognition.