Ag tech, AI innovations showcased

URBANA, Ill. — State and federal lawmakers and the Information Trust Institute joined top researchers at policymakers at the University of Illinois to see how artificial intelligence is reshaping agriculture to address key challenges in food security, sustainability and workforce development.

Attendees also saw live demonstrations of autonomous farming technologies and AI-driven agricultural innovations presented by the Center for Digital Agricultural and the Artificial Intelligence for Future Agricultural Resilience, Management and Sustainability Institute.

“AI tools hold so much potential for our growers and producers,” said U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, R-Illinois.

“In my role on the House Agriculture Committee, I have been a champion for more federal investments in agriculture research, so it was great to see some of the new technologies developed at the CDA and AIFARMS in action. From lowering costs to improving sustainability, these innovations are a new frontier in solving the challenges farmers face in my district and across the country.”

AI and digital innovations are transforming agriculture. The tools developed by the University of Illinois, including the Autonomous Cover Crop Robot and the Horseradish Weeding Robot, are helping farmers boost efficiency, lower costs, and enhance sustainability.

These innovations underscore the pivotal role technology plays in strengthening agriculture and addressing both current and future challenges.

Attendees also discovered how research is being seamlessly integrated into everyday farming practices, such as the CropWizard— a generative AI platform offering real-time support to farmers— and the Livestock Monitoring System, which helps ranchers manage large herds more effectively.

“Technology is revolutionizing food production,” said Ashley Berrang, ITI Institute executive director.

“From autonomous robots to livestock monitoring, these groundbreaking technologies are shaping the future of farming. AI-driven innovations like those at the U of I Center for Digital Agriculture are leading the way, making farming more cost-effective and efficient across the country.”

A key focus of the discussion was the need for collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to tackle the most pressing agricultural challenges.

“The University of Illinois is at the forefront of interdisciplinary research, especially in the digital agriculture space. We are building collaborative partnerships across campus and beyond, with leading companies in agriculture and computing. But we will need everyone working in the same direction to truly reform agriculture and take advantage of the technological advances we’re innovating every day,” said John Reid, executive director for CDA, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Services, the Grainger College of Engineering, and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at U of I.

The event highlighted the collaboration between AIFARMS and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee FAM Innovation Center as a prime example of how workforce development programs are preparing the next generation of technology and agriculture professionals to tackle critical challenges with confidence and creativity.

ABOUT ITI

The ITI Institute is an independent nonprofit committed to informing and educating the public how tools like artificial intelligence are making our country stronger.

ITI’s mission is to inform Americans about how technology grows sectors across healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and more, to meet present and future challenges. Through nationwide events, digital learning programs, and engagement with policymakers, we empower people to see technology as an accessible and integral part of daily life. Find out more at www.institute.tech

ABOUT CDA

CDA is a multidisciplinary effort that leverages Illinois’ historic land-grant pillars of agriculture and engineering to shape the future of the agriculture industry. The center brings together researchers, educators, industries, and agricultural producers to innovate technology to transform how we feed and support a growing global population.

ABOUT AIFARMS

The broad mission of AIFARMS National AI Institute for Agriculture is to develop foundational advances in AI and apply them to ensure that future agriculture is environmentally friendly, sustainable, affordable, and accessible to diverse farming communities.

With funding from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture National Science Foundation, AIFARMS is primarily hosted by the CDA and National Center for Supercomputing Applications at U of I.