Keywords
Agriculture Innovation
Climate Resilience
Precision Farming
Land-Grant Universities
Abstract
Global agriculture faces an urgent challenge: to produce 50–100% more food by 2050 amid shrinking resources and escalating climate threats. Long regarded as slow to adopt new technologies, the sector now stands at a pivotal crossroads, fueled by the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI). At the University of Florida, significant investments in AI infrastructure and expertise are driving advancements in crop breeding, autonomous machinery, and data-informed decision-making. From precision robotics in strawberry fields to the digital twinning of farms and markets, AI is emerging as a critical engine of productivity and resilience. As land-grant universities lead workforce development and community outreach, AI is becoming a powerful democratizing tool—positioned to transform agriculture from a technological laggard into a digital-age leader.
References
Deloitte Center for Technology, Media & Telecommunications (Nov. 29, 2023). On solid ground: AgTech is driving sustainable farming and is expected to harvest US$18 billion in 2024 revenues. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/technology-media-and-telecom-predictions/2024/agricultural-technology-predictions.html
United States Department of Agriculture (N.D.). Food Security. USDA.gov. https://www.usda.gov/about-food/food-safety/food-security#:~:text=Given%20population%20growth%20and%20rising,will%20need%20to%20almost%20double
University of Florida (July 21, 2020). UF announces $70 million artificial intelligence partnership with NVIDIA. https://news.ufl.edu/2020/07/nvidia-partnership
University of Florida (December 13, 2024). University of Florida to acquire one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers. https://news.ufl.edu/2024/12/hipergator-upgrade/
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Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. J. Scott Angle, Chris Moran