** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE PRODUCTION OF FRESH-MARKET TOMATOES IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN DECLINING OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, WHICH IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DECLINE INCLUDE A SHORTAGE OF LABOR, INCREASED PRODUCTION COSTS, AND COMPETITION FROM MEXICO. THE RISING COST OF LABOR IN THE FARMING INDUSTRY POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO FUTURE AGRICULTURE.TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, A RESEARCH PROJECT IS PROPOSING THE CONCEPT OF AN AUTONOMOUS BIO-CELL, A FARMING SYSTEM THAT MINIMIZES RESOURCE USAGE AND HUMAN INTERVENTION. THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH UTILIZES VARIOUS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES. HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL A NEED TO FURTHER DEVELOP CROP CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING TECHNOLOGY TO FULLY CAPITALIZE ON DATA-DRIVEN CROP PRODUCTION.COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL OPEN FIELDS, AN AUTONOMOUS BIO-CELL OFFERS ADVANTAGES IN SPATIAL AND STRUCTURAL ALLOCATION. IT CAN BE EFFICIENTLY DESIGNED, POTENTIALLY EXPANDING TO GREENHOUSES OR BUILDINGS. THE PROJECT'S MAIN FOCUS IS ON THREE KEY AREAS. FIRSTLY, THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS PLANT PHENOTYPING, MONITORING, AND TASK PERFORMANCE. SECONDLY, THE INTEGRATION OF ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL AND ENGINEERING METHODS, INCLUDING BIG DATA ANALYTICS, FOR EFFECTIVE DECISION-MAKING, INTERPRETATION, AND COMMUNICATION OF AGRICULTURAL DATA. LASTLY, THE PROJECT AIMS TO ENGINEER A CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEM CAPABLE OF AUTONOMOUSLY PERFORMING VARIOUS TASKS SUCH AS POLLINATION, PRUNING, EARLY REMOVAL OF INFERIOR FRUITS, AND HARVESTING.THIS RESEARCH PROJECT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO A SPECIFIC COMMODITY BOARD TOPIC, HIGHLIGHTING THE URGENCY AND RELEVANCE OF ADDRESSING THE DECLINE IN TOMATO PRODUCTION. BY COMBINING INNOVATIVE FARMING TECHNIQUES, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, AND DATA-DRIVEN APPROACHES, THE PROJECT SEEKS TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE INDUSTRY AND PAVE THE WAY FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND PRODUCTIVE FUTURE IN AGRICULTURE.