** 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 AIM OF THIS PROJECT IS TO TRAIN A SKILLED AND MOTIVATED GROUP OF WORKFORCE WHO CAN USE NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IN AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD PRODUCTION. OUR TEAM, WHICH INCLUDES EXPERTS IN BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, FOOD SCIENCE, ECONOMICS, ENGINEERING, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ROBOTICS, AND EDUCATION, WANTS TO TEACH UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ABOUT IMPORTANT AND CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES IN FIVE AREAS: ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, SYSTEMS AND SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY, BIOPROCESSING, AND PROCESS SIMULATION. OVER THREE YEARS, WE WILL WORK WITH SIXTY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, HELPING THEM GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO FIND JOBS. BY DOING THIS, WE HOPE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDERSERVED PROFESSIONALS IN THESE FIELDS, WHICH WILL BRING IN FRESH IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES. THIS, IN TURN, WILL LEAD TO MORE INNOVATION AND RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD TECHNOLOGY. IT WILL ALSO HELP ENSURE THAT RESOURCES AND BENEFITS ARE SHARED MORE FAIRLY, AS THESE PROFESSIONALS WILL UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED IN THE PAST.