**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 PURPOSE OF THIS EXPANDING AI INNOVATION THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING AND PARTNERSHIPS (EXPANDAI) PROPOSAL IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION IN AI RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY (NMSU) AND THE AI INSTITUTE FOR NEXT GENERATION FOOD SYSTEMS (AIFS). THIS PARTNERSHIP BUILDS ON AN AUTHENTIC COLLABORATION, SPANNING THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF FOUNDATIONAL AND USE-INSPIRED AI RESEARCH INNOVATIONS ANDDEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. THE MOTIVATIONS FOR THIS PROJECT DERIVE FROM (1) A SHARED VISION OF CREATING AI INNOVATIONS TO ADDRESS THE PRESSING NEEDS OF RESILIENT FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DRYLAND AGRICULTURE; (2) A DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF AI RESEARCH CAPACITY AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY; (3) A NEED TO CREATE NEW RESEARCH AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SERVE STUDENTS AT NMSU, AT AIFS, AND ACROSS THE NEW MEXICO REGION. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO NMSU AND AIFS; NMSU WILL EXPAND ITS AI RESEARCH CAPACITY AND CREATE NEW EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ITS STUDENT POPULATION; AIFS WILL BENEFIT FROM NEWLY DEVELOPED AI METHODOLOGIES AND TOOLS WHICH SUPPORT ITS EXISTING RESEARCH THRUSTS AND ACCESS A NEW POOL OF TALENT AND EXPERTISE IN AI.