**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 DEMAND FOR FOOD IS INCREASING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, CONSUMERS ARE DEMANDING MORE NUTRITIOUS FOOD THAT IS GROWN SUSTAINABLY. THESE DEMANDS ARE COMPOUNDED BY THE LACK OF LABOR AVAILABILITY TO WORK ON THE FARMS AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE ON CROPS. THEN, THE ADVANCES IN DIGITAL AGRICULTURE, ESPECIALLY SENSORS AND CONTROLS, MACHINE VISION, AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLIED TO ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION OFFER NUMEROUS POSSIBILITIES TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE CHALLENGES FACED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND TO INCREASE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY OF FARMING OPERATIONS. THE PROPOSED SYMPOSIUM WILL PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE, IDENTIFY PROMISING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, IDENTIFY RESEARCH AND TRAINING GAPS, IDENTIFY INFRASTRUCTURE (E.G., COMMUNICATIONS, DATA INTEROPERABILITY) NEEDED TO REALIZE THE BENEFITS OF ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION, AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION. THE SYMPOSIUM WILL SERVE AS A KNOWLEDGE HUB WHERE DIFFERENT GROUPS WILL CONVERGE TO EXCHANGE EXPERTISE AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION. ADDITIONALLY, HAVING THE SYMPOSIUM RUNNING CONCURRENTLY WITH THE ICPA CONFERENCE MIGHT PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS OF BOTH EVENTS TO BUILD AND STRENGTH PROFESSIONALCOLLABORATION THAT ULTIMATELY WILL BENEFIT THE APPLICATIONS OF ROBOTICS AND AI TO PRECISION AGRICULTURE.$50,000
· FY2024 · National Institute of Food and Agriculture