Training doctoral candidates in AI-powered precision tools for agriculture

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. —Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered precision agriculture tools can help growers better manage their orchards by reducing waste, increasing resilience and helping guide decisions about water use, fertilizer application and pest control, according to researchers at Penn State. However, the team said, not enough agricultural scientists are trained to develop and use these tools in real-world farming situations. A project underway in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences aims to ease that shortage by training three doctoral degree students.

Funded by a three-year, $238,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and matching support of over $500,000 from the college and its departments, a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in plant science, weed science, plant pathology, entomology, precision agriculture, machine learning and economics will train the doctoral degree students to develop systematic solutions to address the challenges in tree fruit production using precision and AI tools. 

“These students will learn how to apply AI and precision tools to solve real problems in tree fruit farming,” said project leader Long He, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, whose expertise is AI and precision agriculture. “They’ll be trained by a diverse team of experts and get opportunities to grow professionally — through research, mentorship, career planning and public speaking. By the end, these doctoral fellows will become leaders in using AI to improve farming and adapt to climate change.”

The project has three main goals, according to He. The first is to recruit strong doctoral degree students, especially from underrepresented backgrounds, to work on AI and precision agriculture in fruit farming. Second is to train these students with academic courses, hands-on research, workshops and mentorship. Third is to share the results of their work through conferences, publications, and events for farmers and the public.

The tree fruit team at Penn State already works with advanced tools such as smart sprayers, drones, precision automated irrigation, and robotic AI systems to detect pests, diseases and manage crops, He noted, adding that the students will join established doctoral degree programs in agricultural engineering, plant science and pest management.

“They will get hands-on experience with AI and precision tools, participate in workshops, seminars and field trials with real farmers, and learn to communicate their research to both scientists and growers,” he said. “Our hope is that the doctoral students trained in our program emerge as scientists ready to lead innovation in climate-smart agriculture.”

A side benefit to the program, He suggested, will be increased adoption of AI and precision tools by fruit growers, more collaboration between academia, industry and farming communities, and greater resilience in fruit farming against climate change.

Members of the team, with their expertise, include: Paul Heinemann, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, precision agriculture; Huiiuan Xu, assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science, computer vision and machine learning; Caio Brunharo, assistant professor of weed science, weed science; Shanthanu Krishna Kumar, assistant professor of tree fruit, pomology and tree fruit production; Kari Peter, associate research professor, of tree fruit pathology, plant pathology and post-harvest pathology; Greg Krawczyk, director, Fruit Research and Extension Center, entomology; Claudia Schmidt, associate professor of marketing and local/regional food systems, agricultural economics and cost-benefit analyses; and Don Seifrit, tree fruit extension educator.