Imagine using drones to detect safety hazards in greenhouses or tap into new technology to manage drought.
These are just some of the groundbreaking outcomes of five research projects recently completed through the AgTech Innovation Hub, a multimillion-dollar collaboration among CFAES, Nationwide, and Ohio Farm Bureau.
The hub, which launched in 2022 with an initial $2 million pledge from Nationwide, aims to develop innovative solutions that can revolutionize the agricultural industry and help farmers better manage climate risks.
The inaugural projects tackled critical issues such as water management and artificial intelligence-powered farming. The first project, “Drought Risk Reduction Through Automated Drainage Water Management (ADWM),” developed technology to optimize water use and reduce drought risk.
The second project, “Artificial Intelligence for Farming: Harvesting Insights From Data and Drones,” leveraged AI to provide farmers with valuable data for decision-making. The three other completed projects include Considering Climate Change: Mapping Climate Risk Perceptions,” “Cell-Permeable Proteins for Sustainable Agriculture,” and “It Starts and Ends With Seeds — Climate and Soybean Seed Health.”
As a land-grant university, our researchers, Ohio State University Extension professionals, and partners work together to pave the way for innovation and discovery,” said Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and dean of CFAES. “The hub’s newly funded projects echo the partnership’s joint commitment to research that makes an impact on Ohio and beyond.”
Four newly funded projects will address some of agriculture’s biggest challenges, including labor shortages and safety in controlled environment agriculture. One project will explore whether an independent contractor model could benefit the agricultural community, similar to the approach used by ride-share companies. Another will focus on using drones to detect safety issues in controlled environments.
“Between the excellent outcomes of the inaugural five projects and the outstanding projects funded in this second round, we are excited to see the continued growth of the AgTech Innovation Hub,” said Devin Fuhrman, Nationwide’s chief agriculture and sponsor relations officer.
The AgTech Innovation Hub is poised to continue driving impactful research and innovation to benefit the agricultural industry and local communities.