{"id":173,"date":"2025-10-21T19:23:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T23:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/?page_id=173"},"modified":"2026-03-20T06:12:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T10:12:13","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 AI in Agriculture Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
\"a<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

AI in Agriculture 2026<\/strong>
Mar 31\u2013Apr 2, 2026 <\/strong>
StateView Hotel & Conference Center <\/strong>
NC State University | Raleigh, NC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join NC State University for the 2026 AI in Agriculture Conference to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of AI-enabled agriculture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s focus\u2014Advancing Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Innovations for Resilient and Competitive Agricultural Systems\u2014emphasizes how integrative, AI-enabled solutions can enhance productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship across crop, livestock, and supply-chain domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on the momentum of past conferences hosted by Auburn University<\/a> (2022), University of Florida<\/a> (2023), Texas A&M<\/a> (2024), and Mississippi State<\/a> (2025), this year\u2019s event will bring together researchers, industry leaders, and students to explore how AI, data science, and engineering are transforming agricultural systems. Join us to explore a wide spectrum of topics\u2014from molecular and genetic research to production, processing, and supply chain analytics\u2014spanning plant, animal, and environmental systems.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Register<\/h2>\n

Learn more and register by Feb. 20 for early bird pricing<\/p>\n \n

\n \n Register today<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The conference provides a national forum for collaboration among academia, industry, and government, fostering partnerships that drive responsible and impactful AI adoption across agricultural sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Should Attend: <\/strong>The event welcomes academic researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, ag-tech and analytics professionals, biotech investors, extension agents, and public-sector stakeholders interested in practical, data-driven innovations for modern agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presentations and workshops span the full spectrum of agricultural research and application:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Plants & Crops<\/strong>: Precision agriculture, phenotyping, pest and disease detection, crop management, and AI-based modeling from gene to field.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Animals & Livestock<\/strong>: Sensing, automation, health and welfare monitoring, and production optimization for poultry, swine, dairy, beef, and aquaculture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Soils, Water, Air & Environment<\/strong>: AI for soil health, nutrient and water management, climate adaptation, and environmental monitoring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Food, Postharvest & Supply Chains<\/strong>: Intelligent sensing and analytics for food quality, safety, processing, packaging, logistics, and traceability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • AI Systems & Integrative Approaches<\/strong>: Robotics, automation, digital twins, decision-support systems, and responsible AI frameworks for multi-scale integration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Cross-Cutting Topics<\/strong>: Extension and outreach, workforce development, education, policy, and socioeconomic adoption of AI technologies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Planning Committee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Hosted by NC State University, the conference is coordinated by an inter-university planning committee representing leading land-grant institutions, government agencies, and industry partners. Full committee listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n


    Host committee<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n
    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Daniela\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Daniela Jones<\/strong>
    Assistant Professor
    Bio\u00a0& Ag\u00a0Engineering, Agricultural Analytics Director, Data Sci. & AI Academy
    North Carolina State University
    (Lead)<\/strong><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Debjani\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Debjani Sihi<\/strong>
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
    North Carolina State University
    (Proposal & Workshop Lead)<\/strong><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Deborah Thompson<\/strong>
    Director of Research Partnerships
    CALS
    North Carolina State University\u00a0
    (Industry Liason)<\/strong><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Danesha Carley<\/strong>
    Associate Professor
    Horticultural Science
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"StephanieWard\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Stephanie Ward<\/strong>
    Associate Professor, Extension Dairy Specialist
    Animal Science
    North Carolina State University
    <\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Lingjuan\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Lingjuan Li<\/strong>
    Professor
    Biological & Agricultural Engineering
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Ramesh\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Ramest Bist<\/strong>
    Assistant Professor
    Biological and Agricultural Engineering
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Aaron\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Aaron Kiess<\/strong>
    Professor
    Prestage Department of Poultry Science
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Frank\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Frank Bai<\/strong>
    Assistant Professor
    Biological and Agricultural Engineering
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Ashley\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n \n\n \n\t \t

    Ashley Schwed<\/strong>
    Conference Manager
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    AI in Agriculture 2026 Technical Organizing committee<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n
    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"""\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Brenda Ortiz<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Professor and Extension Specialist
    Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences
    Auburn University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Ali Fares<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Professor of Water Security
    Prairie View A&M University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Scott Clark<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Manager, Advanced Eng. & Solutions
    John Deere<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Robert Kinyanjui<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Research Partnerships Manager\u00a0
    John Deere<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Drew Marticorena<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Senior Staff Data Scientist
    John Deere<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Abhilash Chandel<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Precision Agriculture and Data Management
    Virginia Tech University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Yiannis Ampatzidis<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Precision Agriculture Engineering
    University of Florida<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Carlos Rodriguez Lopez<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Associate Professor
    Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology
    University of Kentucky
    (Poster Awards Lead)<\/strong><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Akinbonde Adedeji<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Associate Professor
    Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
    University of Kentucky<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Katsutoshi Mizuta<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
    University of Kentucky<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Congliang Zhou<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences
    Louisiana State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Yuzhen Lu<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
    Michigan State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Alex Thomasson<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Director, Agricultural Autonomy Institute
    Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
    Mississippi State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Daniela\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Daniela Jones<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Biological & Agricultural Engineering
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Debjani\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Debjani Sihi<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Lingjuan\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Lingjuan Li<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Professor
    Biological and Agricultural Engineering
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Ramesh\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Ramesh Bist<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Biological and Agricultural Engineering
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Frank\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Frank Bai<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Biological and Agricultural Engineering
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Danesha\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Danesha Carley<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Associate Professor
    Horticultural Science
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Deborah\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Deborah Thompson<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Director of Research Partnerships
    College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Aaron\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Aaron Kiess<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Professor
    Prestage Department of Poultry Science
    North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"Ignacio\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Ignacio Ciampitti<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Professor
    Agronomy
    Purdue University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Robert L. Strong, Jr.<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Professor
    Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
    Texas A&M University
    (Abstract Review Lead)<\/strong><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Thanos Gentimis<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
    Texas A&M University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Mahendra Bhandari<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
    Texas A&M University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Dongyi Wang<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Assistant Professor
    Biological and Agricultural Engineering
    University of Arkansas
    <\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    \n \n\n
    \n
    \n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n \n

    Lilong Chai<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

    Associate Professor
    Department of Poultry Science
    University of Georgia<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    AI in Agriculture 2026Mar 31\u2013Apr 2, 2026 StateView Hotel & Conference Center NC State University | Raleigh, NC Join NC State University for the 2026 AI in Agriculture Conference to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of AI-enabled agriculture. This year\u2019s focus\u2014Advancing Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Innovations for Resilient and Competitive Agricultural Systems\u2014emphasizes how integrative,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"Advancing Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Innovations for Resilient and Competitive Agricultural Systems<\/em>\",\"backgroundColor\":\"red_400\",\"imageID\":307,\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2025\/12\/AI-In-Ag.png\",\"imageAlt\":\"\",\"focalPoint\":{\"x\":0.31,\"y\":0.39}}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-173","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":613,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/173\/revisions\/613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/2026-ai-ag-conference\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}