The AgTech Innovation Hub, a collaboration between The Ohio State University and Nationwide, has awarded funding to five groundbreaking research projects. Nine researchers from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) pitched their ideas in a "Shark Tank"-style format, with the top five projects securing funding.
The selected projects cover a range of agricultural challenges and innovative solutions:
Automating Drainage Water Management: This project explores the use of sensor technology to automate water management on farm fields. By monitoring real-time water levels, farmers can program outlet gates to respond accordingly. Data collected from the sensors will enhance decision-making and evaluate the impact of this technology on water content, quality, and volume in experimental fields. The project also examines crop response through stress, yield, and photosynthetic activity measurements.
Mapping Climate Risk Perceptions: Understanding audience perceptions of climate change is crucial for effective communication and risk mitigation. This project aims to map climate risk perceptions and experiences, assess insurance as a risk reduction strategy, and identify different climate risk audience segments. The resulting nationwide map will inform future communication campaigns focused on climate risk mitigation.
Precision Risk Management: Leveraging artificial intelligence and digital agriculture, this project predicts yield variations in corn and soybean crops based on planting dates. By providing Ohio farmers with valuable guidance, the goal is to enhance precision risk management practices.
Enhancing Soybean Establishment: This project investigates how spring weather conditions impact pathogen infection and seedling establishment in soybean crops. By understanding the relationship between planting date, seasonal weather, seed quality, and pathogen presence, the study aims to provide planting and harvesting recommendations to improve soybean establishment.
Sustainable Organic Agriculture: Focusing on biopesticides and bio stimulants, this project aims to enhance disease control and growth promotion in tomato crops. By improving the effectiveness of existing biopesticides, the project addresses the growing demand for sustainable approaches in organic agriculture, particularly in light of climate change and reduced efficacy of traditional control methods.
Through the AgTech Innovation Hub, these projects strive to push the boundaries of agricultural research and find practical solutions for the industry.
Photo Credit: pexels-karolina-grabowska
Categories: Ohio, Education