UF/IFAS Breaks Ground on New AI Hub to Power Florida Agriculture
Agriculture is a major economic driver across the Southeast, and tens of thousands of families rely on it for their livelihoods. With that in mind, the University of Florida is investing in new tools to help growers stay productive in an increasingly competitive environment. UF/IFAS has broken ground on a 40,000-square-foot Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Hillsborough County. The project also lines up with the center’s 100th anniversary.
The goal is to bring together scientists, engineers and students to develop technology that tackles real challenges on farms throughout the region. Inside the new facility, teams will design robotic tools, use AI to support crop decisions and explore ways to breed plants that can stand up to pests and disease. About 100 specialists are expected to work at the center.
Researchers there are already using AI to predict strawberry growing seasons, speed up plant breeding and spray weeds with greater precision. Leaders say the new hub will strengthen agriculture and help support new technology-focused jobs and businesses across the Southeast.
