Yesterday, U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and the ITI Institute joined top researchers and policymakers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to see how AI is reshaping agriculture to address key challenges in food security, sustainability, and workforce development. Attendees also saw live demonstrations of autonomous farming technologies and AI-driven agricultural innovations presented by the Center for Digital Agriculture (CDA) and the Artificial Intelligence for Future Agricultural Resilience, Management, and Sustainability (AIFARMS) Institute.

“AI tools hold so much potential for our growers and producers,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “In my role on the House Agriculture Committee, I have been a champion for more federal investments in agriculture research, so it was great to see some of the new technologies developed at the CDA and AIFARMS in action. From lowering costs to improving sustainability, these innovations are a new frontier in solving the challenges farmers face in my district and across the country.

AI and digital innovations are transforming agriculture. The tools developed by the University of Illinois, including the Autonomous Cover Crop Robot and the Horseradish Weeding Robot, are helping farmers boost efficiency, lower costs, and enhance sustainability. These innovations underscore the pivotal role technology plays in strengthening agriculture and addressing both current and future challenges. Attendees also discovered how research is being seamlessly integrated into everyday farming practices, such as the CropWizard— a generative AI platform offering real-time support to farmers— and the Livestock Monitoring System, which helps ranchers manage large herds more effectively.

“Technology is revolutionizing food production,” said Ashley Berrang, Executive Director of the ITI Institute. “From autonomous robots to livestock monitoring, these groundbreaking technologies are shaping the future of farming. AI-driven innovations like those at the University of Illinois Center for Digital Agriculture are leading the way, making farming more cost-effective and efficient across the country.”

A key focus of the discussion was the need for collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to tackle the most pressing agricultural challenges.

“The University of Illinois is at the forefront of interdisciplinary research, especially in the digital agriculture space. We are building collaborative partnerships across campus and beyond, with leading companies in agriculture and computing. But we will need everyone working in the same direction to truly reform agriculture and take advantage of the technological advances we’re innovating every day,” said John Reid, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Agriculture, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and The Grainger College of Engineering, and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at Illinois.

The event highlighted the collaboration between AIFARMS and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee FAN Innovation Center as a prime example of how workforce development programs are preparing the next generation of technology and agriculture professionals to tackle critical challenges with confidence and creativity.