May 2021 - 4

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EDITOR'S LETTER
Feed the research beast
Prior to the shutdowns and travel restrictions
related to the novel coronavirus outbreak, I was able
to join dozens of North American strawberry growers
on a tour of the University of Florida Institute of
Food and Agricultural Sciences' (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast
Research and Education Center.
The impressive facility in Wimauma, Florida, is one
of several outlets that are part of the extensive UF/
IFAS system. It joins other crucial agricultural and
research outlets operated by universities in many key
specialty crop production regions across the country.
At the UF/IFAS experimental farm operated at the
Southwest Florida Research and Education Center
(SWFREC) in Immokalee, the " fourth revolution " of
agriculture is in high gear.
UF agricultural engineer Yiannis Ampatzidis recently said that artificial
intelligence - the convergence of new tools for data collection with cloud
computing to analyze the explosion of information - is changing the face of
agriculture in a way that is nothing short of revolutionary.
" Revolution is the perfect word, " said Ampatzidis, an assistant professor of
agricultural and biological engineering at the SWFREC in Immokalee. " Artificial
intelligence, robotics, automation, big data analytics, the internet of things.
This is no doubt the fourth agricultural revolution. We are going to see these
technologies in the field very, very soon. "
In the first agricultural revolution, mechanization - tractors, harvesters and
Gary Pullano
Editor
such - changed life on the farm. In the second, chemicals - fertilizers and
pesticides - drastically increased yields. In the third, genetics produced hybrid
plants, boosting yields yet again. What will artificial intelligence capabilities do
for agriculture in the fourth revolution? A better question, Ampatzidis said, is
what won't they do?
" AI is the next technology that will change agriculture in a profound way, "
said J. Scott Angle, vice president for agriculture and natural resources for
UF/IFAS. Angle agrees with Ampatzidis about the revolutionary nature of AI in
agriculture and sees AI as having perhaps more impact in agriculture than in
some other arenas. Angle said AI will level the playing field for all producers, big
and small.
Much of the important research work in the U.S. is in jeopardy. Stagnant public
funding for agricultural research is threatening the future vitality of U.S. food
systems - posing risks to farmer productivity and profitability, the steady supply
of affordable food for consumers and ultimately global food security, according
to a new report.
The report, jointly commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation and the
American Farm Bureau Federation and authored by the IHS Markit Agribusiness
Consulting Group, highlights the vital importance of public funding for
agricultural research and development (R&D). Innovations are crucial so that
farmers can increase their productivity and meet rising global demand for food,
even as climate change intensifies.
While private-sector funding for agricultural R&D has been increasing, U.S.
public spending has been flat for the past decade.
Public investment is crucial, as private companies have less incentive to research
subjects that benefit society broadly but offer potentially lower monetary returns,
such as in the areas of environmental, animal health, specialty crop and food
safety research.
USDA agency budgets have been relatively flat at around $4.2 billion in 2020
compared with $4.1 billion in 2010.
Private companies primarily focus research spending on only a few major crop
and livestock markets, leaving other sectors under-explored. Companies also have
less incentive to research areas that benefit society broadly but are more difficult
from which to capture private returns.
Discoveries made through agricultural research can help farmers increase crop
yields on existing farmland while adapting to challenges from climate change.
In particular, farmers and other stakeholders would benefit if additional public
research spending were directed toward key areas, including crop breeding, crop
protection, food safety and climate research.
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THEY SAID IT
It's in a grape grower's best interest to rogue
out diseased vines before an insect vector can
further spread Pierce's disease. "
-CRAIG HANES, PIERCE'S DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAM
P. 22
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Drought spreads water shortages
throughout California
The 2020-21 California drought has led to
significant water cutbacks, compelling farmers
to fallow ground and public officials to
respond with legislation intended to address
the state's chronic water shortages.
Christopher Gunter to lead University of
Florida hort programs
Christopher Gunter joins the University of
Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences as professor and chair of the
horticultural sciences department. His
official start date is June 7.
Hive-grading eyed by The Bee Corp,
Syngenta, science foundation
Verifli is a technology that uses infrared
imagery and data analytics to predict the size
of the colony inside the hive without disturbing
hives for manual inspection.
Ag safety industry group honors Lee with
lifetime achievement award
Barbara Lee, director of the National
Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural
Health and Safety, was presented with the
Lifetime Achievement Award at the North
American Agricultural Safety Summit.
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May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2021
