October 11, 2024
Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics celebrates one year
The Kansas State University Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics, or ID3A, recently celebrated its first year under the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan at the Celebrate Agriculture Day football game. As the first interdisciplinary institute launched under this plan, ID3A aims to enhance problem-solving approaches to some of the most pressing challenges related to food, water, energy and the environment by bringing teams together from across K-State campuses, colleges and departments.
"Celebrating agriculture is vital not only for honoring our roots but also for empowering our growers," said Marshall Stewart, executive vice president for external engagement and chief of staff. "Through the tools and trainings we create and share, we are making agricultural success metrics more accessible, ensuring that our producers can thrive in an increasingly complex environment."
In a recent interview on K-State's Agriculture Today, Susan Metzger, co-director of ID3A, emphasized the benefits of having such an institute. It allows the university to leverage resources in new ways and maximize talent in previously unattainable ways. The institute has secured more than $7 million in grant funding, including the 2024 GRIPex award to co-director Ajay Sharda for his project "Mapping Seed-to-Plant Life Cycle to Predict Yields — Integrated Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Approach." This project collaborates with a local business in Hutchinson. Additionally, ID3A has more than $50 million in pending grant funding and anticipates positive outcomes from many of these opportunities.
ID3A is not solely focused on research; it also prioritizes teaching and community engagement. The institute has conducted workshops and training sessions for both campus and external partners, with plans to expand these offerings to serve even more Kansans in the coming year. Furthermore, ID3A is working toward establishing a graduate certificate in agricultural analytics to equip students with essential skills for the workforce.
The institute's engagement efforts have also seen success this past year, highlighted by activities such as a research showcase, participation in the International Conference on Precision Agriculture in Manhattan and K-State's Celebrate Agriculture Weekend. Through these initiatives, ID3A aims to strengthen partnerships across campus and collaborate with industry partners throughout Kansas and the region.
Brian McCornack, co-director of ID3A, said bringing new folks to the conversation is his proudest achievement from the past year.
As a people-centered institute that values interdisciplinary collaboration, ID3A looks forward to continuing its efforts to position K-State as a leader in digital agriculture and advanced analytics.
Check out ID3A's one-year celebration video. To learn more about the institute, visit www.k-state.edu/id3a.