Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
- Animal Production: artificial intelligence
- Crop Production: artificial intelligence
- Education and Training: technical assistance
- Farm Business Management: artificial intelligence
- Natural Resources/Environment: artificial intelligence
- Pest Management: intelligence
Proposal abstract:
The goal of this project is to equip agricultural professionals (I.e., ag-educators, extension professionals, crop consultants) with understanding of AI and its potential role in sustainable agriculture, along with knowledge, skills and abilities to strategically communicate about this emerging technology and facilitate the diffusion of AI tools to support sustainable agriculture goals. To accommodate geographical and time zone differences, we propose an online asynchronous instructional-video course for participants, including certificate of completion. Toolbox development will be informed both by our existing assessment of needs, and by an in-person workshop and focus-group designed to engage agriculture professionals with AI, and encourage contributions towards ensuring that asynchronous training materials meet the needs of agricultural professionals. Subsequently, a toolbox of 10 asynchronous online professional development videos, and associated self-guided activities, will be developed around understanding the broader impacts of AI on society and agriculture, AI’s specific impacts on achieving sustainable agriculture, and science communication best practices for engaging others on the topic of AI within sustainable agriculture. Participants will have the opportunity to: 1) achieve a deeper awareness of AI in both society and sustainable agriculture; 2) develop knowledge of behavioral models predicting technology adoption; 3) obtain skills in utilizing strategic science communication theory to construct, frame and diffuse messages surrounding AI; and 4) improve their confidence and abilities to facilitate engagement with AI in sustainable agriculture. Rigorous evaluations will be conducted in the last year to improve the course for future participants, and as new science and tools are developed. We will measure improvement in AI and strategic communication knowledge for trainers. Qualitative feedback will assess potential longer-term impacts on grower knowledge, attitudes, and technology adoption for sustainability.
Project objectives from proposal:
- We will enhance understanding of ag-AI and its connection to sustainability, other implications, technology adoption, and technical knowledge strategic science communication among ag-tech professionals.
- We will develop interpersonal, mass (i.e. workshops or group presentations) and computer-mediated communication skills among agricultural professionals.
- We will improve participants’ confidence and perceived effectiveness of in communicating AI-within-sustainable-ag to a range of public audiences.
- We improve understanding of how technology and communication skills training can impact ag-tech professionals’ thoughts, attitudes and behaviors. This will contribute to existing science communication literature and inform both the science communication community and the agricultural professional community.