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Media Contact: Sally Gifford, 202-720-2047
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2016 - The U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA) today announced the availability of up to $5 million for research
to strengthen the science behind the next generation of
internet-connected agricultural implements and resources through the
Cyber Physical Systems program. Funding for this program is made
through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI),
authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.
“Data driven analytical tools throughout the
food supply chain—from production through processing, transportation,
and food storage—will allow us to make smarter decisions that can
promote efficient food production, reduce food waste, and increase food
safety,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy.
“These investments in cyber physical systems will improve efficiencies
across the agricultural industry.”
The Cyber
Physical Systems Joint Competitive Grant program helps
coordinate the work of multiple federal agencies to improve the science
behind increasingly complex cyber-physical systems (CPS)—the way the
physical world connects to information and communication technologies.
Self-driving tractors and cars, remote patient monitoring apps and
smart irrigation scheduling are some examples of the cyber-physical
systems already in use or testing. The National Science Foundation
leads this initiative with support from NIFA, the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, Department of Homeland Security, National
Institutes of Health, Department of Transportation, and National Center
for Advancing Translational Sciences to strengthen the science and
technology to ensure the growing number of cyber-physical systems being
used are safe, secure, scalable, resilient and reliable.
CPS technologies can increase efficiencies in
agribusiness, provide economic opportunities to workers and promote
practices that sustain the environment. Increased secure access to
information also helps producers meet the challenges of global
population growth, food waste and the impacts of a changing climate.
Applications are due by February 15, 2017.
Details, eligibility for applicants, and
research topics are available in the Program Solicitation section on
the National Science Foundation website and on the NIFA
website.
Examples of
previously funded projects include a University
of Tennessee project to develop and test biosensing
and animal movement monitoring for early detection of certain
infections in confined dairy herds to allow more rapid response when a
herd is threatened. An Iowa
State University project combines data from unmanned ground
and aerial vehicles and satellites with sophisticated analytics for
early detection and mitigation of row crop diseases.
Science funded by AFRI is vital to meeting
food, fiber and fuel demands as the world's population is projected to
exceed nine billion by 2050 and natural resources are stressed under a
changing climate. In addition, AFRI programs help develop new technologies
and a workforce that will advance our nutritional security, our energy
self-sufficiency, and the health of Americans.
Since 2009, USDA has invested $19 billion in
research both intramural and extramural. During that time, research
conducted by USDA scientists has resulted in 883 patent applications
filed, 405 patents issued and 1,151 new inventions disclosures covering
a wide range of topics and discoveries. To learn more about how USDA
supports cutting edge science and innovation, visit the USDA Medium
chapter Food and
Ag Science Will Shape Our Future.
NIFA invests in and advances innovative and
transformative research, education and extension to solve societal
challenges and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA
support for the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel
have resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that are
combating childhood obesity, improving and sustaining rural economic
growth, addressing water availability issues, increasing food
production, finding new sources of energy, mitigating climate
variability and ensuring food safety.
To learn more about NIFA’s impact on
agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts,
sign up for email
updates or follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts.
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USDA is an
equal opportunity lender, provider and employer.
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NIFA invests
in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension, and
seeks to make transformative discoveries that solve societal
challenges.
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