Washington, Feb 13 (NationPress) The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has revealed the initial funding under a Quad-supported initiative aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance agricultural practices throughout the United States and the Indo-Pacific.

The initiative, named Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen AGriculturE, or AI-ENGAGE, will facilitate six international research projects, as stated by officials on Thursday.

The NSF is committing $2.4 million to this initiative.

In collaboration with partner agencies from Australia, India, and Japan, this program seeks to bolster modern agricultural techniques.

It unites the NSF with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

The NSF characterized this initiative as "a hallmark of the Quad, showcasing how the collaboration of the four nations in critical and emerging technology research can revolutionize agriculture to tackle urgent global challenges".

The funded projects will focus on the application of artificial intelligence alongside other advanced technologies in farming.

The primary aim is to assist farmers in enhancing crop yields, effectively managing pests, and building resilience against challenges.

"By incorporating both current and cutting-edge technologies like AI into agriculture, we are pushing the boundaries of science to equip US farmers and their international colleagues with the necessary tools to boost crop yields, manage pests effectively, enhance agricultural resilience, and secure a more stable food supply," stated Brian Stone, acting NSF Director.

The six research projects will be conducted across major US universities and will involve researchers from a minimum of three Quad nations.

Purdue University will create autonomous aerial and ground robots to detect diseases early in apple orchards.

Iowa State University will develop "BRIDGE", an AI-driven smartphone application and chatbot designed to aid farmers in real-time pest and disease management.

Kansas State University will implement "Smart Scout", a computer vision system to estimate soybean yields and identify "lodging", or crops that have fallen over.

Missouri University of Science and Technology and the University of Tennessee will create the "HARVEST" system, utilizing multimodal AI for pest and nutrient management in corn and rice crops.

Washington State University will enhance AI-driven genomic selection models to produce more resilient and productive wheat varieties.

Cornell University will develop image-based phenotyping tools to expedite the breeding of superior quality tomatoes, onions, and strawberries.

Each project is mandated to include researchers from at least three of the four Quad nations.

Each partner agency will finance its researchers independently.

The NSF is allocating approximately $2.4 million to US leaders while leveraging about $4 million from its Quad partners.

The overall investment surpasses $6 million.

The Quad, comprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, has broadened its cooperation in recent years to include not only security but also critical technologies, supply chains, and climate resilience.

Food security and agricultural innovation have emerged as mutual priorities in light of increasing climate risks and supply chain disruptions across the Indo-Pacific.