Center for Digital Agriculture
Center for Digital Agriculture Conference 2025
Precision Livestock Management
In Person Event • March 5, 2025 • iHotel and Illinois Conference Center
Conference Overview
We’re hosting our annual conference on March 5, 2025, at the iHotel and Illinois Conference Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Join us for an insightful exploration of the current landscape and future potential of precision livestock management technologies. This conference will bring together a diverse group of experts from industry, government, and academia to share knowledge, discuss lessons learned, and collaborate on advancing innovations in the field. Together, we’ll explore how these technologies can continue to evolve to help feed and clothe the world’s growing population.
Conference Agenda
The conference will be held in the Chancellors Ballroom at the Illinois Conference Center.
TIME
AGENDA
8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
Registration / Check-In & Breakfast
9:00 – 9:10 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
🎤 Speaker: John Reid, CDA Executive Director (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
9:15 – 10:05 a.m.
Commercialization of University Research and Success/Failures of AgTech Startups
🎤 Speaker: Jarrod Sutton, Managing Director (Purdue DIAL Ventures)
10:10 – 11:00 a.m.
Land Grant Universities are the Key to Animal Tech Success
🎤 Speaker: Jim Lowe, Associate Dean and Professor (U of I Veterinary Medicine)
11:05 – 11:20 a.m.
☕️ Break
11:20 – 11:40 a.m.
Utilization of Sensors, Production Data, and Machine Learning Models in Decision-Making Processes in Commercial Pig Production
🎤 Speaker: Caleb Grohmann, Data Scientist (Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions)
11:45 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.
Labor and Technology for Modern Swine Production
🎤 Speaker: Brian Strobel, Gestal USA Business Development Coordinator (JYGA Technologies)
12:10 – 1:05 p.m.
🍽️ Lunch
1:10 – 1:30 p.m.
AIFARMS Dataset Publication and Best Practices
🎤 Speaker: Rob Kooper, Lead Research Software Engineer (National Center for Supercomputing Applications)
1:35 – 2:15 p.m.
Shaping Workforce Development in the Delivery of Animal Care
🎤 Speaker: Ben Blair, Assistant Professor of Livestock Population Medicine (U of I Veterinary Medicine)
2:20 – 3:00 p.m.
Computer Vision For Optimal Management and Breeding Decisions
🎤 Speakers: Isabella Condotta (Assistant Professor, Animal Science) and Tiago Bresolin (Assistant Professor, Animal Science)
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
☕️ Break
3:15 – 3:40 p.m
Round Table Discussion – Making AI Accessible: Skills and Education Needs for Future Workforce Development
Angela and Christina will showcase current AI-driven educational initiatives at CDA. Following their presentation, we’ll facilitate an open dialogue with conference attendees, focusing on the education and workforce development needs of precision livestock management.
🎤 Speakers: Moderated by Angela Green-Miller (Associate Professor, Agriculture and Biological Engineering) and Christina Tucker (CDA Director of Operations)
3:45 – 4:00 p.m
Closing Remarks & Thank You
4:00 – 6:00 p.m
Explore the Future of Digital Agriculture at Our Poster Session
Join us at the CU AgTech Week Happy Hour event at Enterprise Works for an exclusive poster session presented by the Center for Digital Agriculture. Faculty affiliates and graduate students will showcase their cutting-edge research on the 2nd floor, highlighting the diverse and innovative advancements in Digital Agriculture happening on our campus.
This is a unique opportunity for industry professionals to engage with the latest developments, network with leading researchers, and discover potential collaborations that could shape the future of digital agriculture. We hope to see you there!
Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week celebrates Champaign-Urbana’s robust AgTech ecosystem, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Parkland College, corporate innovation partners, startups, state-of-the-art facilities, student organizations, local ag companies, the iFAB Tech Hub, and more.
Travel & Lodging Information
Lodging
Champaign-Urbana has many hotels near the University of Illinois campus.
Below is a short list of potential lodging accommodations nearby.
- iHotel and Illinois Conference Center | 🔗 stayatthei.com
- Illini Union Hotel | 🔗 https://illiniunionhotel.illinois.edu
- Hilton Garden Inn Champaign-Urbana | 🔗 hilton.com
- Home2 Suites by Hilton | 🔗 hilton.com
Getting Here/Around
Champaign-Urbana is easy to get to and navigate. Conveniently situated off three major interstates, we’re nearly equidistant from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Transportation options include:
- Fly into our accessible airport – Willard Airport
- Ride the Amtrak
- Take a bus via Greyhound or the Peoria Charter Coach Company
Once here, our award-winning mass transit district will help get you around, as will our rentable bikes and e-bikes, or walk in our connected districts! We also have taxi cab services and ride sharing services.
iHotel and Illinois Conference Center
All events will take place in the Chancellor Ballroom at the iHotel and Illinois Conference Center.
How to get to iHotel and Illinois Conference Center:
IHotel and Illinois Conference Center address: 1900 S 1st St, Champaign, IL 61820
Where should I park for the conference?
iHotel and Illinois Conference Center offer free onsite parking.
Click here for more info about the iHotel and Illinois Conference Center
Questions: Please contact digitalag@illinois.edu with any questions