Center for Digital Agriculture
Center for Digital Agriculture Conference 2024
Future of Digital Agriculture
In Person Event • March 6, 2024 • iHotel and Illinois Conference Center
Conference Overview
We’re hosting our annual conference on March 6, 2024, at the iHotel and Illinois Conference Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Join us to celebrate the Center’s 5-year anniversary and to explore topics centered around the theme: Future of Digital Agriculture. The conference will bring together an interdisciplinary group of individuals from academia, industry, and government to explore the future of digital agriculture.
Agenda
All events will take place in the Chancellor Ballroom at the iHotel and Illinois Conference Center. Please check back periodically for updates.
TIME
AGENDA
7:30 – 8:15 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:15 – 8:25 a.m.
Welcome and CDA’s First 5-Years
Scientific Co-Director, Center for Digital Agriculture
Scientific Co-Director, Center for Digital Agriculture
8:30 – 9:10 a.m.
Keynote Presentation
Coupling Resource Recovery with Digital Agriculture and AI to Enhance Urban Sustainability and Resilience
9:15 – 9:45 a.m.
Digital Transformation of Crop R&D
Most of the ways in which crops are bred and produced are being rapidly transformed by digital methods, leading to a data deluge from genomics to phenotyping, to yield monitoring. New scientific and technological approaches are needed to make full use of these rapidly advancing technologies.
The OATS/IoT4Ag Avena Project and Pivot+: Connectivity for Field Scale Agricultural Experiments
Integrative Modeling and Visualization for the Development of in Silico Crops
9:45 – 10:00 a.m.
Break
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Digital Optimization of the Agricultural Supply Chain
Agricultural supply chains achieve efficiency and safety by routing large quantities of goods through major hubs. However, efficient supply chains are also lean, and the lack of redundancy makes them vulnerable to internal or external hazards. This can cause postharvest losses and food supply shortages, especially during disasters. Advanced digital methods can both further optimize supply chains and make them resilient to the increasing stresses they are subject to on a crowded and changing planet.
Multi-scale, Multi-level, and Multi-layer Data-Driven Agricultural Supply Chain Models for Food Security
Making Better Decision with Statistically Downscaled and Climate-sensitive Supply Chain Analytics
Fireside Chat
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
AgTech to Catalyze a Circular Bioeconomy
Digital Agriculture technology enables looking at the productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems in new ways. Accurate and accessible data can help a grower improve soil health, monitor water quality and deliver ecosystem services that the world needs to thrive. This session will introduce Ag Tech to catalyze a circular bioeconomy with speakers providing perspectives from academia, industry, and farmers.
Assessing Circularity of Agriculture and Food Systems
Improving Circularity in Animal Production System
Bridging the Gap Between Farming and Innovation
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
Machine Form & the Pathway from Automation towards Autonomy
Precision Ag has transformed productivity from a focus on productivity through mechanization to productivity through automation. Advancements in the technology readiness in ag robotics offers a pathway towards autonomous agriculture.
A Retrofit Approach to Tractor Autonomy
Increasing the Level of Autonomy in Agricultural Robots
Automation and Autonomy in Crop Production Systems
1:55 – 2:35 p.m.
Industry Keynote
Precision Farming & Autonomy – Supporting a Sustainable Farming Future
2:35 – 2:50 p.m.
Break
2:50 – 3:35 p.m
Safety in Automation to Autonomy
We will delve into the forefront of agricultural innovation, exploring cutting-edge technologies set to revolutionize the industry. As we navigate the landscape of autonomous machinery, we will address critical considerations such as safety concerns, establishing trust, and addressing ergonomic challenges. Join us in uncovering the multifaceted dimensions of these advancements and their broader societal impacts, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to ensure a seamless integration of autonomous technologies into the agricultural domain.
Safety and Social Implications for Emerging Autonomous Agricultural
Integration of Safety, Automation and AI in Ag Equipment
Rick Weires will cover the need for a “Safety Case” to drive product, process, and organization requirements, and the adaption of frameworks from automotive safety to serve ag applications of automation and AI, adaption resulting from the work of Balanced Engineering LLC and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign including professor Salah Issa, PhD and Roger Aby, and also showcasing tools by Edge Case Research.
Panel Discussion
3:40 – 4:40 p.m
Integrating Human-Centered Design in Agriculture Automation to Autonomy
An industry panel will explore the pivotal role of human-centered design in the evolution of agricultural automation towards fully autonomous systems. With a focus on digital technologies, we delve into how incorporating human-centric approaches enhances usability and accessibility, thereby ensuring that technological advancements are not only innovative but also practical and adaptable to the farmers’ needs.
4:45 – 5:00 p.m
Closing Remarks and CDA’s Next Five Years
5:00 – 6:30 p.m
Poster and Networking Session
Travel & Lodging Information
Lodging
Champaign-Urbana has many hotels near the University of Illinois campus. A dedicated room block is available at the Illini Union until February 20th.
Online Booking Instructions:
1. Go to https://illiniunionhotel.illinois.edu/
2. Enter the stay dates and click “Enter it now” for Promo or Group Code.
3. Enter your group’s booking code 24CDA and click update.
4. Select room type and book!
Reservation by phone:
Please call 217-333-1241 and mention group booking code: 24CDA.
Illini Union Address: 1401 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801
Getting Here/Around
Champaign-Urbana is not only easy to get to, it’s easy to 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