Rep. Scott Franklin
Land grant universities would have dedicated access to existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant funds to enhance artificial intelligence (AI), mechanization, and other research under a bipartisan bill proposed on Feb. 26 by U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL).
Specifically, the congressman sponsored the Land Grant Research Prioritization Act, H.R. 7734, with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) to update USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture research priorities to allow land grant institutions to apply for competitive grants to support farm mechanization and agricultural AI applications, invasive species and aquaculture research initiatives.
“Labor shortages, inflation, supply chain disruption, invasive diseases, and extreme weather have created significant challenges for American agricultural producers,” Rep. Franklin said. “AI and other important research into mechanization, invasive species and aquaculture are promising solutions to keep growers economically competitive.
“At a time when growers in Florida and around the country need support, our bipartisan Land Grant Research Prioritization Act is a timely fix to boost U.S.-grown food production and keep growers on the cutting edge.”
J. Scott Angle, senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida IFAS, and Nick Place, dean and director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia, endorsed the bill, which is under consideration by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.
“We must ensure that we are on the cutting edge of technology that can assist our farmers and producers,” said Rep. Bishop, ranking member of the U.S. House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. “For over a century, land-grant institutions…have been at the forefront of research, development, and extension, which has allowed U.S. agriculture to thrive.
“I am pleased to work with Congressman Franklin through this legislation to harness the power of our 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions to explore how mechanized harvesting and artificial intelligence can help improve U.S. agriculture,” he added.