The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology has launched CAST Academy, a new online learning platform designed to deliver expert-led, science-based education to agricultural professionals, students, and early-career scientists — wherever they are and on their own schedule.

CAST Academy launches today at cast-science.org/cast-academy with its first course: AI at Work in Agriculture, a three-part series led by Dan Maycock, co-founder and chief technology officer of Dataplai and visiting researcher at North Carolina State University.

The course covers the full arc of practical AI adoption in agribusiness. Session 1 examines what it takes to move past basic experimentation and build AI-powered solutions that deliver measurable operational value. Session 2 addresses the 10 concerns that most frequently stall AI adoption in agricultural organizations — from data protection and cost management to knowing when a proof of concept is ready for production. Session 3 draws on real-world deployments across the agricultural supply chain to examine who is using AI, how, and what they are getting out of it.

All three sessions are free, available on demand, and open to anyone. Each stands on its own — no prior viewing required.

Participants who complete all three sessions and pass the course quizzes earn a certificate of completion in AI at Work in Agriculture, available to share on LinkedIn and with employers and organizations.

AI at Work in Agriculture is the first of several courses planned for CAST Academy, which is designed to expand CAST’s reach beyond live events and publications into self-paced, accessible education that reflects the organization’s core commitment to credible, science-based information in agriculture.

→ Enroll now at cast-science.org/cast-academy