Artificial intelligence is reshaping how American farmers grow food, how researchers develop new varieties, and how supply chains move products from field to consumer. The question is no longer whether AI will transform agriculture — it already is. The question is whether federal policy will keep pace.
On September 14, CAST will host a free webinar presenting the findings of a new peer-reviewed policy brief, AI in Agriculture: Transforming the Food System from Data to Decisions to Action. Lead author Alex Thomasson, Founding Director of the Agricultural Autonomy Institute at Mississippi State University, will walk through what the science says about AI adoption across the food system, where the technology is headed, and what Congress and federal agencies should prioritize now.
What you’ll learn:
- Where AI is already in use across U.S. agricultural research, production, and food supply chains
- How AI adoption is improving productivity and resilience under real economic and climatic pressures
- What physical AI — robotics and autonomous systems — means for farm-level operations
- What federal investment in data infrastructure and workforce development must look like
- How to make the case for science-based AI policy to Hill staff and agency officials
Who should attend: Congressional staff · Federal agency professionals · Agricultural researchers · Industry and commodity groups · Anyone working at the intersection of food, agriculture, and technology policy
September 14, 2026 · Noon CT · Free
