FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2025
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has officially released its comprehensive new publication, “AI in Agriculture: Opportunities, Challenges, and Recommendations”. The rollout occurred during the 2025 AI in Agriculture Conference hosted by Mississippi State University (MSU) on March 31 in Starkville, Mississippi.
This timely paper addresses critical areas in artificial intelligence applications within agriculture, emphasizing generative AI for localized agricultural guidance, data interoperability for enhanced global connectivity, and the ethical and policy implications surrounding AI technologies.
Dr. Alex Thomasson of Mississippi State University, chair of the paper’s authoring committee, states, “AI will be the key element in advancing agricultural technology for the foreseeable future.”
Chris Boomsma, CAST’s CEO, highlights the broader vision: “A core piece of CAST’s mission is to ensure that technological advances, including AI, align with the real-world needs of American farmers and the larger global agricultural community. This paper helps bridge the gap between technological innovation and practical implementation. AI has immense potential to enable a transformative change in agriculture. By promoting innovation, addressing barriers, and supporting stakeholders, the full benefits of AI can be unlocked for farmers and consumers.”
The publication features contributions from a multidisciplinary team of experts. These authors bring diverse expertise from engineering, economics, ethics, and plant and animal sciences, providing an integrated perspective on how AI can be leveraged effectively and ethically to support modern agriculture.
The release event featured a panel discussion that drew participation from leading voices in agricultural science, technology, and policy, sparking thoughtful conversation about the future of AI in the food and farming sectors.
The full publication is now available on CAST’s website. The authors are available for interviews upon request. The paper will be released via webinar before the end of April. More information will be provided soon.
For media inquiries, interview requests, or to access the publication, please visit [CAST’s official website] or contact Carlos Back Vianna, CAST’s Director of Marketing & Communications, at cvianna@cast-science.org.
Full List of Authors
- Alex Thomasson – Professor, Department Head, and Berry Endowed Chair, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Director, Agricultural Autonomy Institute, Mississippi State University
- Yiannis Ampatzidis – Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
- Mahendra Bhandari – Assistant Professor of Digital Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
- Andres Ferreyra – Industry Data Standards and Collaborations Lead, Syngenta; Chair, ISO Technical Committee 347 on Data-Driven Agrifood Systems
- Thanos Gentimis – Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental Statistics, Louisiana State University
- Ezekiel McReynolds – AI and Cybersecurity Collaboration Lead
- Seth Murray – Professor and Eugene Butler Endowed Chair in Agricultural Biotechnology, Texas A&M University
- Martin Peterson – Professor of Philosophy; Sue and Harry Bovay Chair of History and Ethics of Professional Engineering, Texas A&M University
- Carlos Rodriguez Lopez – Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky
- Robert Strong – Professor, Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications, Texas A&M University
- Luis Tedeschi – Professor, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
- Jeff Vitale – Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University
- Xinyue Ye – Harold Adams Endowed Professor of Urban Planning and Computer Science, Texas A&M University
About CAST
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is a nonprofit organization composed of scientific societies and many individual, student, company, nonprofit, and associate society members. CAST’s mission is to assemble, interpret, and communicate credible, science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public. CAST publications, including issue papers, commentaries, and special reports, are widely respected as objective and authoritative resources on agricultural and environmental issues.
CAST extends its sincere gratitude to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) for sponsoring this event and making it possible. A special thank you is also due to Mississippi State University for graciously hosting the rollout and contributing to the success of this pivotal conference.
