Purdue digital agriculture website offers insights and resources

Story by Chad Campbell

July 17, 2019

Purdue University’s College of Agriculture has launched its new digital agriculture website.

Driven by Purdue’s many digital agriculture innovations and contributions and serving a wide range of audiences, the website is a hub of resources and information dedicated to the expanding field.

“We’re leveraging digital agriculture and innovative technology with our commitment to improve agricultural efficiency, productivity, and sustainability,” said Bernie Engel, associate dean of research and graduate education. “Only by harnessing data’s power — and training others to do the same — can we create a sustainable agricultural future.”

As research, outreach, and education continue at Purdue, new stories will be added to the site, like that of Jian Jin, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering. Jin helps design and oversee automatic high-throughput phenotyping systems.

“We had a crazy idea,” said Jin. “Why don’t we shuffle all the plants 24/7? Can we remove that microclimate issue and collect continuous phenotyping data at the same time?”

Jin’s innovations enable his lab to collect data more quickly and accurately than ever before.

“There’s a real sense of urgency around digital agriculture. It’s great to be a part of that kind of effort and be on the cutting edge of the challenge. It’s new and exciting, which means we have to write the script,” said Nathan DeLay, assistant professor of agricultural analytics and production.

The website also highlights Purdue’s digital agriculture partnerships, demonstrating how collaborative efforts with the Open Ag Data Alliance, Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, and others help the organizations work toward common goals.

The website is now live at https://ag.purdue.edu/digitalag.

Featured Stories

Sam and Kelly Williams are pictured on their farm in West Virginia’s South Branch Valley.

Community Champions

Sam and Kelly Williams, alumni of Purdue’s agricultural economics program, are hometown...

Dr. Abhinav Tyagi talks to forest managers and scientists in a forest in India.

Tyagi to Study Otters, Fish Genomics as Smith Fellow

Dr. Abhinav Tyagi, who is the first Smith Fellowship honoree from India, will be studying river...

Dr. Abhinav Tyagi speaks to scientists and forest service personnel in India.

Dr. Abhinav Tyagi Set to Study River Otters, Fish as Smith Fellow in FNR

Dr. Abhinav Tyagi's past work has focused on applying genomics to wildlife conservation and...

Drs. Mike Saunders and Zhao Ma pose with the Family Forests Comprehensive Education Program Award presented by National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA) and National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP).

FNR Extension Team Receives Family Forests Comprehensive Education Award

The Purdue FNR extension team was named as a recipient of the Family Forests Comprehensive...

yuliia khoma poses with ferns in the greenhouse

Second plant, second chance, second home: Ukrainian Scholar Yuliia Khoma

Khoma relocated to the U.S. with her son and husband through a scholar support program offered by...

From farm roots to future agronomist: Finding a home at Purdue Agriculture

Growing up on a farm in Greensburg, Indiana, Purdue sophomore Justin Bedel developed a love for...