Agriculture is as old as our state — older, in fact — yet today's approaches to our food supply are anything but. From AI drones to supply routes that get produce from farm to table faster, advances in agriculture are high-tech and increasingly critical for economic stability and national security. Arizona State University researchers are working to help the state and the country stay healthy, secure and thriving.
Innovating agriculture for a more food-secure future
Did you know?
From November to April every year, 90% of the U.S. and Canada's leafy greens and other vegetables come from the Yuma area, according to the Arizona Farm Bureau.
Locust swarms destroy crops — scientists found a way to stop it
The study is believed to be the first to test this method in real-world farming conditions; soil amendments resulted in fewer locusts, less damage and a doubled crop yield.
Farming robots tackle labor shortages using AI
An ASU alum has developed smart agriculture that can harvest, weed, spray — and scare birds.
Algae system helps Arizona farmers grow better crops with less water
An irrigation system that injects live, native microalgae into the soil is proving to be effective in creating healthier, more fruitful crops — while using less water.
Opinion: Arizona agriculture is redefining the future from the desert
In a column for The Arizona Republic, ASU President Michael Crow recounts a trip to Yuma where he "saw the most sophisticated agricultural facilities that I have ever visited."
ASU Farm connects students to sustainable food systems
Founding Director Tyler DesRoches said six core virtues are built into ASU Farm: adaptation, care, cooperation, environmental stewardship, environmental humility and a strong work ethic.
Decline in grazing livestock brings risks and opportunities
A new global study reveals that livestock numbers are declining, but the destocking of rangelands isn’t just the reverse of overgrazing; it poses new ecological and land management challenges.