Published on May 28, 2024

Updated on Dec. 17, 2024

The University of Missouri’s Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center (DAREC) is hosting its first-ever Digital Agriculture Symposium, “Cultivating a Resilient Future: Harnessing Digital Innovation for a Climate-Smart Agriculture” in June.

“The landscape of agriculture is changing rapidly as digital technology advances,” said Jianfeng Zhou, associate professor of Agricultural Systems Technology in MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “We are delighted to be able to share these advances and some of our research in that space and help Missouri’s agricultural producers make informed decisions about incorporating these new technologies into their farming practices.”

The symposium consists of a Research Day for students and faculty June 20, and a Technology Day open to the public June 21 at the MU Digital Farm, which is part of MU’s South Farm. South Farm is located just east of Columbia on New Haven Road, and is part of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station’s Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center.

Technology Day participants will have the opportunity to take a tour of the new digital farm and see demonstrations of digital farming technologies like drones and self-driving tractors. They will also be able to speak to MU faculty who are conducting research on these new technologies.

In line with the symposium’s theme, participants can expect an emphasis on applying new digital technologies to climate-smart agricultural practices.

Participation in Technology Day is free and lunch will be provided. Registration is requested, and can be found by visiting the DAREC website.

Founded in 2024, DAREC aims to be at the forefront of advancing digital agriculture alongside collaborators across CAFNR, MU, USDA-ARS and Missouri. It is dedicated to revolutionizing agricultural practices with cutting-edge digital technologies and artificial intelligence. DAREC’s goal is to transform traditional agriculture into an efficient, sustainable and globally competitive system. It strives to set new standards in agricultural innovation, productivity and environmental stewardship.