Study Highlights Potential of Cross-disciplinary Collaboration in Agriculture

A study published in Global Change Biology by researchers from Science and Technology Centers of the National Science Foundation asserts that the future of farming lies at the intersection of scientific disciplines. The research focused on five case studies that demonstrate how collaboration between the fields of biology, chemistry, engineering, and data science can transform key agricultural activities such as crop monitoring, fertilizer use, and water management. For example, one case study focuses on nanosensors and soft robotics developed through the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS) at Cornell University to help monitor plant water status in the field. The study also explored the role that farmers play in informing research direction and identifying adoption considerations for new technologies.