Education & Workforce Development

• Lead: Natalie McCaffery, Maria Gini
• Team: Allison Chatrchyan, Candace Hulbert, Gulnihal Ozbay, Bruce Erickson

This project aims to build education around foundational computer science, resilient agriculture and forestry, and artificial intelligence for K-12 students with curriculum related to digital greenhouse gas accounting tools like the USDA COMET-Farm tool. AI-LEAF is developing a secondary education curriculum for high school students designed to introduce digital agriculture through engaging, hands-on COMET-based activities. A multi-modular design will introduce the fundamentals of agriculture—including croplands, animal agriculture and forestry—as well as COMET-Tools, the role of greenhouse gas in economic and environmental contexts, the use of data and digital tools in agriculture, and future advancements in digital agriculture through AI.

Accomplishments: “AI in Agriculture” 4-H Curriculum, 2 presentations at NY State 4-H Career Exploration event, 6 STEM Summer Camps at the University of Minnesota, Digital Ag Online Course for High School teachers and agribusiness

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  Lead: Natalie Hunt, Bruce Erickson

• Team: Candace Hulbert, Luke Gregory, Allison Chatrchyan, Candace Hulbert, Robin Sehler, Vipin Kumar

Undergraduate education and professional experience moves AI-LEAF toward our greater strategic goal of building the next generation of agriculture and forestry professionals and computer scientists. Over thirty undergraduate students have been involved with AI-LEAF research and education and workforce development projects. In Fall 2025, Natalie Hunt (UMN), Candace Hulbert (Cornell), Luke Gregory (Cornell), and Robin Sehler (UMN) launched the AI-LEAF Undergraduate Scholars Program. The AI-LEAF Undergraduate Scholars Program is a 1-year pilot educational program (Fall 2025-Spring 2026), that will serve as an introduction to foundational topics in resilient agriculture, forestry and artificial intelligence. Through weekly Zoom sessions, a pilot cohort of 20 students - from the University of Minnesota, Cornell University, Purdue University, Colorado State University, Delaware State University, and North Carolina State University - will explore and survey topics from our four curriculum pillars.

Accomplishments: Launch of AI-LEAF Undergraduate Scholars Program pilot with 20 students from all of our partnering institutions, 30 students participating in research and internships, 3 minors developed at 3 institutions, Data Science for Agriculture online course

• Lead: David Mulla, Nikos Papanikolopoulos
• Team: Angela Walsh

To train the next generation of AI-LEAF leaders, our program offers education, mentorship and professional development opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Graduate students engage with the AI-LEAF team through events like open houses, monthly seminars and collaborative team meetings. These activities help students build professional networks, gain hands-on research experience and explore career opportunities in AI and climate science. Graduate students also participate in journal clubs and work closely with AI and resilient agriculture and forestry scientists to stay updated on cutting-edge research in AI-LEAF.

Postdoctoral researchers benefit from professional development opportunities, including publishing research and educational content. They also gain access to valuable teaching materials, research experiences and curated reading lists to support their academic and professional growth.

Accomplishments; There are 82 postdocs and graduate students working with AI-LEAF. Graduate student accomplishments include 40 presentations and 20 publications.

• Lead: Bruce Erickson, Allison Chatrchyan, Rose Ogutu
• Team: Gulnihal Ozbay, Candace Hulbert

Extension Educators, agricultural crop input dealers, and other agriculture and forestry professionals need education, training, and targeted outreach to better understand resilient agriculture and forestry practices, digital agriculture, and AI. AI-LEAF is building the capacity of agriculture professionals including Extension educators and high school agriculture teachers to better understand resilient agriculture and forestry, digital agriculture and AI in agriculture to better serve and educate farmers and foresters. Purdue’s Agronomy E-Learning Academy for Precision Agriculture includes modules on AI, automation, data management and resilient agriculture and forestry. Other projects will be aimed at teaching Extension educators about AI for resilient agriculture and forestry and building partnerships and trust between AI-LEAF and agricultural advisors. Education and outreach will involve presentations and training at agriculture in-service and conferences with Extension educators.

Accomplishments: 1,300 agriculture advisors reached at conferences and events, 25 presentations at events and professional conferences, 2023-2025 Croplife/Purdue Precision Agriculture Survey published, new course module on artificial intelligence in agriculture

AI-LEAF works to empower farmers and forest managers with tools and knowledge to address evolving environmental stresses and extreme events with education focused on resilient agriculture and forestry practices, digital agriculture and forestry, and AI. AI-LEAF works with Extension at each of the partnering universities and is working to engage with farmers and foresters about resilient agriculture and forestry, digital agriculture and AI in agriculture to help them mitigate and adapt to the changing climate. Through partnerships with the Cornell Climate Smart Farming program, the USDA Climate Hubs Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Fellowship (CAMF), and the USDA Northeastern Sustainable Research and Education program, AI-LEAF is building education and outreach materials for farmers and foresters.

Accomplishments: 1000 farmers reached at conference and events, 120 COMET-Farm trainings offered, 30 Minnesota regional agriculture resilience plans, 10 NY dairy adaptation and mitigation modules, and 6 NY urban agriculture adaptation modules developed