As global food demands intensify, the agricultural sector is turning to high-tech solutions like AI, drones and robotics to transition from conventional farming practices to high-efficiency “smart agriculture.” In response to these evolving demands, The University of Texas at San Antonio is stepping up to ensure the Texas workforce is ready.
A new five-year program, supported by a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will train dozens of undergraduate students in cutting-edge technologies that are revolutionizing modern farming. The Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) program, known as REEL-A3, is a collaborative effort between UT San Antonio and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI).
The program aims to recruit 40 students over the next five years — primarily from four-year universities and community colleges in South and Central Texas — to master artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT) and robotics for implementation on high-tech, high-efficiency farms.
Training for Agriculture 4.0
The initiative comes at a critical time for the sector. The global smart agriculture market is projected to skyrocket from $12.8 billion in 2021 to more than $33 billion by 2030. To keep pace, farmers are increasingly relying on “Agriculture 4.0” — a suite of intelligent, adaptive and efficient farming systems designed to enhance productivity and sustainability.
“There is an urgent need for a well-trained workforce in these areas,” said Mimi Xie, PhD, an assistant professor of computer science in the College of AI, Cyber and Computing and the program’s principal investigator. “We want to train students and make them more interested in graduate study and careers that will modernize the food industry.”
The 24-week program is designed to be accessible to students while they continue their regular studies. Participants receive a stipend, free housing, a meal allowance and travel support. The curriculum is split into three eight-week phases across the summer, fall and spring semesters, providing a deep dive into research without disrupting the students’ degree progress. The first cohort of students will begin this summer, with subsequent groups joining the program each year.
Empowering the Texas workforce
By targeting STEM students in Central and Southern Texas, the program hopes to address a critical labor shortage while also providing trainees with a pathway into a high-paying, high-growth industry.
The collaboration with the Southwest Research Institute further strengthens the program, giving students access to world-class facilities and professional mentors who are currently solving some of the world’s most complex engineering problems.
As the program moves forward, Xie hopes it will serve as a model for how universities can combine research, economic development and student success to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.
Breaking the battery cycle in the field
One of the most innovative aspects of the program is its focus on sustainability within the technology itself. Xie is leading a research track dedicated to “Sustainable IoT,” which seeks to replace traditional lithium batteries in agricultural sensors.
In large-scale farming, maintaining thousands of battery-powered sensors is a logistical and environmental nightmare. Batteries are often toxic, expensive to replace and prone to failure in extreme outdoor conditions.
“We are developing energy-harvesting sensors to monitor soil, weather and crop health without relying on traditional batteries,” Xie said. Instead of a battery, these devices use small solar panels to harvest energy and capacitors to store it. This allows the sensors to function autonomously for years, providing a “deploy and forget” solution for farmers.
The team is also aiming to build sensors that conduct checks intermittently rather than continuously and relay key findings to a central server rather than massive amounts of raw data — two operational improvements that will significantly lower energy consumption.
Drones, robots and the power of AI
Beyond sustainable sensors, students in the REEL-A3 program will have a chance to assist on three other core research tracks that explore the intersection of hardware and intelligence:
- UAV and IoT Integration: Led by Chen Pan, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, students will work with unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to collect data from ground sensors and capture high-resolution visual data. These drones can fly over vast acreage to identify areas that need more water or fertilizer, reducing waste by allowing farmers to use resources only as needed.
- Multispectral AI: Using specialized cameras that “see” light frequencies beyond the human eye, researchers are training AI models to evaluate plant health. With supervision from Edmond M. DuPont, PhD, principal engineer at SwRI, students will study tomato growth stages, using the technology to predict yields and identify ripeness with high precision.
- Robotic Automation: Students will work with Yufang Jin, PhD, professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, on this track exploring the use of AI-powered robotic arms to automate the labor-intensive tasks of inspecting, sorting and packaging fresh produce. By streamlining these processes, the technology helps reduce food waste and lower operational costs.
Bridging the gap from lab to farm
While much of the work is done in high-tech labs at UT San Antonio and SwRI, students will also see the real-world application of their research. During the summer, participants will interact directly with farmers and extension agents at field days in locations such as Fredericksburg.
These interactions allow students to see the challenges farmers face firsthand, ensuring the technologies they develop are practical and user-friendly.
“This program goes beyond just the technology,” Xie said. “It provides a holistic professional experience, including mentoring from experts in AI and robotics and professional development for graduate school applications.”
