Ohio State announces four new projects funded by the AgTech Innovation Hub

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) has announced the funding of four new innovative research projects as part of the second call for proposals from the AgTech Innovation Hub. This ongoing collaboration between CFAES, Nationwide, and Ohio Farm Bureau continues to foster new solutions to critical challenges in agriculture and climate risk management.

The selected projects address vital needs across the agricultural ecosystem, focusing on workforce development, climate resilience, and advanced monitoring technologies. Each project will run for one year, with the goal of delivering practical solutions to real-world problems, said Gary Pierzynski, CFAES associate dean of research and graduate education.

"Yet again, CFAES researchers knocked it out of the park in this second call for proposals," Pierzynski said. "The Hub Council had a difficult time selecting from such a top-notch pool. However, the funded projects are those that closely matched the needs of producers, industry, and the agricultural sector."

The newly funded projects span a wide range of innovative approaches to tackling some of agriculture's biggest challenges. The selected projects will address issues such as the labor shortages, safety in controlled environment agriculture, and supporting producers and communities in making decisions around extreme weather and climate change.

"As a land-grant university, our researchers, Ohio State University Extension professionals, and partners work together to pave the way for innovation and discovery," said Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State's vice president for agricultural administration and dean of CFAES. "The Hub's newly funded projects echo the partnership's joint commitment to research that makes an impact on Ohio and beyond."

One project will consider whether the agricultural community could benefit from an independent contractor approach to labor, borrowing from the success of ride-share or delivery platforms. Another project will focus on property and worker safety by using drones to detect possible issues in a controlled environment agriculture operation before catastrophic losses occur.

The final two projects will focus on weather-related risks: one will tap into Extension professionals to help farmers adopt climate-friendly practices to cope with extreme weather, while the other will upgrade Ohio's weather monitoring system to provide more accurate data for farmers.

"Between the excellent outcomes of the inaugural five projects and the outstanding projects funded in this second round, we are excited to see the continued growth of the AgTech Innovation Hub," said Devin Fuhrman, Nationwide's Chief Agriculture and Sponsor Relations Officer. "Nationwide remains committed to driving innovation that benefits our local communities and customers, ensuring we deliver solutions that are at the forefront of agricultural advancements."

The AgTech Innovation Hub, which launched in 2022, is funded by an initial $2 million pledge from Nationwide. It provides a platform for researchers and industry partners to develop solutions that manage and mitigate climate risk while supporting the agricultural industry.