With NSF award, WSU crop scientist harnesses AI to identify higher-yielding wheat

Using the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to process vast amounts of complex data, scientists at Washington State University aim to speed up the breeding of higher-yielding wheat crops.

Zhiwu Zhang, professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, leads a team of scientists in the U.S., India, and Japan as they harness neural networks - computer models that mimic how the brain processes information - to analyze massive amounts of data on wheat genetics, performance, and environmental conditions. Their work is part of a new National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative bridging AI and agriculture.

"Wheat feeds billions worldwide," Zhang said. "It provides a fifth of global calories, yet breeders are only able to boost yields by about 1% annually."

Zhang, who specializes in developing AI and statistical tools and models for wheat breeders, aims to better that number. Part of the first cohort of NSF's Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen AGriculturE (AI-ENGAGE) initiative, he received a $400,000 grant to develop a new, open-source computer system that can process a thousandfold more data than conventional techniques.

The team of scientists from WSU, the University of Tokyo, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research will genotype nearly 1,000 unique wheat plant samples, then train AI to process data on plant performance, genetics, growing patterns, and many environmental variables affecting crop performance. Their final product will be a free tool that breeders can use to select improved varieties of wheat and other food crops.

"By accelerating the development of high-performing varieties, we're boosting breeding efficiency and contributing to the global food supply," Zhang said. "Our work builds on decades of advancements in genomic selection, allowing us to capture complex genotype and environmental interactions that traditional methods often miss."

AI-ENGAGE is a collaboration between NSF, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The WSU project was one of six to receive initial awards totaling $6 million from NSF and its international partners.

Named as one of five Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers at WSU in 2025, Zhang described the NSF funding award as a tremendous honor that validates his research team's interdisciplinary approach. He thanked colleagues in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, and the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture for their support and expertise.

"Their encouragement has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of AI in agriculture," Zhang said. "Together, we're advancing science that truly matters for our planet's future."