1. Building novel protein-based biosensors
Focus areas
Protein immobilization
Improving signal transduction using nanomaterials
Oxygen biosensor
Glucose biosensor
Nanocarbon
Nanoplatinum

2. Control, Automation and Sensor Development
Light intensity measurement under the tree canopy
Tree canopy
mapping system
Tine Control
Can-Bus ready controller for precision sprayer
8-band active optical sensing
system
Controller for 5-band passive optical sensing system

3. Citrus Greening Disease (HLB) Detection Using Airborne Hyperspectral Imaging
Several spectral mapping methods were evaluated.
Minimum distance and Mahalanobis distance methods yielded up to 95% detection accuracy.
Disease detection using red edge position (REP) reached more than 90% with a simple threshold.
Infected citrus canopy and fruit
Infected canopy density map by: (a) ground inspection, and (b) Mahalanobis distance
Reflectance of healthy & infected canopies

4. Blueberry Yield Mapping Using Multispectral/Hyperspectral Imaging
Specific Objectives
To identify spectral signatures of blueberry fruit, leaves, branches
To develop blueberry fruit recognition algorithms
To develop a prototype of in-field yield mapping system
Multispectral image
Color image
Recognition result

5. simple - complicated - complex
Complex: sum of the parts does not explain the whole
Basically: there are too many (dynamic) components, and we do not know how they interact…
“Emergent behavior”: behavior that is not expected or anticipated, based on the knowledge of system’s parts
Source: T.W. Peterson, NSF Engineering Directorate

6. Global Futures Project (led by IFPRI)
Crop-model-assisted development of stress resilient crop varieties
Partnership of crop modelers and
breeders & agronomists from CGIAR centers
Global crop land
Future heat stress
CIMMYT phenotyping
Battisti and Naylor (2009)

7. Extension-Farmer-Researcher Team
Wendy-Lin Bartels & Carrie Furman
Sod-based rotation
Conservation tillage
High-residue cover crops
Variable-rate irrigation
Drip irrigation
Map-based input management
AgroClimate
WHO
Picture of Kirk Brock , farmer from Jefferson county, FL – describing how he manages high residue cover crops during La Nina and El Nino phases. Farmers are the experts in adaptation as they constantly navigate and negotiate biophysical and socio-economic processes.
This workshop convened 64 people from FL, AL, GA and SC --- including farmers, extension and researchers.
We are fortunate to be able to build on a strong network of row crop stakeholders who have been participated in the tri-state climate working group – a “climate learning community” that was established in 2010.
KEY QUESTIONS What technologies and management alternatives can really reduce agriculture’s risks from the ups and downs of climate? How can producers increase the efficiency of using costly and energy-intensive farm inputs? How can forecasts of seasonal climate – the best estimate of what to expect in the coming 3 months – be used to better manage farm operations and reduce risk?
During the morning of the workshop, participants were divided into small groups that moved through the technology stations. Each station was led by a farmer and extension/researcher team. Participants spent 15 minutes at each station hearing from the three presenters who used posters to describe the technologies and their climate-related benefits. The afternoon activities featured a panel of seven farmers who shared their experiences about the benefits and barriers associated with adopting the technologies. A discussion and feedback session followed, which was followed by a voting activity in which each participant was given fake money to invest in the technology that seemed most promising to them.
The ADAPTATION EXCHANGE

8. AgroClimate: Climate Risk & Decision Support System
Clyde Fraisse et al.
to reduce crop production risks associated with climate variability and change

9. Support for international collaborations
Identify opportunities for planning grants to develop joint proposals
After these are completed, planning grant awardees may submit applications to conduct the full-scale study, in collaboration with international funding partners.
USDA
USAID
Develop graduate student exchange and collaborative supervisory committees.
Support for international exchanges of faculty and sabbatical leave opportunities