OSU researchers part of $20M effort to develop artificial intelligence for agriculture Lynn Ketchum/OSU Prevention is the best medicine for fighting diseases on apples and other fruit trees CORVALLIS, Ore. – Thirteen researchers from the Oregon State University College of Engineering are part of a $20 million federal effort, known as the AgAID Institute, to develop artificial intelligence to tackle mounting agricultural challenges such as diminishing water and labor supplies, weather variations and climate change. “It is essential to improve the robustness, efficiency and adaptability of food production,” said Alan Fern, professor of computer science and the principal investigator representing OSU. “The institute aims to achieve this by identifying the best ways to integrate humans and AI/robotics technology.”