By David Mitchell
When a problem arises within Georgia’s agriculture industry, George Vellidis would like the University of Georgia’s Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA) to be one of the first places industry leaders turn for answers. To become that resource, IIPA experts need the kind of on-the-ground insights only insiders can provide.
That’s the animating idea behind IIPA’s inaugural Industry Advisory Board (IAB), which officially launched at a kickoff meeting on Monday, June 29. The board brings together 16 leaders spanning the agricultural value chain—from major equipment manufacturers and venture capitalists to working farmers in Georgia—forming a pipeline between institute-led research and the industries it aims to serve.
“I want IIPA to be intimately tied to serving stakeholder needs, particularly in the agtech industry as we continue to help it grow in Georgia,” said Vellidis, professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) who became the institute’s first permanent director in 2024. “I felt like it was important that we recruit some people who can help us understand the impactful problems across the state. Ultimately, that’s what I hope happens here.”
Since 2022, IIPA has united more than 90 faculty members across seven UGA schools and colleges, approaching the challenge of advancing next-generation agricultural systems, such as precision irrigation and robotics or AI-driven crop management.
Source : uga.edu