University of Hawaiʻi receives $2M for development of artificial intelligence tools to protect food production systems

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa received a $2 million award from National Science Foundation to lead a multi-institutional effort for development of artificial intelligence-enabled tools to help detect environmental threats to food production systems before they become major problems.

The effort comes as public health officials continue to investigate foodborne illness outbreaks tied to cyclospora, underscoring the need for faster, more proactive approaches to identifying potential threats in the food supply.

This marks only the second time University of Hawaiʻi has received an National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR, Track II Focused EPSCoR Collaboration award.

A total of $4 million was awarded for the project led by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in partnership with University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

The 4-year project began Sept. 1 and will combine artificial intelligence, environmental sampling, advanced genetic analysis and high-resolution chemical analysis to identify and monitor potential risks to aquaculture, livestock and agricultural systems.

Led by principal investigator Tao Yan, director of Water Resources Research Center and professor in Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, the project brings together researchers from throughout the University of Hawaiʻi system, including Water Resources Research Center, College of Engineering, University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.