TIFTON — A National Science Foundation (NSF) grant worth $204,435 will bring cutting edge technology to the J.G. Woodroof Farm at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Titled “Transformation of the Curricula in Applied Agricultural Disciplines,” the grant focuses on transforming the 200-acre farm into an Agricultural Learning Laboratory with the aid of real-time sensor and monitor technologies. The purpose of this grant is to enhance the effectiveness of ABAC programs through context-based experiential learning.

“What is special is that we can use the agricultural learning laboratory as a focal point for integrating the various disciplines in the agriculture curriculum,” said Dr. Tim Marshall, dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  

“Yet, while the grant is targeted at technology in agriculture, the knowledge base can also be utilized in a broad spectrum of fields outside of agriculture. This grant will help to exemplify what our learning lab should be for our students.”

Dr. Renata Elad, professor of agricultural economics, is the primary contact for the grant. Working with the entire faculty involved in the farm, she is currently in the professional development process of finding the most cutting-edge and cost efficient technology.

“This grant came about by looking at the current state of agriculture and finding out just how technologically advanced the field has become,” said Elad.  “There is a lot of focus on technology in the bachelor and graduate levels of agricultural education, but not on the associate level. 

“We want to bring the technology usually experienced in higher levels of education to the associate degree program so our students can compete globally in the job market, and we can send out more technologically-inclined workers into the agricultural field.”

A by-product of this grant that Elad hopes to see is more interaction between faculty at ABAC and other institutions. 

Thanks to the grant, ABAC faculty now have the opportunity to participate in AgrowKnowledge, an online consortium that has an inventory of ag-related seminars, webinars, and various other resources. Faculty of ABAC will be able to share ideas and work with agriculture faculty from other colleges and universities.

Elad said it is important to choose the right programs to apply at the farm and to select the up-to-date technology that will be most beneficial to the students and the farm for years to come. 

“Finding technology that won’t be obsolete and will still be valid once students start their careers is the most difficult aspect of this process,” said Elad. “We almost have to be on top of the technology before it is cutting-edge.”

The end result of the technology that the grant will provide is the implementation of an agricultural lab that is both functioning and relevant for students. Students will not only learn what the technology is and how it works, but will also examine the cost benefit ratio of that technology to crops, livestock, and the business of agriculture as a whole.

 “Three to five years from now, we expect our students to have even more exposure and experience to talk the talk and walk the walk with employers because of the added value this program will give them,” said Marshall.

Grant funding began Aug. 1 and continues through July 31, 2013.  The grant is the second NSF grant of the summer announced by ABAC.  The first was for $600,000 and aims to attract students into the science and mathematics field at the college.