Talk: AI and Computing for Local Food Systems
Speaker: Prof. Alfonso Morales, Department of Planning, Landscape, and Architecture, UW-Madison
Event Details
Live Stream: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/95172214781?pwd=aaDv0ov4TWXtyAupTDy5Q7UIlYJNyO.1
Abstract: This lecture reviews topics that broadly deal with the use of computing (and sensing) solutions to address the mounting challenges we face in securing our food systems. The lecture focuses on three dimensions:
o Precision agriculture. This includes micro weather modeling, crop selection and adaptation, land management, real-time sensing for efficient crop watering, fertilization and pest control, etc.
o Intelligent food distribution systems: This covers transportation optimization, local sourcing promotion, distribution and markets, waste management and avoidance (through smart sensing and tracking), etc.
o Inter-silo connections: This includes connections to public health, marketing and consumer behavior, and ecological / ecosystems management and services of farm production.
Morales will expose opportunities for collaboration across these dimensions.
Bio: Alfonso Morales, PhD (Northwestern, MS University of Chicago, University of Texas Dallas, BS New Mexico State), is Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture at the UW-Madison. He is Department Chair. He co-founded the American Bar Foundation ‘The Future of Latinos in the U.S., the Wisconsin Organic Initiative, as well as farm2facts.org which is used by farmers market managers in the U.S. and Canada, and he participated in the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, co-editing a book from the work. He is originally from rural New Mexico with roots in family farming, there and in West Texas. He is a researcher, advocate, practitioner, and consultant on food systems and public markets, inclusive of entrepreneurial, organizational, gender, racial, and regulatory aspects of these activities. He has been invited to speak on these topics internationally. He is PI or CoI of $50+m, and direct recipient of more than $5m, most recently from NSF creating ICICLE Institute for artificial intelligence/cyberinfrastructure (https://icicle.osu.edu), and Rodale’s climate smart award from USDA.