CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – As today’s farmers look to technology to yield better results with less manpower, a trained workforce will be integral for utilizing the technological tools performing agricultural tasks previously done by hand.
A new research project led by members from the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science (CBI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) and the university’s College of Engineering and Computer Science will help meet this need by preparing the next generation of the agricultural workforce. Working collaboratively with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, the AgTech REEU program offers undergraduate students hands-on research and extension experience working with innovative agricultural technologies.
The project is being funded by a $750,000 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative-Education and Workforce Development grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Yuxia “Lucy” Huang, Director of CBI’s GeoCommunityLab and Associate Professor of Geospatial Science at TAMU-CC, serves as the project’s Principal Investigator (PI). Co-PIs include Dr. Mehdi Sookhak, TAMU-CC Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Dr. Mahendra Bhandari, AgriLife Assistant Professor, and Dr. Joshua McGinty, AgriLife Associate Professor.
“Smart farming is the future of agriculture. However, our current workforce lacks opportunities for science-based training and experience,” said Huang. “Our program will empower students with the knowledge and experience to use innovative agricultural technologies so they can become qualified, passionate professionals ready to pursue advanced degrees or careers.”
The program will support eight undergraduate students per academic year, for a total of 40 students over five years. Each cohort will participate in a 25-week research experience that includes an eight-week paid summer internship, conferences and travel support, field trips, workshops, and training through government entities and industry partners.
“There is great potential for students who participate in this program to go on and pursue graduate degrees and get involved in research or find high-paying jobs in the agriculture industry,” said Dr. Mahendra Bhandari, Assistant Professor at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and project team member. “The market for digital agriculture is growing and will need trained professionals in the coming years.”
Ana Guerrero ’27, a Corpus Christi native pursuing a doctoral degree in Coastal and Marine Systems Sciences, says the AgTech REEU program can provide some of the same opportunities she experienced during a summer internship she completed at AgriLife for her bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Science.
“We measured plant growth with data collected from UAVs piloted above the field, but we also measured the plant height of specific samples within the fields with meter sticks, pen, and paper,” Guerrero said. “You don’t realize how soft and uneven the ground is for growing crops. It’s difficult to monitor even 50 plants among 1,000. Smart farming reduces risks associated with traditional farming – I hope one day every farm and field can utilize it.”
To be eligible to apply for the AgTech REEU program, students must be:
U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at a community college or four-year university
Major in STEM, Agriculture, or related field of study
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher
“We hope the program provides opportunities for students, but that it also closes educational gaps and serves the economic needs of South Texas,” Huang said. “Students from underrepresented groups, such as Hispanics and women, and those enrolled at South Texas colleges and universities are encouraged to apply.”
To learn more about the AgTech REEU program or to apply, visit http://reeu.tamucc.edu.
This work is supported by the ARFI Education and Workforce Development Program, Grant no: 2023-67037-40308, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.
