2026: A Roadmap for Overcoming Barriers and Accelerating Conservation Agriculture at Scale (Keystone)
This interdisciplinary research project will investigate how artificial intelligence can transform conservation agriculture technical assistance for farmers. The research team will collaborate with the Keystone Policy Center to develop innovative solutions that address the current shortage of experienced conservation advisors and fragmented support systems. Researchers will explore how AI tools can complement existing technical assistance programs and make conservation practices more accessible to farmers nationwide. The project will expand beyond creating a white paper to map emerging technologies and identify promising pilot programs. The team will analyze how AI can streamline bureaucratic processes, improve data infrastructure, and create more efficient delivery models for conservation support. The research will focus on developing concrete solutions that funders and organizations can implement to better serve farmers’ conservation goals and improve agricultural sustainability outcomes.
Cornell: Louis Longchamps (Cornell CALS / School of Integrative Plant Science
/ Soil and Crop Sciences)
Partner: Keystone Policy Center