Growing with AI: Washington’s Agricultural Future

How can AI technologies contribute to a resilient, secure, and economically viable future for agriculture in the state of Washington?

A Critical Time for Innovation

For generations, Washington farmers have been pioneers—national leaders in agricultural productivity and diversity. Our 300+ commodities and $14 billion agricultural economy are built on ingenuity and resilience.

Today’s producers face unprecedented challenges: climate volatility, water scarcity, labor shortages, and economic pressures. Artificial intelligence offers transformative potential to address these challenges. Washington farmers are already using AI to make complex decisions, increase yields, reduce environmental impact, and improve worker safety.

Imagine:

  • Farmers receiving precise weather predictions days or weeks in advance
  • AI systems optimizing every drop of water and input, maximizing yield while minimizing waste
  • Leveling the playing field for small-scale producers with AI decision-support tools

WSAS’S “Growing with ai” initiative

The Washington State Academy of Sciences is convening researchers, farmers, AI developers, policymakers, and innovators to explore how AI can shape agriculture’s future in Washington.

Join our 6-part webinar series exploring AI’s role in farming—from climate resilience to post-harvest optimization. Registration is free and open to the public.

Webinar discussions will serve as a foundation of shared learning for a workshop among speakers and other invitees to further refine Washington’s opportunity space and catalyze new collaborations.

Overviews

Artificial Intelligence and Applications in Agriculture

January 12, 2026, 12-1pm

Learn AI basics, how agriculture drives AI innovation, and how AI is reshaping farming from reactive to proactive operations.

Speakers:

  • Oren Etzioni, Technical Director, AI2 Incubator; Professor Emeritus, University of Washington
  • Ananth Kalyanaraman, Professor and Director, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Washington State University; Director, NSF-USDA NIFA AgAID AI Institute

Agriculture in WA and Opportunities for AI Innovation

January 23, 2026, 12-1pm

Explore opportunities and challenges for Washington agriculture and how AI could increase viability and competitiveness.

Speakers:

  • Derek Sandison, Director, Washington State Department of Agriculture
  • Ines Hanrahan, Executive Director, WA Tree Fruit Commission

Topical Panels

AI for Climate and Weather Resilience

February 4, 2026, 12-1:30pm

How can AI tools help farmers prepare and adapt to increasing climate variability and extreme weather?

AI for Input Optimization

February 12, 2026, 12-1:30pm

How can AI technologies reduce water, pesticide, and fertilizer use to maximize productivity while minimizing costs and environmental impact?

AI in Storage, Processing, and Distribution

February 19, 2026, 12-1:30pm

Learn how AI reduces food loss and optimizes the post-harvest supply chain.

Discussion

AI in the Farm of the Future

March 4, 2026, 12-1:30pm

What will the AI-enabled farm actually look like? Who benefits, who might lose, and how can we build an AI-enhanced agricultural future that balances multiple goals?