A Grand Partnership

In May, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and North Dakota-based Grand Farm came together to break ground on the latest agriculture industry partnership: the University of Georgia Grand Farm.

The 250-acre innovation farm will develop and demonstrate new agricultural technologies and automation, focused on Georgia’s specialty crops and Southeast agriculture, starting with the first field projects moving into implementation now.

Starting off strong

The partnership traces its origins to 2019, when University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, then serving as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, participated in the launch ceremony for Grand Farm in North Dakota.

UGA Grand Farm will be a hub for research, education, and sustainable agriculture practices, harnessing the power of precision agriculture, robotics, and data analytics to increase productivity, conserve resources, and ensure food security for future generations.

During the groundbreaking in May 2025, organizers showcased several cutting-edge technologies, including solar-powered, autonomous robotic weeders; autonomous tractor retrofit kits that enable driverless operations for row crop farming; and a fully autonomous, solar-powered agricultural robot designed to spot-apply herbicides and scout fields to collect real-time data on plant health and stand counts.

Building a future

The partnership has yielded several initiatives to connect researchers, startups, corporations, investors, students, farmers, and industry partners to advance agricultural technology in Georgia.

October’s inaugural UGA Grand Farm field days welcomed growers, students, extension agents, and industry partners to explore emerging technologies, meet innovative companies, and tour the farm. They provided visitors with hands-on opportunities to see precision agriculture in action and learn about the vision and mission for the site.

UGA Grand Farm also hosted the second Institute for Integrated Precision Agriculture Conference earlier in 2025, and in 2026, it is partnering with UGA CAES on the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Southeastern Specialty Crop Conference and Show, as well as future field days and educational experiences.

Collaborations with ag-tech companies such as iCrop, Sentinel Ag, AquaSpy, and Sabanto test new technologies in real-world environments.

As the work builds and research comes to life, teams are preparing for the first harvest and final data collections with fall trials ramping up right now. With ongoing investments in infrastructure and resources, the farm is building research capacity, attracting new collaborators, and expanding opportunities for innovative new trials, laying the groundwork for impactful developments in 2026 and beyond.

UGA Grand Farm is more than a research site—it’s an ecosystem for collaboration, innovation, and hands-on learning, advancing precision agriculture and strengthening Georgia’s agricultural future.

UGA’s Precision Horticulture Lab is transforming farm operations with drone technology.