AI in science: the promise, perils and path forward – AI and our food

Join the Australian Academy of Science for the fourth event in the public speaker series for 2025 which will be held at the Shine Dome in Canberra on Tuesday 12 August and livestreamed online.

The series focuses on how AI is helping scientists make breakthroughs in health and medicine, climate research, agriculture and food production, space exploration and more. The series will also delve into potential risks, limitations and ethical issues as AI becomes increasingly prominent in science and our society.

Seed-planting farmbots, pest-detecting drones, and robotic noses for evaluating wine and beer: the future of food production and farming is high-tech

AI has the potential to boost the sustainability and efficiency of Australian agriculture. It can selectively control weeds, saving on herbicide use. It can figure out the perfect time to water a crop, and identify grapes damaged by bushfire smoke.

Join this event to hear from two expert speakers at the cutting edge:

• Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes develops high-tech digital instruments for agriculture, food and wine at the University of Melbourne. He’s also an investigator at the Plants for Space ARC Centre of Excellence, creating a stellar menu for the astronauts of the future.
• A postdoctoral fellow at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Dr Sarah Hartman is using deep learning to develop an AI agronomist. She’s working with farmers and other stakeholders to design a model that works for and with the people who produce our food.

Come along and get a taste of the future of food.

Speakers

• Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes, University of Melbourne
  • Sigfredo’s primary research interests revolve around the utilisation of cutting-edge instrumentation for plant physiology research. His expertise lies in the application of various advanced techniques, including short-range, airborne and satellite remote sensing; near-infrared spectroscopy; infrared thermography; and sap flow sensors. He has contributed to the development of computer programs for agricultural research and practical applications, the establishment of novel methodologies to assess plant physiology and growth through image analysis and innovative instrumentation, and the implementation of artificial intelligence in agriculture, food, wine and animal sciences.
• Dr. Sarah Hartman, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
  • Sarah is a CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellow with a focus on ‘Developing a trusted AI agronomist’. The project couples deep learning with the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM), a biophysical agricultural model. It also involves stakeholder engagement to identify key considerations for a trustworthy and successful agronomist. Sarah has spent her career working in environmental engineering and science, where she designs and executes low- and high-technology projects focusing on water, agriculture and community-led growth in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders. Sarah is passionate about making science and technology accessible to the public via thoughtful translation. She also has a strong commitment to improving technical issues through a cultural and policy lens.

Livestream

The event livestream can be watched on the Australian Academy of Science’s Youtube channel.

Play video

For more information about the event, please visit the event webpage

Photo by Lesley A Butler on flikr.