AgFirst, SC State University partner on Hackathon to solve challenges for YBS farmers

AgFirst and S.C. State University partnered Oct. 4-6 on a Hackathon to sow seeds of innovation for the next generation of farmers. 

Students in majors including computer science, agribusiness and business worked together in small groups using technology to solve challenges for young, beginning and small (YBS) farmers – a vital segment of the industry’s future.

“This event brought together the next generation of tech with the next generation of agriculture,” AgFirst CEO Tim Amerson said. “That kind of partnership is crucial in today’s world with the rapid advancement of technology impacting all sectors of the industry.” 

Agricultural and technology leaders and school faculty were on hand at the Orangeburg campus to inspire and guide students as they dug deep to address real-world challenges faced by YBS farmers. 

Teams chose from one of three challenges: 

• Help farmers reduce waste and get the best crop prices through an AI tool that uses pictures to tell the difference between healthy and rotten produce. 
• Create an app that takes data from soil sensors (measuring things like moisture and nutrients) and gives farmers advice on how to keep their soil healthy and their crops happy. 
• Come up with creative ways to make it easier for farmers to enter data into open source farm management software or applications.  

On the third day of the event, teams presented their projects to a panel of judges who evaluated the solutions based on feasibility, impact and innovation.

The winning team, Farm350, demonstrated a prototype form that could be available on different devices, could easily be completed from anywhere and would seamlessly integrate into the farmOS application. The team outlined their next steps for the application that will enable voice recognition and speech to text. 

“We need bright minds like these to give YBS farmers tools that will help them succeed for the long-term,” Amerson said. “We appreciate the partnership with S.C. State and their enthusiasm and hard work that resulted in such a successful event.”