University of Georgia officials broke ground recently on a research farm next to the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry.
The 250-acre Grand Farm will serve as a hub for research, education, and sustainable farming practices. Innovative technology including precision agriculture, robotics and data analysis will be used to increase productivity while conserving resources.
Grand Farm will partner with UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on the project.
“This collaboration represents the perfect marriage of tradition and innovation,” said Nick T. Place, the college’s dean and director. “By bringing together the college’s world-class researchers and the UGA Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture with Grand Farms’ cutting-edge technologies, we will revolutionize the way we feed and clothe the world’s population.”
The roots of the partnership go back five years, when University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue helped launch a Grand Farm project in North Dakota while serving as U.S. secretary of agriculture.
“This partnership is a great example of how Grand Farm works to advance agriculture technology and solve grower pain points across varied geographies,” Grand Farm Executive Director William Aderholt said.
“Collaborating with the University of Georgia allows us to leverage their extensive research capabilities and expertise in agricultural sciences, enhancing our ability to innovate and implement solutions that are tailored to diverse agricultural environments.”
The farm’s first field projects are expected to roll out this year.
