Пенн-Стейт и департамент сельского хозяйства Пенсильвании создали новый альянс для внедрения инноваций в агросектор

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Extension are working together to turn research, innovation and insights from farmers into practical solutions for Pennsylvania agriculture. Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, joined Russell Redding, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, for an Ag Progress Days Town Hall that explored emerging challenges and opportunities facing the state’s agriculture industry, with a focus on innovation and the role of the historic partnership between Penn State and the commonwealth. A place to exchange ideas Both Ott and Redding reflected on the impact of Penn State’s Ag Progress Days as it celebrated 50 years at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs. Redding said that Ag Progress Days is often thought of as an exhibition, but beyond that, it’s a place where farmers, researchers, government and industry partners come together to exchange ideas and find solutions. “It's a classroom, it’s a testing ground, it’s a meeting place,” Redding said. “It’s where the partnerships are built, and certainly are strengthened, and every year, I leave Ag Progress Days smarter.” Ott echoed his sentiments, stating that Ag Progress Days makes the research and the work of the college tangible. “Ag Progress Days, I think of it as a cornucopia,” Ott said. “This is the harvest of decades of investment in agriculture that you see around this campus today.” That investment reflects Penn State’s role as Pennsylvania’s land-grant university and its statewide agricultural research and Extension mission. “Pennsylvania has a unique role as a land-grant, and it's an honor and a responsibility. We have a presence in all 67 counties,” Ott said. “We're out there listening to farmers and hearing what they're saying. And those questions come back to the lab, and we try to turn those questions into solutions.” Partnering for impact Penn State’s partnership with the Department of Agriculture was a common theme throughout the conversation as the two agricultural leaders discussed the vital connection among farmers, research and government. “We cannot do what we do in the Department of Ag in any form without the support of the College of Ag Sciences here, and the research and Extension work that is done,” Redding said. The eradication of the plum pox virus was pointed to as an example of what that partnership can accomplish. The virus, which was detected in Adams County as the first known occurrence in North America in 1999, threatened Pennsylvania’s stone-fruit industry. Redding highlighted the 10 years of research and work it took to contain the virus, while also simultaneously finding a solution to be able to beat the virus. “It’s one of the great success stories because, when it began, everyone was doubtful that we could eradicate it,” Redding said. “Eradication only happened because you had the partnerships with the growers, you had the research facilities and base work being done at Penn State research centers, and the amazing partnership between the department and the University and their reach across the country through the land-grants, and around the world.” Ott further demonstrated the importance of the continued partnership with the commonwealth by highlighting new state funding to enhance Penn State’s efforts in biosecurity. Ott said that the funding gives Penn State the capacity to do the work in advance so that the state can be more proactive in stopping threats across the industry, from spotted lanternflies to avian influenza, among other challenges. From innovation to practical solutions As agricultural technology continues to advance, Ott said that Pennsylvania shouldn’t adopt technology simply because it is innovative, but that it needs to provide practical value to farmers and communities. “The question is not simply what is new,” Ott said. “We can talk about what is new all day long. The question is, what works here?” Ott continued that solutions must be tested and adapted to meet Pennsylvania’s diverse agricultural industry. He also challenged the traditional model of research, where discoveries have a tendency to stop at the point of publication. “We discover things, and we just say, ‘Look at that, isn't that great?’ And we leave it there and let everyone take a look at it, and we assume someone's going to pick it up and carry it to the next level. We can't do that,” said Ott. Penn State Extension’s Tilva is a recent demonstration of this approach. The AI-powered tool provides research-based answers tailored to Pennsylvania agriculture and connects users with Extension expertise. Since its launch in January at the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show, Tilva has been used more than 40,000 times and currently receives nearly 1,000 questions per week. “Tilva is our way to get our trusted extension information into the hands of people when they need it and to connect them to our experts,” Ott said. During Ag Progress Days, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences held a ceremony to announce the Keystone AgTech Alliance, a new statewide partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Team Pennsylvania, and Innovation Works/The Robotics Factory. The alliance is designed to accelerate agricultural innovation and position the commonwealth as a national leader in agricultural technology deployment. “Our work reflects the core of Penn State’s land-grant mission. With a statewide presence, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Extension can connect the needs of farmers with the researchers and policymakers who can provide solutions,” Ott said. “The collaboration among research, education and government will be essential to ensuring Pennsylvania's agricultural industry can continue to thrive and be a top industry in the state.”