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with Dr. Song Gao, Michelle Miller and Dr. Alfonso Morales,University of Wisconsin Madison, May 21, 2026 The University of Wisconsin-Madison hosted a collaborative web presentation detailingthe development of artificial intelligence (AI) and cyberinfrastructure tools designed todemocratize food networks. Led by Alfonso Morales, a Vilas Distinguished AchievementProfessor in the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture, the… Read more: AI tools for democratizing food networks: scaling national, regional and local

Food flows and digital twins: making food network information actionable with Dr. Kushank Bajaj, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Dr. Bajaj presented a comprehensive overview of his research on mapping global and domestic food supply chains to identify systemic vulnerabilities and climate-related risks. The webinar, the third in the “Food Systems and AI” series,… Read more: Food Flows and Digital Twins: Making Food Network Information Actionable (Summary)

Dr. Karakoç presented a data-driven effort to better understand how food moves through the United States—and why that matters for resilience, efficiency, and food security. Thirty-three participants attended the webinar, hosted by CIAS, campus partners, and the NSF AI Institute ICICLE.  At its core, her work addresses a simple but consequential gap: while the U.S.… Read more: “Open knowledge on U.S. food systems to support decision-making”

Dr. Formentini presented his work on how digitalization can transform agri-food supply chains to improve sustainability, reduce food loss and waste, and enable fairer redistribution of value among supply chain actors. More than seventy participants attended the webinar, hosted by CIAS, campus partners, and the National Science Foundation’s AI Institute ICICLE. He began by situating… Read more: Webinar Summary: Dr. Marco Formentini, University of Trento

This webinar series is made possible by the ICICLE – Intelligent CI with Computational Learning in the Environment -U.S. National Science Foundation AI Center under OAC-2112606 and organized by the UW-CALS Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, with support from several UW partners: the Grainger Center for Supply Chain Management, theKaufman Lab, Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), Organic Collaborative,  Center… Read more: Food Supply Networks and AI: A Four-Webinar Series

The Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) invites UW-Madison graduate student applications for our summer research mini-grant program, which is made possible through a generous donation from the Single Step Foundation. These awards will provide up to $3,000 for graduate student research aligned with the work of CIAS. We are particularly interested in proposals regarding… Read more: The CIAS Graduate Student Summer Research Mini-Grant Program Call for Proposals is now open for 2026!

Advancing Leadership and Innovation in Sustainable Agriculture Since 2013, generous support from the Single Step Foundation has made it possible for the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to invest in graduate student research through its Summer Research Mini-Grant Program. These awards empower emerging scholars to pursue cutting-edge research aligned… Read more: Another Successful Year for the CIAS Graduate Student Summer Research Mini-Grant Program

Véronique De Herde, A Fulbright visiting scholar, will be presenting her research project on value chain coordination in agri-food, on Tuesday, November 18, in a seminar co-hosted by the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the UW Center for Cooperatives.  The project explores the role of value chains in supporting transformative farm practices, with a focus on the diversity… Read more: Presentation: Value Chain Coordination in Agri-Food

Celebrate National Farmers Day with Organic Valley! Organic Valley is bringing a firsthand farm experience to viewers live from our small organic family farms, coast to coast, all day long on Thursday, Oct. 9. Tune in between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. CDT, at ov.coop/farmerlivestream to walk in the boots of a real organic farmer,… Read more: NATIONAL FARMERS DAY LIVESTREAM! October 9, 10 AM to 8 PM.

Date: Monday, October 13, 2025 Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm Location: The Sett, second floor balcony, Union South Cost: Free Are you working in the food and agriculture sustainability space? If so, please join us for a chance to get to know one another.  This is an informal cross-campus gathering, open to faculty, staff, students and community partners. Please… Read more: CIAS Food and Agriculture Sustainability Social

October 7, 2025. Oneida, WI What does it take to raise chickens?  This workshop will tour several chicken operations- from the very small to large operations. We will cover set up, infrastructure, bird types, and much more. Whether you are raising birds now or interested in raising chickens- we hope you’ll join us! Date: October… Read more: Chicken Raising Workshop

Check out our new AI voiced podcast “The Heartland Shift: Small Grains, Big Impact”! CIAS Food Systems Scientist Dr. Lauren Asprooth uses AI podcasting to highlight the results of a recent publication in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation titled “Our daily bread in the Heartland: Understanding and leveraging diversification to small grains in… Read more: New AI podcast on growing the adoption of small grains!