AI grown plants being studied at Arkansas Tech University, with hopes of K-12 expansion

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – For those who do not have a green thumb, AI may be what is needed to grow. That is the thought behind a new garden that Arkansas Tech University put in the most unlikely of places, its Dean Hall.

Arkansas Tech University started using the Gardyn growing system at the end of August, and signs of life started showing within days, which has also sprouted more curiosity about artificial intelligence.

The Gardyn Home Kit uses water, LED lights and artificial intelligence powered by cameras and sensors to recognize 30 plants at a time and sense how much water, nutrients and pruning they need. To prevent people from forgetting anything, an app pushes notifications.

The Gardyn kit is being used for student-based research into AI and agricultural careers, but with a possible grant, the university hopes to soon improve the lives of Arkansans by bringing units to eight high schools or middle schools.

Arkansas has the highest level of food insecurity in the country according to the USDA which reported from 2020 to 2023 that one out of every six households consistently lacked food. Something learning to grow with AI could help improve.

Assistant Professor of Agriculture Tatum Simms contacted the company that donated the unit to ATU.

“Even the person with the blackest thumb can now grow crops…They too can practice agriculture and feed their families,” Simms said.

Having a simple hydroponics tower at his high school helped Fernando Flores choose a degree in agriculture, but it also helped him grow at home.

“The professional is in the room with us right now,” Flores said of the gardening station.

What took years of study, ATU assistant professor of agriculture Sayed Merza says AI can learn, teach, and theorize in just minutes.

“In the future, AI is going to transform the agriculture sector,” Merza stated.

Small cups of seeds for plants such as basil, chamomile, green and red mustard, romaine lettuce, sweet peppers, cilantro, stevia, etc. loaded onto the Gardyn station will be ready to harvest within a couple of months ahead of the grant application deadline in December.

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