UTA Opens AI-Driven Smart Agriculture Research Center

USDA-backed program puts students on research teams forecasting bird flu and other ag threats

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The University of Texas at Arlington has opened the Smart Agriculture Research Center (SARC), a new hub using artificial intelligence and data science to tackle agriculture's most pressing challenges. Backed by the USDA, SARC brings together UTA faculty, students, and USDA scientists to apply machine learning to real-world agricultural problems, from predicting plant disease to forecasting outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu).

Why it matters

The SARC center is UTA's direct response to the national call for climate-smart agriculture and resilient food systems. By connecting North Texas talent with national agricultural research networks, the center aims to train the next generation of AI-enabled agricultural scientists, strengthen food and environmental resilience, and help producers respond to emerging biological and climate threats.

The details

Opened in August 2025, SARC serves the entire UTA campus through four core pillars: providing AI capacity and data discovery tools for agriculture research projects; serving as a resource hub for faculty pursuing agriculture-related research; securing major USDA and external training and center grants; and serving as UTA's institutional gateway for external partners focused on sustainability and global environmental impact. The center brings together UTA faculty, students, and USDA-ARS scientists to apply machine learning to real-world agricultural problems, from predicting plant disease and modeling soil health to forecasting outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

  • SARC opened in August 2025.
  • The center hosted a grand opening on February 9, 2026.

The players

Jianzhong Su

Professor of mathematics and co-director of SARC.

Gautam Das

Professor of computer science and engineering and co-director of SARC.

Kate Miller

Vice president for research and innovation at UTA.

Scott Miller

Associate vice president for research and innovation at UTA.

USDA-ARS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, which partnered with UTA to develop SARC.

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What they’re saying

“Agriculture is essential to society, yet it has historically seen less AI integration than other industries. UTA has tremendous strength in technology and data science, and that positions us to help modernize agriculture in Texas and beyond.”

— Jianzhong Su, Professor of mathematics and co-director of SARC (uta.edu)

“The work done by SARC will turn interdisciplinary research into practical solutions that strengthen our region and drive progress worldwide. It is a testament to our 130-year legacy and our bold future.”

— Kate Miller, Vice president for research and innovation at UTA (uta.edu)

“This center is UTA's direct response to the national call for climate-smart agriculture and resilient food systems. We are here to ensure that the innovations born in Arlington scale to support the entire nation.”

— Scott Miller, Associate vice president for research and innovation at UTA (uta.edu)

What’s next

The center plans to continue expanding its research projects and securing additional USDA and external funding to drive progress in AI-enabled agriculture.

The takeaway

By leveraging its strengths in technology and data science, UTA is positioning itself as a leader in modernizing agriculture through the new Smart Agriculture Research Center. The center's focus on training the next generation of AI-enabled agricultural scientists and developing practical solutions for real-world challenges will help strengthen food systems and environmental resilience nationwide.