September 28, 2026
Growingwith AI
2nd Symposium of Digital Agriculture
About SyDAg 2026
Our Vision
To build a future where digital agriculture is impactful, intuitive, and accessible, making advanced technologies easy to understand, simple to adopt, and meaningfully useful to growers, researchers, and stakeholders across the agricultural ecosystem.
Our Mission
Our mission is to host a hands-on, student-led symposium that makes digital agriculture approachable, encourages two-way conversations, and showcases real-world applications shaping the future of food and agriculture.
The Symposium
SyDAg brings together emerging leaders and established experts to explore how innovations in digital and AI‑driven agriculture can address pressing challenges across production, management, and supply systems.
Showcase technology that improves real-world decision-making
Promote collaboration between industry, academia, and growers
Inspire the next generation of digital agriculture innovators
Create accessible pathways for understanding emerging digital tools
Increase awareness of ongoing research and industry innovations
Foster interdisciplinary networks and hands-on learning
Who It's For
The symposium welcomes students from agriculture, engineering, data science, and related fields, as well as researchers, educators, industry professionals, startups, extension specialists, and growers exploring or utilizing digital tools.
2025 in review
The first SyDAg proved what a student-led symposium can look like at scale: research, industry, hands-on demos, a hackathon, and leadership from the very top of the university.
Attendance
Guests spanning campus, industry, and research, together for the inaugural program.
Opening session
Purdue President Dr. Mung ChiangCollege of Agriculture Dean Dr. Bernie Engel
Both joined the kickoff with robotics from Purdue labs, setting the tone for a symposium built on visibility and ambition.
Photo highlights from SyDAg 2025. Use arrow keys or buttons to change slides.
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At a glance
- Keynote and sessions with industry (Corteva, CNH, INARI) and peer universities.
- 35+ research posters in person and online, archived on Purdue e-Pubs.
- Interactive hall with 10+ partners; livestream reach including watch parties in South America.
- First SyDAg Hackathon (48 hours) with RCAC and Bayer; $5K+ in student awards and travel support.
- 10+ sponsors across industry and Purdue, anchored by the IDAAS initiative.
Browse poster proceedings on Purdue e-Pubs.
SyDAg 2026 on September 28, 2026 in West Lafayette carries that momentum forward with a new leadership team and the same mission: digital agriculture that connects people, ideas, and the field.
Speakers
Coming Soon
We're assembling a lineup of researchers, industry leaders, and innovators shaping the future of digital agriculture. Stay tuned.
Agenda
Schedule
Monday, September 28, 2026
Beck Agricultural Center · 4550 US-52, West Lafayette, IN
Morning Session
Check-in & Breakfast
Networking and a relaxed start to the day; finalize poster setup.
Kickoff & Opening Remarks
Speakers TBD
Introduce the symposium theme “Growing with AI” and highlight the collaborative, student-led nature of the event.
Talk Session 1
AI in Agriculture Today: From Field Data to Decision Making
Talk 1 (TBD)
Talk 2 (TBD)
Set the stage with field-informed insights and industry perspectives on how AI-enabled tools are reshaping production and agronomic decision-making.
Break & Showcase
Details TBD.
Talk Session 2
From Agricultural Challenges to AI-Driven Solutions
Talk 3 (TBD)
Talk 4 (TBD)
Highlight emerging research, innovations, and AI-driven discoveries with potential to shape scalable solutions.
Panel Discussion
Bridging the Gap: Accelerating AI Adoption in Agriculture
While innovation in digital agriculture is growing rapidly, adoption remains a major challenge. This panel explores how academia, industry, and growers can work together to accelerate the practical use of AI technologies.
Discussion may include
- Barriers to technology adoption
- Data accessibility and interoperability
- Economic considerations for farmers
- Building trust in AI-driven systems
- Training the next generation of agricultural technologists
Lunch & Keynote
Keynote: The Next Frontier of AI in Agriculture
Speaker TBD
A big-picture perspective on the future of AI in agriculture: emerging technologies, industry trends, and opportunities for innovation.
Key takeaways may include
- The evolving role of artificial intelligence in food systems
- Future opportunities for AI-driven agricultural solutions
- How collaboration between academia, industry, and farmers can accelerate innovation
Afternoon Session
Poster Session
Showcase student and faculty research and foster scientific exchange, with space for networking.
Hackathon Finalist Presentations
Finalist teams present their hackathon projects.
Awards & Closing
Recognize hackathon and poster competition winners and other honorees as determined by the planning team; encourage participation in future events.
Networking & Showcase
Engage with industry representatives, researchers, and fellow attendees; explore demonstrations, career pathways, and opportunities to collaborate across academia, industry, and emerging agtech innovators.