Harnessing AI with drone imagery to detect costly celery disease before symptoms surface News
Harnessing AI with drone imagery to detect costly celery disease before symptoms surface News
https://news.ufl.edu/2026/01/celery-disease/
Publish Date: 2026-01-29 11:30:00
Source Domain: news.ufl.edu
- Research Objective and Funding: University of Florida scientists, with support from two grants, are initiating a project to use AI and drones for early detection of early blight in Florida’s celery crops.
- Purpose of Early Detection: Early blight detection helps reduce crop losses, cut costs, and lessen fungicide use, improving both economic and environmental outcomes for growers.
- Technology and Methods: Drones equipped with multispectral imaging will identify disease signs before they are visible to human eye, with AI tools analyzing the data to make targeted fungicide application possible.
- Location and Importance: Florida grows celery on 1,500 acres annually, ranking third in national production; early disease detection is crucial due to quick spread of diseases like early blight in South Florida.
- Project Leaders and Involvement: Led by plant pathologist Katia Viana Xavier, the project involves collaboration with Larissa Carvalho Ferreira and input from growers, crop consultants, and UF/IFAS Extension specialists.
- Potential Benefits: Real-time weather-based AI systems allow precise farming practices, avoiding unnecessary fungicide use which protects ecosystems and reduces costs.
- Field Testing and Training: Commercial field trials are underway with grower participation, and UF Extension is organizing field days and workshops to facilitate adoption of the new technology.
- Future Extension: Beyond celery, the drone-based monitoring system will support broader research on crops like lettuce and advance precision agriculture across Florida.
