The Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR) is proud to launch an online training video series: Understanding and Communicating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Sustainable Agriculture. 

The 11-video lecture series and its accompanying activities were developed to address the growing influence of AI on agricultural technologies. The series aims to inform agriculture professionals about the benefits and challenges of increased AI usage concerning sustainability. The course provides agriculture professionals with a foundational toolbox for engaging meaningfully with the social and technological implications of AI. This toolbox covers topics from defining and recognizing AI to contemplating and communicating technological risk. 

About the Course

Course Objectives

Participants will:

• Explore the role of AI in society and sustainable agriculture.
• Learn behavioral models that predict technology adoption.
• Gain skills in using communication tactics to connect with stakeholders.
• Build confidence in addressing AI-related discussions within agriculture.

Course Structure and Accessibility

This is a self-guided, asynchronous course delivered through a series of 11 training videos that can be accessed and completed in any order. The full training is approximately 2.5 hours of video content, which can be completed at the viewer’s pace. 

Continuing Education Unit Availability

The course can also be taken for .3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through Washington State University and the Extension Foundation for a $10 registration fee. Registrants must sign up for an Extension Foundation account. Visit the Extension Foundation course page for more information. If the course does not immediately appear, search for “AgAI Toolbox” in the search bar.

Who Should Take This Course?

While this training is open to anyone interested in the intersection of agriculture and AI, it is specifically tailored to empower agricultural outreach and education professionals. 

This course is particularly relevant for:

• Ag-educators 
• Extension professionals
• Crop consultants
• Outreach specialists
• Any ag-professional expected to engage audiences or provide guidance on AI-related topics

Course Videos

Course Feedback

We would be grateful for any feedback you have about the course. Please consider taking this course survey or sending feedback to morgan.lawrence1@wsu.edu.

Course Funding and Development

CSANR researcher and educator Alex Kirkpatrick and their team led the development of this training course, with contributions from Georgine Yorgey, Jordan Jobe, Chad Kruger, and Gwen Hoheisel. This training material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2023-38640-39571 through the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under project number WPDP24-013. Research that informed the development of these videos was supported by the AI Research Institutes program of the National Science Foundation and U.S Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture under the AI Institute: Agricultural AI for Transforming Workforce and Decision Support (AgAID) award No. 2021-67021-35344. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Recommended Citation

Kirkpatrick, A.W., G.G. Yorgey, C.E. Kruger, J. Jobe, and G. Hoheisel. 2025. Video lectures: Defining artificial intelligence; Categorizing artificial intelligence; The 4th Industrial Revolution and ag 4.0; The possible risks and threats of artificial intelligence; Public sensemaking of risk and threat; Public understanding of AI, and media influence; Technology adoption: how and why people might choose to adopt or reject AI; Trustworthy AI and trustworthy technology communication; and AI Ethics. Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University.