The four-year research project will combine artificial intelligence, environmental sampling and advanced laboratory analysis to detect threats to aquaculture, livestock and agricultural production.
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has received a $2 million award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to lead a multi-institutional project focused on developing artificial intelligence tools to detect environmental threats to food production systems before they become major problems. The research aims to improve food safety, protect animal health and strengthen the resilience of agricultural and aquaculture operations.
The project forms part of a $4 million NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Track II Focused EPSCoR Collaboration award, with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln serving as a partner. The four-year initiative began on September 1, 2026, and represents only the second time that the University of Hawaiʻi has received this type of NSF award.
Led by Tao Yan, director of the Water Resources Research Center and a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, the research team brings together specialists from several University of Hawaiʻi departments and research centres. Their work will combine AI with environmental monitoring, advanced genetic analysis and high-resolution chemical analysis to identify potential risks affecting food production systems.
The researchers will focus on threats such as microbial pathogens and chemical contaminants, which can affect animal health, food safety and the economic sustainability of farming and aquaculture. By analysing environmental data, the project aims to identify early warning signs before risks reach critical levels.
The research will use metagenomics, which examines genetic material collected from environmental samples, alongside high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify chemical compounds. AI models will be developed to interpret these complex biological and chemical datasets and support faster, more proactive monitoring.
The technologies will be tested in aquaculture and beef cattle production systems. The researchers hope the resulting tools will help producers and regulators identify emerging threats earlier, reduce the impact of contamination or disease and improve the reliability of food production.
The initiative also includes education and workforce-development activities. Research opportunities will be provided for junior faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students, and K–12 participants, while outreach involving industry partners, regulators and local communities will encourage the adoption of new technologies.
The collaboration between Hawaiʻi and Nebraska is intended to strengthen research capacity in both EPSCoR jurisdictions while establishing a long-term partnership focused on food security. By connecting artificial intelligence with biotechnology and environmental surveillance, the project could support more efficient and resilient food production systems.