NSF ENGINES: North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine

What NSF ENGINES: North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine does

FARMS (Food systems Adapted for Resiliency and Maximized Security, formally the NSF Engines: North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine) is a federally funded collaborative innovation initiative launched in January 2024 as one of ten inaugural NSF Regional Innovation Engines and the only agriculture-focused engine among finalists from 188 submissions. Led by North Dakota State University and headquartered in Fargo, ND, the entity operates through a consortium of 20+ named partners spanning land-grant universities (NDSU, UND, Montana State, Nebraska), tribal colleges, economic development organizations, AgTech accelerators (AgLaunch), and tribal-nation entities (Wozu, Coalition of Large Tribes). Its mission is to accelerate agricultural technology adoption, develop AgTech workforce pipelines, and advance food security across North Dakota and the Upper Midwest by centering growers, Indigenous knowledge, and rural communities in technology co-design. Funding flows entirely from a U.S. National Science Foundation cooperative agreement (Award #2315315): $15M over two years initially with an additional $45M in continued funding announced in March 2026, and a potential total envelope of up to $160M over ten years; FARMS has additionally catalyzed over $73M in private capital and R&D investments across its ecosystem.

Core offerings span AI-powered precision agriculture projects — Project Whitewater (satellite-imagery-based precision irrigation developed with Aperture), Bison Guard (robotics for bison herd management with NDSU and Wozu), Canada Thistle Detection (drone-based computer vision with Botlink), and AgriVision AI (smartphone-based pest and disease diagnostics) — together with an AgTech Data Resources Platform (Power BI + ArcGIS Online dashboards covering USDA Census of Agriculture 1997–2022, food insecurity, GDP, employment, and county-level health indicators), the GROW Community Innovation Awards mini-grant program for community-led workforce pilots (up to $5,000 per award), Microsoft FarmBeats Starter Kits for K–12 education, AgTech robotics workshops, university-led research in crop genomics and climate resilience, and the planned AgTech Workforce Innovation and Industry Center (AGWIIC) for years 3–5. Distribution occurs not through commercial channels but through on-farm test beds, university R&D pipelines, tribal community engagement (notably on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation), and educational/workforce programs across North Dakota's six economic development regions.

The business model is grant-funded with no commercial revenue: NSF cooperative agreements serve as primary funding, supplemented by catalyzed private capital and matching contributions from state/local governments and university partners. Pricing for the Engine's programs is effectively zero — GROW awards, workforce training, and on-farm pilots are provided at no cost to participants. Customer segmentation spans agricultural producers/growers, tribal nations and communities, workforce/education institutions (Lake Region State College, Bakken Area Skills Center, United Tribes Technical College, North Valley Career and Technology Center, Carrington Public School), AgTech startups (via AgLaunch), and rural communities. GTM motion is community-led and event-driven (Community Workforce Partnership sessions, Field Forward events, Farmers Tech Adoption Challenge, Spur Converge), amplified through social media and earned media. Core team is lean (~5 employees including CEO/PI Hollie Mackey, Ph.D., financial analyst, communications lead, and rotating interns).

Name

NSF ENGINES: North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine

Legal name

North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine

Website

https://farmsfeedstheworld.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FARMS is an NSF-funded collaborative initiative accelerating agricultural technology adoption and workforce development across the Upper Midwest. It serves North Dakota growers, tribal nations, and rural communities through AI-powered precision agriculture projects, on-farm test beds, and a 20+ partner ecosystem anchored by North Dakota State University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Innovation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Precision Agriculture & Farm Technology Equipment (IMAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farm Finance, Input Procurement & Risk Tools (Budgeting, Inventory, Insurance Links) (AFAAAFAO), Agricultural & Field Robotics (HDAAAIAD), Farm Technology Enablement & Data Integration Advisory (FMIS/ERP, IoT, Decision Support) (AFACAJAG), Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA)

Keywords

• Precision agriculture research
• Agricultural technology development
• Agriculture workforce training
• Rural economic development
• Agricultural data analytics

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. NSF Regional Innovation Engines Grant: Primary funding from U.S. National Science Foundation under Award #2315315. Initial award of $15 million over 2 years with potential for up to $160 million over 10 years. Additional $45 million announced in 2026 for years 3-5.
2. Catalyzed Private Investment: The Engine has catalyzed over $73 million in private capital and R&D investments through its ecosystem partnerships and technology acceleration activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota (FARMS) operates as a federally funded collaborative innovation ecosystem that engages agricultural producers and partners, identifies high-impact agricultural technology projects, implements hands-on initiatives such as AI-powered precision irrigation and bison herd robotics, and scales proven solutions through workforce programs, university research partnerships, and community grant programs across North Dakota and the Upper Midwest.

Product overview

The NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota (FARMS) operates as a collaborative innovation ecosystem — not a single product company, but a multi-project technology development and workforce development initiative. Its core offerings span AI-powered agricultural technology projects (Project Whitewater for precision irrigation, Bison Guard for bison herd management, Canada Thistle AI detection, AgriVision AI pest identification), a data resources platform using Microsoft Power BI and ArcGIS Online for agricultural analytics, the GROW Community Innovation Awards grant program for grassroots workforce pilots, and the planned AgTech Workforce Innovation and Industry Center (AGWIIC). The organization also supports educational products including AgTech robotics workshops and FarmBeats Starter Kits, and university-led research in crop genomics, traditional variety rematriation, and AgTech adoption trust. Together these form an Integrated Innovation Framework of engage, identify, implement, and scale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Whitewater An AI-powered precision irrigation initiative that uses satellite imagery and weather data processed through artificial intelligence to generate daily soil moisture maps, guiding growers to optimize water usage without in-field sensors. Test sites in Oakes, ND and Grand Farm in Casselton, ND.
• Bison Guard A community-based initiative applying robotics and artificial intelligence to bison herd management on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Led by NDSU in partnership with Wozu, the project aims to reduce bison loss, minimize animal stress, improve herd health, and promote regenerative agriculture.
• Canada Thistle Detection A drone-based AI system that captures high-resolution images of cropland and grazing areas to identify invasive Canada Thistle colonies through an AI-based algorithm. Led by Dr. Arjun Upadhyay at NDSU in partnership with Botlink, with test sites in North Dakota and Minnesota.
• Wozu Thima Greenhouses A greenhouse-based food sovereignty project located at Wozu in Cannonball, ND on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Utilizes greenhouses built four to six feet underground to extend the growing season in cold climates, integrating traditional ecological knowledge with innovative food systems.
• AgriVision AI A pilot AI-powered pest and disease detection tool using smartphone-based diagnostics for crop health identification. Being piloted with agricultural producers in the Fargo-Moorhead region through workshops and on-site demonstrations.
• AgTech Data Resources Platform Interactive data dashboards and maps providing agricultural census data, food insecurity metrics, GDP and employment statistics, and health indicators at the state and county level in North Dakota. Built with Microsoft Power BI and ArcGIS Online, covering USDA Census of Agriculture data from 1997-2022.
• GROW Community Innovation Awards A mini-grant program providing up to $5,000 to North Dakota communities for small-scale, high-impact workforce innovation pilot projects that advance the AgTech workforce mission. Focus areas include AgTech education, career pathways, work-based learning, education-industry partnerships, and rural quality of life.
• AgTech Workforce Innovation and Industry Center (AGWIIC) A planned distributed, responsive infrastructure connecting partners through streamlined administrative functions, shared strategy, funding mechanisms, and evaluation systems to coordinate agricultural workforce development across North Dakota.
• Microsoft FarmBeats Starter Kits Educational technology kits used by Carrington Public School to introduce students to precision agriculture, data collection, and AI applications in farming. High school students use sensors and data-driven tools to explore how technology improves agricultural productivity and sustainability.
• AgTech Robotics Workshops Interactive workshops delivered by the NDSU Peltier Institute for middle school students, introducing real-world applications of AI and robotics in agriculture through hands-on challenges using educational robotics kits and professional-grade AgTech equipment.
• Traditional Corn Rematriation A project integrating Tribal generational knowledge to rematriate traditional corn varieties once grown by North Dakota tribes. Partners include the North Dakota Tribal College System.

Quantifiable outcome

• Catalyzed over $73 million in private capital and R&D investments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship/core.

• AperturecoreTechnology or Integration · 23 March 2026Boston-based earth observation company developing AI-powered precision irrigation technology (Project Whitewater). Uses satellite imagery and weather data to generate daily soil moisture maps. Led by Dr. Zachary Kabelac. Test sites in Oakes, ND and Grand Farm, Casselton, ND.
• WozucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2025501(c)(3) non-profit based in Cannon Ball, ND on Standing Rock Reservation. Leads regenerative agriculture, cultural education, and community wellness initiatives. CEO Dave Archambault II. Hosts Bison Guard project, Wozu Thima underground greenhouses, and bison rematriation efforts.
• AgLaunchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2025Farmer-centric innovation platform with national network. MOU formalized January 2025. Expands Farmers Innovation Network to North Dakota and Upper Midwest. Provides AgLaunch365 accelerator with two-year support from proof of concept through Series A. Pete Nelson serves as President.
• Ag Ventures AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2025Farmer cooperative that invests in AgTech startups. Collaborates with FARMS and AgLaunch to focus on expanding farmer innovation network and investment opportunities.
• Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2024Section 17 intertribal corporation representing large land-based Tribal Nations. MOU signed December 2024. Focus on bison rematriation, agricultural innovation, and food security across tribal nations. Oliver J. Semans, Sr. serves as Executive Director.
• North Dakota State University (NDSU)flagship/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024Lead institution and primary research partner. NDSU serves as headquarters with R1 research designation ($175M annual research expenditures). Provides project management, research infrastructure, and overall coordination. Dr. Colleen Fitzgerald serves as VP for Research and Creative Activity. Awarded 'Innovation Project of the Year' recognition.
• North Dakota Tribal College Systemflagship/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024Chartered by federally recognized Tribal governments, NDSU's tribal college partners include Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, United Tribes Technical College, and others. Focus on integrating Indigenous knowledge with AgTech, bison rematriation, and food sovereignty initiatives.
• Grand Farmflagship/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024Powered by Emerging Prairie, Grand Farm provides project management for research, testing, and innovation in agricultural technologies. Brian Carroll serves as Chief Innovation Officer. Collaborates with startups, corporations, growers, and research institutions.
• Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber Foundationflagship/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024Leads education and workforce development initiatives. Jenna Mueller serves as Executive Director. Manages federal Good Jobs Challenge and brings expertise in workforce engagement and inclusive agricultural opportunities.
• Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC)flagship/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024Ryan Aasheim serves as Chief Business Development Officer. Contributes to economic development aspects and promotes project outcomes. 75+ years of regional economic development experience with 115+ private/public organizational members.
• American Indian College FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on pollinator project with United Tribes Technical College. Develops native pollinator gardens to support agricultural biodiversity and ecosystem health.
• Montana State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner focusing on trust, user experience, and adoption of agriculture technology. Developing diagnostic tools for community readiness and perceptions of AgTech adoption.
• University of North DakotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner contributing to the Engine's collaborative research network alongside NDSU and Montana State.
• University of NebraskaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional research university partner extending the Engine's research network across the Upper Midwest.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• AgFunder: AgTech-focused venture capital firm and intelligence platform tracking global investment in agricultural technology. Comparable to FARMS as an enabler of AgTech capital flows and ecosystem visibility, though AgFunder is an investor rather than a regional innovation operator.

Direct peers

• The Yield Lab: Global AgTech accelerator and venture fund operating regional programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable to FARMS as a multi-region AgTech accelerator with sustainability and producer-impact orientation.
• SVG Ventures | THRIVE: Global AgTech accelerator and venture fund running a multi-stage program with corporate partners (Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta). Comparable to FARMS as an accelerator-style AgTech platform connecting startups with farmers, corporates, and investors.
• AgLaunch: Farmer-centric AgTech innovation platform with a national network of growers and an accelerator (AgLaunch365) running from proof-of-concept through Series A. Direct operational peer to FARMS via an active MOU, and the most directly comparable farmer-led AgTech accelerator model in the U.S.
• Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology: AgTech innovation hub operated by Western Growers providing accelerator services, on-farm pilots, and corporate introductions for agriculture startups. Comparable to FARMS as a regionally anchored AgTech hub focused on commercialization pathways.
• Grand Farm: North Dakota-based AgTech innovation ecosystem managing on-farm test beds, startup engagement, and applied research. While a Flagship/Core partner of FARMS, Grand Farm is the most operationally comparable AgTech hub in the region with overlapping test-bed and innovation event infrastructure.
• Plug and Play Food & AgTech: Global innovation platform with a dedicated Food & AgTech vertical running batch-based accelerator programs. Comparable to FARMS as a multi-stakeholder AgTech accelerator that links startups, corporations, and growers in structured innovation cycles.

Broad incumbents

• USDA Agricultural Research Service: Federal in-house research agency conducting agricultural science across crops, livestock, and natural resources. Comparable to FARMS as a publicly funded agricultural R&D institution, but operates at national scale across all commodities and disciplines.
• Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR): Federally established nonprofit funding agricultural research through public-private partnerships. Comparable to FARMS as a publicly backed agricultural innovation funder, though FFAR operates nationally and across all of agriculture rather than a single regional AgTech focus.

Emerging players

• Indigo Ag: AgTech company developing microbial seed treatments, digital agronomy, and carbon programs for growers. Comparable to FARMS as an emerging AgTech player focused on data-driven and sustainability-oriented agriculture, though operating as a commercial company rather than a federally funded ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NDAgTechEngine
• Facebookfacebook.com/NDAgTechEngine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nsf-engines-north-dakota-advanced-agriculture-technology-engine
• Instagraminstagram.com/ndagtechengine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NSF ENGINES: North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine