ExtensionBot Highlighted in National CAST Report on AI in Agriculture

The Extension Foundation is proud to announce that ExtensionBot, its flagship AI tool for Cooperative Extension, has been recognized in a national Issue Paper released by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). The report, titled “AI in Agriculture: Opportunities, Challenges, and Recommendations,” underscores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in agriculture and identifies ExtensionBot as an example of a successful public-sector case study of generative AI designed specifically for agriculture.

According to the CAST report, ExtensionBot “delivers more accurate and consistent responses to agricultural questions than broader GAI models” due to its foundation in over 360,000 curated Extension publications. Built to mimic a trusted, conversational approach, ExtensionBot leverages retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to ensure users receive science-based answers aligned with local practices and conditions.

“In a digital age where producers need fast, trusted, and localized answers, ExtensionBot is bridging the gap between the vast knowledge base of Cooperative Extension and the modern information-seeking habits of our stakeholders,” said Ashley Griffin, Chief Operating Officer of the Extension Foundation and Program Director for its New Technologies for Ag Extension program. 

ExtensionBot is already integrated into several Land-grant university platforms, supporting Extension agents and producers with timely, accurate information. The CAST paper also highlights the platform’s future potential to integrate real-time data from IoT devices, drones, and satellite systems, pointing to its expanding role in precision agriculture.

The full article is available on CAST’s website here. 

Get Involved

Cooperative Extension professionals and institutions can explore and engage with ExtensionBot in the following ways:

• Pilot the Platform: Institutions can launch ExtensionBot on their own websites, tailored to local content.
  
• Submit Publications: Help improve ExtensionBot’s knowledge by contributing your institution’s Extension publications.
  
• Collaborate on Use Cases: Work with the Extension Foundation to develop specialized applications, such as livestock management, climate adaptation, or youth programming.
  
• Participate in Learning Cohorts: Join Extension Foundation-led cohorts exploring AI in Extension, including implementation, best practices, and ethical considerations.

Learn More

Visit https://extension.org/tools/extbot/ or email marklocklear@extension.org and davidwarren@extension.org to learn how your institution can activate ExtensionBot today. This informational flyer also provides additional information about ExtensionBot and the MERLIN platforms. 

ExtensionBot is part of the Extension Foundation’s broader mission to support Cooperative Extension through cutting-edge technology, innovation, and professional development. Funding for ExtensionBot is supported in partnership with the University of New Hampshire through a cooperative agreement with USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture called New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186, grant no. 2023-41595-41325).