On May 10, 2022, the AI Institute for Next Gen Food Systems (AIFS) hosted their inaugural research showcase. Under the leadership of Director Ilias Tagkopoulos, AIFS joined with other campus units as part of Davis Discovery Days; a multi-day program highlighting the myriad ways that UC Davis is leading efforts in research and innovation to positively impact the global community.

Panels on the three key themes of AIFS took place throughout the day.

1. Theme: Food Systems Supply Chain Resiliency

Moderated by Nitin Nitin, Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis, AIFS Co-PI and Lead of Food Processing and Distribution Cluster

The panel included:

• Raja Ramachandran, founder of ripe.io, "Blockchain of Food"
• Renata Ivanek, Associate Professor, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, AIFS Site Lead for Cornell
• Matt Stasiewicz, Assistant Professor of Applied Food Safety, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, AIFS site lead for UIUC

2. Theme: AI-Driven Food Systems to Improve Human Health

Moderated by Christine Diepenbrock, Assistant Professor of Plant Sciences, UC Davis

The panel included:

• Danielle Lemay, Research Molecular Biologist, USDA-ARS WHNRC and Associate Adjunct Professor of Nutrition, UC Davis, USDA-ARS WHNC Site Lead, Lead of AIFS Nutrition Cluster
• Daniel Runcie, Assistant Professor of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, Lead of AIFS Molecular Breeding Cluster
• Barry Holtz, Principal Consultant at Holtz Biopharma Consulting, Phylloceuticals Partner

3. Theme: AI Infrastructure Development for Food Systems

Moderated by Mason Earles, Assistant Professor of Viticulture & Enology and Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis, AIFS Co-PI and Lead of AIFS Agricultural Production Cluster

The panel included:

• Xin Liu, Professor of Computer Science, UC Davis, AIFS Co-PI and Co-Lead of Use-Inspired and Foundational AI Cluster
• Michael Goldman, Director, Data Science Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, AIFS Education and Outreach Advisory Board, Scientific Advisory Board
• Bryan Cox, VP of Data Science and AI at Edifice Health, Inc.

A lunchtime keynote address: Partnerships Towards Ending Hunger and Building Sustainable Food Systems in Africa was provided by Vanessa Adams, VP Strategic Partnerships, COP, Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa, AGRA. Vanessa also serves on the Stakeholder Advisory Board for AIFS.