Agriculture Secretary Tours New AI Lab at Penn Vet to See How Shapiro Administration Agricultural Innovation Grants are Helping Veterinarians and Farmers 'Get Stuff Done'

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May 20, 2026 - Kennett Square, PA

Agriculture Secretary Tours New AI Lab at Penn Vet to See How Shapiro Administration Agricultural Innovation Grants are Helping Veterinarians and Farmers 'Get Stuff Done'

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding toured the new DAT-AI-LAB at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) New Bolton Center. The first-of-its-kind laboratory dedicated to monitoring animal behavior using artificial intelligence, officially opened today with $31,000 in grant support from the nation's first Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, and a $90,000 grant from Pennsylvania's Center for Poultry and Livestock Excellence.

The new, state-of-the-art lab, a collaboration among Penn Vet researchers and Pennsylvania-based AgriGates, will accelerate collection and analysis of animal behavior data to help veterinarians and farmers precisely target treatments, improving animal health and increasing farm profitability.

"The technology in this new, state-of-the-art lab at the New Bolton Center is already serving as a powerful tool to monitor animal health and speed up intervention when speed counts most to protect livestock and a farmer's operation, and we hope more farmers will benefit from it," said Sec. Redding. "Helping farmers work more efficiently and effectively to compete and grow their businesses is the reason the Shapiro Administration launched Ag Innovation Grants. This investment is working across Pennsylvania improving lives and helping agricultural businesses get stuff done."

Speakers Include:
Dr. Andrew Hoffman, Dean, Penn Vet School of Veterinary Medicine
Secretary Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Alexis Butler, PA FFA State Treasurer
Thomas D. Parsons, Director of the Center for Stewardship Agriculture and Food Security (CSAFS) and Professor of Swine Production Medicine at Penn Vet
Daniel Foy, Co-Founder and CEO of AgriGates

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