Where Innovation Takes Root: The Vision Behind the UGA Grand Farm

January 6, 2026/

By:

By Nick T. Place, Dean and Director, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

In Georgia, agriculture has always been more than an industry. It is a way of life, an economic engine, and the foundation of our communities.

For generations, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) has been proud to stand beside Georgia’s farmers, helping them adapt, innovate, and thrive. Today, as we face some of the most complex challenges in the history of agriculture, that partnership continues to evolve.

Last spring, we broke ground on UGA Grand Farm, a 250-acre working innovation farm in Perry, Georgia, which now serves as a new epicenter for agricultural innovation, education, and collaboration in the Southeast. UGA Grand Farm represents an intentional step forward and it has become a living laboratory where we test and teach the technologies and practices that push agriculture ahead.

The Ecorobotix ARA Field Sprayer is an advanced precision sprayer designed for ultra-targeted application of plant protection products and fertilizers. It was demonstrated by the Precision Horticulture Lab and is being evaluated for use on Vidalia onions.

UGA Grand Farm is built on a partnership between UGA CAES and Grand Farm, an organization known for connecting researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to accelerate agricultural innovation. This collaboration brings together the best of both worlds. It brings together the deep scientific expertise of UGA and the forward-looking, industry-driven mindset that Grand Farm has developed through its national and international network.

Through our work together, our goal is to bring innovation to the field faster. We shorten the distance between research projects and real-world solutions that producers here in Georgia and around the world can use.

By situating UGA Grand Farm adjacent to the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, we placed it at the center of research, education, and public engagement. This site is now a place where faculty and students conduct cutting-edge research, where companies test and demonstrate new technologies, and where producers and community members see innovation in action.

Why more research now?

  • From cotton and peanuts to fruits, vegetables, and ornamental crops, our region presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges.
  • We have variable soils, complex weather patterns, and increasing pressure to manage resources more efficiently while maintaining productivity and profitability.
  • The technologies and systems developed for large-scale row crops in the Midwest do not always translate seamlessly to the crops and conditions of the South.
  • The work at UGA Grand Farm allows us to test new technology in our own conditions, giving us the ability to adapt precision agriculture, robotics, automation, and data-driven decision-making to the specific needs of southeastern agriculture.

At its core, UGA Grand Farm is about connection. It connects disciplines by bringing together plant science, engineering, computer science, and environmental research. It connects people by uniting faculty, students, and entrepreneurs in the same space. Ultimately, it connects producers with the solutions they need to advance their operations and to continue feeding and clothing the world.

CAES Dean Nick Place speaks at the podium during the UGA Grand Farm groundbreaking ceremony in Perry, Georgia.

Innovation to Enhance Farm Productivity, Profitability

In agriculture, innovation means more than new technology and more than improved systems – our goal is to participate in work that leads to smarter, more sustainable agriculture. UGA Grand Farm provides a real-world testing ground to evaluate how emerging technologies enhance environmental stewardship while keeping farms productive and profitable. Every sensor, every data point, and every trial moves us closer to practices that are both economically and environmentally sound.

This project is strong because of the partnership among our faculty, our students, industry innovators, and the broad agricultural community in Georgia. Together, we are building a foundation that advances not only agriculture in our state but strengthens the green-industry ecosystem that UAC members serve every day.

As members of UAC you understand the power of connection among landscape professionals, turfgrass specialists, horticulture entrepreneurs, and the farmers who grow our region’s food and fiber. In your work, our hope is that UGA Grand Farm is another resource for you: a place where new tools and systems meet real world conditions, and where your work in delivering quality landscapes, turf and plants benefits from the same drive toward efficiency, sustainability and innovation.

I look forward to bringing what we learn in the field directly to your businesses and communities. UGA Grand Farm is a place where innovation takes root — and for Georgia’s green industry, that matters.

Thank you for all you do to grow a stronger, more resilient industry in our state.

  • Nick T. Place joined the University of Georgia as Dean and Director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on Jan. 1, 2021. Place’s research and scholarship focuses on teaching and learning along with domestic and international extension services and their role in youth, community and economic development. His work has been supported by $1.7 million in grants and contracts from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the National Security Education Program. He is the author or co-author of more than 30 peer-reviewed publications as well as a book, several book chapters and numerous extension publications.

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