Discovery Park of America, a Tennessee Corn Partner, Opens New Exhibit on Agriculture
On December 5, 2020, Discovery Park of America premiered the new permanent exhibit, “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival” in the organization’s Simmons Bank Ag Center. This new exhibit, made possible in part by investment from Tennessee Corn, tells the story of farming innovation in the past, present – and especially – future in a fun and interactive way.
While farmers strive to make the best use of resources to meet the demands of a growing population, misinformation continues to flourish. This exhibit, however, helps visitors of all ages gain an understanding of how food and fiber get from the farm to the family. It shares the role agriculture technology and scientific innovation plays in society and culture around the world.
“We are grateful for strong partnerships and collaborations to make this important exhibit a reality. Tennessee Corn farmers understand the value of providing fun, educational experiences to consumers, and this is a world-class exhibit. I’m proud of the investments we’ve made to share the story of agriculture,” commented John Townsend, Tennessee Corn Promotion Council Chairman.
Included in the exhibit will be the stories of individuals, like Dr. Nadia Shakoor, who are leaders in the field of agriculture innovation. As a senior research scientist at The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Dr. Shakoor recently received a grant from The National Institute for Food and Agriculture and the National Science Foundation to develop FieldDock, an integrated smart farm system. The technology she and her collaborators are developing will collect and analyze real-time data from fields, allowing for effective tracking of crop performance.
Also on display will be the story of Babylon Micro-Farms, who invented a vertical farming platform that uses artificial intelligence, machine learning and camera vision, enabling anyone to grow fresh, nutritious produce on-site using patented technology combined with a mobile app that controls the operation of the farms. The company was co-founded in 2017 by University of Virginia students Alexander Olesen and Graham Smith based on an undergraduate student project to develop low-cost micro-farms for refugee communities. Babylon is now installing vertical farms at schools, senior living communities, hotels and resorts.
In addition to a closer look at how farmers provide food, fuel and fiber today, sections of the exhibit include “What Makes a Farm a Farm,” “Who is a Farmer Today?” and “How Innovation Yesterday and Today Will Lead to Our Survival Tomorrow.” Guests who visit the exhibit will also experience stories about a diverse and inclusive group of individuals working in agriculture today, along with visually engaging experiences that separate farming fact from fiction.