Arizona Western College researcher showcases AI agronomy work, highlights student programs

Arizona Western College announced that Dr. Hikmet Budak, the college Director of Agriculture, spoke at the American Society of Agronomy Annual Conference in Salt Lake City from November 9 through 12. Dr. Budak delivered a technical presentation titled “A Network Perspective on Noncoding Elements in Response to Fusarium Head Blight Using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.” The conference is recognized as the largest and most influential gathering in the field of agronomy.

Dr. Budak framed his talk around applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to better understand plant responses to Fusarium Head Blight, a disease that imperils cereal crops and can reduce yields and quality. He also used the session to highlight Arizona Western College students engaged in hands on agricultural research through the colleges GOAL programs, which receive support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture. “I was honored to share my research at such a prestigious scientific forum while also highlighting the exceptional work our students are doing through GOAL programs,” Dr. Budak shared. “Their contributions demonstrate the power of education, innovation, and collaboration in addressing today’s agricultural challenges.”

College leadership said the appearance reinforces local training and workforce development goals. “We were proud to be represented by Dr. Budak at the ASA Conference in Salt Lake City,” said Dr. Reetika Dhawan, AWC’s Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of Workforce & Healthcare Programs. “His presentation reflected our college’s commitment to advancing agronomic innovation and equipping the next generation of agricultural professionals with the cutting edge knowledge they need. This event furthered our mission to build strong workforce pipelines at the intersection of agriculture, entrepreneurship, and technology.”

For La Paz County residents, the event matters because locally driven agronomic research and federally funded student programs strengthen the region’s capacity to respond to crop threats and support farm incomes. Advances in predictive models and molecular understanding can reduce losses, inform on farm management, and create pathways into agritech careers. For more information contact Travis Mitchell, Director of Marketing, Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College, at travis.mitchell@azwestern.edu or (928) 344 7677.