Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems
What if the same technologies that help us grow more food could also conserve our ecosystems and help our communities flourish?
The College of Agricultural Sciences envisions a future where advanced technologies help create sustainable, resilient agricultural systems interconnected with the living systems that sustain them.
A new vision for twenty-first century agroecosystems
The Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems (TALiS) initiative is a unique, holistic approach that balances the need for increased food productivity and efficiency with a dedication to conserving our vital living systems.
These living systems include agriculture but also the adjacent forests, wetlands, and waterways—along with the biodiversity of plants, insects, and animals, and the resilience of our rural and urban communities. Pennsylvania’s landscapes offer an excellent testbed for integrating technologies across these different types of agriculture, natural, and social ecosystems. We envision Pennsylvania as a leader in developing and testing these integrated agroecosystems, serving as a living laboratory for scalable and practical solutions.
The TALiS initiative establishes a framework and roadmap to grow and support an entire pipeline of technological solutions, from early development to real-world application. These innovations in farming and ecology dramatically improve our ability to monitor and manage production and access to food, biodiversity and natural resources, and human health and wellbeing. This approach ensures a stable food supply, promotes environmental conservation, and boosts the economy of Pennsylvania by fostering innovation and creating new job opportunities.
Leading balanced innovation through the TALiS initiative.
Developing and testing emerging and advanced technologies from the lab to the field.
About the Symposium The Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems Symposium initiates and fosters the productive partnerships necessary for the integration of emerging and advanced technologies to address the complex challenges we face with climate change, resource protection (soil, water, air), biodiversity losses, rural and urban health, and social and economic shifts within our communities.
TALiS Practitioners at Penn State are faculty from the College of Agricultural Sciences who are experts in their fields and practice under one or more of TALIS's three pillars: Robotics and Automation, Biotechnology, and Monitoring, Sensing, and Prediction.
Latest News
August 25, 2026
Adaptation and a ‘Noah’s Ark for trees’ offer hope for endangered black ash
With the invasive emerald ash borer beetle decimating black ash across North America, according to the U.S. Forest Service, a team led by Penn State researchers conducted an expansive study of genetic diversity in black ash seeds collected across the tree’s geographic range and stored in seed banks. As part of the research, the team established three large common gardens — experimental plantings — of black ash that someday may play a role in producing seeds needed to bring the species back.
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August 18, 2026
2026 Ag Progress Days draws thousands for agricultural education and innovation
For three days in August, Rock Springs once again became a meeting place for the people, ideas and innovations shaping Pennsylvania agriculture. This year’s Ag Progress Days carried added significance, marking 50 years since Penn State’s Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center became the show’s permanent home.
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August 13, 2026
Newly formed Keystone AgTech Alliance to accelerate innovation
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has joined the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Team Pennsylvania, and Innovation Works/The Robotics Factory to launch the Keystone AgTech Alliance, a statewide partnership designed to accelerate agricultural innovation and position the commonwealth as a national leader in agricultural technology deployment.
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August 10, 2026
Director named for Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems initiative
Armen R. Kemanian, Penn State professor of production systems and modeling in the College of Agricultural Sciences, has been named director of the college’s Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems initiative.
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Meet the Director
- Professor Emeritus
Areas of Expertise
- Specialty crop mechanization and automation
- Precision agriculture applications for specialty crops
- Applications of artificial intelligence to agricultural systems management and control
- Email hzh@psu.edu
- Office 814-865-2633
