New Director of WSU’s CPAAS Wants To Work With Industry

Earlier this summer, Troy Peters was selected as the new director of Washington State University’s Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, better known as CPAAS.  Peters initially graduated with an engineering degree and worked in a cubicle for three years before returning to his agricultural roots.  He said one of the things he’s most excited about leading CPAAS, is the opportunity to answer questions the farming community has, and coming up with solutions.

 “Science is different than engineering, even though we are engineers here primarily. In that science answers questions that we don't know have the answer to, and then it moves on, publishes it, we get credit for at the University for publishing and then move on [to the next question]," Peters said.  "But I want to focus more on some of the engineering challenges.”

Peters Wants To Improve Relationship With Industry

Peters added by assisting farmers and industry with the engineering component, he’s hopeful that will empower the ag sector to be innovative, improving on existing technology.  He adds one of his highest priorities is to increase collaboration with industry and advance existing work.

“We definitely would like to partner with them and work with them so we're a busy hive of people solving problems and not in an ivory tower," he said.  "So that that relationship with the industry is important. And then just keeping that relevant by just doing what we can to talk to growers at conferences and anywhere we can.”

Peters added there are so many good ideas that can save time and money in agriculture, but may have problems that need to be worked out, and that’s where he see CPAAS playing an important roll.

Click Here to learn more about CPAAS.

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