Agriculture Innovation Finds a Home in Rural Georgia
The next generation of agriculture is taking root in Georgia.
A recent Site Selection feature, “Where Big Dreams Become Reality,” shines a spotlight on how rural communities and tech-powered farming hubs like Metter and Perry are combining local knowledge with statewide collaboration to create a smarter, more resilient future for the state’s largest industry.
“It’s a new way of thinking, of using agriculture as an economic development tool in some of our small, rural communities,” said Georgia Grown Director Matthew Kulinksi about the Georgia Grown Innovation Center, a partnership between the City of Metter, Georgia Grown, and Georgia Southern University to support small agribusiness owners and serve as an incubator for innovative agribusiness startups.
Smarter farming starts here
Agriculture contributes more than $80 billion to Georgia’s economy, and the industry is transforming with the help of exciting new technologies. From autonomous tractors to artificial intelligence that monitors crop health, innovation is happening in the fields in Perry, Georgia.
UGA Grand Farm, a 250-acre working innovation farm, broke ground this summer next to the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. A collaboration of the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and North Dakota-based Grand Farm, the agriculture innovation partnership will develop and demonstrate new agricultural technologies and automation, focused on Georgia’s specialty crops and Southeast agriculture, starting with the first field projects set to go live in 2025.
“This collaboration represents the perfect marriage of tradition and innovation,” CAES Dean and Director Nick T. Place said. “By bringing together the college’s world-class researchers and the UGA Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture with Grand Farm’s cutting-edge technologies, we will revolutionize the way we feed and clothe the world’s population.”
It’s not just about modern equipment. It’s about aligning training, research, and infrastructure to help farmers adapt and compete.
Collaboration at every level
Georgia’s approach to economic development in agriculture mirrors what’s working across the state: partnerships. Local governments, universities, business leaders, and nonprofits are working side-by-side to support AgTech adoption, expand broadband access, and modernize supply chains.
The Georgia Center of Innovation, part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), plays a critical role in the effort. The Center’s AgTech industry experts connect farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and agribusiness owners across the state with cutting-edge technologies and resources that strengthen Georgia’s position as a national leader in agriculture.
As a founding partner of UGA Grand Farm, the Center is helping Georgia businesses tap into its network of growers, startups, researchers, industry leaders, and more. Also at GDEcD, International Trade experts help businesses identify and reach new export markets for continued growth.
Whether it’s a small farm looking to adopt smart irrigation systems or a food manufacturer exploring sustainable sourcing, GDEcD helps innovators turn ideas into impact.
Investing in Georgia’s rural future
This moment is more than just a trend. It’s a statewide commitment to building the future of agriculture where it has always mattered most, and a proven Georgia success strategy: bring people together, invest in local strengths, and connect communities to global opportunity.
If you’re in the business of food, farming, or ag innovation, Georgia is ready.
Read the full article, “Where Dreams Become Reality,” in Site Selection.
Learn more about agriculture in Georgia:
• Discover Georgia’s Booming Food Processing Industry
• Godfrey’s Feed: Small Business at the Heart of Georgia’s No. 1 Industry
• From Global to Local: Industries that Put Georgia on the Map
• Making Muscadines a Must-have: Meet Muscadine Products Corporation
-Posted June 16, 2025