How Artificial Intelligence Can Help Put Nematodes on Notice Posted by Paul Rusnak|April 14, 2021 Did you know parasitic nematodes cause $125 billion in agricultural damage around the world each year? The underground dwellers with a voracious appetite have an effective cover, but University of Florida scientists might have found a new way to shed some light on the problem. Advertisement Researchers will use artificial intelligence in an attempt to identify nematodes (the destructive kind as well as beneficial) more rapidly and accurately. The research, led by Peter DiGennaro, a UF/IFAS Assistant Professor of entomology and nematology, and Alina Zare, a Professor in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and Director of UF’s Machine Learning and Sensing Lab, is among 20 projects to get $50,000 each last year through the UF Artificial Intelligence Research Catalyst Fund.