Aquaculture Standards Focus of AIM Discussion
Following the announcement earlier this year of ASABE's partnership with the Aquacultural Engineering Society, a session at last week's 2026 annual meeting, in Indianapolis, provided opportunity for dialogue on how the two organizations can collaborate to promote innovation and professional growth within the aquatic engineering sector.
ASABE Executive Director Cedric Calhoun and President Travis Tsunemori addressed session attendees to encourage activity. In addition, Jean Walsh, ASABE standards administrator, provided a high-level overview of the process to initiate a standard. She also detailed opportunities available through ISO for international standards projects. There was general discussion on future participation in the 2027 annual meeting as well as Aquaculture Americas 2027.
Those interested in getting involved with related standards activities may contact Scott Cedarquist for additional information. Contact Cedric Calhoun with general questions about the partnership with AES.
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Data-Driven Agrifood Systems: Update on ISO TC 347
by Scott Cedarquist
ASABE Director of Standards & Technical
What is the one thing that everyone in the world worries about? The answer is simple: food. How do we acquire what we need, how do we produce it, how do we process it, where does it come from, is it safe and healthy? The questions continue to extrapolate from there.
There is a rapidly growing international technical committee that is focusing their sights on just those questions. ISO TC 347, Data-driven agrifood systems, was established in 2024 to coordinate the gathering of storage, interoperability and use of data affecting our global food supply systems. The data are already being collected by disparate means. The farmer collects data while tilling, planting, and harvesting or in the case of livestock, birth, health, and product to market. The commodity transactions collect data on product, location, trade, and finance. The processor collects data on product ingredients, processing needs and final product. The problem is that they do not easily communicate the necessary parts of that data with each other to provide the consumer with a final snapshot of the food they are consuming.
Ultimately, the consumer wants to be assured that what they provide for their family has been economically, sustainably, and appropriately managed from beginning to end. It is about trust in our system.
ISO TC 347 committee has established 14 project groups as of April 2026. Topics under focus are how the land is used, animal production processes, tracking of general farm production processes from planning to regulation compliance to verification for consumer use, and many other areas supporting the food production system. There are currently 48 countries either actively participating in the work or monitoring it for future activity. Basic information can be found on the ISO site here.
ASABE has been involved with this activity from the beginning of research and development initiated by ISO in 2021 as a gap analysis. TC 347 is an outgrowth of the gap analysis conducted by interested nations. ASABE, being the primary agricultural standards body, was a key player. Rafael Andres Ferreyra (Syngenta) and Jim Wilson (AgGateway) were key moderators. Ferreyra co-led the international project while Wilson chaired the U.S. team of experts. Today Ferreyra serves as the international chair of the ISO technical committee, with Germany providing the administrative support as the secretariat, coordinating the many developing projects and how they function in support of each other.
ASABE is accredited by ANSI to administer the U.S. technical advisory group (TAG) for TC 347 expert representation. Each country has a single vote in the ISO committee. This TAG develops the single vote on behalf of the US in all areas of discussion and development. The U.S. TAG TC 347 is chaired by Brent Kemp, president and CEO of AgGateway.
For further information on the topic or to find out how to get involved with these activities, contact Jean Walsh or check out the dedicated page on the ASABE website here.
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New from Resource Magazine
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Dig into the new issue of Resource magazine. The cover feature, "From Linear to Circular: Charting a New Course for the Bioeconomy," explores how engineers are rethinking waste and resource use for a more sustainable economy. "Farmers Are the Heart of Africa's Agricultural Transformation" highlights the human side of innovation on the continent, while "Honoring the Engineers: Improving How We Farm" celebrates the people driving progress in the field.
Plus, read about the 2026 Davidson Prize winners, and enjoy this year's ASABE Annual Report, presented by 2025–2026 President Sherry Hunt.
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Standards Committees Honored for Development Work
We extend our congratulations to those involved in the development of the following standards, which were recognized at the 2026 Annual International Meeting earlier this month.
Revision
ANSI/ASABE S642.1, Recommended Methods for Measurement and Testing of Electromagnetic Radiation Sources for Plant Growth and Development
ES-310 Ag Lighting Group, Carl Bloomfield, Project Lead
New Standard
ANSI/ASABE S644, Design of Electromagnetic Radiation Systems for Plant
ES-310 Ag Lighting Group; Carl Bloomfield, Project Lead
New Standard
ANSI/ASABE S652 Wind Loads on Circular Corrugated Metal Grain Bins
PAFS-20/4 Bulk Solids Handling and Storage; Volkan Kebeli, Project Lead
New Standard
ANSI/ASABE S664 DEC2025, Direct to Consumption Specialty Crop Machine Hygienic Design Requirements
MS-48 Specialty Crop Engineering; Austin Gellings, Project Lead
New Standard
ANSI/ASABE/USBI S668, Methods for Measurement and Testing of Biochar
ES-238 Solid Biofuel and X668 Biochar Development Committee; Chris Wiberg and Miles Gray, Project Leads |
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Volunteer Toolkit Helps with Committee Work
 Are you staring at a to-do list following committee meetings held at AIM 2026? Our volunteer toolkit can lend a hand. The kit contains everything from templates for meeting minutes, to the Society's constitution and bylaws, brand guides, instructions for submitting updated committee rosters, and much, much more.
Access the portfolio by logging in to Engage, our exclusive collaboration platform, then look for the Toolkit button under Quick Links.
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Meeting Papers Published by August 15
Thank you to all of the 2026 presenters at our 2026 Annual International Meeting in Indianapolis!
AIM Papers will be posted to the ASABE Technical Library by August 15, 2026. Stay tuned!
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Enjoy a Meeting-Paper Discount
Further develop your 2026 AIM non-refereed presentation into a high-quality, peer-reviewed manuscript. Submit your presentation to the ASABE journals, and receive a page charge discount of $100, or 10% if over 10 pages for the final layout.
You must have presented your work at AIM. Please submit your manuscript to Scholar One by October 1, 2026. Note that all manuscripts must go through our high-quality review process to be published in the ASABE journals.
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