A Conversation with Mike Gazarik

ATRP--Episode 35: Predict & Protect: AI in Food Safety

What happens when cutting-edge artificial intelligence meets one of our most essential industries? In the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, host Stephanie Richter explores this fascinating intersection with two leading voices in the field. Walker Byrnes, Branch Head for AI, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics at the Georgia Tech Research Institute is joined by Ashley Peterson, Senior Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs of the National Chicken Council, for an in-depth conversation about how AI is quietly reshaping food safety in poultry processing. Walker has become a go-to expert on AI-driven foreign material detection, smarter monitoring systems that help prevent recalls, and secure language tools that help plants navigate complex regulations. But this isn't about treating AI like a magic black box; this is about careful, intentional innovation that strengthens the fundamentals of food safety. Throughout the episode, Walker shares his journey into AI, what his team is currently working on, and practical advice for both plant leaders and regulators on integrating these tools effectively. From discussing data security and ownership challenges to explaining how AI systems handle the real-world chaos of variable poultry processing, this conversation offers valuable insights for anyone interested in the future of food safety and agricultural technology. Listen now to discover how GTRI is helping shape the AI world - carefully and intentionally - to improve the safety of the food we eat every day. Brought to you by the State of Georgia's Agricultural Technology Research Program.

ATRP--Episode 34: Robots in Indoor Farming: Autonomous Pollination, Safety, and Motion Planning with Dr. Shreyas Kousik

Indoor farms often lack natural pollinators like birds and bees, forcing growers to hand-pollinate every flower. In this episode, Dr. Shreyas Kousik from Georgia Tech joins us to discuss his work at the intersection of control theory, robot motion planning, and data-driven design—and how these tools are being used to build a robot that can autonomously and safely pollinate indoor crops.

A Conversation with Mike Gazarik

GTRI Director Mike Gazarik, Ph.D., is the featured guest on the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast. In his first 90 days as Director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Mike Gazarik, Ph.D., is building the foundation of his tenure on certain core ideas: mission, people, culture, speed, and impact. They form an early blueprint for how he sees GTRI, why he came back, and where he believes the Institute can go next. For Mike, being GTRI Director is not just a stop along the way, or a late-career experiment. It is something more personal and more final than that. "This is it. This is the ultimate chapter for me," he said. "I'm not trying to go anywhere, do anything. I'm really just trying to help."

ATRP--Episode 33: 'Bytes & Bites': Cybersecurity Meets Food Safety

Smith Sheehy, Vice President of Program Development and a board advisor for the Cybersecurity Association of the Food Industry, discusses the critical role of cybersecurity in the food industry. She emphasizes the importance of securing the digital nervous system of food production, comparing digital threats to biological pathogens. She advocates for integrating cybersecurity into new technologies and policies. Smith also underscores the importance of transparency and continuous education within organizations to enhance cybersecurity practices.

ATRP--Episode 32: The Critical Role of Managing Clean Water

This episode of The Georgia Tech Research podcast features Mary Catherine Foy, Director of Technical Services at Proxy Clean Products, discussing the critical role of water management in poultry houses. Foy emphasizes the importance of clean water for bird health, noting that birds consume twice as much water as feed. She highlights the vulnerability of water lines during the first two weeks of a new flock, when microbial counts peak. Foy recommends daily water treatment, regular flushing, and cleaning water lines between flocks. She also addresses the challenges of antibiotic-free production, which revealed weaknesses in water treatment programs.