In this webinar, presenters will explore how emerging artificial intelligence technologies are transforming manure and nutrient management practices. The session will highlight how advances in IoT, machine learning, and remote sensing are enabling a shift from simple data collection to predictive, decision-support systems in livestock production. Presentations will illustrate how AI-driven tools can enhance monitoring, efficiency, and environmental outcomes while supporting producers and researchers. Attendees will gain a forward-looking perspective on how integrated data and intelligent systems are shaping the future of nutrient management and agricultural sustainability.
An application for continuing education credit for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) and members of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) will be submitted.
About the Speakers
Imtiaz Shams, Flox
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| Imtiaz Shams, Flox |
Imtiaz Shams is the CEO and co-founder of FLOX, an agentic AI platform for poultry production deployed across commercial farms in the UK, Europe, and North America. FLOX combines computer vision, IoT, and predictive intelligence to give producers earlier and more accurate signals on bird welfare, performance, and disease risk. FLOX is currently the largest deployment of computer vision in poultry, with over 70 million birds watched annually with a roadmap to 250 million by 2028. Imtiaz is also a founding partner of Post Urban Ventures, a venture builder that ideates, builds & invests in deep tech businesses. Its portfolio companies include the synthetic data pioneer Hazy, winner of the $1M Microsoft AI Prize which was sold to SaS Institute in 2025. He also co-founded Think School 501(c)(3), which creates educational YouTube videos and mini-documentaries in ESL English & Bangla, educating people in areas ranging from Dyson Spheres to the evolutionary history of avian dinosaurs. In the past 2 years, Think has received over 16.7M views across its channels.
Shuai Zhang, Texas A&M
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| Shuai Zhang, Texas A&M |
Dr. Shuai Zhang is an Assistant Research Scientist at Texas A&M University. He obtained his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 2017. His research focuses on remote sensing, machine learning, and environmental monitoring of agricultural and water systems. In the livestock wastewater lagoon project, he contributes to AI-based lagoon identification, surface-area monitoring, and satellite-derived water color analysis.
Natalie Urie, Barnwell Bio & Elena Olson, University of Wisconsin
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| Natalie Urie, Barwell Bio |
Dr. Urie grew up in a small agricultural town in Michigan, where she raised livestock and was actively involved in 4-H, experiences that laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to animal agriculture. She went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Bachelor of Science degrees from Colorado State University and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the Colorado School of Public Health. For 13 years, Dr. Urie worked with the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), where she designed and led national studies, acted as the small ruminant specialist, and contributed to outbreak response efforts, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Most recently, Dr. Urie continued her passion for research and science translation at Colorado State University, where she applied real-world data to help study HPAI transmission dynamics in dairy cattle and to better understand the immune response to this emerging disease.
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| Elena Olson, University of Wisconsin |
Dr. Elena G. Olson is a poultry microbiologist whose research bridges bird health, environmental microbiology, and food safety. As a Research Scientist at UW–Madison and founder of Supreme EGO LLC, she works on poultry microbiome research, pathogen control strategies, study design, data analysis, and scientific writing to support academic and applied poultry science.
Yiting Xiao (moderator), University of Arkansas
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| Yiting Xiao, University of Arkansas |
Yiting Xiao is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan. Her work focuses on nutrient management and wastewater treatment to support sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.
More Resources on the Topic
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- PlanetScope
- Texas Animal Manure Management Issues (TAMMI)
- Gao Hydrology Research Group – Satellite Remote Sensing
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Find out more about this webinar and future webinars by the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community (LPELC).